Hello all, I am not sure if I am posting in right place but here goes. I just picked up a 1970 camaro rs after waiting all winter for the previous owner to give me a call. The car has been garaged its whole life and has been off the road (motor removed) since 1985. From what I have been told it is a 4spd v8 rs originally but was modified in late 70's and used as a street racer. I am looking to put the car together as good reliable muscle car that my family (wife, 2 sons,6and 8 yrs old) and I can enjoy. I need some advise as to what engine and trans I should use since car came with neither. Car has a dana 60 rear that I was told has 373 posi unit, frame connectors, and flip nose. I have a 454 that I believe came from early 80's truck (cast in back of block "HI PER PASS") and I have 350 available that was in my dads circle track race car. Car had 350 and t-10? in it last and I was leaning torwards using 454 but not sure how much will have to be changed and I remember hearing truck bb's were taller than car engine? If it is taller will it fit? Dads 350 is mildly built but has no acc. bolt holes on head so not sure if I would have to remove to tap. Dad also has muncie long shaft from gs or 442 and numerous saginaws from race days. What would you guys suggest I do as far as drivetrain for fun and reliable street car. I also have built 67 gto 400 motor with closed chamber heads but that would blasphamy to put that in, no? Thanks and I will try to get some help in getting pics up since I tried but got error somehow. Tedd p.s. how do I get to do attachments? p.s.s. I was able to put a few pics up if you clicke on 1970 camaro near my name.

 

Well if you're going for a family reliable type car I'd forget the tilt frontend, and also any really high performance mods. I'd go with a fairly mild build in either the small or big block, and the 4 spd. for sure.
That truck block 454 sounds like a pickup truck engine, which shouldn't be mistaken for the true truck engines that are different. If it's got that marking on the rear of the block it is a std. engine and not any issue.

 

Maybe in future I will change front end but it is all together working and safe and I have little extra money so I want to get running and on the road so we can enjoy it. In the past I had a 69 firebird that I got so carried away building motor and trying to make car perfect that I ran out of money and interest and never got to drive it and I dont want to make that mistake again of taking something all apart and not finishing. This car was well maintained and driving every weekend when parked so I dont want to start changing or taking things apart that work now. I also was wondering if it is normal to have front disk with no power booster, I have never seen this before. Car does have power steering. Thanks again for advise.

 

The no power disk brakes were normal. All 70+ cars came with disk brakes on the front but not all came power until the late 70's. The PASS casting on the engine means it is a passenger car engine used in light trucks, not the HD engine used in med and heavy trucks. You should be fine using that engine, and since the 70 came with a 396 you should not have any trouble getting the proper engine mounts.

If you want to post pictures get a Pphotobucket accound (they are free) and use the [img..] tag to have the images show up here. You cant use the Forum image service until you get 10+ posts. Also the photobucket method puts the image right in the post the forum method leaves them in a little window at the bottom of the post with thumbnails that we have to mouseover to see.

Massey

 

If your tight on money the 350 will be cheaper, but not as cool.
Parts are just less for a small block.
Defiantly want the 4-speed.

 

My '71 didn't have a power booster most of it's life. I added it in 2000 when I rebuilt the engine.

 

Thanks for the replys, I did have more pics in album? but when I was not signed on as me I could only see the one pic of the back of car. Is that all you guys get to see? I have a few more in there but maybe only I or modderators can see them, I will try to get some help on doing photobucket since last time I tried I got lost with all the long addresses needed. Thanks again, Tedd

 

yup only the rear image shows up for me too.

Photobucket has made life easy now. if you mouseover on the image you want to post it drops down a list of links. Just click on the link you want (the one with the [img..] tag) and it will auto copy it for you. Then just come to the thread you want to post the image into and paste the link here. Simple as that.

Yea the old photobucket setup didnt always work all that well, but they fixed it.

Massey

 

Yeah, once you autocopy it, then just open the post here and hit "cntrl" and "V" keys at the same time and the link will instantly be copied to your post. I think you need 10 posts to add pics though, so get your count up to 10 first!

 

You dont need 10 for the photobucket links. My first post on this forum was the BCM repair thread in the 4th gen section, and that had the pics incuded.

Massey