Well what do you guys think? I don't know much about gassers but I am willing to learn all I can. Will it be better? I plan a rear coil over conversion big huge long gasser ladder bar things, and a raised coil over front with manual rack and pinion. bright ceramic exhaust and headers. I probably will sell the front subframe and maybe the entire front clip. going to wide track the front and use custom air dam. Not going very high compared to other gassers, but just high enough. What do yall think? Thinking of naming it, got a name in mind.

 

I love gassers and have two presently. Not sure how a Camaro that late will look as a gasser though, and I am sure if you ever decided to sell it later the buying audience will be pretty small!
My buddy did a '69 Firebird as a gasser, and it was extremely high end build, but when he tired of it and tried to sell it, nobody was interested. He had $35k in the car, and it never went over $12k on Fleabay. I pulled all the frontend mods off, and restored the front to stock suspension components, and he relisted it. It sold quickly for $24.5k!
I love the stance of gassers, and the whole gasser theme, but the Gas class in NHRA was gone by the early 70's, so doing an '81 as a gasser will be a real leap from the accepted norm. But if that's what you want, then go for it. I'll sure enjoy watching the build!
These are my two:

 

Would a gasser be considered a gasser if it doesn't have a straight front axle? I didn't think it would.

 

Gassers should be cars form the early sixties or before. As is 1971BB427's. Later model cars just don't fit into the gasser category.

 

Some would say that a straight axle is a must for the gasser look, but there were sure as many or more without straight axles in the 50's and 60's. I personally wouldn't, (nor haven't) ever built a gasser without a straight axle. But a gasser is a car from the 60's or earlier, and building a "gasser" from a car that's newer is a contradiction. I've seen it done, and look good, but more often looks a bit odd on the wrong body style.

 

I absolutely love those old gassers! These are awesome responses guys. Well I'm getting the car stripped down going to fabricate interior myself. like hot rod style. but not the superexpensive real leather and junk. just material. I am setting the engine back a few. I was going to use solid motor mounts what do I use for automatic transmission mount? Transmission going to use is TH200-4R with GNX servo built stonger than a 700r4 ever could be. I am concentrating on the chassis so the mounts ...I don't want the drivetrain to tear up I constantly read internet stories where people are breaking stuff with their solid motor mounts. Is this true?

 

Hey 71BB427, I had a 1962 falcon it was white had a perfect body I straightened the grill up, but it had no floors wish I never got rid of it after seeing your falcon. Mine didn't have the t bird roof, it was all rounded. How much you think a simple straight axle setup could be built?

 

I've had solid motor mounts on almost every hotrod I've built, but ALWAYS use rubber trans mounts or you'll break the trans housing!!!
Straight axles depend on what you use. I see Chevy and Ford van axles, or PU truck axles all the time for $60-$200 with springs. I gave $120 for the Econoline van axle in my Falcon, and it had new kingpins, tierod ends, drums, brakes, wheel cylinders, and lines. My buddy bought one just like it for $65, but had to rebuild the brakes and new tierod ends.
The biggest issue you'll have with putting a straight axle in a Camaro will revolve around whether you've done this type of work previously. Steering geometry is not like an A arm suspension, and kingpin inclination, drag link angle, toe in, pitman arm to steering box relationship, are all very important. Of course just setting it up under the car and welding the mounts in square are very important, but if the rest isn't right it will be all over the road when you drive it.
As for interior, I've got very basic interior in both of my cars, but not bare metal. Both have black naugahyde interior that I hand built panels for, and covered myself. It cost me very little to do either car, and they look clean and neat. I even had my wife involved in sewing the black headliner for the Austin, as I couldn't find a factory replacement.
If I might make a suggestion. I'd go find another cheap Falcon and use it as the basis of your gasser project. They are very affordable cars to find, and it will be worth more when you're done, as the buying audience is better for a period gasser, vs. a '81 Camaro gasser. I gave $550 for my Futura when I got it.