Hi. Im 18 years old and yes i live in canada. I just aquired a 1981 Camaro Z28 as a project car. Im a fairly mechanical person, i can use just about any power tool ever made, i can weld (somewhat), and for the rest i have my father to help me out with. The car needs paint. Badly. Other than that, the body is really in awesome condition other than the front clip which needs to be replaced. The interior is fine other than the drivers seat which needs to be reupholstered and the headliner could use replacing. It's got leather, power door locks, air conditioning, and other goodies. It's got a 350 4 barrel, turbo 400, and a air induction hood. The car only has 73000km on the odometer due to sitting in a field for god knows how many years. My goal is roughly 400 horsepower at the rear wheels, and to keep it looking stock (other than the big chromed exhaust tips im planning on buying for it).Most of the work i plan on doing myself as i do live on a farm and have access to a large shop to work in. Im joining this forum to get technical tips, good part recommendations, and to absorb the knowledge of those who have done this before me. I don't have unlimited resources and would ideally like to spend under $6000 (hence why im doing the paint and most of the body/engine work myself). I listen to 60's and 70's rock, and love to play guitar. My other vehicles include a 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertibe that my grandpa restored. It has a 283 2 speed. Also all new chrome, top, and upholstery, and could use a new clearcoat. My daily driver is a 1997 GMC Sierra 350 4x4 SLT with the Z71 off road package. Well that should about do it. Sorry for writing so much, and i'll keep you all posted on the progress of my Camaro.

 

Welcome to the forums !!!!!!!!!

Go ahead and post some before shots of your project so that we can see your progress

 

Don't have any yet. WIll try to get more for later. It will be hard though as i just built this computer and don't have much in the way of software installed yet. (Too busy going to get my camaro). I'll say this here because for some reason it wont let me edit my above post, but the engine isn't running. The guy told me that he heard a large bang, and steam started coming out of the hood and all the check engine lights came on. With any luck it will just be a piston or con rod. I want 400 horsepower at the rear wheels but don't know the best way to get to that number is. I want it to be relatively driveable. As of right now im putting headers and full exhaust on it. Probably 2 3/4 inch pipe, upgrade the valves to deal with it, upgrade the cams, pistons, and heads and throw it back in. Hopefully by the end of winter. Any recommendations for better ways to aquire horsepower would be most appreciated.

 

this would be your best bet if you want to spend less than 6 g.

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...+115&y=12&x=31
or this
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...00+0&x=24&y=12
there is a $2500 motor there with 330 hp. it is faster than doing it your self and takes all the guess work out of it.

 

I was considering an LS1 crate motor or something similar to what you have there. But if i bought a crate motor i'd buy one with at least 350 so that i'd be higher than that after i put on nice headers. The LS1 im interested in only has 320 but it's fuel injected and newer so i'd live with it because of the increased driveability factor.