Camaro Update: 4/25/2014

It's been a bit since any updates.  I finished up the transmission a few days ago, and thanks to a neighbor, got it out of the basement using a 2 wheel dolly.  WAY easier than how we got it into the basement, by carrying it, with the help of a different neighbor.  Once in the garage, I bolted up the new flex-plate with new ARP bolts, installed the engine mounts, and bolted the TH400 to the back of the engine.  Once bolted up and ready to go, I installed the engine/trans without too much trouble.  Now that the engine is in place I can start knocking some of the items off my list that required an installed powertrain.  I still hope to have it up and running in May, so that when I start furlough in early June, I can enjoy cruising it and hopefully hit the track once or twice.


















Here is the trans all buttoned up and ready to make the trip out to the garage.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I did everything right, haven't not rebuilt a trans in about 15 years.  I'm confident it will function fine, but until I bang through three gears, I won't know for sure.



The 2 wheel dolly.  Man, I gotta get one of these.



In my younger years, I chopped up the hood latch/valence support in order to make room for an electric fan I was installing.  Support be damned!  Now, realizing it was a dumb move, I replaced the support with a non-chopped version.






Time to get the engine hoisted up and ready to install.

Flex-plate installed.

Engine mounts installed.



Engine and trans mated.



In she goes, with Sasha off to the left supervising.



Finally back in!  This is the earliest I can recall having my engine in the car.  Hopefully, I can go a few years without pulling it out this time.

Camaro Update: 4-19/2014

Just a quick update. My transmission is nearly finished, as all I have left is the shift kit, valve body, tail housing, and a few small odds and ends. My plan, as it stands, is to get the engine and transmission installed on Tuesday. I have quite a few pictures of the progress, but have yet to find time to get them uploaded. Look for more updates, with pictures, come next Tuesday.

Roadkill: Episode 27

For a beater, this Vette doesn't look too bad!

Camaro Update: 4-11-2014

Yesterday I got the roll bar padding installed, carpet in, and seats installed.  It's starting to look like a car once again!

Camaro Update: 4-10-2014

Today entailed reorganizing the work bench, once again, as things were getting out of hand.  After that, I spent the better part of the day insulating the trunk.  I was initially hesitant as to whether or not I wanted to do the trunk.  Now that it's complete, I'm so glad I did.  The difference is noticeable, even while simply working inside the car and in the trunk. You can tell that noise is easily cancelled out, and look forward to both a quieter, and much cooler car this summer.  Tomorrow, I hope to get the carpet and seats installed, more wiring covered, and the roll bar padding installed.  While I initially had hoped to get my transmission finished up this week, I think my time has been much better spent in the garage.  With two little ones, it's much easier to work on my transmission in the basement than it is to disappear to the garage.  My wife's on spring break in another week, so I should easily have the transmission finished and engine/trans back in the car.  I'm still planning on hitting the road in May, and the track in June.

Camaro Update: 4-9-2014

After a full day of work, it doesn't feel like I've accomplished much.  I got the underside of my hood painted, covering up the spackle paint, which had seen better days.  I got the car down off the jack stands, so it would be easier to work on, then put a coat of spackle paint in the trunk. The rest of the day was consumed by installation of the sound deadener.  I doubled up the transmission tunnel, as an extra effort to keep the heat out.  With the deadener installed, I can now work on getting the carpet and seats back in the car.  I didn't even touch the transmission today, as I felt my efforts would be better out in the garage.

2014 Dodge Challenger SRT8

My father-in-law recently took delivery of his 2014 Dodge Challenger SRT8, and my brother-in-law, his 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker Edition.  While the Shaker was home, I did get to check out the SRT8, and it's nothing short of badass!  While the day didn't permit a road test, I look forward to going for a ride in it soon.








Boy have the factory stereo systems ever changed!  18 speakers, 2 subs where the spare tire normally resides.










The Shaker was there, though only in spirit.

Camaro Update: 4-8-2014

Though I haven't updated my status for a bit, I have been forging ahead on my transmission.  I have made much more progress than is even pictures below.  I'm almost down to just the valve body and pump.  Right now however, I am in the garage, working out here for a bit before tackling some more of the trans this evening/tonight.

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein

I just finished reading this book a few days ago.  As somebody who had to put down his friend/dog of 8+ years, it really hit home.  The book takes a look at life through the eyes of a dog, whose owner is a road course racer.  I've always believed that there is a lot going on inside the head of a dog, and this book does an excellent job of capturing it.  A must read for any dog owner or car enthusiast.