Mr Morgan [Archive] - Team Camaro Tech

: Mr Morgan


Mr Morgan
Sep 28th, 08, 08:23 AM
Greetings my Camaro brethren. I've been using the advice, experience and wisdom of this sight on and off for a couple of years now as my project has taken shape. I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV, so most of the hard work I've had done to my car ('67 convertible) I have paid for. Dearly.

This is an expensive hobby, to say the least.

I have several cars in my stable, all in various stages of completion and most of which will probably be sold eventually. I'm not really a collector, I just got stupid for a while.

I had a '71 base model Camaro as a teen and, like many, dreamed of having the '69 Z28. As I've gotten older, my tastes have changed a little so when I began searching, it was the '67 that met my desire. Since I smoke, I think it was the wing windows that attracted me.

I purchased what was originaly a marine blue (with blue top & blue interior) SS 396 4 speed convertible which had been semi-restored in the late 90's. At the time I bought it, the interior had been changed to black and the exterior was black with red stripes. My wife liked it, so there you go.

It had a '69 cowl induction hood, which I really liked and have kept. The motor ran, but was not the original 396 and it was on it's last leg. The ginormous headers lay about an inch off the road, and it drove like drunk mule. A week after I bought it, I drove it to a local car show and won the Hooters Girls award. With the top down, even with old paint, it's a sexy car.

I then shipped the car to St Louis where Doug Jenkins Custom Hot Rods (http://www.dougjenkinscustomhotrods.com/) spent 18 months working through each stage of my upgrades. It was expensive, but I stayed within my budget and now have an awesome driver. My first Camaro was all show and no go. I wasn't going to have that this time around. She goes fast, stops quick, rides great and stays cool.

ZZ 454 Crate Engine - Aluminium Heads, 440 HP
Upgraded Cam from Competition Cams
Holly 750 cfm Carb w/electric choke
MSD Ignition
Be Cool Radiator (stayed at 185 degrees even when I hydrolocked it this summer)
Short Tube Headman Headers
Custom 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster 40's (yes, you can hear me roar)
Tremec TKO 600 5Spd Transmission
12 Bolt Rear, 3.55 Gears
Wilwood Disc Brakes (HydroBoost, 6 piston front calipers, 4 piston backs)
Tuned suspension from Hotchkis
-Upper & Lower control arms
-Front & rear sport springs
-Rear sways
-2 big, ugly, massive traction bars
17 x 9 AR Torque Thrust II Weels <--for sale, I like chrome
New Top
Vintage Air AC
Custom Console

Odd thing about the car is when I bought it, someone had change the E-Brake to a hand type. When I said change it back to the foot type, Doug conviced me otherwise. He came up with the custom console, which many really like. If nothing else, it's unique. I live close to Camaro Central (http://www.camarocentral.com/), and they want me to get a few made for them to sell. I'm like, NO WAY! I like being different. :clonk:

If you've read this far, thanks, but really, you should be in the garrage working on your ride, as I'm about to do. I'm down to upgrades that will only be slightly beyond my level of ability. Currently I'm getting set to pull the interior and recarpet, which is what brought me back to this forum. The advice and options I have gleened are invaluable. Many thanks to all. I'm going with Second Skins Damplifier (Damplifier Pro on the fire wall) and a layer of Overkill. Your tips make me feel confidant that I'll only muck it up a little.


http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/somernites/Camaro%20in%20the%20Park.JPG

Watch a video of my wife & I drag racing each other. I'm in the Camaro, she's in my heavily modified '06 Charger SRT8 which usualy runs in the low 12's on street tires. My daughters comentary cracks me up.

Mom vs Dad Video (2.75megs) (http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/videos/Mom%20vs%20Dad%20Short.wmv)

My other rides:

http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/Horses%20and%20Horsepower/Lineup%20at%20Home.JPG

Custom 1953 Ford Truck, the Camaro, '70 Charger Magnum 440, '06 Charger SRT 8

Also:

1971 Chevelle (Engine is big and shiny, interior is hell on earth, project on hold)
http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/small/71Chevelle.jpg

'78 superbeetle (now is maroon with black fenders)
http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/small/76Bug.jpg

And, my golf cart :)
http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/small/GolfCart.jpg

We have horses (Morgan horses, hence the name Mr Morgan) and I hold occasional Meet & Greets here at the farm for some of my friends from the LX world (Chargers, Magnums, 300's). Here's my pal Jeremy, of Power Ported Performance (http://www.powerported.com), tearing holes in my driveway:

http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/KYMeetGreet%201/The%20300%20C%202.JPG
Sometimes fun conquers sense.


Oh, and here's REAL horse power:
http://www.playmorfarm.com/horses/MrMorganAtWork.JPG

Yes, that's me on the lead...

Everett#2390
Sep 28th, 08, 08:53 AM
Welcome to the Club! Nice ride, including the vehicles. Morgans are always impressive.

I believe Morgans have the ability of being a work horse with their strong limbs. When I was living as a young kid in Illinois, the next neighbor farmed with two Morgans, 120 tillable acres. Needless to say, the horses worked their buns off.

Yes, I'm sure you will gain alot of knowledge. I still am learning, as we all are.

click
Sep 28th, 08, 09:29 AM
Nice cars there... welcome to Team Camaro . 1 HP VS all the other car's HP.. wonder who wins in the 1/4 mile? :D

Ghostbuster
Sep 28th, 08, 10:19 AM
Welcome Mr. Morgan.
Some very nice rides you have in your stable.
That '67 is a sweet looking ride, and with that list, should be a lot of fun to take the reins.

The Damplifier Pro and OverKill are a great combo, and very easy to install.
The spray adhesive they sell is better than any 3M product I've found.

Mr Morgan
Sep 28th, 08, 11:13 AM
Thanks Everett, Click & Ghost.

When asked how many horses I have, I always say around 5,000. A hundred on legs and the rest, under hoods. :)

Ghost: 4 cans of Second Skins spray adhesive ordered with the rest. :thumbsup:

Blade
Sep 28th, 08, 03:53 PM
welcome. nice 53 ford

WV6TY7
Sep 28th, 08, 04:31 PM
Cool cars. Show us a pic of that custom console. Please....

Mr Morgan
Sep 28th, 08, 09:45 PM
I was looking through my files and I didn't find a decent one. Custom, close up view coming up tomorrow just for you,.

Mr Morgan
Sep 29th, 08, 08:06 AM
As promised, a pic of the console.

http://www.playmorfarm.com/cars/Camaro Console.JPG

1969ProStreetCamaro
Sep 29th, 08, 06:48 PM
Bill,Welcome to Team Camaro.That's an awesome array of "horsepower" that you have accumulated. I'm very impressed.

Z282NV
Sep 29th, 08, 07:26 PM
Welcome Mr. Morgan...some of us are fortunate to have one of these in our stable...you are one lucky guy! :yes::beers: