I've been a member of this forum for quite a while absorbing lots of tips, tricks and general knowledge. I've been slowly frame off restoring my 68 SS and it's an excercise in taking really good lines of the '68 while upgrading most of the "underneath". Some people in the restoration side turn up their nose for messing with a 65k mile big block car but I'm not happy with anemic performance,handling,braking compared to today's cars. I like the stock "appearance" while having the best of today's available hardware. You would be surprised with how many people don't know it's not a 396 if you have the right air cleaner sticker ;)

Drivetrain
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/PCb5_R%254ebn-mgYiT.JwEOWWreGOpIQlzRFlEAX%26oCU.GI*eh1A3JjOG%3D0 _K/item.jpg?rot=1
565 Dart Block with JE Racing Pistons 13:1
Dart Pro One aluminum heads
Eagle forged rotating @ h beams
Comp Solid Roller Cam/rockers
Professional Products single plane port matched
Hooker Supercomp Ceramic headers
1050 carb (4150 style) modified by Rob Mix for E-85 ethanol (pump gas)
Dynoed the motor on the lean side (6 jets too lean actually) and got 787hp/740tq
Changed the jets and advanced the timing so I should be north of 800hp
(The youtube video of the engine dyno is in my signature)
Race prepped th400 trans with 3500 stall
Ford 9" with 3.50 gear detroit locker

Suspension/Braking -
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/*pY4.C.Jxfp-%26heka5_q81-puCrYmvATbi4yZu%26RSZU85u*K61-O3IZQs%3DU%3D/item.jpg?rot=1
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/TH6y7ECgkmD3.56B.Xqg2eZ_t-0x%26V5_W%3DRoHvOP4SR3T0De_015oo5Y%26ZvR/item.jpg?rot=1
Heidt's Tubular Control arms with drop spindles
"Bolt in" 4 link rear
Adjustable Heidt's/QA1 coilovers at all 4 corners
Wilwood cross drilled/slotted 12" rotors all around
Hydro-boost from late model Denali

Wheels/Tires
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/bCsaxB%3D81bv.-aq5Wqjzwb_*2HpH_U-yZU50App_Zpe0uqN%26BvaVOYTngyz%26/item.jpg?rot=1
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/f5qPaSplTxH941Ym%26%3DecTuFd5sFnqTjToCnU4iTCW-mhul8wk*HU7ViyvGXB/item.jpg?rot=1
American Racing Torq-thrust II Classic 17X9.5 rear and 17X8 front
275/40/17 Mickey Thompson Drag Radial and 235/45/17 BFG fronts

Body
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/9Z_L%25HmcsL.H%3DlZ-oV5ocvuDu6KOvzgzFHSNiIENKBKnQk8R0VDWzWPNo.b-/item.jpg?rot=1
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/GTyeikLxLIpVs*daq7paBsK99TN%25iFPKm*YhzFsH1s%25gK8 W3%3Dw1XV3rdnLGc/item.jpg?rot=1
Complete frame off soda blasted and repaint (original Matador Red) with white SS stripe
Rear wheel houses NOT tubbed
1969 Camaro SS 2" Cowl induction hood
Frame powder coated semi gloss black
All new chrome/glass/red interior

I am 95% done and hope to be burning ethanol in 2-3 weeks
finishing the glass/trim work then need to finish detailing engine bay and tuning a/f ratiowith wideband O2 sensors on chassis dyno.
http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/l_ifG-knCZlkew%3DSXXWcin9xFWxzj-Ms.A01wdCUyx%25rXDNE--.W%3DHQmQfhl/item.jpg?rot=1

I welcome any comments and thanks again to all of you that I've been pestering for the last couple years!
-Steve

Very nice car you have there! Sounds like it's going to be a runner as well! Congrats.

Very nice all the way around!

Pretty awesome build. Keep the updates and pics coming!

Great job! Keep us posted how that E85 works out. There are NO gas stations in the northeast where you can buy it.

Great looking work do you have a completion date in mind....

Nice project it should be a screamer.

f------ beast. Nice work.
Props on the 13:1 and street use, seems everyone now a days freaks out or claims anything over 10:1 "un streetable"

Great looking work do you have a completion date in mind....
April *fingers crossed*
Yep April, unless it slides into May...
This last minute missing this or missing that stuff drives you batty!

f------ beast. Nice work.
Props on the 13:1 and street use, seems everyone now a days freaks out or claims anything over 10:1 "un streetable"

Got tired of paying $8 for race gas so this time I went with E85 as it is readily available here in the midwest and cheap. It also cools the intake since it is alcohol, that's why it is taking over the drag race world...

Good luck with the date hope to see it when finnished.....

Very nice car. Keep the updates coming.

Simple things right now are the bane of my existance. Like throttle linkage. Anybody tried a cable linkage instead of the original rod type??? I wasn't too happy with how the OEM parts felt like they were binding up and thought it may be a safer route replacing with aftermarket? Thoughts?

Update:
Getting my 3" stainless Pypes Race Pro exhaust put on this week and as I've come to expect, nothing promised as "bolt on" is that easy. The pre-bent system was of course made with stock rear suspension in mind and my Heidt's 4 link with coil overs leave roughly NO room for exhaust tubing. Plan B is modifying the sytem to turn down right before the axle. It is a nice sytem with a pre-formed X pipe. I had the shop cut in a pair of O2 sensor bungs in the collector extensions, and also my QTP stainless electric dump outs. While it's there they are buttoning up my brake lines and then back to the glass/trim shop for them to finish. I ordered all new glass as I didn't recall all the scratches last time I drove the car (5 years ago!!)

Who made your rear end setup?

Simple things right now are the bane of my existance. Like throttle linkage. Anybody tried a cable linkage instead of the original rod type??? I wasn't too happy with how the OEM parts felt like they were binding up and thought it may be a safer route replacing with aftermarket? Thoughts?
I put lokar on mine and its great love it and the look.

Update:
Getting my 3" stainless Pypes Race Pro exhaust put on this week and as I've come to expect, nothing promised as "bolt on" is that easy. The pre-bent system was of course made with stock rear suspension in mind and my Heidt's 4 link with coil overs leave roughly NO room for exhaust tubing. Plan B is modifying the sytem to turn down right before the axle. It is a nice sytem with a pre-formed X pipe. I had the shop cut in a pair of O2 sensor bungs in the collector extensions, and also my QTP stainless electric dump outs. While it's there they are buttoning up my brake lines and then back to the glass/trim shop for them to finish. I ordered all new glass as I didn't recall all the scratches last time I drove the car (5 years ago!!)Are you done with the exaust I put race pros with an X pipe and wish I woul have used street pros the race pros are to quiet but you may want that.They do have a good sound when you crack into it.

Who made your rear end setup?

I bought the whole setup through Heidt's. It's a Currie 9" with a Detroit Locker differential. Heidt's makes the "bolt in" 4 link that I would suggest they change a bit...
When you install it they should have included a sleeve of some sort for the frame rails. When I was tightening the bolts it started to crush the framerail, had to cut open the frame rail to strengthen as it surely would have failed.

Are you done with the exaust I put race pros with an X pipe and wish I woul have used street pros the race pros are to quiet but you may want that.They do have a good sound when you crack into it.

I figure if it's too quiet I just hit the button to open the dumps!

Comming together real nice that thing will be a ****ing blast to drive wow great job keep us posted

Pics of the exhaust on the car and welded up.

http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com/P2PwebCmdController/cache/a5ssV7hb54vu6lk9oLX1xCTWFjVL-ru4QTn%25BQ_Pw%269*URt_B%26ETr0TtEwSJ/item.JPG?rot=1

http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/W9z.2K*Z%3DW9MW-VmlJzCCnV4ftZzP902XSEEnpJ%25VXiIJUqaUGK%26TLFXGFMh Dvd/item.JPG?rot=1

http://a05-b05.mypicturetown.com:80/P2PwebCmdController/cache/1fHMz%3DDt4R.VdfkQ%3DGpne*x67FJ%25ivxDBbEoXW9IQT%3 DML%25ncgcBXU.q3--db7%3D3/item.JPG?rot=1

The only thing not pictured is the very short turndowns that mount on the dump outs and keep the heat away from the floor.

Good weather permitting it's back to the glass/trim shop tomorrow!

Very nice job Steve ,enjoy and Happy Motoring

Finally an update:
the car is DONE and I've put a video on youtube of the startup. Will have some good outside shots shortly after I clean everything up and get an alignment...
comments/questions ask away!

YouTube - First start up of Doty's 1968 Camaro SS 565 BBC on E-85

:)
Still smilin

I love you car. Looks great. I hope mine turns out as nice as yours. How long did it take you to build. Dare I ask how much it cost or am I crossing the line. Is soda blasting expensive comparred to other media blasting?

I love you car. Looks great. I hope mine turns out as nice as yours. How long did it take you to build. Dare I ask how much it cost or am I crossing the line. Is soda blasting expensive comparred to other media blasting?

Thanks Mike,
unfortunately this took me 5 years as I started with a "cheap quote" that butchered the car and turned it into a full frame off resto. While I was waiting I kept upgrading the plan with suspension, brake, and of course engine upgrades.
I would guess (because nobody in their right minds actually adds this up) that I have around $40k in the resto. Probably more with all the little stuff but that sounds pretty close. The soda blasting I believe is much better as it doesn't etch the metal or hurt any chrome/glass if still attached, and simply washes away in the rain. The bodyshop that did my car also does the soda blasting so it worked out well. I paid around $1,200 to have my car blasted. Good luck with your car!

Your car looks AND sounds great!!
Good job.:thumbsup::beers: