I bought a 67 RS/SS 396-325 H.P. 4 speed deluxe interior Camaro. I wnated to hear some Camaro enthusiasts opinions. The camaro does not have the original eng. or trans. I would be bored with a 396-325 H.P. eng. I was thinking of installing a date code correct 427-435H.P. eng and setting the car up like a dealer installed package with a stinger hood. Do you think if I went threw all that it would ad or subtract from the value of the car compared to installing a date code corect 396-325 H.P. eng?

I sure ain't worried about it b/c I lost my original motor years ago!!

pdq67 and now with a 496

Since you're missing the original engine anyways, I don't think the car's value will be hurt by using a more desirable period-correct engine.

No matter what you put in, the cowl tag will always testify to the car being an original big block car (assuming your cowl tag's pedigree is unquestioned, or you have other documentation). You wouldn't get away with that in a 68.

Another good starting point is the fact that your car is already equipped for a big block (eg. spring ratios, frame mounts, radiator), so you have less work to do compared, say, to a six-banger.

Worse of all, in my opinion, would be to try to clone the original engine by restamping a date correct 396/325 block. As soon as it's discovered, the car becomes tainted and everything is questionable.

The presence of A/C outlets in the passenger compartment will raise eyebrows if you try to pass it off as an original dealer conversion. You'll perpetually have to deal with the "Is it real" question.

If I were in your shoes, I'd install a stout vintage Corvette block (eg 396/425, 427/425, 427/435) and restore the rest of the car using vintage speed parts, just like a dealer or individual owner would've used in a conversion back then -- Lakewood bars, painted Hooker headers, aftermarket wheels fat in the back, Hurst shifter. The trick is to use vintage aftermarket parts and repaint/restore the aftermarket parts too if they're not NOS.

Thankyou for the input! I did the research on the trim tag before I purchased the car. I deliberately purchased a 67 for that reason. The car is georgeous. The previous owner installed a 540 CU. IN. Eng. and the car could not hookup. So I made him an offer he couldnt refuse so he wouldnt cut the car. I am going to repaint it to the original color MM (Madera Maroon). The car is black now. I will post some pics as soon as things take shape. For now I will be in seach of a 427Eng. thanks

Love to see that... it is going to be a nice ride with a 427 435 in it...

I finaly figured out how to download apic. in my profile check it out let me know what you think Thanks

I finaly figured out how to download apic. in my profile check it out let me know what you think Thanks

I think i like it very much! But one request...lose that hood in a big hurry. :D Just my opinion

If you don't care about originality that much, I'd go with a 502/502 crate motor and have a little fun on pump gas! An originally cofigured/date coded 396/325 hp motor will always be the most valuable for resale even if it isn't the original...and I agree, lose the hood (and spoilers)! Looks great in black as it is though :beers:

If you're going to be bored with that 396 I will come and take it off your hands.:) I second that about the hood. Nice Nice Nice car though. I love the black. No matter what you do with that car, I don't think it will subtract from the value.

Thank's I have already sold the hood. I am looking for a stinger hood for it. They are a liitle hard to come by. Hopefully i will find one. I appreciate any input. I really want to go all out on this car. If I cant find a date code correct 427 eng. by the time I get it repainted I am going to put an all aluminum big blok in until I find the 427.

I really like the way the car looks as is, I don't blame you for wanting to go all out with it. I have had mine since February and wonder why I waited so long to put one in the driveway. It is your car and do with it what you want (except cut it up). Our cars are with-in a couple weeks of each other but yours has a dlx interior and console. Good find and I hope we can put them together sometime.

Thats kinda cool that our cars were produced so close together. Beleive me I can not wait to take it for a ride and it would be sweet to cruz with you. It will be a while though.

Thanks to everyone @ team Camaro. If anyone heres of a stinger hood thats available please let me know.

i have the exact same car with the exception that mine came with a turbo 400. put a502 502 in it with 355 gears perfect combo.marina blue with white deluxe .

That must be one prety Camaro I would love to see a pic of it. How does it hook with the 502? My freind put a healthy 509 in his 68 He had to mini tub it and use cal tracs before it would hook. I really dont want to cut mine, so thought I would go with cal tracs and keep the cubes down so the Eng. wont produce a ton of torque and blow the tires off of it.

VFN Fiberglass (http://www.vfnfiberglass.com):

67-69 Stingray Yenko style Pin On Hood. Price=315.00 Weight=13 Ship: Truck Freight.

http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/camarostingrayhood.JPG

67-69 Stingray Yenko Style Bolt On Hood. Price=475.00 Weight=23 Ship: Truck Freight.

http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/stingraybot.JPG

hey bolt try www.vfnfiberglass.com they are a fiberglass company that make a 67-69 stinger hood w/ a steel insert. i also want to do a 427/435 67 camaro but i'm on the other end i have a 68 corvette IR code (427/435) motor std. bore. i'm just looking for the right car. good luck and super looking car.

MY bad I thought I was at the last post.:clonk:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5571/ajz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5210/bfi7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3373/cul1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

have to short shift into second and feather it until it hooks and then drop the hammer and hold on .just smoked a 2006 vette he was pissed.have had 396 and 427s no camparison.

Thanks for the heads up on VFN. Hey 67RS/SS you wanna part with the 427? It sure would be sweet in my Camaro! Thanks again to all @ team Camaro

gypsy lady405 Your car looks awsome so meticulous I realy like it!! Had to call my wife in to see it see was watching deal or no deal on TV. She loves the color. Thanks for the tickle

no problem. thanks for the comments. have had this car for 29 years. am building a low mile original 68 z about half way there. good luck on your ride.

Thanks I will keep you posted on the progress. It will be a little while until I get it back from the paint shop. 29 years you have me beet I own a 68 chevelle have had it for 20 years now.

pretty pumped about my z,put the exhaust and the brake system on it today. restoring a car is another world. what you think looks good does not matter.send some pix if you like.

Hey gypsy lady405 I just sent you an e-mail with some pics of my chevelle. Thought you would like to see it. Sounds like you are making some headway on the Z. Thats always a good feeling when some things come to completion and bring you that much closer. Let me know what you think of the Chevelle. Good luck and keep turning those wrenches.

first off it is blue hope that is what you are painting back as. my z is blue good color.i know how it is to have a car forever everybody tells you i would do this or that but the only thing that matters is what you want. i have a very good freind that has more chevelles than you are old. he is into original smog stuff numbers stuff you know what i am talking about.now i am .bummer but i still have my car in the garage that i built the way i wanted to.lots more fun.

Yes The car is going to be torquise blue. When I bought it it had a supercharged eng. in it. I wanted something I could drive anywhere and still have the power to shut down new vetts and mustangs. I think it will be capable of all that. Cant wait to see your Z. Good luck

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3897/mvc006snt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7847/mvc009spe6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
on the lift stage exhaust fuel and brakes. fun stuff!!!

WoW that is sweet! How long has it taken you to get this far. Your wife must hardly remember what you look like you had better send her a pic. of yourself before you go back in the house , she may have you arrested HaHa. I love when a car looks as nice on the bottom as it does the top. You should be proud I sure would be! Good luck on finishing her up. It looks like you dont have far to go.

Gypsy lady405 Are the floors in your car painted and the sub frame powder coated? Is that high gloss excepted in the #s correct world. The reason I ask is I want to restore my 67 RS/SS correctly and I am planning on painting the floors the same color as the top (madera maroon) I sure would like to powder coat the frame in a high gloss finish like yours. I just did not know if that would be considered a real bad thing?

Madeira Maroon is a good color Bolt. Here's my last 67. (http://www.67rs-ss.net/my67/1st%20Camaro_Dad/1967_camaro8x6.jpg)
My current project is going to be the same color and I'm planning on painting the underside the maroon too and powder coating the subframe.

Hi Christopher, I was wondering about the Madera Maroon. I have not seen a car painted that color yet. A lot of peole have said it was a nice color. I just keep thinking if it is so nice why dont I ever see any cars in that color at the car shows? Is it a rare color? I am waiting on my commitment until I either see a car painted that color or my painter mix's some up and shoots a panel of metal with it so I can carry it around with me for a week to make sure I like it. That is a great pic of your Camaro it brings me back in time. Thanks Sal

It really is a nice color, and we've had 2 67s painted that color. That picture really doesn't do it justice though. That's my dad standing in front of it. I do find it odd to not see many painted that color as well, but you know everyone likes the red/blue/black/white cars... The maroon is beautiful, and not as common, and that's the way I like it :)

I will second that . I have a maroon pick up truck and it is georgeous on a sunny day. I am sure I will get to see that color on a Camaro before mine is painted. Who knows maybe yours. Good luck keep me posted on your accomplishments.

the frame and undercarriage are painted with base coat clear coat with a flatterner in clear.not as shiney as it lookes in pix. also note paint does not shine more with time it gets duller.i dont know about the experts that restore camaros i have never seen any of these cars, but i am doing the best i can to restore my car to new.i hope my paint job is ok by them because it is ten times better than the old lacquer that was on the car when new.all in all these cars should look better than when new . if you cant put the old paint back on the car which you cant why should you put anything else back like it was.you do the best you can everybody has there own view on what a car should look like. just something to think about.

I see said the blind man. Your car looks so good I thought you were a profesional! I have always done my cars the way I like em. With this 67 Camaro things are a little different this time around. I want to restore the body and preserve it as close to original as possible. So I am trying to gather all information the best I can before I make some kind of critical mistake. Everything for this car is mad expensive. I had to pay over $300.00 for an NOS window felt. I cant afford to make to many mistakes. As far as your Z goes all I can say is GET R DONE ! I cant wait to see her glisten in the sun, a car like that can raise the testosterone a few points! keep me posted on your progress. Thanks Sal

tell me about cost i was lucky my car had everything there except the correct starter and manifolds,and a few minor things.even had the smog system. and i guess if being a professinal is doing body and paint for over thirty years i guess i am. dont paint the undercarriage marron.not even close to original, even if you get the gloss right.