Putting Camaro front in 55 second gen

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by dsraven

if you are going to use cast exhaust manifolds try the camaro style, they fit between the frame rails better.
looks good.

I may look for a set, otherwise I will be notching the sub frame. And putting a notch thru one of one of the lower control arm brackets...

[Mac the Yankee]

Don't forget that the Nova used the same subframe/manifolds- might make your search a little easier

[63chevyll]

Good looking stance. And good find with the Ranger hanger mounts

[dsraven]

the Camaro style manifolds I used on my mock up were from a 2000 (?) style Camaro. lots of room when used on the stock frame.

[Coupeguy2001]

Great stance, but you need to put 250 Lbs of sheet metal back on it before you say it's where you want it. Happened to me. I thought I had it cinched, but when it was all back together, it was too low.
Also, radiator, bumper, air conditioning components, master cylinder, air filter and ducting, electric fan, and water.
A set of 18's will change everything as well.
All affect total ride height.

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by Coupeguy2001

Great stance, but you need to put 250 Lbs of sheet metal back on it before you say it's where you want it. Happened to me. I thought I had it cinched, but when it was all back together, it was too low.
Also, radiator, bumper, air conditioning components, master cylinder, air filter and ducting, electric fan, and water.
A set of 18's will change everything as well.
All affect total ride height.

I understand the game... Im also sure those 30 plus year old front springs have seen setter days... In the back of my mind, I'm planning for all of it. LOL

I will keep posting stuff, as long as there is a interest... I am going to try and get the motor set in the hole this weekend. Maybe get a steering column and manifolds set on...

[Dave0]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Great Job so Far, thanks for the pictures! where did you get the Ford Ranger Spring Hangers?

Do you have a build thread on your truck to go with that pretty frame?

I started fitting the front end, the lt side core support hits the steering box. Bad, like by a inch....

[dug224]

Nice build...dug

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[Dave0]

Thanks guys! After I trimmed up the inner fenders to clear the new frame. I centered the sheet metal and the bumper, put it on jack stands, taped it so it couldnt "roll" I started making the bumper brackets. The bumper is flipped upside down too...

I had to butcher up the Lt side core support mount to get it to clear the steering box. (More on that later)



Cardboard template... I can ALMOST flip it and get Lt and Rt. The lt rail is trimmed back a 1/4 inch further than the Rt... I did have to notch the tray below the grill for bracket clearance... I will post pics of it after the bumper is mounted...



Engine sitting on some 3/16 mounts, I will add a gusset to keep them from collapsing when the bolts are tightened... I raised the engine up HIGH! The truck LS pan almost clears the camaro cross member... It hangs down 3/4...

[Indian113]

Looking Good ! Nice pictures

[Kim57]

Coming along nicely.
Kim

[Dave0]

I posted this elsewhere but no response... Anything wrong with this radiator?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ROW-FULL-A...BV3OYa&vxp=mtr

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by Dave0

I posted this elsewhere but no response... Anything wrong with this radiator?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ROW-FULL-A...BV3OYa&vxp=mtr

Looks like a decent radiator for the price.
More than likely from China but still may be good.
Kim

[Some_Guy]

It looks exactly like the made-in-china radiator I put in my 55 after a mishap with my battery hold downs a couple years ago. It'll bolt right in without any drama, seems to hold near a gallon more coolant than a stock 55 radiator and keeps the old, tired, 283 I'm running cool. Thats without a shroud or electric fan.

Hope that helps

[Dave0]

Anyone want to point me to a GOOD radiator...

[Some_Guy]

When I was looking people seemed to prefer Champion radiators for drop in replacements. They're manufactured in China too. Probably at the same plant as the no-name ones.

http://www.championradiators.com/Che...-row-1955-1959

[Speedbumpauto]

If you want a GOOD radiator made in USA, look at Bryce Thomas Radiators. They made the 2 row 1 1/4" tube radiator for my 55 and I just had them make a custom unit for my alcohol altered drag car. Good people, good product but they cost some more than Champion and the other off shore stuff. In this case, "ya get what ya pay for."

[Kim57]

Mattsons is also a USA made radiator.
http://www.mattsonscustomradiator.com/
Kim

[Zooms_58_Fleetside]

Nothing wrong with Champion radiators. I've got one in my 58 Fleetside and have bought several others over the years and never had a problem. They may be made in China, but you can't beat them for the price.

[1-ton of fun]

I was going to try the Eastwood triple pass unit. Comes in different sizes and the stock replacement one I bought hits my steering box on my nova clipped truck. So my son got that one for his project
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[ptc]

I am really happy with CHAMPION and their customer service.

I am doing my '57 w/ a Camaro clip.... a little 'custom' because I wanted a crossflow style radiator (like the stock camaro and newer trucks) and I needed it to fit the existing radiator support without too much remaking of the entire thing. Plus I had to have something that will cool a BBC 1000hp monster engine....

They took the time to search their entire inventory of sizes and styles that I gave them that would fit my application and came up with one that would fit, without having to be CUSTOM MADE.... which everyone else said it would be to the tune of about $900.00 - Theres was about $300.

Plus its a 2 row design which they explained will cool much better than these 3 and 4 rows super duper systems out there. Their design of row size and gap size is larger and can flow more GPM for cooling (with the right pump) that the other smaller row size radiators. That is the key to cooling is flow rate. Its a great looking, fitting and operating radiator.

[Dave0]

Thank you guys for the radiator advice!

I got the rad supports mounts done, bumper brackets and a small cross bar tacked in. Its all I could get in there without interfering with too much.

Body is all off, time to center up the rear end. Nail down the motor and transmission. Set my pinion angle and weld it all up!

I need to get a fuel tank and master cylinder ordered to keep moving along...

[Kim57]

Nice work on radiator support.
Kim

[Dave0]

Camaro/Trans am tank...

Got the driveshaft in too... Waiting on a master cylinder now to button up trans cross member...

Without a bunch of searching, does someone make GM style lines that will connect the plastic lines from the fuel pump?