The Camaro Club (UK)

Hi,

I'm a new member to this site and i have just purchased a 1977 Camaro LT 305CI V8.
Please see pics off my Camaro below and feel free to comment.

Thanks from Luke

Looks good Luke.

Nice clean motor.

SI

A good looking car you've got there. I like the color and the wheels really suit it. Nice one

Hello and Welcome.......nice purchase, looks pretty clean

Is it all standard (except the wheels and exhaust) ?

_________________
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Hi & welcome to the forum, nice looking car you've got there. What's the spec on it?? Any plans for the future??

cheers...Nige

_________________
Too much power...not enough hands!!

Welcome nice looking motor

Cheers.....Tim

Hi all,

Below is the information i have so far, again please feel free to add comments. As i'm new a new owner i have lots to learn in what to buy and what to do to keep my Camaro in top condition.
Not got anything planed in the short term but one of the first things i would want is a Cowl Hood fitted and in the long term i would fit a larger V8 engine


A previous owner rebuilt it in 2000, and I have a ring binder full of invoices and parts manuals to substantiate this.



History

Being a Type LT it was second only to the Z28, and is well optioned. I have the export slip to the UK in the 1980’s and the original handbook.



I have the original build slip, which lists all the factory spec and options, namely;



Sport bucket seat interior blue velour

Sport door mirrors with remote control to driver side

Centre console

Glove box light

Hideaway wipers

Rear window de-fogger (not connected at present).

Boot spoiler

Chrome body trim

Power steering and brakes



Engine and Transmission

A 305 (5.0 litre) V8. I have decoded this and it is a later 305 from a 1989 Camaro IROC. The injection was replaced with an Edelbrock inlet manifold and Edelbrock 600cfm 4 barrel with manual choke. Other engine mods include a mild Edelbrock performer cam, Hedman headers and a GM HEI ignition/coil. The exhaust system is a new dual 2 ½ “system with exhaust cut outs and it exits through Flowtech Afterburner mufflers. It had new alternator a couple of years ago. The transmission received a B&M trans kit, torque convertor and B&M quicksilver shifter.



Body and underside

The body is rust free save for a couple of tiny surface rust spots I treated these when I bought the car but they have got no worse. The car has new front wings and inner wings. The rest is original, solid, clean and rust free. Rear quarters have been repaired and are totally solid. The whole car was resprayed match the original GM metallic light blue and had new weather-stripping throughout. The paint is slightly flat in places with a few minor blemishes (mostly the bonnet) but it polishes up very well.



Underneath, it is totally solid, clean and undersealed. There is no rust anywhere and the exhausts still have the stickers on which demonstrates how little use the car has had since the rebuild. The suspension benefits from Z28 anti roll bars, and recent Kone gas shocks.



The Cragar Street Star rims give the car a great stance. I coat the wheels with grease when it’s not on the road to keep them looking good. Tyres are Cooper Cobra white letter





Interior

The interior is in very good, original condition. The only mods inside are a smaller Mountney leather 3 spoke wheel (although it has the original Type LT centre horn push) and the B&M shifter. All interior lights work, the seat belt warning light and key in ignition buzzer works, glove box light etc, but the clock and cigarette lighter don’t. The velour looks great with no wear on the seat squabs, the door cards and dash top are not faded or cracked. The carpets are recent GM replacements in the correct colour as are the floor mats. The headliner is sagging slightly in places but this has never bothered me. I replaced the chrome sill plates last year with new polished ‘Body by Fisher’ items.



It has a decent Phillips CD/radio with removable face and remote. There are some speakers in the rear parcel shelf and rear side panels. There is an amp in the boot but this takes up little space.



The boot has the original liner, and original GM Rallye spare wheel. The boot area is rust free but I have noticed it leaks slightly if taken out in the rain.







On the road

It starts easily and is totally reliable. It accelerates sharply with smooth kickdown and a great muscle car sound - although this doesn’t intrude when cruising. It took me a while to get the silencers right and the Flowtechs are just right. The exhaust cut outs can be easily removed to give unrestricted exhaust flow for the dragstrip – then it sounds like a big block. The steering is light and it corners surprisingly well thanks to the Z28 suspension set up. The power assisted brakes pull up quiet and straight.

Well done fella-you got the best looking body/bumper combination there IMHO !
Assume this was the one on ebay from south Oxfordshire? Think he had a couple of goes at listing it as it didnt sell first off.
Looks a nice car though-sure you want to spoil those smooooth lines with a shaker hood?

Yes the car was from Oxfordshire, i contacted him through Piston Heads. I think he was asking to much to start with. Got him down quite abit. but still maybe slightly over priced. But i was happy to pay, as it's a solid car with alot of it's history documented. So i can enjoy the car before i have to do anything major to it.
My first project now i think is to re-wire the CD player, to somewhere out of view and to fit an original radio the the correct place just for show.So it's all matching and looks correct to the period.
Does anyone have a spare 70's Camaro radio, i can buy from them? ( dosnt have to work! )

Also i was thinking off getting some orignal wheels to keep it looking how it should. Is there a good reason that most Camaro's i see have new non original alloy wheels?

Thanks from Luke

I dont know how much your dash has been hacked,but originally it would have had the usual 70's 'spindle fit' am radio. Mine has a period 'Jensen' rad/cass which may or may not have been dealer-fitted from new,but it looks period.In fact its not even connected to the aerial (buried in the centre of the windscreen).Tape player part of it gives typical 70's tinny rubbish sound for playing 'Peaceful easy feeling' whilst cruising tho! I would have thought ebay would have thrown up something appropriate & cheap...
Quite agree re the wheels. Mine wears the factory 'rally steel wheels' it was built with. I do like the Z28 '5 spoke' steels of 77 too. I spotted some steels like mine last week here
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Chevy-Chevrolet ... 500wt_1154
athough its ended,looks like they didnt sell & he may be worth a follow up.....
I think mine were silver from factory as the body colour paint is lifting in places to show proper-finish silver underneath. Body-colour wheels may have been an option (havent checked),either way it seems to have been quite common place;I like it & I believe mine has been like that for years.
If you havent been there yet,visit
http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro77.php
I spent ages on there when I first bought my 76;-tons of gen & the forum is excellent. I found my build sheet stuffed under the passengers rear seat base. With that you can refer to the web page above to easily decode it & find out more about your car. Its quite addictive!
Cheers,Andrew