j.e.d. Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Thanks again mate, I'm picking up my new manifold on Friday but won't bother putting it on til I get another mortgage to pay for the MSD. Was looking at the kit that k-trips posted & was wondering, is it worth getting that with all the leads & their coil, or will my existing leads & coil be up to the task for now? Saw this TM listing & have queried for a price of his MSD setup, would this suit me or best to pick up a new/simpler one? He says that it has a 6000rpm rev limit set to the ignition control. Other than it being for a marine application would this work for me? What kind of value would this be worth 2nd hand? (he's asked me to make an offer - I see they're about $1200-1300 from the states plus postage. Crikey) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1047993340 It's pretty much this kit I'd say.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSD-Ignition-6560K-6M-2L-Marine-Ignition-Control-Kit-/111446062975 I like the ready to run type though, that his lordship suggested a few posts up.. this should do the job? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1046536443 After all this I think I need to concentrate on improving the handling of this thing. Shakes like a haunted shithouse around 96km & 104km.. very annoying, I'm assuming it's suspension rubbers as they all look as though they're original 1974 vintage. I balanced the front wheels yesterday & one of them was out a heap (maybe buckled rim), but I don't like the slotted stud pattern of them either as they're relying on being centered off the hub - that can't be super reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 9, 2016 Author Share Posted March 9, 2016 Seeing that a BBC might be on the cards I wouldn't do much more than the intake and Dissy. Another thought, BBC in Camaros make great drag cars, crap for going round corners. An LS motor with over drive trans is a much better answer in my mind. Food for thought thanks. This is just a car to cruise around in on weekends & it's the sound of a big block that appeals to me more than anything, but I do like the idea of an overdrive trans too. Meh, gotta stop thinking about something that won't be happening for a while yet. Unless a well priced 454 pops up. No. Mustn't. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
locost_bryan Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 After all this I think I need to concentrate on improving the handling of this thing. Shakes like a haunted shithouse around 96km & 104km.. very annoying, I'm assuming it's suspension rubbers as they all look as though they're original 1974 vintage. I balanced the front wheels yesterday & one of them was out a heap (maybe buckled rim), but I don't like the slotted stud pattern of them either as they're relying on being centered off the hub - that can't be super reliable. Must think it's the Trans Am from Shaker Run http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/shaker-run-1985 (heaps of old school cars in that clip ). Plenty of polyurethane bush kits for the Camaro http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/packagedeal037 http://www.classicindustries.com/product/camaro/parts/318116.html http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-total-body-and-suspension-kit-polyurethane-1973-1974.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks again mate, I'm picking up my new manifold on Friday but won't bother putting it on til I get another mortgage to pay for the MSD. Was looking at the kit that k-trips posted & was wondering, is it worth getting that with all the leads & their coil, or will my existing leads & coil be up to the task for now? Saw this TM listing & have queried for a price of his MSD setup, would this suit me or best to pick up a new/simpler one? He says that it has a 6000rpm rev limit set to the ignition control. Other than it being for a marine application would this work for me? What kind of value would this be worth 2nd hand? (he's asked me to make an offer - I see they're about $1200-1300 from the states plus postage. Crikey) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1047993340 It's pretty much this kit I'd say.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSD-Ignition-6560K-6M-2L-Marine-Ignition-Control-Kit-/111446062975 I like the ready to run type though, that his lordship suggested a few posts up.. this should do the job? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1046536443 After all this I think I need to concentrate on improving the handling of this thing. Shakes like a haunted shithouse around 96km & 104km.. very annoying, I'm assuming it's suspension rubbers as they all look as though they're original 1974 vintage. I balanced the front wheels yesterday & one of them was out a heap (maybe buckled rim), but I don't like the slotted stud pattern of them either as they're relying on being centered off the hub - that can't be super reliable. On the street you need a vacuum advance, does wonders for the fuel economy. One of those MSD Street fire HEI's would be the go. Should be all in for less than $300. The other thing with the HEI is to open the plug gap up to .040 Dont bother with the flash ignition unless you have a motor making 500 plus HP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Also thinking about your handling issues, From the factory they weren't flash. Heavier springs, better shocks (I stuck Koni's in the front of mine, fully adjustable and cost a kings ransom in 1991), Trans Am W58 sway bars and more aggressive wheel alignment.Some 17 inch wheels and good tires help as well. I had a vibration issue with the Uni's being worn in the drive shaft. Drop the drive shaft out and make sure that th unis move freely but not loose. If they are tired get some one like automotive driveline to replace and balance the shaft at the same time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks again for your feedback mate. I picked up my air gap rpm manifold today and the guy was very helpful as well with my setup. He suggested with my current carb that I'll need to richen it up a little bit because of the longer runners.. he recommended maybe looking at changing the carb to a 570 street avenger for better adjustability, but said see how my 600 goes as it could be fine. We'll see I guess. Those avengers aren't cheap. He's the secretary of the Puke Hot Rod club so was good chatting with him about all sorts of shit. Top man. Handling? Yea, I'll definitely look at all those things mate, thanks. As much as I love the look of the 14" cragars, it'll be on the cards for me to change to a bigger rim, either 17 or 18 at the most I think. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Always happy to help. I have a lot of great memories from that car. Watch bonnet clearance with that airgap manifold, they are a taller than the standard one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Will do. Was told from the guy I got the manifold off that the big cap HEI won't fit with this manifold. You ever hear or know of that? I like that street fire option you mentioned but this could be a stumbling block and I may need to go with the other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 it'll be on the cards for me to change to a bigger rim, either 17 or 18 at the most I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Hahaha.. aww c'mon maaaate.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Yeah, you're probably right. I know you'll choose a sweet style too. I just read that comment and thought of big ugly wheels. /I'm a jealous Triumph driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Fair call man. That's always my first thought too when thinking of anything bigger than 15", but it'll be something period correct in style. As much as I'm sweet with the 14's, I'd rather a better handling car, not a boat. You should experience this car doing 150kmh with light as fuck power steering. Now that's exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Fair call man. That's always my first thought too when thinking of anything bigger than 15", but it'll be something period correct in style. As much as I'm sweet with the 14's, I'd rather a better handling car, not a boat. You should experience this car doing 150kmh with light as fuck power steering. Now that's exciting. Reminds me of an XD Falcon I had. They always had an issue with excessive power assistance at higher rpm (and speed) due in part to an undersized power steering pump pulley. I soiled many undies in that car, a sneeze at speed would kill you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Sounds like a wheel alignment is in order. Get it set up with half a degree of negative camber and 3 to 4 degrees of caster and it will be much better. The extra caster will give the steering a bit more weight. The other thing with a Camaro is to get the front lower than the back, that spoiler actually works and will push the back of the car down at speed and air gets under the front lifting it higher still. Makes for scary handling at speed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 Alignment all booked in for this arvo. Will report back later with results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 Alignment was a non starter. The guy rebalanced the wheels I got balanced last week cos they were way out. Checked the rears as well. My problem is these rims have a bigger center bore size than the hub on the car. Not normally an issue except they're a slotted mag so you're relying on your ability to manually centre it by eye. Never gonna work. He measured the rim and hub and it works out I need a 4.5mm collar to take up the difference. Massive. The guy is seeing if he can track anything down but I'm not hopeful. The problem is finding a supplier that does a collar to suit a camaro hub I guess. Update.. Soo... did a Google search and looks like they're called a hub centric ring. Think I'll head out to the shed this morning and do some measuring. Cool story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threeonthetree Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Alignment was a non starter. The guy rebalanced the wheels I got balanced last week cos they were way out. Checked the rears as well. My problem is these rims have a bigger center bore size than the hub on the car. Not normally an issue except they're a slotted mag so you're relying on your ability to manually centre it by eye. Never gonna work. He measured the rim and hub and it works out I need a 4.5mm collar to take up the difference. Massive. The guy is seeing if he can track anything down but I'm not hopeful. The problem is finding a supplier that does a collar to suit a camaro hub I guess. Update.. Soo... did a Google search and looks like they're called a hub centric ring. Think I'll head out to the shed this morning and do some measuring. Cool story. You can get hubcentric rings made to order. Ask some of the guys running non-standard wheels who they use. I made a set for my old Valiant once. edit: Are these the regular Chev/Holden/GM 5x4.75" PCD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.e.d. Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 Cheers man. The cragars are the unilug design............ Hub diameter of the camaro is 70.3mm wheel centerbore diameter is a whopping 91-92mm. You can see the difference in this pic of the marks left by the mag on the drum face.. If I go down this route I'll need to get something made up as there is nothing I can see available on the market. The reason for this is explained next.. I've been doing some investigating & with this type of design, the wheel is centred to the hub by using unilug washers specific to the stud pattern. The washer has written on it "wheel side" & this is supposed to centre the rim upon fitment (washer has a conical shape to it I believe). There is a specific procedure involved as well & from what I can gather, you finger tighten the first nut up at the 12 o'clock position, then rotate that down to the 6 o'clock & then finger tighten the top 2 nuts, then progressively do the rest. Apparently by the 3rd nut being tightened it has centered itself. I think my biggest issue is the fact that the tyre outfit yesterday didn't realise any of this, & they've gone ahead & tightened all the nuts up & some of the washers are facing the wrong way, therefore flattening them out. Therefore rendering them fucked I believe. I'm finding it difficult to find definitive proof that the washers I have are the ones I need for my car (you'd think they were correct considering they've been on the car all these years). Think I might go out to the shed & redo ALL the wheels again properly & go for a test drive. Whats the worst that can happen. And to think, all this started cos of a little shake at 104kmh, and now its worse. A lot worse. Shoulda left the fucking thing alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwibirdman Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 You have an easy check if the wheels are the issue. Take a couple of the wheels off the HQ project and stick them on the front of the Camaro. From memory the centre bore is the same size as a Holden and the stud pattern is exactly the same. Go for a drive and see if you problem goes away. In any case a hub spacer for the Cragars is not a bad idea. Mind you the pair on the back of my Firebird have been on 3 different cars and haven't given a major problem. The ones on the front were new ones I bought for the Firebird and have never had the proper Cragar washers. I believe the washers are to stop the nuts from eating up the alloy around the holes not for location purposes. The wheel is located by the shank of the nut, on the unilug Chevs use the out side of the hole and Fords the inside. I am also confused about the wheel alignment not being able to be done. Wheel balance has nothing to do with alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 I always thought with cragars you set the PCD with the correct offset washers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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