I was planning to buy new Camaro SS in January, I just couldn't get over the sticker shock of $42,000. Starting searching for a used V8 Camaro on C/L....Wow what of bunch of junk, Overpriced junk at that.
Long story short, I picked up a clean 2001 V6 Camaro with a blown engine for $1200, Pulled the '04 5.3L/4L60E out of the old '85 Suburban that I couldn't give away if I tried.
Trimmed it out with a Camaro oil pan, LS2 intake, 2011 Camaro front accessories, Aeromotive fuel rails & Regulator, Reused the truck PCM, Throttle body, Throttle pedal, TAC module, MAF sensor, Map sensor. Had the PCM custom tuned to run the Camaro cluster/Tire size/Gear ratio, BP Automotive built me a custom Engine Harness. Rebuilt the rear diff with a Posi carrier & 3.42 gears. Freshened the trans with new planetaries, Sonnax shift kit, Sonnax sunshell, Alto Hi-Energy frictions, new OEM 2/4 Band, Vette 2nd servo, & Sonnax 4th gear servo.
Bilstein Struts & Shocks, OEM Pads & rotors all around, BBK headers & Y-pipe, 3" single out the back with a Borla muffler.
The low end torque is amazing in a light car!, Haven't made any full throttle runs yet (Differential gears & Trans still "Breaking In") Happy enough just getting to drive it after 6 months of devoting most of my free time to this project & all my Vacation time.
Handles great to me even with the V6 sway bars & the Iron block 5.3L. Will step up to better sway bars later. Still need to mount the 245/50ZR16 BFG G-force Comp-2 tires, Want to get used to the car with junk tires first (Worn out Kumho Solus)
3.8L underhood shot
Long story short, I picked up a clean 2001 V6 Camaro with a blown engine for $1200, Pulled the '04 5.3L/4L60E out of the old '85 Suburban that I couldn't give away if I tried.
Trimmed it out with a Camaro oil pan, LS2 intake, 2011 Camaro front accessories, Aeromotive fuel rails & Regulator, Reused the truck PCM, Throttle body, Throttle pedal, TAC module, MAF sensor, Map sensor. Had the PCM custom tuned to run the Camaro cluster/Tire size/Gear ratio, BP Automotive built me a custom Engine Harness. Rebuilt the rear diff with a Posi carrier & 3.42 gears. Freshened the trans with new planetaries, Sonnax shift kit, Sonnax sunshell, Alto Hi-Energy frictions, new OEM 2/4 Band, Vette 2nd servo, & Sonnax 4th gear servo.
Bilstein Struts & Shocks, OEM Pads & rotors all around, BBK headers & Y-pipe, 3" single out the back with a Borla muffler.
The low end torque is amazing in a light car!, Haven't made any full throttle runs yet (Differential gears & Trans still "Breaking In") Happy enough just getting to drive it after 6 months of devoting most of my free time to this project & all my Vacation time.
Handles great to me even with the V6 sway bars & the Iron block 5.3L. Will step up to better sway bars later. Still need to mount the 245/50ZR16 BFG G-force Comp-2 tires, Want to get used to the car with junk tires first (Worn out Kumho Solus)
3.8L underhood shot