This gorgeous 1979 Camaro was purchased by a enthusiast in Minnesota that originally intended to immediately sell it, but after putting the car up on jack stands and seeing how solid and rust free the car was, his wheels started turning.
How about an LS1 with an LS6 intake manifold, 310 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque, with a 4l60E transmission out of a 4th generation Camaro? Well that would certainly get the job done!
So the project went forward with a retrofit that used the stock serpentine belt system, a Griffin aluminum radiator with a Spal electric fan. The fan is hooked to a Painless fan relay with temp control and the engine uses a TPIS engine wiring harness and computer programming. The fuel system required some mods to run the late model power plant, but nothing more than a Bosch external fuel pump and Corvette filter regulator. The Camaro breathes through a K&N filter and exhales via Edelbrock TES headers with Flowmaster 2 1/2-inch dual pipes and mufflers.
The 4L80E transmission has a B&M cooler and a Shiftworks conversion that allows the conversion to mate nicely with the stock shifter. The rear end was totally rebuilt with 3.73:1 gears and an Easton posi and mates up to the transmission with 2-inch shorter custom drive shaft.
The interior is nicely put together and uses custom front seats that were professionally recovered in black ultra vinyl with cloth inserts. It’s crisp and new but does a great job tipping its hat to the original styling seen in these cars. Autometer gauges stand tall in place of the original gauges and give the interior a modernized face lift.
After the ’79 was completely disassembled, the builder powdercoated the front subframe, and miscellaneous pieces were also treated to nickel-plating. Then the entire unibody was taken down to bare metal and plastic and the entire car was treated to a thick coat of DuPont Viper Red.
After paint, the car was then brought back to life starting with a front rebuild kit and urethane bushings from PST, QA1 coilvers and an Addco sway bar up front. Rear suspension duties are handled by Eaton Detroit leaf springs (1-inch lowering), stock shocks, and another Addco sway bar. Directional changes also happen much quicker, thanks to an AGR 16:1 steering box. Braking is fantastic courtesy of late model Corvette binders.
This gorgeous car is about as practical as they get. It has been featured in Super Chevy magazine and has seen a turn on the Hot Rod Power Tour and with its proven reliability and slicked out paint it’s hard to fault as a cruiser, show car, or even an everyday driver.
