'81 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Tribute/Clone, 5.3 EFI, video links of car
1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Description
Restoration history can be seen here:http://nastyz28.com/threads/my-81-camaro-from-indiana.261458/
I started with a 1981 Camaro Sport Coupe that formerly had a V6 and made a 99% Z28 clone, the exception being the steering wheel.
2003 5.3 V8 with the factory PCM and harness, from a 1500 Silverado. Engine had a very clean life, oil changes, no gunk @100,200 miles I have several hundred since it has been in this Camaro
Drive-by-wire throttle
LS6 Intake w/fuel rail
4L60E trans
'91 Mustang aluminum driveshaft
10 Bolt Posi 3.42:1 rebuilt
z28 Springs front and rear
4 new shocks
front and rear '81 sway barsRebuilt front Disc Brakes
Right Stuff rear disc brake, w/Wilwood adjustable Prop valve
295x50 r15 Rear tires on 15x10 Vision wheels NEW 500 miles
235x60 r15 front tires on 15x8 Vision wheels 500 miles
P/S Steering gear box from 95 Jeep Cherokee (tighter ratio, same splines and bolts)
All stainless exhaust, shorty headers, with high flow Cats with X pipe and Magnaflow mufflers and full tailpipes.
Griffin "LS swap" radiator with Derale Dual fans (Spal Fans) run via the computer
Fuel tank is the original but modified to accept 2001/2 Camaro/Vette Fuel pump with the built in regulator, so no need for a return line. Also has new 2002 Camaro fuel filter, and all braided fuel line/AN fittings from pump to rail.
Digitails rear taillight w/ sequential turn signals/hazards/brake lights
Sheetmetal replaced:
Trunk Floor, tail panel, cross rail, braces in trunk from floor to tail panel, lower drivers 1/4 and part of upper rear. lower front and part of rear on pass side.
Door skins replaced
portions of fenders repaired near bottom.
2 large sections in floors, part of e-brake section, and lower right portion of the firewall, areas behind the door buttons.
portions of the cowl behind the windshield in the corners.
rear seat belt mounts rebuilt/welded
z28 hood repaired gash with fresh metal
Paint:
Honestly it could have been better. its a 15 foot car but will need a body touch up and respray. Paint code is 1981 Code 20, I used Chromabase and Nason Clear, you get whats left of the Chroma and info on the primers used.
Interior:
Reupholstered seats front with bottom and back heating elements added (heated seats you call them) rear seat is reupholstered as well
New door panels, and all plastic and steel paneling inside car was cleaned, prepped and shot SEM Landau Black and semi gloss cleared. all plastic panels were originally black as well.
Console is a little rough
Shifter has been converted to shift into, and show the OD feature of the 4L60 with the Shiftworks kit. looks and acts stock
Dash has a cap, and gauges are digital and from Intellitronix. I'm not happy with the Tachometer, it reads double. the other gauges work good. This was a create-a-dash kit that I built to fit stock. it does that well.
Pioneer head unit, rear 6x9s and front 3 or 4" speakers mounted together in the center of the dash.
extra switches on dash available for whatever you wish, Halo lights, etc.
Added Gentex rear view mirror and kit to display outside temp, and has the compass.
Custom stainless door sills that have light capability.
Check engine light wired to original 1981 indicator on dash.
OBDII port mounted under dash easy to access
Fuse block for PCM mounted conveniently underdash near OBDII ports
Engine harness and PCM flash was done by Andy Bryant from LSX Specialties who is out of Oregon, stand up guy and does these for a living. I have run this car since August and it didn't take long to get it going good. always starts, and runs strong each time. car is not loud, but you hear it at throttle. idle is quiet and mellow.
trans shifts great, car will get loose really quick and even on a roll it will spin tires strong. I refrain from doing that very much though.
car has some poly bushings in the back (sway bar)so it sounds a little creaky at times. Pipes are nice and tight to the underside of car and don't move around.(all banded, not welded)
Problems and issues to address:
I mentioned the paint, another few things in the A/C-blower are not in the car, I have the boxes and new blower and they are restored. you will need all the other A/C stuff if you want it and the wiring for it is in the car but tied off, this includes heater. It does have a new heater
Needs new wiper motor. I have wiper arms off and they will need blades.
Turn signals do not work properly. I think its a ground issue, will work with front light harness disconnected. but you plug that in and the relay action halts. the signal does come on, just doesn't flash, which I have been doing myself as I have driven it. Thats annoying I know.
drivers side window crank. Might be the splines, or these newer cranks..but it slips, and hard to roll down. Pass side works great if not a little snug.
Air Induction Flaps do not work, they will work if you jump the cylinder, but I think the switch is bad, which I did mount to the Drive-by-wire pedal, and it functions correct. Just no juice.
Cruise control is present, but just needs a few buttons wired for it to work. aftermarket buttons included
Only driving issues I have had is the right downstream O2 acted up once, and i went into limp mode and it was fixed easily, a wire got to close to the header. No problems since. Car also has a serpentine or vacuum squeal as its warming between cold, and normal operating temp. its not present at beginning or when hot. I suspect a pulley or belt.
Obviously, this car is not perfect, but all the difficult work has been done and its fresh on the road still. It just needs that extra bit of love and care.
Reason I'm selling is I'm pursuing a new career and also would like to return to having a Mopar project/driver so I have lost a lot of steam on this project (owned since 2013 as a basketcase) Over $15,000 invested
I am free to show this car at about any time. I work at home.
I like to be honest and if you have any concern or question about something, anything. I will be happy to tell you whats going on. Please be sure to check out that link at the top, you see everything under this paint, how it was put together and if that is up to your quality.
I'm posting a few videos shortly, please check it out below when its uploaded.
100% feedback here on Facebook since like 2002. I have bought and sold a lot here, please feel confident with what you are getting.
Video #1 Cold Start Up
https://youtu.be/J8isTAHXJo8
Video #2 Outside close up
https://youtu.be/tUV5QTTZH3k
Video #3 Run and lookhttps://youtu.be/qqIcXs05nCs
Overall look and listen, issues
https://youtu.be/797QNHjUiR8
Driving on the Highway
https://youtu.be/KFoRhpa59jI
On ramp to interstate and cruising.https://youtu.be/5xT7wrHgXwc
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