BBC auto, SBC Stick, mild = boring?

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here in a while!

Well its that time of the year when you know spring is on the way and you start looking at things to tinker with in the shop.

I have this 1980 Camaro , in good condition , fully functional , 99% rust free survivor, its a plain jane with a "refreshed" '73 truck 350 , stock 993 heads, GM stock aluminum 4 barrel Quadrajet intake and stock manifolds dumping into a 2" 1/4 true dual exhaust. Th350 and peg leg 2.56 rear.

Heres a pic of the beast after after too many burnouts.


So the car drives fine, not great but the thing is 40 years old obviously... but its a fun driver ( very smooth) but off the line is really not exciting with the 2.56 rear, your moms minivan is probably faster...

We have numerous 454s on the shelves , Th400s, and also a couple Super t-10 ( all aluminum cases) 4 speed transmissions.

I was maybe thinking of swapping the th350 for one of the Super t-10 ( have 2.88 and 2.64 models)

Or I could also swap a "refreshed and spray canned" 454 with a little cam , alum dual plane intake and some headers and keep it Automatic and get some 3.08s

If I had a iron case super t-10 Id probably make it mild BBC and stick... but the BBC will explode a stock aluminum Super t-10...well at least the way I drive.

In a world of bigger, faster and more expensive is always better (which I don't live by) , I personally think that even just the stock little 350 with some 3.42 gears and a 2.88 first Super t-10 4 speed would be real fun to drive around.

What would you guys do?

I owned a race/fab shop pretty much all my life so now im lucky to own numerous muscle and vintage cars, American, German and Japanese, same for motorcycles, its more like a mental disease than a passion I guess...

So I am not going to make a Pro-touring out of it, or use any modern tech, its not my thing, I like old school, simple and vintage. That's why I like old cars, I love the way the feel, smell and drive.

So again, what would you do with this little Camaro, A BBC/Auto? SBC/4 speed? Just leave it alone and paint it? tell us your experience.

I think this post can also help other members in a similar situation with their built.

Thanks
Peter

 

That's an option I'm considering, but all the other options are also oldschool , simple and vintage

 

The BBC is definitely tempting because the second gen F-body is one of the easiest cars to fit a BBC in with stock parts.
I have the 454 , the th400 , but I have the 4 speeds too , In an Ideal world it would be a 454 with a 4 speed , but the 4 speeds wont survive long behind even a mild 400-425 hp BBC.

Going Big block also mean new exhausts all over, new gears, and all the nickel and diming with little parts a swap involves

A manual swap , I have the transmissions, no need for a new crossmember , manual pedals and bars set can be had for 150$ and the swap can be done in one day. Then little things like adding shorty headers, gears, intake and tuning the carb can be done in small increments while the car remains driveable.

I already have a 70s chevelle with a 454 th400 and a 73 Firebird with Pontiac 461 Stroker and th400, for the rest we have a couple other cars with V8s and stick.

Like I said Im just trying to give some personality to this plain Jane Camaro , while staying true to its roots.

Peter

 

1980RS , as you probably know not all Super T10s are created equal. St-10s from the mid-late 70s with 2.43 First gear ,those transmissions could handle Pontiac 455s and 400 torque without a problem.

As the first gear ratio changes the strength a bit, from the most fragile "smog era" 3.42 firsts, (why they added a "904" iron case to make it tougher) to the strongest 2.43 first gear from the mid 70s and vettes. We can built a 2.43 first geared, iron cased, mid plated St-10 and it will easily cope with 600hp on a track with slicks no problem. The aluminum housing and higher gears are the main weakness.

Sadly the St-10s I have on my shelves are aluminum cases with either 2.64 or 2.88 first gears. The 2.64 might last longer behind a 454 and street tires. but the 2.88 I doubt...

We exploded many in the past and since those transmissions are getting expensive to replace, I would like it to survive. Can always baby it , but what's the purpose of a Camaro if you can't let her stretch her legs a little...

I have already a 70 chevelle with a 454 and th400 with 3.07s and a 73 Firebird with a Pontiac 461, th400 with 3.08s. And you are right indeed its a very fun bulletproof set up on the street...
im just looking for something a little different in the Camaro.