The 1971 Lethal Classic!

[Lethal Camaro]

Good Evening!

Name is Mat and I have decided to save the life of a 1971 Camaro std. to use as my base to build my Lethal Classic. This is my first ground up restoration project, but I am being supported, guided and learning how its all done by a few pro's. But enough about me, lets take a look at the project!

The Lethal Classic:

Car: 1971 Camaro Std.
Original Color: Antique Green
Packages: Nothing... base of the base models

The Build Focus:
My love of the 2nd Gen revolves around modified 1970-1973 Z/28 RS cars. I love the lines, the look and feel once the car is lowered a bit and ditches the stock wheels. In my journey I plan to do a resto build of sorts with a pro touring style. Inspiration of builds here and builds at car shows have really driven my hype for this car to get built. I made the choice knowing it wasn't going to be cheap as it could be a project myself and my sons could enjoy and hopefully keep in the family for years to come.

The Car:
I knew I was getting a semi okay shell... I held off on buying an already full built car as you just never know what you're getting into. Well, this car did have some secrets, but we could see her bones from day one and knew what was needed. Everything! We also needed to take a lot out.

The car is a California car and sat for most of its life with the goal for it to be a drag car. Luckily it never got that far, but the terrible cage within needed to be removed along with a fractured sub-frame. While some rust was present, the car supposedly had body work done to it which we found out was... bad and mostly hidden under the flat grey facade.

The Parts:
Engine: GM Performance LS7 7.0L 427ci (Tim Allen Grunt)

• Red Barn Racing Spec'ed Cam
• West Coast Cylinder Heads Decked & Ported Stage 3 Heads
• Hooker Black Heart 1 7/8" Headers
• FTI Converter
• Carbureted with option for EFI

Trans: 4L60E with full manual conversion
Rear-end: 10-bolt 8.5" - Richmond Gears, Auburb Gear LSD, Moser Axels
Suspension: Detroit Speed Kit 3 w/ adjustable coil-overs

• DSE Mini-Tubbed

Brakes: C5 Variant
Interior: Status Racing Seats
Wheels: Unknown
Tires: Unknown
Glass: Edge to Edge Trim-less
Anvil Auto Goodies: Dove Tail spoiler, 2,5" cowl hood, headlights, etc.
Misc: To many parts to list from Classic Industries...

Build Sponsors:
Detroit Speed, Classic Industries, Paradise Chevrolet, Red Barn Racing, Anvil Auto, Phastek Performance

I actively share my build on YouTube via my Lethal Garage account, if you want to follow along visually or have time to kill, I have 36 videos posted to date around this project thus far. Probably 200 more to go.

Link:

 

[Lethal Camaro]

Day 0:

Images from the day I picked the car up.

Video:

 

[Lethal Camaro]

I quickly ditched the 454/468 BB that came with the build and the trans which was rebuilt and new and leaked like hell... go figure. I also cut out most of the cage mainly leaving some aspects thinking the rigidity would help down the line during the rebuild.

Video:

 

[Lethal Camaro]

The next step was to simply tear her apart, remove the pieces I no longer needed and get the old subframe removed.

 

[Lethal Camaro]

Since we ripped the old heart out, I had to get started on the new one as it felt logical regardless of not needing it for probably a year... I am using proven pistons and rods from a friends LS7 build along with his heads, saved me money and make a bit more power. We paired it all with new bearings, rings, etc... etc...

LS7 Build Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJKk24ghPBvFEHBWV5yuEmvXVVeWn52Uz

 

[Lethal Camaro]

Now that the subframe has been replaced I was able to gather my DSE parts to build it back up along with start on the mini-tub setup. We also took this time to patch all the issue areas we could find before the media blasting.

Mini Tub Series:
Part #1:

Part #2:

Part #3:

 

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Nice , looks like a really nice project, will have to check out the videos , keep posting!!

 

[linenoise]

I been watching this on youtube since it started. You had a video on Gaps and said you were not going into detail on the fixes. I am hoping you do go into it. Thats the hardest part on these right? I mean you might not go as deep as Asicerik with the "still sanding" sign on for a year but I bet alot of your subs would like to see some detail on that. BTW you made the dse minitubs look easy in video! not easy.

 

[SPG]

I been watching this on youtube since it started. You had a video on Gaps and said you were not going into detail on the fixes. I am hoping you do go into it. Thats the hardest part on these right? I mean you might not go as deep as Asicerik with the "still sanding" sign on for a year but I bet alot of your subs would like to see some detail on that. BTW you made the dse minitubs look easy in video! not easy.

From my understanding he didn't do it because the guy doing the work didn't want his secret techniques to be known by a lot of people. and if you're good at something and make show cars, thats something I can understand not wanting to show.

I saw that up sprayed upol bed liner on your car, how many liters did you end up using? And did you use the gun that comes in the kit, or something else? I want to use that on my car but I still need to flip it over.

 

[linenoise]

If its secret sauce I get it. Trying to learn the different methods people are using on closing the gaps cleanly with welds not bondo.
Liked the RS nose video, cannot wait to see that put on. Think I am going anvil though. All one part and less lines.