A yellow 1968 Camaro SS with a 525 hp LS3 crate engine: a full T56 six-speed conversion, a stainless exhaust built from scratch, a 4-link rear and coilovers.
The second '68 Camaro SS in my shop is the yellow one, and it is a different animal from the orange car. It already had its engine, a 525 hp LS3 crate motor. My job, over several visits from late 2021 into 2022, was to make the rest of the car match the engine.
First was the T56 swap. Everything automatic came out: transmission, converter, flexplate, cooler and lines, controller, pedals, and harnesses. In went a Tremec T56 close-ratio six-speed with an aluminum bellhousing (checked for runout), a new clutch and flywheel, a hydraulic throwout bearing with a custom bracket, and a new pedal set. I modified the tunnel and refinished it, fitted a Silver Sport Transmissions (SST) STX Monster short-throw shifter, set up a new crossmember and mount, and measured for a custom-built aluminum driveshaft. I designed and wired the harness for the speedometer, tach, neutral safety, reverse lockout, and reverse lights.
Then the exhaust, built from scratch in 304 stainless. It is 3-inch pipe with a custom narrow X-pipe, V-band joints so it comes apart without a saw, and the headers modified to take the V-bands, with new MLS gaskets and fresh paint. Out back it runs Quick Time Performance electric cutout mufflers with a switch I wired in, plus O2 bungs and custom tips. Every joint is TIG welded, and it is all routed past the T56 to clear the chassis.
Underneath, the front got double-adjustable coilovers and tubular control arms, and the rear went from leaf springs to a 4-link with double-adjustable coilovers and a sway bar. That meant cutting the old shock mounting bar out of the rear frame rails, welding in patch panels with studs for the new subframe, and painting the underside to match. Along the way it got power windows, Recaro seats with 4-point harnesses, an oil cooler, a remade power steering hose, and a fix for a battery drain left by earlier wiring.
