Thread: 1971 Camaro RS

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I've had a soft spot for these cars since I was in high school. One of my best friends had a 72 RS he bought from his brother when he was 16. I was 15. It sat in front of one of their sheds on their farm until he got it. Him and I built a 355 for it and got it running before he actually got his license. (Jon and his youngest brother drove all over creation before they had licenses. They had a K car and it was known as the Poochy car ) Jon didn't want to drive the Camaro before he had his license because we convinced him once he left his town, he would be in jail. Haha That car was pretty farmer rigged. It had chicken wire in place of cotter pins, bailing wire on the shift rods, and the wiring had house nuts and you name it in it. We got all that straightened out and put many miles on it. He'd take my truck, at that time I had a pretty sweet 94 Dodge Cummins 5 speed 4x4, and he'd let me take the Camaro. I took the Camaro on many dates.

One day when I just started college, Jon called and asked if I wanted to buy the Camaro. (He was on of those guys that knew where everything was but wouldn't show you proof of it. But this time I knew he wasn't full of it because he showed me it.) He said the owner of the 70 Cuda he had been trying to buy for years, finally decided to sell it. I took him the money for the Camaro after I got off work that night. Jon did get the Cuda, and we got it running good. I used to work at a body shop so I'd take the Cuda to work and work on it after I got off. That car was a mess too. But it was one of the coolest cars I drove back then. It was just a worn out 383 with a 4 speed. But it had a Hurst V-gate 2 inline shifter. That was absolutely awesome to run through the gears. (That car got me hooked on mopars )

Anyhow, I got in some trouble street racing the Camaro and the judge demanded the car be torn apart if I wanted to keep it. Of course I did, and I did ripped it apart. The judge even sent out a deputy to take pics and get a statement from my boss at the body shop. I got the body work done and the car was in DP90. I put it back together with a 396, tunnel ram, and a TH400. About that time I was hanging out with a guy that had many corvettes. I ended up making a deal to trade the Camaro as a roller for Corvette parts. (Stupidest thing I ever did) So the Camaro was gone.

Ever since I tried to find another one to get and build. I had a few non split bumper cars, but sold everyone due to bad rust mainly. Finally, a good guy on this very site had one he wanted to let go of, and now I am the proud owner of a 71 RS Camaro. Thanks Seth!

I don't even feel bad about modifying it. It was just a 307/PG car. It's getting a 5.3, Super T10, and maybe a turbo. The turbo will happen, I just don't know if it will happen this year. My main objective is to get the 40 driving this year. So if I can get the 40 driving, and get the Camaro running and driving, it'll be a win win.

I've already collected some good parts for it and it's on its way.

My next door neighbor had that car in yellow. I wanted it badly, but he wouldn't sell.
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Originally Posted by techinspector1

My next door neighbor had that car in yellow. I wanted it badly, but he wouldn't sell.
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Back when the 72 was torn apart, I bought a 71 SS 396 I found in a field. It was a TH400 car and I sold it because I made about $1000 on it. I feel dumb now. It was a butterscotch color, and it had black deluxe interior which is really rare. Oh well. Haha

Love it
Love it
Love it
!!

I shoulda got 1 when I had the chance. But a
66 Goat was calling. By the time I got my stuff together, BOTH were gone, baby, G . O . N . E .

Good Luck

Good story.
Nice car.
I like both car and story.

Well done you.

I knew you would have it torn apart sooner than later.. 8-)

Changed the wheels for the better I see.

I suppose I better subscribe to this one That was a great story and that was the best when the Judge made you take your car apart It's nice to see the Camaro is finally getting some work done to it and along the same motor idea I had for it, minus the manual trans. So far I'm still glad I sold it to you and hopefully I won't be on the hunt for another one in 5 yrs.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I knew you would have it torn apart sooner than later.. 8-)

Changed the wheels for the better I see.

Those wheels with skinny tires aid in pushing it around. Hopefully when our tax return comes, I'll get new wheels and tires for it. I'm going to buy what I need to get it driving. If I can do the turbo before summer, great. If not, then this winter.

I have a TH400 cross member, aluminum radiator for an LS swap, fuel pump. 621 bell housing and a flywheel coming for it too. To get it running, I need to get 4 speed pedals and z bar, clutch, and modify a drive shaft. I need to find out what gears are in the rear end. It will need a posi or LS too. It's a peg leg right now and that isn't going to work. Haha

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

I suppose I better subscribe to this one That was a great story and that was the best when the Judge made you take your car apart It's nice to see the Camaro is finally getting some work done to it and along the same motor idea I had for it, minus the manual trans. So far I'm still glad I sold it to you and hopefully I won't be on the hunt for another one in 5 yrs.

You probably will be, they're addictive.

I started getting some parts in for it and decided I would add the pics to the thread. I haven't done anymore work to the car yet. Just searching for more parts and selling other stuff to help fund this thing.

All electronic auto meter ultra lite 2s, LS swap mounts for the 5.3 for a 2nd gen Camaro, 124k mile 5.3 with a F-body pan, a nice Super T10 and Hurst shifter, a 621 bell that will work on the 5.3. Here is a modified F-body LS harness I plan to use too.

I thought you were going to carb the LS but the harness says otherwise. What are you planing for an intake and related things?

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

I thought you were going to carb the LS but the harness says otherwise. What are you planing for an intake and related things?

No way on the carb. IMO the coolest part of the LS is the injection. As of right now, I'm hoping to use the stock truck intake. They supposedly make more torque, but more importantly it's free. I want an LS1 or LS3 intake but that's another $500 or more to get one. I dislike the ugliness of the truck intake, but it is what it is.

That T10 should have really nice gear splits for the 71. What gear ratio are you looking at for the rear end?



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Love the car. The split bumpers have always been my favorite Camaros. If I was looking for another project, that's what I would look for. I'm subscribing to this one.

Sent you a PM by the way.