1967 Camaro Project

[Marina66SS]

I have finally figured out what I want to do with my Camaro. I am going to do an exact replica of a Baldwin-Motion Camaro down to the L-88 and bias-plys. I want to know what I need to do to get the same L-88 with lower compression. I am going to use the L-88 cam and heads but I can't use the 12.5:1 compression so I was thinking of going with like a 496 stroker to compensate. Will this do it? I know some of you will say not to use that cam but I am building the car just mainly to look at and to experience exactly what it was like to own a new Baldwin-Motion L-88 Camaro. I am into the current supercars and I really would only drive this Camaro maybe once or twice a year so drivability isn't an issue. I want to also know what parts Motion used when building these cars such as intake, carb and headers. I want everything on the car the way it would have been in '67. So if you can tell me brand names and even part #'s I would appreciate it. Thanks for your imput.

[MosportGreen66]

Jason... I am sure the experts will correct me but some brand new suppliers include Hedman, Hooker, Edlebrock, Lakewood, Holley. It was customary to find a Torker 2 Edlebrock on BBC motors, I am not sure about L-88s though. Hedmans were the side outlet exhaust unit, while Hooker units were for the more conventional exhaust system. Lakewood supplied the ladder ot traction bar. Holley offered the infamous "3 BBL" carb for those unique Motion cars.

Keep an eye out for Motion Performance Catalogs on e-bay. I have 5 Motion Performance catalogs and I have referenced them numerous times. Truly a great investment! Good luck with you Camaro.

[Marina66SS]

Doesn't anyone have any comments. I would really like to get some advice here. Thanks.

[Chevy454]

My advice would be to ditch the cam...you're not gonna get the feel of the old school L88 anyway if you lower the compression, so why turn the thing into a ill mannered pig if you don't have to? While the L88 cam wasn't known for it's low end, taking away the compression is gonna kill whatever mid and top end you had, and you're gonna have to live with a BIG lope and little or no vacuum...I would either go with the "143" cam, or even better call up the cam grinder of your choice, feed 'em your specs, and let 'em pick one out for ya...

[Jeff H]

I had a 67 Camaro with a 454 with an L88 cam. It was horrible at the bottom end and you couldn't even drive the car below 2000 rpm's so I would recommend finding a newer cam that is a little more friendly at the bottom end.

[Seattle Sam]

Jason,
Here is a discussion from a couple years ago, about putting the L88 cam in a rectangular port, high compression big block. There is some good info in this discussion.

Yenko.net discussion of L88 cam in L78

Keep in mind, if you are building a low-compression big block with oval port heads, you're likely to exaggerate the negative characteristics of the L88 cam.
I think Rob's suggestion of the 143 cam (that is the stock L72 / L78 cam)is a good one, you should get that lopey idle but still have some good low-end torque, which is what you want for street driving.

Good luck!
-Sam

[Marina66SS]

I actually found that thread searching on this topic through Google. I think you guys have convinced me that the 143 cam. Can you use hydraulic lifters with that? Any sound bite of that cam?

I have been looking around on the internet and I haven't found any pics of a '67 Camaro with the painted wheels and "dog dish" caps like on the '69 COPO's. Did these not come out until '69 and '67's would have had full size hubcaps? I like the painted wheel look but only if it is correct for that year.

What do you guys think about a 496 stroker?

Thanks for your comments.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I have an old big block 396 and running a 284 extreme energy comp Cams,Hydraulic and it runs very well!I recommend it and if you want to get a little mor out of it go with the 294 Extreme Energy cam.The 294 is a little more radical at idle and not for a car with A/C.

Bobby

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been looking around on the internet and I haven't found any pics of a '67 Camaro with the painted wheels and "dog dish" caps like on the '69 COPO's. Did these not come out until '69 and '67's would have had full size hubcaps? I like the painted wheel look but only if it is correct for that year.

[/ QUOTE ]

The base wheel offereing for <u>drum-brake</u> '67 Camaros was a painted (body color) steel wheel with the '67 style dog-dish hubcap. (Cars with front discs got the new disc brake/Rally wheel.) If your '67 has drums all around (and is an SS) and you want that stock look then you should get a set of FC-coded 14x6 steel wheels. The '67 dog-dish hubcaps can be gotten on eBay with a little patience.

Here's a pic (from eBay) of a '67 Chevelle SS 396 with the base wheels and caps.

[427TJ]

Here's another photo illustrating the base '67 caps and wheels on a '67 Camaro (not on the Impala in the background---those were different style hubcaps).

This is an early (the first?) Nickey 427 swap into a '67 Camaro with the great Dick Harrell looking on. Note that the Camaro had drum brakes, as evidenced by the body-colored steel wheels and base hubcaps. Car was delivered as an SS 350 and converted to L72 427 power.