May 2002 Feature Car

 
Member:  Gene Heatly
Year: 1969 
Engine: 350 c.i.
Transmission: M-21(Tremec TKO 5-speed to be installed this Spring)
Rear End: 12 Bolt Posi with 3.73 Gears
Options:  Factory 307 cid V-8 with floor shifted 3-speed manual; vinyl top; power steering; dealer installed air conditioning – only the power steering remains.
Story:  
This Camaro is the first car Gene bought after graduating from college in 1987. It was a mere $1,200 and in very good driving condition. The Protect-O-Plate and original paperwork were found in the glove box upon delivery. The Camaro came from the factory painted Hugger Orange with a white vinyl top. Gene drove the Camaro during graduate school and to-and-from work as purchased until 1993. The original 307 and 3-speed were pulled and tossed in favor of a ZZ3 HO 350 crate motor and M-21 tranny. In 1995, a 12-bolt posi with 3.73 gears was added to complement the relatively new engine and tranny. Factory power front disc brake components were also installed to help slow things down. After these upgrades, Gene was happy with his Camaro and drove it for several years before the horsepower bug bit him. The motor was pulled and rebuilt in 1998 to handle the extra ponies produced by the ATI Procharger centrifugal supercharger. The engine was upgraded with forged blower pistons, ARP main studs, ARP rod bolts, a Comp Cams blower cam, and the rotating assembly was balanced and blueprinted. The GM aluminum heads were also treated to a mild port job. Small additional improvements were made over the years and include: Hooker headers; Centerforce II disc and pressure plate; MSD 6AL, Blaster coil, and billet distributor; Edelbrock Torker II intake; Competition Engineering traction bars; Autometer boost, oil pressure, and temperature gauges; and a Holley 650 double pumper modified to work with the blower. In its current configuration, the drive train delivered 438 hp @ 5,500 RPM and 465 ft-lbs of torque @ 4,700 RPM to the rear wheels when tested on a chassis dyno.

With the mechanical upgrades completed, the exterior restoration was started in the spring of 2000. Two years and too many dollars later, the Camaro emerged from the restoration project with a new coat of Dodge Intense Blue Pearlcoat and GM Arctic White stripes. The paint scheme Gene chose is based on the one used by Baldwin Motion on its 1969 Phase III Camaros. A 1969 Trans Am trunk mounted wing will be added soon to complete the Baldwin Motion look. The interior is almost complete and will include: Corbeau GTS II white leather front seats with black and white houndstooth cloth inserts; factory optional comfort grip steering wheel; modified factory gauge cluster with speedo, tach, and center mount fuel gauge; Sony CD player with Pioneer front and rear speakers; and at least 50 lbs of additional sound deadener to quiet the engine and exhaust noise inside the car. With the car almost completed, Gene looks forward to several years of cruising before any major changes are made to the car.