Tim's 1969 Camaro
A Brief History
I purchased the car in 1995. At that time, it had a 396 ci
engine, a Muncie 4-speed transmission, and a twelve bolt rear-end with 4:10
gears. In 1998, I started a rebuild which included a 468 ci engine, a Turbo
400 transmission, and a set of 3:42 gears. In addition, I replaced the floor
pans, added a roll bar, and repainted the car from top to bottom.
On 1/8 mile tracks, it has run a best ET of 7.57 seconds at 91+ mph. On 1/4
mile tracks, it has run a best ET of 11.88 seconds at 114+ mph.
Views of the Car
Tim Anthony with his 1969 Camaro and racing
helmet.
Holly Anthony with 1969 Camaro.
Racing Slicks are used at the track for gaining
traction. They're made of a soft rubber compound which becomes sticky when doing
a 'burn-out' before drag racing.
A fuel sump was added to the bottom of the fuel
tank to increase the amount of fuel fed to the engine. This is important since
more fuel means more power!
Views of Engine
This is a 454 ci (cubic inch) engine which has
been over-bored to 468 cubes. It produces roughly 600 horsepower and 550 ft-lb
( feet-pound) of torque.
This is a view of the engine without the air
cleaner.
On the left, one can see the high output MSD
(multi-spark distribution) distributor and coil (solid red). On the right, a
large Holley carburetor feeds fuel to the engine.
Here, one can see spark plug wires, the 2 1/4
inch diameter Hooker headers, and the heater hoses (silver) leading into the
firewall. The large size headers increase the horsepower output by allowing
exhaust gases to exit faster. Note: smaller diameter headers would increase
torque output.
In the top right corner, one can see the brake
master cylinder along with custom made brake lines. Also, note the wiring exiting
the firewall; this is the only place wiring is visible. (All other wiring is
hidden.)
Under the alternator (top center) is the fuel
pump, fuel regulator, and fuel pressure guage. It is important to maintain the
proper fuel pressure in order to gain maximum power.
In this picture, one can see the radiator (right)
and the attached electric fan.
In front of the radiator is the overflow catch
can. It is necessary in case overheating occurs which results in the radiator
overflowing. (This keeps water/antifreeze from blowing all over the engine and
is a requirement for drag racing.)
In this bottom-view of the car, one can see part
of the over-sized oil pan (aluminum square at center left). A larger oil pan
holds more oil which increases lubrication in the engine. Also notice the metal
shield encasing the oil pan custom made for protection.
Views of Interior
This view of the interior shows the safety equipment
required in a vehicle which runs 11.99 seconds or faster on a 1/4 mile track.
This includes a six-point roll bar ( attaches at six
points in the floor), five-point safety belt harnesses ( two over shoulders,
two around waist, one between legs : all five meet at driver's waist), and a
Snell approved helmet.
Notice the pin at top junction of roll bars,
allowing the bar to be 'swung' open or removed for easier entry.
Here, one can see the guages which monitor the
engine. The large guage above the shifter is the tachometer which reads the
rpm (revolutions per minute) of the engine. Attached to the tachometer is a
shift light which flashes when the engine reaches its maximum rpms indicating
that the driver needs to shift to a higher gear.
The three smaller guages monitor oil pressure,
alternator output, and engine temperature.
This view of the trunk shows the battery which
has been relocated to the rear of the car for better weight transfer at the
drag-strip, which aids in traction.
The above photos are the property of owner. Please
do not download without written permission of Tim Anthony.