Trar- Camaro on truck frame....

[stockk5]

Hey guys, I am in college in the technology education program.. one of my classes requires some field work with an after school program. I signed up to help a local school with their "pride" car to drive around the school grounds during games and what not. Its quite the abomination of a thing... my most hated vehicle, a Trar.. 87 Camero on a shortened 87 Chevy pick up frame.

The car has been sitting here for about one year and not getting anywhere. The body is just mocked above the frame and they need to be connected. This might be my ignorance on metal/fabrication but the host teacher will not allow any welding to the actual frame, everything must be bolted. (industry standard for modifying a vehicle frame he says) So I need to help the students actually get this thing going. I want to have the frame and body connected by the time I leave.

So far all the suspension is off of the camero, so the host teacher's idea was to bolt plates off of the camero's stock suspension locations and with some type of angle iron, tubing, and connect it to a bolt on frame plate. Is there any recommendations or "less redneck" ideas that you've seen? I am thinking sandwiching the frame w/ the plates, and using some 2" DOM tubing much like tieing a frame to a roll cage. I will have pictures soon, just thought I would ask your opinions first. and of course feel free to flame away.

i hate the idea as much as the next guy! Oh yeah pics of others already done would help to and inspire the kids a bit to be excited bot building stuff. Sorry if this should be in the lounge!

 

[plumber mike]

This is wrong in so many ways.I'll just sit back and let the abuse begin

 

[toomany]

From one of the resident 3rd gen lovers on this site....stop now before I find out where you are and get that defensless car away from you.

That being said. 3rd gens (82-92 F-Bodys) don't have an actuall frame, as you've probably discovered. My suggestion (other than stoping current progress) would be to unbolt the front subframe and rear lower control arms (LCA's). Make something to attach the body to the truck frame using these points. You could also (and probably should) tie into the strut towers up front and shock mounts in the back. Adding some subframe connectors (SFC's) to the car and tieing these into the frame would be a plus too. Especially if it's a T-top car.

As much as I hate TRARS, using an F-body is a bad idea. Have you sat in one and tried to look out the window at the ground near the tires. What about guessing where the front end is. Same goes for the rear.

 

[stockk5]

trust me i hate this just as much as the next guy... but its part of my class and i need to pass.. so other than helping out at some lame science fair, an auto shop that allows me to weld/fab its a better choice. The host teacher is a nice guy.. but yeah its pretty dumb, im not in charge of the class otherwise i wouldn't EVER have wanted this idea to actually happen...

 

[plumber mike]

Couldn't you guys do something like Drag Race High? Build the camaro and then build the truck to tow the camaro to the track to do battle with another school. Extra credit for talking some sense into the teacher
Other than that I am of no help at all,never having butchered and mated two fine vehicles like that.

 

[stockk5]

I will get pics for you guys tommrow.. its horrible.. lol the truck frame is already shortened and bolted together with a plate on the inside of the frame.. get this.. he wont let me weld the frame together ontop of the plate because of the "industry standards of no welding between suspension components on frames" is what he says... ugh haha It would be cool to make a drag car but i walked in on thsi build w/ the camaro body hanging over the truck frame... soo i kinda have to swing with what i was given.

 

[BLACKBURB]

Camaro....not camero!