1971 Chevrolet Camaro - The Other Camaro - Times

Troy's starting-line video shows how the aluminum T/A rear cover disappears when both axletubes, which had been fully welded into the centersection, broke, snapping the driveshaft and shoving the pinion snout (still connected to the rearend) through the floor and ripping the backseat upholstery. That's when you know you're hooked up. All of these compromises are in an effort to keep this a streetable car. The torque converter, leaf springs, and pump-gas-friendly compression limit the car's ultimate dragstrip e.t. and speed but pay off in terms of fun-behind-the-wheel time. We went for a check-out ride with Troy, and when you've got a 9-second car that will idle in neutral at 1,000 rpm with an idle vacuum of 9.5 inches even with a monster 256 at 0.050 camshaft, that's not much of a compromise. Even Troy was shocked when he measured it. The ride is almost living-room comfortable, but understand that's with soft shocks, no front sway bar, and not-for-highway-use slicks at 20 psi--certainly deceiving for a pavement pounder. The converter is tight, in fact it pulls at part-throttle almost like a stock converter.

Still, the lure is there to run an 8 in full street trim except for the slicks. Troy believes it can happen, and that's half the battle.

Troy's '71 Camaro Quarter-Mile HistoryE.T./Speed 60-Foot Description*1

2.33/107.00 1.730 Previous-owner best, 406,

Lunati cam11.69/114.42 1.619 Lots of tuning, 28x10.5

slicks11.479/115.39 1.564 Remove front sway bar, better

air11.366/118.13 1.681 Short-shifted 6,400

versus 6,80010.894/122.66 1.599 New 434ci motor, same

converter10.766/125.32 1.531 New Yank converter and

rebuilt trans10.125/132.02 1.458 NOS 210hp shot, ran rich9.94/132.61

1.353 150hp tune-up, NOS Cheater plate1

0.618/126.05 1.507 Best on-motor pass9.610/137.60 1.337 225 NOS shot,

best pass to date*All this occurred between 2001 and

May of 2005.

ImprovementsE.T.: 2.72 secondsMPH: 30.60 mph60-FT: 0.393 second

1. One advantage to a streetable car is that quickie tests on new ideas or equipment can often be accomplished on freeway on-ramps. On this trip, the author experienced the first blast on a new converter and was treated to tire spin at the top of Second gear.
1. One advantage to a streetable car is that quickie tests on new ideas or equipment can o
2. Troy not only builds his own engines but also does his own painting and bodywork. The Camaro is not only brutally quick but also a testament to Troy's attention to detail.
2. Troy not only builds his own engines but also does his own painting and bodywork. The C
3. A high-tech analytical approach with low-buck solutions is what Troy lives for. Those are $45 bolt-on Lakewood traction bars and stock springs. Also note that the bar is bent. That's torque, baby. A new bar is on its way.
3. A high-tech analytical approach with low-buck solutions is what Troy lives for. Those a

4. This is a three-ring binder full of Car Craft and other magazine stories that Troy has collected over the years. His buddies call it "the hot rod bible."
4. This is a three-ring binder full of Car Craft and other magazine stories that Troy has
5. Troy uses the two separate fuel system approach for the engine and nitrous systems. Two separate Holley pumps feed two separate fuel regulators. Currently it is a dead-head system, but Troy is considering adding return lines for both sides.
5. Troy uses the two separate fuel system approach for the engine and nitrous systems. Two
6. This is part of the stock 406 crank that ventilated his oil pan just driving down the street one day. Any serious street/drag racer has a collection of trophies he keeps as a subtle reminder of the price of performance.
6. This is part of the stock 406 crank that ventilated his oil pan just driving down the s