RAM AIR Trans Am Conversion

[hesster]

I am starting yet a another Member Build Thread.

My previous Builds:
"Hesster's 2010 SS Street Monster" Build Thread, that was ~9-10 years ago. Lots of technical stuff and pics.
And -
"Camaro SS Bandit Conversion" Build Thread, started that on almost exactly 2 years ago. That build went deep and the car turned out fantastic.

So here we are now, the Bandit is done and saw lots of car shows last year. Then I finished the Basement per my agreement with the Bride in lieu of building the Bandit.
So the never ending itch to build another car has taken over again, and away we go.

This Build is another Trans Am Conversion.

Spent time pondering what to Build, was thinking maybe old school 2nd Gen Camaro or Firebirds, but they have become very expensive, and in the end they are nice, but have old school Powertrain and Chassis unless you spend even more $$. I figured I already did a T/A Conversion, so the advantage is exactly that - I have all the documentation and experience to follow the same build method. And we all know the 5th and 6th Gen Camaros are simply awesome with great styling, LS Power, and excellent Chassis dynamics.

To get started in this first post, some basics:
o Base Vehicle is a 2012 2SS/RS in Summit White, and <30K miles. It is immaculate and I found the car in WI, and am having it shipped to me. The White Paint looks very clean, and being a solid color, it will be easier to paint match. I hope - but easier all around than Black. I found in searching for a car that the nice lower mileage Camaros sell fast, and there are not many offerings in Summit White 2SS's. These cars have retained their price valuations, and it is hard to get a good used low milage 2010 - 2013 for less than $30K!
o I will purchase another ZTA Conversion kit from Woodward Speed Shop. He has one earmarked for me. Like everything, they are more expensive than they were 2 years ago. What isn't?
o Paint Scheme is the Summit White Car, with Lucerne Blue accents - prob on the Front Grills, Shaker Scoop, Fender and Rear Qtr Scoops, Spoiler and Diffuser maybe. Like the early '70's Trans Am's with the RAM AIR Engines- those are some of my favorite cars.
o Decals by Da Vince Wraps. I am working with him to custom design some decals similar to the Bandit's but in Blue, and seeing if he can make Blue Stripes like the Phoenix Graphic one's.

So enough here to get started, some Pics and AI renderings to flesh out the design. I'm sure it will evolve over time.
More to Come!

[CamaroDreams76]

Here we go again. Can't wait to see this!

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Man like I said before, that one is gonna look really cool!! Not that the Bandit doesn't look awesome, but just something about the white/blue combo TA is goon nail it!! Good luck, looking forward to seeing it happen.

[hesster]

Need to nail down a Spoiler.

Did some research, and obviously the first choice would be a Factory 3 Pc Dove Tail, but that is not available by any aftermarket Source. And fat chance finding another one from someone like the incredibly generous Mr. SSE 4 2SS.

So there are a lot of really nice Spoilers available, and within a very broad price range. I really want a 3 piece design close to the Trans Am's, or the 3 Pc GM Dovetail.

I find there are about (4) of them in the attached list.
Duraflex and Carbon Creations are the closest. Duraflex is not known for a high quality good fitting part based on the reviews, but what to believe? I can certainly massage it to fit unless it is really awful.
The Carbon Creations is more expensive, and is just hand laid CF over Fiberglass so that is hard to justify. And the quality and fit don't seem any better than the Duraflex based on the reviews.

If anyone has purchased and installed any of the Item #1 - 4, I would love to hear your assessment. 2nd pic is the Duraflex, 3rd pic is the Carbon Creations.

[hesster]

Got the Car today. It is very clean, paint is perfect, and even has HUD and new Tires.
Gonna have a drink to celebrate.

[CamaroDreams76]

Oooo shes clean

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Ahhh man, beautiful start!! Looks killer clean!!

[hesster]

Big Parts ordering and Pick up yesterday. Drove down to Woodward Speed Shop in Pontiac and picked up the ZTA Kit. Then went On-Line and ordered a boat-load of parts based on my Bandit Build documentation. Everything is more expensive after 2 years - of course. I learned the trick of leaving the parts to be ordered in the checkout Cart, as they may come back with a promo code or discount.
Then swapped positions of the Beast Camaro with the new Ram Air Project in the Barn, so ready to start working on it. First I shoveled and pushed the 4" of snow out of the way in the Driveway and let the rest melt to keep the cars clean. It was in the 50's yesterday, so a perfect day to get the ZTA Kit and move the cars around cause more snow is on the way.
So it has all of ~300ft of Drive distance on it - from driving it off the Trailer up my 250' Driveway to the house, and then into the Barn. That is the way it will remain until it is together enough to Bed the Brakes to the new Rotors.

I have been working extensively with Da Vinci Wraps on the Custom Hood Bird Emblem and Decals, and even the Decal for the Door Inner Panel. He even is making Pinstripes for me so I can put those on and maybe mirror the Bandit's Special Edition theme, just in Blue and not Gold. All is customized based on our collaboration - he is a true Artist. They are gonna WOW.

Took the time to look closer at the 2012 2SS/RS. It is remarkably immaculate, and a wise choice to have it shipped to me in a enclosed Trailer. That will cut a lot of time I would spend cleaning and detailing it.

Almost a shame to tear this thing apart, but let the "Trans"-formation begin!

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Oh boy!! Here we go!!

[hesster]

Got some work in on the Car, teardown stuff.
Got the Spoiler off, then pulled the Rear Fascia off.
Put the Quick Jack under the car, lifted her up, and removed the Wheels/Tires. The Quick Jack is awesome, much better than Jack Stands and a whole lot safer.
Removed the Front Fender Inner Panels, and off came the Front Fascia. Yeah - that is a petrified dead Bird I found in the Front Fascia.
Next is the Rocker Panels, Hood, and Fenders.
Parts are starting to show up, I pretty much ordered everything except the Paint, Wheels/Tires, TPMS Sensors, and Gorilla Lugs.
It's really nice working on a clean car, but I will still detail it.

[hesster]

Good day yesterday in the Barn. Things are progressing smoothly, but I am not in a hurry - it's fun wrenching again and this project is basically something that keeps me busy and not being bored. Parts are showing up right and left, I have a Excel Spreadsheet carried over and updated from the Bandit Build that I use to track everything.

Went to Harbor Freight and Home Depot and got a couple $100 dollars of supplies that I know I will need - Lacquer Thinner, Tape, Sandpaper, Epoxy, Rivets, Shims, and the like.

Rockers are off, only broke (1) Clip, and I have replacements from the Bandit Build. This car is actually cleaner than the Bandit Base Vehicle, even though it has more miles on it. I think a lot of it is that the car spent most of it's life in California. The Rocker Panels are much less road blasted, and probably only need a few coats of clear.

Then got the Fenders off, and cleaned/detailed the Engine Bay and Suspension. I will paint the Calipers and suspension components, and swap out the Rotors for Baer Drilled and Slotted one's from Phastek. I will copy all of the Engine Bay Bling also - CAI with Air Ducting to the Shaker Scoop, Wire Loom Covers, LED's, Strut Tower Caps, Stainless Covers, etc.

Started in on the Headlight and Fog Light Halo's the other day. The Headlights were much easier to separate with the heat method for whatever reason, probably because I have done it a few times. The Fog Lights are cut open with a Dremel and Diamond Blade. My trusty helper "Toot Toot" supervised, you have to keep a few Cheezits on hand to keep her busy and not biting me. Waiting on Halo Diffusers to finish them.

I went with Multicolored Halo's for the Headlamps, with a Blue Inner "Demon Eye" Ring. The Fog Lights are Amber. The Blue Inner Ring will be on a separate Switch for control, as that is something that the Po-Po can nail you on.

[hesster]

Worked the Fascia's, you have to take everything off of them and install on the ZTA Fascia's. A key item is the Fender Interface Brackets where you drill out the Pop Rivets, and then Rivet the Brackets onto the new Fascia.
The instructions do not call for this on the Rear Fascia, but I found on the Bandit build that it was nearly impossible to get a good fit to the rear quarters. You have to cobble the Bracket to clear the new Tail Light Lens's, so I see why they did not have you do this, but is much better than their "use a Zip Tie to pull the Fascia into place" method. I will probably share this Tip with Woodward Speed Shop. This car also has Backup Sensors (3rd Pic), so I have to Housing Pockets and Epoxy them in place on the new Fascia somehow.
So got almost all of that done and now I can install the Fenders and Fascia's, and Shim and tweak to get a good fit.

Then yesterday I finished the Headlamp and Fog Halo's. This time I used Halo Diffusers from Multicolorhalokits.com, and I really like how they smooth out the light, note the with and without Pics on the Fogs. Of course I found out they don't exactly have the clearance on the Headlamps needed during reassembly, so some careful use of a Dremel on the Housing Bracket was required.
It is extremely important to remove all dust and keep the inner parts clean, and avoid wiping the reflective lens as it scratches real easily. Also - keep any Epoxy off the Emitter segments, as they warn it can damage them, so I carefully use small dabs on the outside of the Rings. The adhesive backing (peel and stick) on the Rings will not help as they don't sit flush enough to the Housing.
And test the LED's every step of the way with a 9 volt battery. A 9v Battery does not have the "juice" to light both the Inner Blue and Outer Halo Rings at the same time, so the first Pic is the Inner lit, and then a few Pics of the Multicolor Rings lit up. The Inner "Eye" is Blue, and the Larger Halo Ring is multicolor. Then a generous bead of Silicone to seal them up. Done.

[hesster]

Sometimes two steps forward, then one back. That is car building reality.

Went to rough install the Fenders Sunday, got the Drivers side on, then opened up the Passenger Side packaging and noticed it had a dent in it at a crease line. That sucks. Then inspected the Drivers side closer, and that also had a very minor dent in the same spot. That is more than coincidence, so got hold of WW Speed and they are going back tomorrow for replacements. Quite sure I did not do the damage. The packaging will protect them only to a point.

I have learned to inspect every package, take a Pic, and record the "as shipped" condition in case of returns. Always keep the packaging in case. I just never inspected the Fenders until i went to install them, and that is what happens when you don't.

So plenty of other stuff to do.

Peeled off the Deck Lid Bow Tie and SS Emblems with fishing line.

Prepped the Shaker Scoop for the Flapper Door and mounting to the Engine Cover. You have to cut out the opening, and trim it little by little until the Flapper fits and does not interfere with anything. Then I mounted a small wire to the Flapper which adds weight to keep it shut, and controls the "flapping" action under vacuum. Mounting the Shaker to the Engine Cover is done with some Well Nuts. I will wait until I Paint it Lucerne Blue with Alsa Corp Crystal Blue Pearl powder added to the Clear Coat.

Lots of Parts showed up - Spoiler, Shark Fin Diffuser, Switch's, Relays, LED's, Tamco Paint, Engine Dress, Carbon Fiber Overlays, and on and on.

The Davinci Wrapmaster Decals showed up. So cool - they are all custom made. The Hood Bird is in the basement under a sheet of cardboard to keep it warm and protected.

[hesster]

My Bro did a AI rendering which is somewhat close to what the car may look like, and i refined it a little more to flesh out the design.

The Hood Bird has a unique "Blue Flame" design by DaVinci Wrap Masters, and all the Emblems he made are close in color to Lucerne Blue.

I will Paint the Hood Scoop Lucerne Blue with Alsa Blue Pearl, and it will have White "Ram Air" lettering like the early '70's Trans Am's - that will look better on the Blue Scoop and not get lost.
I am thinking same Blue Paint treatment on the Rear Spoiler, and possibly the EVO Shark Fin Diffuser which came in Gloss Black. The Front Grill Surrounds also.

The Rear Scoop and Front Fender Extractors Inserts will also be in Blue With Pearl.

Tony at DaVinci Wraps even was able to make me Stripes in the exact same size, both Wide and Narrow Widths, as the Phoenix Graphics stuff. Wow. I am thinking I may Stripe the car just like a Special Edition Trans Am - that will be unique.

The Wheels? I'm thinking same Forgeline TA3 or TA3C as the Bandit only the Gold will Be a close Powder Coat Color Match to Lucerne Blue. I sent away for a dozen or so Samples from Prismatic Powders so I can provide that to Forgeline to custom make them. Yeah - $$$$, but those Wheels are just killer.

So the car will be a Homologation of a couple different Trans AM themes - the Early 1970's White & Blue Ram Air cars, with a Bird Beak 1977/1978 ZTA Style Front Fascia and Body Kit Parts, and Snowflake Wheels, and so on. We are working on a custom Bird Emblem for the Door Inners. The Interior will be the same theme as the Bandit Car - Pull and Paint the Door Inners, the Console, and Dash Inserts. Carbon Creations Blue Carbon Fiber overlays on all the same stuff as the Bandit.

So that is the idea for now, it will evolve I'm sure.
What it will be I am hoping is quite unique.