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How much to back-half a car

28K views 36 replies 18 participants last post by  540Hotrod 
#1 ·
I am thinking about back-halfing my 68 camaro just wondering how much do you think it will cost.
 
#3 ·
unless the sheetmetal is rusted,you dont HAVE to back half the car to run 14x32's

superstock style is to run frame rails that are inline with the front sub-frame all the way to the back bumper

then just weld steel tubs in, retaining all the original floors,your only trimming out about 5 inches of trunk floor to meet up to the new frame rails

a 15 gallon fuel cell fits nice in between the tubs



 
#10 ·
Yep,, call me retro but I really like the look too :cool:
Guess I am a little partial though, this one is the 80's,, well the 70's actually,,,,
but who's counting :D


 
#11 ·
I think it looks really nice but I have to agree with Rick in the sense it is very 80's. Now if you just like the look of it then I say go for it. I hope I dont ever back half my car. It's not my personality but I do think it looks good.
 
#13 ·
It's not a camaro but here is my kind of look. More lowered, more stock looking, stock wheel wells (but heavily massaged) can run on the street all day and run pretty solid at the track, all while getting 11.2 mpg. I say leave it unless you just like the look.





I drove this to the track, changed tires, lowered air pressure, removed air cleaner and made this pass. This was the third pass. The first two were even higher than this. These suspensions are hard to get to work, the camaro's are prretty simple. This is on a 28x10.5 MT used drag slick. :thumbsup:

 
#15 ·
What happened to yer door handles ? Lol.
 
#14 ·
Sinister.....killer car no doubt.....but not enough shiny stuff! I mean if you're talking 80's...then the mono-chrome look is it.

Having raced a lot of leaf spring Nova's and Camaro's...I can tell you they aren't super easy to make hook once the power gets up there.

I've only had one tubbed car....a '68 SS Nova with an ancient ladder bar,non floater system that no one would ever use today ( but it was done by the same guy who did Dyno Don Nicholson's stuff back then)...but that sucker would hook in the mud!

I like as much tire stuffed under a stock looking fender as possible without tubs...but Erickster did it right by *filling the fenders* (like you did) instead of doing the *wheel tuck* and lowered look like many folks do. To me that just looks goofy when rear track is skiinier than front.

Ok...back to our regulary scheduled back half discussion!

To O/P....if you want to do it....it's not too terrible these days. There are premade sections that anyone can install if you can work a tape measure and weld a little. Measure twice...cut once!


JIM
 
#18 ·
Nothing wrong with a tubbed car. Pretty rude to critique the mans car. If you don't like it that's fine, but maybe saying nothing would be better. Everyone has their opinions and tastes. The thing is it's his car and he likes it, doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks.

Now that the thread is side tracked for no good reason. To the OP, call some local chassis shops or go to your nearest drag strip and ask around, I'm sure there is someone in your area (probably several) that can do the work. That will give you an idea of the cost involved.

The only suggestion I have is that if you decide to tub YOUR car, go with a 4-link set-up they are much better for a street driven car. It will ride a lot better too.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Nothing wrong with a tubbed car. Pretty rude to critique the mans car. If you don't like it that's fine, but maybe saying nothing would be better.
It's the internet, the guy volunteered pictures and used those pictures as evidence on how something could be done. I offered opinion and stated that it was opinion. I didn't say he was a bad person and i only stated the obvious. Your awefull sensitive about a car thats not even yours. Liten up...
 
#19 ·
John, you didn't say if you're planning on doing the work yourself, or wanting it done by a pro, so I'll throw this out there just for info in case you're considering doing this yourself. I'm no expert when it comes to back halved cars, but Chassis Engineering makes what looks to me like a pretty good instructional video on doing this yourself, and in the vid, they use a Camaro to perform the task on in a home garage. They show you how to take all the measuremants required, where to cut, and where to weld. The title of the the DVD is "Subframe Installation" and it's for both Ladder bar, and aftermarket four link applications. You might want to check it out. I hope this helps...

https://chassisengineering.com/shopDetails.asp?CatId=10&SubCatId=9&ProductId=1450
 
#21 ·
Ray, (or anyone else) I don't know if this is a question that is easily answered, but on Chevelles, how tall can you go with the back tires without having to stretch out the quarter panels? I'm just curious about that, and any answers to that question might be of help to the original poster.
 
#22 ·
I had to cut the front of my wheel well to clear the tire and that was only with a 32" tire. I did mine as neatly as I could to avoid having to stretch and repaint the car. I traced the factory radius to keep it looking original. I believe the car in question is a 67-68 Camaro with a TINY wheel well opening.
 
#24 ·
I had to cut the front of my wheel well to clear the tire and that was only with a 32" tire. I did mine as neatly as I could to avoid having to stretch and repaint the car. I traced the factory radius to keep it looking original. I believe the car in question is a 67-68 Camaro with a TINY wheel well opening.
I see. OK, thanks.
 
#23 ·
it would be cheaper to buy an already backhalfed camaro and have two cars , with this economy
 
#28 ·
FWIW, in an attempt to make peace here, let me say that I didn't get the impression that Rick was being rude. Sounded to me that he was just offering his opinion by comparing another approach to what was represented in the pic shown. As for me, I can see pros and cons to both approaches, but it's all a matter of personal viewpoint I guess. Nothing to take offense at IMO.
 
#29 ·
To add to what Rick said, you will also see cars that are done cheaply with a wheel barrow look to them. This meaning that instead of doing it correctly and modify the wheel openings, they will suck the tire inboard. This creates 2 entirely different track widths and the car to me just doesn't look right.
 
#32 ·
IMO, the camaro in this thread looks killer! and if it hooks and does what the owner wants then thats all that matters..


i dont like the low in the weeds look with over sized wheels and rubber band tires but some do and if thats what floats their boat then go for it..


and as said before i would go find a car already done MUCH cheaper then doing it yourself..
 
#36 ·
Yes, different strokes exactly, Two Dominators on the street can easily get out performed by a Single 4 in both performance and diveablity, and MPG. However it looks like you have the right idea by just using them as throttle bodies, at least thats what I hope your doing :thumbsup:


And as for my car, thank you, but my car is not even what I was talking about with 8 second cars that sit with a modern stance and use a small tire, I was talking about nice shiny cars, when my car is on the street most people just look at it like it's a huge pile, but those who understand like it.
 
#37 ·
That pic is just a goof off pic. That IS a tunnel ram with EFI added...I just couldn't resist setting it on my motor and taking a pic with a couple of Dominators. Just too cool looking!

The tunnel ram in this case will be run with throttle bodies which you'll be seeing soon in some real testing!

The notion that a tunnel ram won't spank a single Dominator is an old wive's tale. I've never seen a tunnel ram not make more power..but I'll have another data point soon.

Driveability with a carb(s) is all in the ability to set it up and make it work. MPG...hmmnnn...I won't go out there too far...but depending on the combo they aren't too bad. But I will say my MPG went up quite a bit with EFI over my Dominator.


JIM
 
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