Most people can drop an LS into an old Camaro and call it a day. The C7 Camaro build isn’t most builds. Bryce and his team at a body shop in Oklahoma are combining a 1967 Camaro body with an entire C7 Corvette platform. The deeper they get into the project, the more impressive the details become.
C7 Camaro Build: Solving The Steering Problem
One of the latest updates involves the steering setup. The original plan was to use the Corvette’s electric power steering, but that wasn’t going to work. Instead, the team sourced an $800 billet aluminum manual rack from Strange. To add power assist, they’re mounting an EPAS Performance unit under the dash. From there, it routes steering input through the column and down to the rack. Custom tie rod ends were also fabricated to work around previous packaging challenges, with hopes of simplifying the design going forward.
Brakes, Brakes, And More Brakes
The C7 Corvette donor was a Grand Sport, so it came with Brembo brakes from the factory. Unfortunately, the custom wheel offset and widened bodywork made the factory calipers unusable. The team widened the car twice before settling on a five-millimeter clearance between the inside of the wheel and the caliper. That still wasn’t enough room to make the Brembos work. As a result, Wilwood steps in with a solution that fits, and brake parts alone are running around $5,000.
Up front, a CVF Racing accessory drive system is going on the LT engine. Every component is machined from billet aluminum. Additionally, the build is swapping in LT4 fuel injectors and a matching high-pressure fuel pump. The pump is cam-driven, with approximately 30 percent more lift on the pump lobe to keep up with demand.
Supercharger, Gauges, And Big Power Goals
Sitting nearby in pieces is a Magnuson 2650 supercharger with air-to-water intercoolers built in. Texas Speed and Performance is supplying a stage two blower cam, lifters, and upgraded trunnions. Once the motor comes out for final assembly, the front cover will also be replaced with a cleaner Texas Speed unit. The power target is 700 to 750 horsepower at the crank. The team estimates that puts the wheels around 625 horsepower, which they consider plenty for a convertible platform.
The interior is getting a Dakota Digital gauge cluster to monitor boost, oil pressure, and other engine vitals. A Vintage Air digital climate control unit integrates directly with the Dakota Digital system. For now, the team is keeping the eight-speed automatic from the Corvette donor. That decision allows them to retain the factory ECU and TCM rather than reworking the entire transmission control setup.
With an estimated $30,000 in parts spent over two months and a project total pushing $200,000, the C7 Camaro build is an exercise in commitment. The philosophy is simple: buy once, cry once.
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