Modern Rodding FEATURE
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A True Fair-Weather Friend title
A True Fair-Weather Friend title
This ’69 Camaro Drop-Top Was Made for Florida
By Brian BrennanPhotography by John Jackson
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any of us build our dream hot rod based on what we have envisioned in our mind. For Gumer Alvero of Minnesota his dream was to have a ’69 Camaro convertible built to represent a modernized Pro Touring ride. Coupled to that, the convertible top was to sit below the beltline when recessed. Gumer, having followed the work of BBT Fabrications out of Illinois, was intrigued with their talents, which led him to contact Troy Gudgel.

Working from renderings put to paper by artist Victor Fulton, Gudgel could see immediately that there would be a problem with the soft top sitting below the beltline. Noting this was a requisite of Gumer’s final plan, Gudgel began to work on a solution. The problem stemmed from the size of the compulsory wheelwells that were obligatory to house the oversized wheels and tires. Gudgel realized that the staff at BBT could overcome this problem by building an aluminum liftoff hardtop. Having a liftoff top would be a relatively simple obstacle to overcome as the Camaro is intended to spend much of its life in Florida—topless. What started out as a handful of sheetmetal mods to be performed at BBT turned into a complete build.

A quick review of the BBT sheetmetal work performed is substantive. Along with the liftoff top there was more aluminum handiwork, such as the hood and engine bay panels. From here the front valance, rocker panels, taillight panel, rear lower valance, rear spoiler, and front and rear bumpers were devised. More one-offs include the taillights, door handles, mirrors, and exhaust tips along with flush-mount windshield and back glass. Once this metalwork was accomplished, the final body- and paintwork was handled by Dutchboys Hotrods in Michigan. The BASF Bentley Moroccan Blue Pearl was sprayed under the watchful eye of the father and son team of Joe and Paul VanNus of Dutchboys. All the appointed black chrome comes by way of Ogden Plating in Utah.

'69 Camaro Drop-Top
We’ve mentioned the oversized wheel and tire package, which not only required enhanced wheeltubs but also sheetmetal work that consisted of 1-1/2-inch widened, per side, rear quarter-panels. The stretched quarter-panels are now the new home for the Forgeline GT3C wheels and Michelin Pilot SS rubber. The rear wheels measure 19×12 with 345/30R19 rubber while in front the wheels measure 18×9.5 with 265/35R18 rubber in back. Pressed into service behind the spoked Forgeline wheels are Baer 14-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors with six-piston calipers.
Engine in a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
Dashboard and Steering Wheel in a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
Working our way to the interior we can see there is, again, a handful of custom touches and one-off fabrication by BBT. The interior is based on the hand-fabricated aluminum dashboard and center console. From here the instrumentation is based on one of the latest Dakota Digital HDX platforms utilizing a Speartech wiring harness. It is a custom setup prepped by DD within the BBT-designed gauge bezels/cups then machined by EVOD. Other dash-related items include the ididit steering column topped with a MOMO wheel. The BMW M4 seats were sectioned and then stitched by Cato’s Custom Upholstery of Atlanta, Georgia. Cato’s handled the seating as well as the flooring, steering wheel wrap, door and kick panels, and the trunk. Moore and Giles charcoal gray leather with light blue stitching was used throughout. The removable aluminum top and the dash were covered by Upholstery Unlimited in Clinton, Iowa. Additional BBT one-off aluminum work includes the machined A/C vents and controller for the Vintage Air A/C, dash knobs, shifter bezel and knob, speaker bezels, A-pillars, package tray, and trunk panels. Additional one-off aluminum inserts include those in the door, floormats, quarter- and kick panels.
Aerial View of a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
The chassis that hauls this modern-day Pro Touring ’69 Camaro convertible around is based on a Roadster Shop (RS) Fast Track. The 10-gauge boxed steel framerails feature the RS IFS that includes their upper and lower control arms, C7 (Corvette) spindle and hubs, and a 1.25-inch splined front sway bar with Corvette endlinks. The frame is also equipped with a center crossmember featuring 3-inch exhaust ports and a dropout trans mount. The rear is based on an RS-provided Strange 9-inch housing with a Moser centersection equipped with an Eaton Truetrac spinning 3.73 gears and 31-spline stainless steel axles. Centering the rearend package is an RS large-diameter four-bar rear suspension. Found at the four corners are Penske single-adjustable coilovers with Hypercoil springs as well as Baer brakes.
Under the Hood of a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
Let there be no doubt that the heart of any hot rod rests under the hood. This ’69 Camaro convertible is powered by a Chevrolet Performance LT4 crate engine. It is the second most powerful engine ever offered in a regular-production Corvette. The C7 Z06 package displaces 6.2 liters (378 inches) and is supercharged via a 1.7L Eaton R1740 TVS supercharger. With 9 pounds of boost, it can produce 640 hp and 630 pounds of torque.
Rim and Tire on a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
Side View Mirror on a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
Shell of a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
To the crate engine there is a Wegner front drive, Katech Engineering valve covers with BBT machine inserts, a smoothed-over intake lid, Ultimate headers, relocated coils, and tuned by Carma Performance. A PRC radiator along with a C&R racing heat exchanger are also used. A GM ZL1 fuel pump is employed along with stainless steel fuel and brake lines. More stainless can be found in the exhaust pipe along with the Borla mufflers. The LT4 is backed up to a combination of a Quick Time bellhousing, McLeod clutch, and the Bowler Performance Transmissions–prepped TREMEC T56 Magnum six-speed.
man driving a '69 Camaro Drop-Top
When you spend time in the Sunshine State, enjoy hot rods, and want to get out there and drive ’em your lot is cast. What better choice than this ’69 Camaro drop-top with all the handling and power one could use or wish for.
Modern Rodding
VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 21 • 2022