Tony Karamitsos’ Street/Strip 1969 Chevy Camaro Z/28
From the pages of RPM Magazine, June 2020
With only an aftermarket fiberglass hood straying from a factory steel, glass, or chrome component, the Camaro isn’t the lightest performer you’ll ever face, making its impressive on-track measurables all the more impressive. When weight is up and ETs are down, you know there must be some serious power on tap.
“The car was a total basket case. It didn’t have quarters, a rear valance...no doghouse...not much of anything. But it was a start...”
Photos: Brandon Wilson
Tony Karami T sos
The Camaro’s interior looks nearly factory, with a pair of stock buckets draped with RJS harnesses and a Holley digital dash where the vintage analog instrumentation used to live.
Having a cool die cast collectible is one thing. Having a legit steel 7-second street car is another. But having a die cast collectible of your street car? That’s off the charts cool!
You may be surprised to see a small block between of motivation for the Chevy in a lighter- weight
between the fender wells, but the turbocharged 400 ci Ultra Tech Racing Engines mill provides plenty weight envelope than a big block.
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Chassis & Modifications:
Stock Camaro sub-frame with frame connectors and mini tubs.
Suspension & Brakes:
FRONT: TRZ tubular upper & lower control arms. Afco double-adjustable coilover shocks and Wilwood disc brakes.
REAR: CalTrac traction bars and split mono-leaf suspension with Santhuff double-adjustable shocks. TRZ anti-roll bar. Aerospace Components disc brakes.
Body & Paint:
Fiberglass cowl induction hood with all remaining components factory including bumpers, trim, and glass (3,660 pound curb weight). All prep and paint by Tony Karamitsos with help from Brad Curtis, Shannon Montgomery, Adam Podell. Royal blue metallic DuPont basecoat/clearcoat paint with white Z/28 stripes.
Engine:
Ultra Tech Racing Engines 400 ci small block Chevy with Dart Little M block, Crower forged 3.750-inch stroke crankshaft, Callies 5.850 rods with ARP bolts, and custom ceramic-coated Diamond pistons with Hell Fire rings. Custom spec Crane solid roller cam with Crower roller lifters and Trend 3/8-inch chromoly pushrods. Cometic MLS head gaskets and full ARP stud kit. All Pro SP 23-degree aluminum raised runner cylinder heads with Isky valve springs, titanium retainers, and 2.150 intake/1.60 exhaust valves. Full CNC port and T&D shaft rockers.
Induction and Fuel Delivery:
Dart raised runner intake (fully ported) with Edelbrock elbow and throttle body. E85 fuel system with Aeromotive Eliminator fuel pump (primary) and ProSeries pump (secondary). Wilson fuel rails and Moran 235cc Billet Atomizer injectors.
Power Adder:
Precision Turbo 98mm turbocharger with 66mm wastegate and ProCharger blow-off valve. RJC custom intercooler with custom hot and cold side tubing.
Electronics & Ignition:
Holley Dominator EFI, Holley touch-screen dash, Nitrous Dave’s Racing Electronics custom wiring & relay board.
Exhaust:
Stainless Works turbo headers.
Transmission & Driveline:
RPM Transmission Turbo 400 built by Rodney Massengale, PTC Pro Mod Bolt Together Converter & Gear Vendors Overdrive. Action Machine 4-inch driveshaft with Mark Williams chromoly yoke.
Differential:
Moser M9 housing with aluminum center section and 3.25 gears. Gun-drilled star flanged 40-spline axles with 5/8-inch studs.
Tires and Wheels:
FRONT: 15x3.5-inch Weld V-Series wheels with 26x5-15 Mickey Thompson tires.
REAR: 15x12-inch double beadlocked Weld V-Series wheels with 275/60R-15 ET Street Radial Pro tires.
Performance: 7.99 @ 173.71 mph
Whether on the street or at the track, Karamitsos’ Camaro not only looks incredible, it performs incredibly well, too. It’s not easy to propel an almost all steel small tire street machine into the sevens, but Tony has done it (and plans to go deeper following some cage upgrades to keep the tech guy at the track happy).
