Information about Shevy Camaro '77 RS

[DaviX]

Hello people, nice to meet you.
my name is David, from Israel, I'm new at this forum so I'll make a short introduction.

I currently drive a Hyundai Lantra '96 which I will be replacing soon. (this car sucks) and plus I am looking into building my own drag racing car.

The car I have in mind is a Chevy Camaro '77 Rally Sport, It currently has no engine and nothing is working (thus making the project more fun, imo) I didn't buy this car yet, but I am allmost settled on it, I am now waiting for it to go to a check to see if it's chassis is in one piece.

The camaros here in Israel are really rare, and there are not much, so if i would like a good car base for drag with alot of tuning and modifiying opportunities, this will be the car for me. What I'm getting to eventually is this, does anybody here have any experience with the above car? where can i read more info?

thanks, every help you can give will be greatly appriciated, here is a picture of the car... and, hello, hope we'll get together with no problems

[BlkCamaroSS]

Looks like it'll need some work, including a donor engine. Try doing a search for 2nd Gen Camaros, or even for a 77 Camaro on some of the major search engines. This should provide you with basics on the motors that were offered, etc. Is this supposed to be a strictly strip car, or will is also see the street as well?

[DaviX]

For the next 4 years, it's going to be strictly strips, but then it's going to go on streets (not for racing, rather for shows and exhibitions).


i've been looking for some information on this car... still i have a question un answered.


what is the diffrence between the z28 and the rs? i know the ss is the later rs version. can some one spill some light on this issue? I will appriciate it much.

plus, i now have hik-ups (for real )

[DaviX]

anybody? please help...

i know found out that the RS is aka Z85, does it meen it's better than the Z28?

can i get to a stock Z28 having an RS?
i meen are they the same base?

[BlkCamaroSS]

As far as I know, as for the more recent Camaros, RS is the designation for an appearance package, i.e. ground effects and a three piece spoiler extention that was offered on any model, V6, Z28, or SS (the SS wouldn't have the spoiler extention though). That means, you can have a stock Z28 with an RS appearance package, no problem.

As for the Z85, I have no idea what that means other than it might be the specific code that signifies it came originally with the RS package, but that has nothing to do with it being a Z28 or not.

You should do a VIN # check on it, to see what came on that vehicle originally...

[DaviX]

tnx i will, where can i read the vin# off of the car?

[89IROC&RS]

the RS, or Rally Sport, for almost all years has been the "pretty" camaro, also known as the appearance package, while the Z28 has been the fast one. the Z85 and Z28 designation is the build code for thes options, found on the build sheet. all options for the vehicle are three digit codes. it just so happens that the Z28 is named after its option code, while the RS is not. but the Z28 is a much better option for performance. the actual numerical value of the build code has no impact on better or worse, just happens to be a larger number. RS camaros usually have a softer ride, more creature comforts, and more pretty outside equipment, while Z28 camaros usualy have a tuned stiff suspension and powerful engine. and less creature comforts. im not sure exatly on options for the 77 camaro, but even the Z28 was hardly a high performance machine, it was the height of the gas crunch and emmisions, and all the cars were suffering. so your best bet, especially if its going to be a drag car rather than a restoration, is to completely build your own drivetrain and suspension, therefore the options the car came with are a non issue, and dont matter. if you plan on showing the car after racing it, i would go with an RS because they are prettier, and will do better at a show, but then again, the cars are the same, and you could easily make a Z look like an RS. so again, the options the car came with are pretty non important. oh and the SS is not the new RS, the RS as i said before is the Rally Sport option, while the SS is the Super Sport, and was a performance option, for instance, in 1969, the Z28 had the hot 302 and a race tuned suspension, while the RS had everything from the Inline 6 to the 350, while the SS could get all the way up to the big block V8's of the day, with the most power. so the shorthand, was that the RS was the pretty daily driver that everyone could love, the Z28 was the high strung road course racer with a high revving small block, and the SS was the meathead big block massive power dragster built for strait line performance. dont know if thats the same as the 77, but im pretty sure thats how its been for all the years.

[89IROC&RS]

the VIN # is on the front dashboard, look at the car from the outside, standing in front, the lower right hand corner of the windsheild, there will be a 14 digit code of letters and numbers, that is the VIN # and will tell you everything about the car, assuming you can take it to someone to have it decoded. if you post it on here, ill see if i can get it decoded for you at work.

[boots03]

i ma going to put my on this car, i think it would alot of fun to put something big in it,say like a 502 crate motor, but maybe that is just my young(18) age getting the best of me, all i can see with that car is "diamand in the ruff"

[DaviX]

i'm pretty young my self (20).

question: can i make this RS act like a stock Z28? it's the same body and chassis? (give or take the front bumper which i read is diffrent between models). are there alot of tuning and modifying options for this car (whole drivetrain - springs coilovers engine carbs etc`)? If i take this car, can i make it a good car eventually?

i live in israel, here we got approx 30 camaros all over the country, making this camaro one of a kind (one of 30 to be accurate) it's going to cost me 5K$ USD. i know it's much more then i would have got it in the u.s. but, that's israel..

thanks for the answers so far. waiting for more

[boots03]

it should act the same as a Z28, altho i am not to sure on that.but there a a million different thing you could do to that car, just, i repeat, just stay away from the 305TBI.

[DaviX]

what is 305TBI?

[89IROC&RS]

lol, the worst engine chevy ever made, well, arguably anyway. it was a 5.0 Liter V8 that only made 170hp it hada horrible bore stroke ratio defined by the gas crunch and emmisions, they made it a small bore trying to reduce hydrocarbons, and long stroke trying to make torque, and it really just is a boat anchor.

[89IROC&RS]

as far as making this RS run like a Z, it really wouldnt be all that hard. the main diff between the two would be the wheels, tires, shocks, springs, engine, and rear end. they usually used the same transmision though. but rather than making it run like a 77 Z28, i would reccomned some aftermarket parts if at all possible, such as edelbrock IAS shocks, Eibach springs, some centerline wheels and sticky tires. im a goodyear eagle man but thats kinda a personal preference deal. and when it comes to the engine. boots may be onto something with that 502, especially if your gonna drag it, but that also is a factor of money. bt then again, all racecars are. but to answer your question, on wheather or not you can make this a good car eventually, i think so, just be very careful to look over the whole car looking for rust, and bondo, and band aid fixes, if you buy the car, and it desintigrates by the time you get it home, its probly not worth the money and effort, but if its pretty solid, and dosnt need alot of cancer treatment, and you arent intimidated by the body work, then i think your off to a pretty good start.

[DaviX]

tnx 89iroc. assuming (and just asuming for now) that i get the car, and i wanna make it a drag car, what engine and gear will be best for max 1/4mile? shall i convert it to injection or rather stay with carbs?