Backing up that power are a Bowtie Overdrives 700R4 transmission and an 8.5-inch GM 10-bolt rear end that houses 3.73:1 gears and a limited-slip differential. Following the motif of functionality, overdrive isn't so much a fashion statement as it is a necessity. "After I got the car running, it became my daily driver," says Scott. "With the 3.73s, the TH350 just wasn't cutting it, so I stepped up to an overdrive. Now, I can cruise all day at 1,800 rpm at 70 mph, and get 18-20 mpg, depending on how heavy my foot is."
As impressive as all that may be, perhaps the most shocking aspect of this budget buildup is the $600 paint job. The hue is Light Carmine Red Metallic off of a '97 Corvette, topped with three coats of clear, but that's not the impressive part. It looks as good as paint that costs ten times as much. Shady magazine staffers can usually sex up a sub-par finish by using an extra-long zoom lens and Photoshop, but that's not the case here. "I drove it around in primer until the Florida humidity finally took its toll," explains Scott. "I took it in for a cheap paint job to get some color on it until I could afford a show-car finish. Luckily for me, the owner happened to be a musclecar guy and really liked my car, so he put in a little more effort than $600 would normally buy for most customers. Five years and 17,000 miles later, it's still holding up great."
Although the Camaro was now running well and looking great, it was far from finished. Scott started perusing Lateral-G.net and Pro-Touring.com, and got some inspiration to give his car the g-Machine rubdown. The chassis was stiffened with a set of Competition Engineering subframe connectors. To keep body roll in check, Scott installed a set of QA1 adjustable coil-overs up front, and a 1.125-inch Performance Suspension Technology sway bar. Out back, the multi-leaf setup that came with the car was ditched for a set of stock mono-leafs to lower ride height a tad bit more, and matched up with KYB shocks and a PST .875-inch sway bar. To finish off the aesthetic upgrades, a set of Billet Specialties Street Stars measuring 17x8 in the front and 17x9.5 in the back were installed. They're wrapped in 245/45 and 275/40 Nitto 555 tires in the front and back, respectively.
Inside the cabin, the slim budget was again put to good use. Plenty of modern touches were added, but not so much as to break the bank. While it's commonplace to see high-dollar Recaro seats and five-point harnesses in g-Machines, Scott went the frugal route with a set of '94 Camaro front buckets wrapped in houndstooth upholstery. Sure, they're not as flashy as aftermarket perches, but they're still a huge improvement over '60s technology and offer plenty of lateral support for a street car. Other upgrades are limited to a Grant steering wheel and a set of Auto Meter gauges. Scott decided that he could do without luxuries such as air conditioning and a stereo system, so you won't find them in this Camaro. And there certainly isn't anything wrong with that.
If your definition of a g-Machine is a car that's packed to the brim with every piece of hardware that implies handling, acceleration, braking and comfort, this Camaro falls short of the mark. However, if you're sick of parts that are installed just for the sake of installing them and cars that are never used for their intended purpose, then this Camaro hits the mark with pinpoint precision. Love it for what it doesn't have: a big brake kit, a roll bar, EFI, a fire system, or racing seats. When it comes down to it, if you hardly ever drive on the street and have never even been to a road course, those parts are just expensive props. On the other hand, Scott Hall's Camaro knows exactly what it is: a bonafide street car that can hold its own at the dragstrip and competently tackle corners without pretending to be a road racer. What you see is what you get. Too bad you can't say that about most g-Machines.