Wanting to build a 1970 Grumpy's toy Camero pro stock

[Mr mopar]

I need input to what kit I need to start with and what engine to use etc....

Edited October 22, 2024 by Mr mopar

[Mark]

The AMT Baldwin-Motion Camaro has the big-block engine, Cragar S/S wheels, and "late" rear spoiler (which was later removed from the 1:1 car).  The stock Z/28 has a flat hood.  You'll have to run down a few other parts like the intake setup, headers, roll bar, and so on.

[1972coronet]

IIRC, that same Camaro had its L-78 swapped to an LT-1 at some point. Likewise, its front rims were changed to the then-new Cragar Super Trick (available in the newer issue Grumpy's Vega). 

[bytownshaker]

The Scale Auto mag January 2003 issue has an excellent article on building the car and is available on E-bay, https://www.motortrend.com/features/bill-grumpy-jenkins-pro-stock-1970-chevy-camaro/ also . I'd pick a version of the car as it ran different hood scoops, wheels and front and rear combinations

Good luck on your build

 

[Bills72sj]

This will be interesting to watch...

[Force]

On 10/23/2024 at 2:51 AM, 1972coronet said:

IIRC, that same Camaro had its L-78 swapped to an LT-1 at some point. Likewise, its front rims were changed to the then-new Cragar Super Trick (available in the newer issue Grumpy's Vega). 

The front wheels in the MPC Grumpy's and Bruce Larson's Vega is not the best renderings of Cragar Super Tricks, they don't have the right look and are too wide.
The best I have found so far is from Futureattraction https://www.futurattraction.com/wheels-resin
The plastic cap over the spindle and lug nuts used are a problem tho', I have not found anything close to that.

Edited October 26, 2024 by Force

[Mr mopar]

one more thing where can I find a hood scoop like this (any kit or kits have one ) ?

[magicmustang]

19 hours ago, Mr mopar said:

one more thing where can I find a hood scoop like this (any kit or kits have one ) ?

The hood scoop in the Jo-Han '71 Sox & Martin Cuda is close.

[Bills72sj]

The scoop is simple enough to make from evergreen sheet stock. I too, suggest the Motion Baldwin Camaro. Here is what I did with mine.

[bytownshaker]

The Scale Auto mag January 2003 issue has an excellent article on building the car and is available on E-bay, https://www.motortrend.com/features/bill-grumpy-jenkins-pro-stock-1970-chevy-camaro/ also . I'd pick a version of the car as it ran different hood scoops, wheels and front and rear combinations

Good luck on your build

Competition Resins has that scoop CRC 108

 

Edited October 28, 2024 by bytownshaker
Added info

[Force]

On 10/26/2024 at 7:24 PM, Mr mopar said:

one more thing where can I find a hood scoop like this (any kit or kits have one ) ?

Bill Jenkins had a few different scoops on this car.

Most of the pictures I have on "Grumpy's Toy" VIII it has the "Grump Lump".

Here is No VIII with another version of the lump on a fiberglass copy of the rare ZL2 hood, the ZL2 Camaro wich was meant for 1970 but never happened.
Jenkins built Toy VII with the ZL2 hood and a non RS grille but it did not see much action and the car was returned to the dealer Ammon R. Smith according to the Grumpy's Toys book.

This was the first scoop on the No VIII  from the Hot Rod article when it was newly built, looks also to be on the ZL2 hood.

Here is a later version scoop he tried.

Sometimes he experimented and taped off unwanted openings.

[1972coronet]

Not to mention that Grumpy's '70 Camaro had a faux RS fascia - he liked the look of the Endura bumper, but not its weight. That grille is a standard model, and the bumperettes are cut-back full bumper pieces.

[Mr mopar]

2 hours ago, Force said:

Bill Jenkins had a few different scoops on this car.

Most of the pictures I have on "Grumpy's Toy" VIII it has the "Grump Lump".

Here is No VIII with another version of the lump on a fiberglass copy of the rare ZL2 hood, the ZL2 Camaro wich was meant for 1970 but never happened.
Jenkins built Toy VII with the ZL2 hood and a non RS grille but it did not see much action and the car was returned to the dealer Ammon R. Smith according to the Grumpy's Toys book.

This was the first scoop on the No VIII  from the Hot Rod article when it was newly built, looks also to be on the ZL2 hood.

Here is a later version scoop he tried.

Sometimes he experimented and taped off unwanted openings.

I'm sure Grumpy tried many scoops so that part could be open to what like would like to put on the hood ,I did find something close the '70 scoop but not the Grump lump !

[keviiin86]

22 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Not to mention that Grumpy's '70 Camaro had a faux RS fascia - he liked the look of the Endura bumper, but not its weight. That grille is a standard model, and the bumperettes are cut-back full bumper pieces.

I've read that later split bumper nose was a fiberglass replica of the endura bumper..so it looks a bit different and you can see in some pics of the car it isn't the best fitting either.  The grille is the one thing that poses a challenge though since you can see in some pictures of it that it isn't inset into the nose like the factory split bumper cars.

[keviiin86]

I've collected a ton of pictures of this car over the years because I've always been interested in it and it's story..also want to build a replica of it some day.  Any new picture of it I i find I save to my phone or computer.  There were many different renditions of the car over a short 2 year time span when he ran it in pro stock.  The early version of the car on the hot rod magazine cover still utilized the full bumper nose (just without the full bumper), then later went to the fiberglass "split bumper" nose.  He ran multiple hood scoops from the open front scoop to 2 different versions of the grump lump, one atop the L88 style hood scoop, then a taller early 70s style pro stock scoop..all of which are pictured above.  Here's a few I've saved over the years that aren't posted above.  

 

Here is the infamous HRM cover shot of it in the beginning with standard nose and bumperettes

Early on it was converted to a RS nose but a fiberglass copy, note the large fiberglass integrated chin spoiler and deck lid spoiler with forward facing and open hood scoop.

this is a little later, note the cut down chin spoiler and different sheet metal grump lump scoop on top of the L88 hood, and short deck lid spoiler.  Also somewhere along the line here the car was mini tubbed for larger tires.

Later on, flat hood with 3rd version of the "grump lump", no spoiler on deck lid, factory style chin spoiler added back.

 

Note the carbs that he used during this time frame.

This is the last version of the car before he leased it to Bruce Larson, 4th scoop, what I'd refer to as a "70s pro stock" type scoop, running dominator main bodies with holley 4160 style float bowls (only time I've ever seen someone do that)..and toward the end ran cragar super tricks on all four corners.

 

here's a few random up close pictures of the car (these seem to be early on)

 

Edited October 29, 2024 by keviiin86

[Old Buckaroo]

You can get several types of "Grump Lumps" made by Competition Resins as well as the Decals for this car from "Slixx Decals"

[espo]

3 hours ago, keviiin86 said:

I've read that later split bumper nose was a fiberglass replica of the endura bumper..so it looks a bit different and you can see in some pics of the car it isn't the best fitting either.  The grille is the one thing that poses a challenge though since you can see in some pictures of it that it isn't inset into the nose like the factory split bumper cars.

A thought on the grill inset. Mr. Jenkins was a degreed Engineer and was always looking for an edge. These cars terminal speeds were in an area where they had to pay attention to their aero package as well. Like the builders in NASCAR they paid a lot of attention to the leading edge of the body and the grill in particular. Remember when the '69 Dodge Chargers in NASCAR started mounting their grills flush when they found that in the standard position the opening would catch a lot of air at high speed and by mounting their grill flush with the opening this problem went away and they were able to pick up a little speed as opposed to the recessed grills? Just maybe this could explain what the Grump was thinking.  

[1972coronet]

I was under the impression that Grump changed engines ; swapped an LT-1 in place of the '396' sometime in 1971 before switching to the Vega for '72 ?

[keviiin86]

1 hour ago, 1972coronet said:

I was under the impression that Grump changed engines ; swapped an LT-1 in place of the '396' sometime in 1971 before switching to the Vega for '72 ?

The #8 car started with a 430" can am aluminum big block, then went to a 500"+ "mountain motor" at some point.

[Straightliner59]

11 hours ago, keviiin86 said:

running dominator main bodies with holley 4160 style float bowls (only time I've ever seen someone do that)

Leave it to Grump! 

[Mr mopar]

Thx Guy's for all the info !

[Force]

On 10/29/2024 at 6:49 PM, keviiin86 said:

 

Early on it was converted to a RS nose but a fiberglass copy, note the large fiberglass integrated chin spoiler and deck lid spoiler with forward facing and open hood scoop.

 

this is a little later, note the cut down chin spoiler and different sheet metal grump lump scoop on top of the L88 hood, and short deck lid spoiler.  Also somewhere along the line here the car was mini tubbed for larger tires.

 

 

 

I have the Hot Rod Magazine issue with the Toy VIII and I've had it for ages, got it from my uncle back in the 70's.

That hood is not a L88, it's the ZL2 hood, it was meant for the planned ZL2 Camaro but it never materialized...according to the Grumpy's Toys book.
Here is pictures of the ZL2 hood without the "lump" scoop on it.

And the L88 style hood used on the Baldwin Motion Camaro's...similar but not the same.

Edited October 30, 2024 by Force

[oldcarfan]

I'd say go with the AMT Camaro and use the chassis from the MPC Grumpy's Vega kit that was rereleased last year. If I remember right the wheelbases are close. Those kits should get you most of what you need.

[keviiin86]

On 10/30/2024 at 2:24 PM, Force said:

I have the Hot Rod Magazine issue with the Toy VIII and I've had it for ages, got it from my uncle back in the 70's.

That hood is not a L88, it's the ZL2 hood, it was meant for the planned ZL2 Camaro but it never materialized...according to the Grumpy's Toys book.
Here is pictures of the ZL2 hood without the "lump" scoop on it.

And the L88 style hood used on the Baldwin Motion Camaro's...similar but not the same.

Yeah I just call it an L88 hood scoop because that's where it appears the design was taken from, since they used that similar style scoop first on the 68 L88 corvette.

I've been meaning to get a copy of that book, sounds like it has some cool info in it, are those photos of the hood from the book or just found off the internet?

Edited November 3, 2024 by keviiin86

[Force]

41 minutes ago, keviiin86 said:

Yeah I just call it an L88 hood scoop because that's where it appears the design was taken from, since they used that similar style scoop first on the 68 L88 corvette.

I've been meaning to get a copy of that book, sounds like it has some cool info in it, are those photos of the hood from the book or just found off the internet?

I found them on internet somewhere but it's mentioned in the book.
Yes buy the book, it's a lot of information there.
I have the books of Sox & Martin, Dick Landy and Grumpy's Toys among other interesting books of racers and teams, you can never get enough information.