Sometimes, bad things happen. It’s a fact of life. How we deal with the situation really tells of our character. For instance, Dave Klenner Jr. has proven that he is a true car guy. What’s more, a true third-gen Camaro kind of a guy. “I got this ’85 IROC in 1994,” affirms David, “I was a senior in high school, and unfortunately, hit a pole with my ’82 Z/28 I had before this car.”

David tells us his latest foray into the world of third-gen Camaros was in decent shape when he got it. However, that didn’t stop him from tinkering with it from day one. With the help of his father, it’s been an ongoing endeavor to create his version of the perfect hot rod. All of the modifications completed are the handiwork of the father and son duo, including paint, bodywork, suspension upgrades, and even the engine building.

Under the hood has been upgraded with a 383ci small-block that is more than capable of propelling this hot rod.

Speaking of the engine, this Camaro has seen a few come and go. “It started with stock 305,” says David. “Then, we installed a barely emissions-legal 355ci mill.” Currently, there is a 383 stroker with 6-inch rods and forged pistons creating a 10.5(ish) compression ratio. Up top is a set of mildly ported Edelbrock heads taking up residence, and behind that is a rebuilt T5 manual transmission.”

David also told us that he originally planned to build a pro-touring-style car, but has recently been bitten by the drag racing bug. Like many true enthusiasts, he does have plans for more upgrades and changes in the car’s future and hopes that one day his kids will even gain an interest in hot rodding and join in the fun along with him.

Although Dave initially planned to build a pro touring hot rod and has succeeded, he says he has now been bitten by the drag-racing bug.

Do you want to read about more Home-Built Heroes? All you need to do is click here. If you own a Home-Built Hero, we want to hear about it. Since we’ve started the series, we have received more than a few candidates, but we still want to see more – we can never get enough. If you want to see more cars built by you the readers, send us a few pictures of your car showing the engine, interior, and exterior, along with all of the pertinent information, and we’ll make you Internet famous. You can send your submissions to [email protected].