Countdown to May 2. The Honor Flight Camaro and the 2015 One Lap of America!

[CarlC]

Sorry I've been a bit absent here gents, but a new job, family, elderly in-laws, Giving You Gas, and getting ready for the 2015 One Lap of America has had me a bit buried :hammer:

As the 2014 OLoA was finishing up the planning a prep for 2015 was well under way. Of course, like most projects, excessive scope creep showed it's very ugly head. Let's start with this...

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That's 3245 miles of highway driving and 19 performance events including a 1/2-mile oval at night under the lights and drag racing. We've been to three of the tracks before so that helps but two that we have not been to are Texas (three different configurations in one day) and NCM (pretty darn big.)

So after close to 45000 miles of abuse on the stock 2001 T56 (which still had all the stock internals after being purchased used) the 1-2 shift would get a bit cranky at times. To fix the trans means removing the engine/trans assembly since access to the trans bolts is near impossible. So, if it all has to come out, I might as well go through the engine. Well, if I'm going to go through the engine, some upgrades are in order :yum:. Upgrades now exceed the transmission power rating. That means a new transmission. A perfect example of how a $100 transmission part turns into a new powerplant.

Well, here's the ugly....

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Some of the new...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20140427_120820_zpsevhg6yng-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20140427_120820_zpsevhg6yng.jpg.html)

That's a new LS6 block diamond honed by QMP. There's two days of block prep as well with a ton of deburring and oil passage/drainage mods. Since the Gen3 system has worked so well in this car and I got a deal on the following I could not pass up....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20140319_150429_zpsvaivj4xa-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20140319_150429_zpsvaivj4xa.jpg.html)

I've been collecting Gen3 parts for five years as "spares", and these fully worked West Coast Cylinder Heads landed in my lap for a hilariously low price. They came with Ferra valves and titanium retainers but the springs were shot. New PAC springs (bought new in box in the For Sale section) and a few hours on a lathe modifying the retainers, and voila!

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New coil packs, new valve covers, new water pump, all bought in the For Sale section.

With the engine now displacing 6.3L it was time to speed up the blower a bit, so an overdrive damper was installed along with an 8-rib serpentine belt system. The pulleys are Powerbond SFI rated parts, but the combination of the larger damper and smaller power steering pulley has resulted in a overspeed condition. A larger pulley is on the way.

[CarlC]

So come January we get to this point

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20141101_124337_zpsnqvaelpi-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20141101_124337_zpsnqvaelpi.jpg.html)

The flywheel and clutch that came out of the car are LS2/LS7 parts. That's a new GM part going back in. Why? After seven years of countless track days not only was the disk in good shape, but if it was not for the normal discoloration of the flywheel, and pressure plate, it would have been difficult to tell that they were used. The machining marks were still evident on both faces. It could have gone for another decade worth of use. I'll sell the used parts with the takeout engine/trans.

It's back in...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20150125_220539_zpsevnsgzcr-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20150125_220539_zpsevnsgzcr.jpg.html)

Uh oh, why is there an oil leak coming from the oil pan AN fitting, and why is there a much higher driveline vibration above 120mph than before? Ugh. Turns out the fitting at the flange/fitting interface is leaking for an unknown reason, and it cannot be fixed in the car, so out comes the engine. Also,shortening the driveshaft 2-1/2" was enough to put it into too much of a working angle, so tunnel mods are up also.

New big hole.....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20150110_155127_zpsawgijwsf-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20150110_155127_zpsawgijwsf.jpg.html)

...and the new Chris Alston tunnel extension. The big bracket is used to hold the front of the center console down instead of the stock down-studs. With this arrangement the center console can be removed in less than 10 minutes. The perimeter nutserts retain an access plate that is fully gasketed and sealed to the shifter tower. With a bit of massaging, even the original carpet worked in almost every spot. In one corner near the side panels there is a 1/4" gap that was seamed with leftovers.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20150123_080225_zpssn70iwqs-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20150123_080225_zpssn70iwqs.jpg.html)

Up to 145mph it's now smooth with no hint of unsteadiness. The new Tremec Driveline Calculator is also a handy tool but I still had to check it manually.

As of today the brakes are new along with the front wheel bearings cleaned, inspected, greased, and re-clearance to 0.015" endplay. A new windshield will hopefully go in late next week (after almost 10 years of fun, it's time), a final oil change, new tires, and she's ready to go. Me? Not so much as there is still a lot of track study to do.

As before my co-driver Jon and I are flying the Honor Flight banner on the car. It is still a privilege for us to try and give a little back to those folks that gave so much of themselves. We could not go out and do silly things like this if not for them.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/03/20150326_0033101_zps35bvlqwy-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/20150326_0033101_zps35bvlqwy.jpg.html)

A big Thank You! also goes out to Pro-Touring.com who is helping the Honor Flight Camaro crew this year. During the events and transit stages we will be checking in with Larry and Brandy with updates and posting up here. Often the electronic gadgets fail in the middle of nowhere USA.

38 days and counting.....!!!!

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[Martin71RS]

WOW, big changes....you've done a lot of work and the new motor sure looks good. I'll be watching for the reports during OneLap ! :-)

[srh3trinity]

Best of luck. Looks like you made some great upgrades. I wore my honor flight Camaro shirt the other day and I must say it is the coolest "car guy" shirt I own. Lemme know if you do shirts again.

[Hotchkis]

Best of luck this year Carl. You know we'll all be rooting for you.
Speed Safe!

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Awesome..be sure to give Catesby and Will a run for their money in their GTR with the world's largest wing on it!

[GrabberGT]

Best of luck. Looking forward to seeing you here in Texas.

[CarlC]

Awesome..be sure to give Catesby and Will a run for their money in their GTR with the world's largest wing on it!

LOL! About the only thing we can do evenly with them is the MacDonalds drive-thru.

Turns out as of last night Randy Pobst is co-driving a car as well. Not only is he a heck of a driver, but one of the nicest guys I've ever met.

Thank you for the well-wishes everyone.

[CarlC]

Best of luck. Looks like you made some great upgrades. I wore my honor flight Camaro shirt the other day and I must say it is the coolest "car guy" shirt I own. Lemme know if you do shirts again.

I hear you as I need all the "cool" help I can get!

Sorry for the "Last edited.." in your post. I pressed the wrong button.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

You'll beat them there, that wing won't fit a drive-thru...every time it's at my buddies' shop I whack my elbow on it

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

Carl,
Thanks for pm'ing me yesterday. I read through your links and was very touched with your tribute to your dad and all veterans. I thought I would share a few links also. This is my son, he got involved in Utah Honor Flight when he saw and was touched by one of the Honor Flight trips that was taken. He decided he wanted to do something about it. I think this is a great cause and a great tribute to all veterans. I am glad to see that there are still some good in this country that seems to be forgetting where we came from. Your Camaro is awesome. Great job!

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=33120131
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1164&sid=33524991
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=33806265
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=303&sid=30380491

[BayouSS]

Carl,

Good luck this year, wish you were passing through Nola again so we could support you but we will support you, Jon and your cause from afar.

Sam,

You must be very proud of your son and what he has done. There are a lot of people in this country that have not forgotten what our veterans have gone through, sometimes they just need a little nudge to wake them up. Carl brought all this to our attention with his Honor Flight Camaro Tribute during the 2013 One Lap. Since then we have become charter members of the WWII Museum in Nola and support them as well as our local Military Museum and veterans.
We (my wife and I) took our 90 year old neighbor across the street who was flight engineer during WWII on B29 Bombers in the South Pacific to the Nola WWII Museum and it brought tears to my eyes to see how people greeted and respected him for what he did. To him it was nothing and he never said a word to me in 25 years about it until I brought it up. Carl later told me that's how they are, they do not talk about it. But I have been able to get him to dredge up some old memories once in a awhile and I love hearing it but sadly it will all be gone one day. That's why we need to honor them today just as your son is doing, I am proud of him and also yourself and your wife for raising such a fine young man.

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

Thank you Bill. We are very proud of him, and all of the people we have met through this journey.

[Flash68]

Good luck Carl. Love the car and story/cause behind it.

[PhillipM]

Hey Carl,

We've been thinking of going to an overdrive drive assembly for our project. Can you elaborate more on this?

"With the engine now displacing 6.3L it was time to speed up the blower a bit, so an overdrive damper was installed along with an 8-rib serpentine belt system. The pulleys are Powerbond SFI rated parts, but the combination of the larger damper and smaller power steering pulley has resulted in a overspeed condition. A larger pulley is on the way."

Also, which kit did you use? An ATI or Innovators?

[DJW32]

Carl,

What power numbers did it make, and how high are you spinning the motor?

[CarlC]

Hey Carl,

We've been thinking of going to an overdrive drive assembly for our project. Can you elaborate more on this?

"With the engine now displacing 6.3L it was time to speed up the blower a bit, so an overdrive damper was installed along with an 8-rib serpentine belt system. The pulleys are Powerbond SFI rated parts, but the combination of the larger damper and smaller power steering pulley has resulted in a overspeed condition. A larger pulley is on the way."

Also, which kit did you use? An ATI or Innovators?

Sorry Phil, I missed this.

The kit is from Powerbond, a division of Dayco. The parts are well made and professional in appearance. If the car was not doing high RPM road course workouts I doubt there would be a problem.

If your car has the Gen4 F-body accessory drive do not use the ATI power steering pulley. It is totally wrong and they will not admit or fix the problem. I even wrote a detailed explanation with GM P/N's and photos, but they deny and put their head in the sand. Can you guess that I'm not thrilled with ATI?

The Powerbond parts are not readily available. I got 'em through Motorstate.

[CarlC]

We've made it to South Bend, have the car all sticked, and will be heading to tech inspection soon. Today's wet skid pad events starts at 4pm, so for us it will be 5:30pm before we hit the road for nine hour ride/550mi+ to Mid-America.

Wishing you were here James, Mary, Jimi, and Saroja....

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[eric1967]

Good luck Carl. Keep us posted

[CarlC]

Decided to do a bit of sightseeing this morning at ND.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/05/20150502_115401_zpss6la3qzr-1.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/carlc6/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150502_115401_zpss6la3qzr.jpg.html)