OneLapCamaro - Engine Update

[James OLC]

Well we finally made it to the point where we are starting work on the engine for the OneLapCamaro project. We were fortunate to find nice donor to use as a starting point:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/12/ls7201-1.bmp

It came out ot an '07 with just 5,000 miles on it. The owner was upgrading to a twin turbo setup.

[James OLC]

A couple of weeks ago out it came:

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And now it's over at Katech Engine Development for a complete teardown and rebuild to their Street Attack specifications.

This should be a lot of fun. I'll try to post pictures through the build process.

[Rybar]

Nice motor James, are you getting Katech to add any mods to it?

[James OLC]

Katech is going to do a complete rebuild to their Street Attach specifications. The block will be touched up, the titanium connecting rods will be rebushed on the small end and then it will be reassembled with 11:1 forged pistons, Katech's World Challenge camshaft, and a new valvetrain. The heads will receive a bit of attention and then it will be dyno'd. The ATS Sidewinder and road race dry sump pan are on their way there now. It should be on the dyno in 3 to 4 weeks.

[James OLC]

Well the engine is together and we are currently waiting in the que for some dyno time - hopefully we get an opportunity next week. A couple of people have asked me about the treatment that Katech does with the factory titanium rods – replacing the factory bearngs with new bronze bushings - so I thought I would post some pictures of the process.

First, Katech takes the connecting rods and press out the factory split bushing.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/02/katech20rod201JPG-1.jpg

Using a proprietary process, they install the solid bronze high modulus rod bushing in a manner that does not scuff or score either surface.

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Then the rod gets sent over to the CNC manufacturing shop at Katech where they machine the contour of the bushing to match the factory rod.

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[James OLC]

Next an oil groove is machined on a CNC mill.

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The final rod bushing with contour and oil groove.

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Connecting rod set ready to install pistons.

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[James OLC]

I have to say that thus far Katech has been awesome to deal with and that you really do get what you pay for. The detail work that they do prior to and during assembly far exceeds anything that I have encountered before (and this isn't my first rodeo). They noted irregularities with one valve guide and between two cylinders (possibly due to detonation and probably due to a poor nitrous tune from the last owner) which have been brought back in line with their very exacting specifications. The also took the time to pressure test the oil pan prior to intallation (I know, that's what I said too) to ensure that everything would be 100%. Increadible attention to detail.

More updates in the days to come....