" Chain Reaction " of Track Upgrades

[Bow Tie 67]

So after last years summer of events and the September race body mods, ( https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47895 ) I made the decision to pour more dough into the car in the name of performance.

1. Dedicated track wheels and tires ( Z06 style 17 x 9.5 with Toyo R888 )

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2128033320065608932ErFrEd)

I used Skulte wheel adapters after taking carfull measurements. My goal was to use the same size tire at all four corners. This allows me to rotate and keep replacement costs down. One more benefit will be a wider track width in the rear, albeit less rubber on the ground. I'm hoping they will offset each other.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2632619470065608932SyMVPo)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2170079600065608932DKIVQf)

With the 275/40 17 tires on the front I will lose some turning radius and will modify the front wheel wells. This pic is with the suspension at full bump. I rushed to cut and really did not need to take as much out of the rear section. The car should never reach full bump with the wheel turned out ( inside tire on turn ). Oh well I'll just have a little more work to fab up a filler piece.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2454573210065608932goGYDa)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2137500220065608932icMsPR)

2. New 2008 6.2L L92 engine.

LS7 cam going in

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2608604000065608932VbCnfQ)

3. Upgrade sway-bar to control body roll

Mocking up for front splined swaybar, I ended up going with a straight arm instead of the 30* arm.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2468454770065608932feHnnG)

I'm starting with a 1 1/4" splined .095 wall sway-bar up front. The large steel pillow blocks in the pic did not fit the Chassis works front sub-frame. I played with the idea of using the Bronze bushing inserts with the CW Aluminum pillow blocks, and may re-address this down the road. For now I purchased energy suspension pillow blocks, whose rubber inserts fit the CW mount perfect. To the right is a 1/2" end-link which will not be used, instead a 3/8" will be used due to packaging constraints. Over to the left are unfinished A-arm to end-link adapters I started fabricating.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2094742190065608932LJXHjV)

[CruizinKev]

SAWEET! :twothumbs

[1971CHEVELLE]

NICE....very nice

[badbu68]

Very cool!

[dropit69]

looking good Matt...Junes not faraway better get moving..lol

[Bow Tie 67]

Mocked up the KRC steering pump and Woodward reservoir. The KRC has a replaceable flow orifice ( blue fitting on pump ) which allows adjusting the feel of the steering. The Woodward reservoir has a dual wall construction, the return comes in at an angle and flows through small holes on the lower half of the inner wall. ( kind of hard to see in pic ) One nice surprise, the pump inlet -10 90* fitting does not hit the alternator bracket.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2288821320065608932YxpIaz)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2019934280065608932MlpzGF)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2397432590065608932JZPLOI)


I also mocked up the rear diff vent system. I used aluminum line I had, but will change over to stainless in the future. I wanted to run the line parallel to the brake line but the exhaust is so tight with the Quadra-link I had to duck under the brake line and route it up the back of the housing. The pics make it look all deformed, which I'm attributing to the lighting and camera angle.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2506159780065608932jZsqLG)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2248909630065608932SUncBW)

[subtlez28]

Matt, I love the new wheels and tires!!! They are all business. To me this is an all business car and the heavy billet rollers never fit the image.

Also digging the fabbed sway bars and p/s system.

I'm picking up my own 17x9.5s and Toyos. Since the Vette project is moving slow, I will likely throw them on the 02 Z28 for the 1st part (if not whole) season. So you will know exactly how your car stacks up against an 4th gen. Though with the new 6.2 I'm not expecting to be out front anymore. Why don't you put the stock LS1 back in so I have a chance?

Subscribing!

[Btefer]

Lookin good.

[Code Red]

good stuff man

[Bow Tie 67]

I had some time to take pics last night.

I ended up using a 30* arm for the front sway-bar to get better angles for the end-links. AN hardware was used through-out, along with 1/2" rod-ends bushed down for -6 ( 3/8" ) bolts. One advantage to AN hardware is they are only threaded on the end. This gives the load bearing section of the bolt a uniform surface and the full strength of the bolts diameter. AN harware is also close tolerance, having drilled all holes with a mill the bolts are rather tight.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2202216770065608932NQmsYo)






The Chassisworks pillow block pads would not allow the collar locks to sit against the pillow blocks. I bought some UHMW plastic ( Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, similar to Delrin ) and machined it as a spacer.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2182541030065608932FeHVEJ)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2805192400065608932zhNHdt)

The L92 is coming along.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2074403270065608932tJkbZP)

Mock-up of a dual pcv oil seperator system. I used two Canton oil filters I picked up, with internal mods of course.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2235454100065608932xzTPzs)

The rear sway-bar installed. I was worried about the loads this may see and elected to weld the attaching brackets to the frame.


https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2804383140065608932BkZXOC)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2053815150065608932ZtrctK)

A better pic of the differential breather system. Of course AN fittings were used just like the fuel and brake systems.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2134375840065608932XNXcWc)

[Chad-1stGen]

Car is looking fantastic! I'm sure you can't wait to get it back out on a track

[rlplive]

One of my favorites

[Bow Tie 67]

Well after a week of late nights I finally started the new engine last night. Sorry no pics, I just have not had time, once I have time I will get some up. I still have a week of late nights getting her ready for the Power Tour and then Gingerman the week after.

[Van B]

I hope to see you at Madison Power Tour stop. I am thrashing myself to be ready and driveable by next Saturday.

[craigs73]

what was your previous motor you had in it? you blow it up? bad @$$ car by the way:)

[Bow Tie 67]

2001 LS1 with 33k on it. This motor sounds like there is much more power, it ran my ears with a free rev on stands.

[Steve1968LS2]

Looking good.. will it be at the RTTH5 this year?

[Bow Tie 67]

Looking good.. will it be at the RTTH5 this year?

I'm not 100% sure on RTTH5 yet, but do have the time off.

[PhillipM]

Could we get more explanation on the dual pcv seperator system and the mods that you performed to the tanks? I also had a question about the wheel spacers for track use... I don't believe they are leagal in many run groups. Just wondering if it is different in the area that you run in? We are running in Souther California.

[Bow Tie 67]

As far as the dual tank system, I read road events can even get oil on the so called clean side of the pcv system. Currently I do not have the inlet side hooked into the engine inlet so its really not needed. Here are a couple of pics of what I did to mod the filters. The pic of the inside is after 500 miles and 1 hour of track time. After the Power Tour I had about 3 times the amount of oil over 2500 miles.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2338217040065608932NRtpTR)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2240463070065608932SGZJWM)

So the last month has been either thrashing on the car or enjoying it. Two weeks prior to the Power Tour I turned the wick up and lit the candle at both ends.

3 weeks prior to Power Tour

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2253244840065608932Wpwqrb)

This

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2456146820065608932xzPciO)

Necessitated this, my turning radius is reduced, but the Toyo's are, Charley Lillard quote " CRACK TIRES " give me some more :) I did things with these tires I never thought possible, more on that below.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2155853300065608932CzaLzn)

Racine WI day two we were parked on the lake.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2529271620065608932gmPmDZ)

100 miles into the 650 mile trip home, " Hello mister trooper ( VA state police Lee county). I plan on doing a blog about the tour when I get time.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2121360050065608932iQqSJy)

Here is a pic of the fuel vent system I fabbed up.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2393105070065608932rQAIFu)

The car Dynoed 420 Hp and 392 lb.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/06/th_MattsDynopull2-1.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/ScootinZ/Power%20Tour%202009/?action=view&current=MattsDynopull2.flv)

Driving impressions after all the changes / upgrades.

The car is still very well balanced with a noticable power increase. There were some small issues and some larger ones. I have yet to get my clutch to release like it should. Most of the time its very hard to get into gear at high rpm. The Engine PCM will also throw a P2101 code, this is a predictive circuit and does not like full throttle. So with that said I have to drive around these two issues.

At Bristol the track was slow, with short shifting and throwing the P2101 through the lights I managed 114 mph, et was a wash.

The Motor State challenge was an eye opener. Having some track time under my belt I felt some confidence in my driving, but had yet to really see what the car could do on the track with all the changes. With the car being driven around these issues I was able to post a 1:39. ?? good enough for 2nd in time trial class. ( that excluded manufacturers ) On the autocross my best time was 31.09 if memory serves me correct. There was one run that felt great, but when I released the throttle coming out of the last chicane the engine code hit and I lost throttle control. This left me coasting around the last tight apex and at one point I thought I would not make the finish line beams. Click a 33.? something second run, I personally believe this would have been my best time, but it was not meant to be. When all was said and done, my combined times put me right between Jack A** #1 and Bad Penny #3. What more could I ask, those are one he** of a pair of bookends. I'm elated at the performance of this car and look forward to the potential still left in fine tuning the fuel curve, curing my pcm and clutch problems and of course adjustments to the suspension.

[PhillipM]

Matt,

It was cool shootin the stuff with you in Sumerset KY. We ended up plugging a fuel filter and taking the fuel pump out on our LS7. Bummer. Oh well. Wish I could help you with the ETC, have you tried LS1Tech?

[Bow Tie 67]

So after all the upgrades this winter I finally made it back to my home track. The car feels neutral in turns right now. There is still more in the car, I just need the time to tune the suspension ( stiffen up the sway-bars and shocks to see how she reacts ) and engine fault code problems. Here are some pics a friend took on Saturday.

She still has some lean, which I'm hoping to even out. As I pushed the car later in the day, I was getting a wash board effect as I was running around the corner I'm entering in the second pic.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2833471960065608932QdPmJW)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2670145920065608932WHbBpB)

The fuel vent system I fabricated over the winter was still allowing some fuel to vent out when full. While I had the tank out I added an 90* AN elbow on the tank and bent up a line to effectively put a loop in the path to the reservoir and overboard filter. Prior to this I would smell fuel when it vented and or have it leak out. The original setup had a brass fitting pointed straight toward the front of the car. After wailing on her at the track with a full tank, I have not experienced any odor or venting to the ground. ( fingers crossed, I think it worked )

Here is a pic of what I added:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2728596990065608932VwXsJE)

[dropit69]

thats cool to hear..are you driving it to RTTH?..is the wife going along?

[Bow Tie 67]

thats cool to hear..are you driving it to RTTH?..is the wife going along?

Yes, on the street tires. I may try and bring along the race tires. The wife wont be driving down, I can barely handle that length drive in the car.

[orbit]

Kudos to you for flogging such a badass car around the road course! Some day I hope to do the same.