Project Bad Penny - more changes because done is boring

[MrQuick]

im slutty like that....both for 8K?

[69496]

I don't part out perfectly good engines.. it's just not right..

Let me know.. It was either sell this one or the 454 and the 454 is just too cool.. I have too much $$ in engines to keep them all.

I have been wanting to build a 5.3 like that for a while. If I didnt just take my car to paint I would be all over it. Maybe you could stash it away for me for 6 months and then I can pick her up

[Chad-1stGen]

What comes with the motor Steve? Is that just how it's pictured in the build thread or does it have wire harness/ECU etc?

[Ron.in.SoCal]

I don't part out perfectly good engines.. it's just not right..

Let me know.. It was either sell this one or the 454 and the 454 is just too cool.. I have too much $$ in engines to keep them all.

Steve - Wasn't Track Rat supposed to be a more 'budget friendly' build? If you want to get back on that theme, I'll take the 454 off your hands...

[ROACHZ28]

Must be nice to have the $$$$$ to do all that stuff to Penny. I`m just jealous. Keep up the good work.

[Steve1968LS2]

Must be nice to have the $$$$$ to do all that stuff to Penny. I`m just jealous. Keep up the good work.

Well, my job gets me deals.. but it's no joke that this is an expensive sickness..

Then again compared to some builds I'm pretty low buck.. lol

What comes with the motor Steve? Is that just how it's pictured in the build thread or does it have wire harness/ECU etc?

From intake to oil pan.. injectors to sensors.. no harness, ecu, TB, or fancy valve covers. Will have coil packs, racks and stock VCs. Will have the Fluidamper just because I happen to have two.

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve - Wasn't Track Rat supposed to be a more 'budget friendly' build? If you want to get back on that theme, I'll take the 454 off your hands...

lol.. yep.. and it will be. At the end I will say here's the final $$$ and here's what the final would have been if we would have ran the 5.3L engine. To help offset some of the $$ I moved the Autorad system from TR to BP and TR got Penny's old AFCO system and stock core support. I figure I can cut a few other areas and still enjoy the extra power.

The difference in cost is about $5k.. ($6k compared to $11k)

I will have this 454 just sitting in my garage eventually.. I just can't resist the urge to put it in the TR..

That's what I love about Penny.. I don't have to make any pretense of "budget"..

[Steve1968LS2]

Today was a good day.. the fans are hooked up and working (thanks Chris) and there are ZERO leaks from the engine, trans or any of the new brake lines.

Car starts, and somewhat idles but the current tune is FUBAR'd and needs some lovin'

Good oil pressure, I have mech gauges on the front oil system. It's 50psi at cold idle going in and 48psi coming out. I imagine the drop is minor resistance in the Canton oil t-stat. System holds about 8 quarts now.

Here are some shots.. did a lot of things I had wanted to do like clean up wiring.. heat shield other wires and install some XRP insulation on the fuel line were it goes over the header. The whole underside was recoated with Wurth SKS Stoneguard and most stuff was re-powder coated. I didn't bother re-coating the exhaust system since it just ends up getting messed up.

Dyno tune is set for Thursday afternoon at Westech Performance. I cleaned my front wheels and found that they are both missing their wheel weights, for how long I don't know but they both have small flat spots. I will most likely be moving to a 285 front tire anyways.

Now to pull the front seats to install my new RaceQuip harness' and possibly plumb in my halon fire system.

Bottom side (can't really call it the "dirty side" just yet)




Top side..

[Ron S]

Once again Steve, your pics make me want to throw a brick at my junk. I love the high end studio look they always have. That car is as close to flawless as I have ever seen, and you run the piss out of it, which is super cool. Keep up the good work. Ron

[Chad-1stGen]

Your lil 5.3 has me thinking ha ha

[DFRESH]

I just went through this whole thread---it remined me of the first time I saw Die Hard---I loved that movie--it was only boring for about 5 minutes--then it was all action/adventure right up to the end. Always in awe over this car---the thing that always amazes me is just when I think it couldn't look any cooler, somehow you pull it off. I wouldn't have thought that the core support would have looked better than its raw finish, but I like it better the way you've done it. You sure have an eye for that--and it shows on every side of this thing. The car never looks overdone--even though it is completely overwhelming when I look at all these pics. You have really created an icon here---really looking forward to seeing it at Costa Mesa---hopefully you'll have an open seat on at least one lap. Beautiful job man and congrads on beating the oil leak-- Yippekiye

Doug

[Steve1968LS2]

I just went through this whole thread---it remined me of the first time I saw Die Hard---I loved that movie--it was only boring for about 5 minutes--then it was all action/adventure right up to the end. Always in awe over this car---the thing that always amazes me is just when I think it couldn't look any cooler, somehow you pull it off. I wouldn't have thought that the core support would have looked better than its raw finish, but I like it better the way you've done it. You sure have an eye for that--and it shows on every side of this thing. The car never looks overdone--even though it is completely overwhelming when I look at all these pics. You have really created an icon here---really looking forward to seeing it at Costa Mesa---hopefully you'll have an open seat on at least one lap. Beautiful job man and congrads on beating the oil leak-- Yippekiye

Doug

Heck, you can drive it a lap.. just don't crash.. lol

[John Wright]

Beautiful.......just beautiful

[steinepstein]

Steve,

What kind of sway bar are you using in the rear?

Thanks!

JE

[Steve1968LS2]

Steve,

What kind of sway bar are you using in the rear?

Thanks!

JE

It's a second gen Camaro bar customized by David Pozzi.

For a "normal car" with this sort of set-up there's now a Helwig bar that goes by the part number "one lap camaro"..

[LSfan70s]

I really want to see "unblablabla" (unfair project) trying to be faster than Penny!

[Steve1968LS2]

I really want to see "unblablabla" (unfair project) trying to be faster than Penny!

There's always someone out there faster.. but in my opinon.. with equal drivers they would hard pressed to beat BP on an autocross track..

The road course just depends on the track.. and if they are making 1000 hp then I'm sure they would rule the drag strip.

I'm generally pretty happy if Penny finishes in the top of the heap over a few different events. Like optima.. we were second in the 0-60-0 and 4th on the road track.. would have been second at the autocross but still managed 5th even with a dead pump. She really hasn't let me down yet.

And she's pretty... at least to me. So if the uber car with ABS, traction control, super chargers, two rear suspensions, and 5 engineers beats Penny every once in awhile then I can live with that. lol

I guess I could at least upgrade to adjustable shocks.. hmmm...

[LSfan70s]

My $$$ is on Penny. I have always loved it since it appeared the first time on a magazine, super chevy I think.

All the upgrades you have done to it are awesome, and you forgot to mention one rebuilt rear end.

Hope seeing more of those good pics coming!

Your humility is admirable BTW.

[srh3trinity]

Steve,
I think as each Penny update comes to a close, you should post up some pics of when you first got her so we can all see how far she has come. She looks fantastic and it warms my heart to know that there is another engine update coming in the not to distant future.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

There's always someone out there faster.. but in my opinon.. with equal drivers they would hard pressed to beat BP on an autocross track..

The road course just depends on the track.. and if they are making 1000 hp then I'm sure they would rule the drag strip.

I'm generally pretty happy if Penny finishes in the top of the heap over a few different events. Like optima.. we were second in the 0-60-0 and 4th on the road track.. would have been second at the autocross but still managed 5th even with a dead pump. She really hasn't let me down yet.

And she's pretty... at least to me. So if the uber car with ABS, traction control, super chargers, two rear suspensions, and 5 engineers beats Penny every once in awhile then I can live with that. lol

I guess I could at least upgrade to adjustable shocks.. hmmm...

Well said Steve. She is beautiful and well engineered. On another note...if Penny always finished on top, you'd have no reason to tinker with her and then 'done would be boring.'

Maybe it takes five engineers (investors) to keep up with all the free/discount parts you throw into her!

(jk Bro)