Project Bad Penny - more changes because done is boring

[Steve1968LS2]

The 90mm TB is really choking the engine down.. we guess that the new 102 TB on the way will free up at least another 20hp.

[Steve1968LS2]

And the obligatory video:

[fbody_mike]

That is still alot of HP in my book. And a nice curve too, I will love to see the results when you get it dialed in more to your desires.



PS I like the center caps too, nice touch.

[bonecrrusher]

Awesome update!

BTW - what kind of Camera did you use for the dyno video?

(Note from Steve: I used my Canon G11 camera, low def, but good for the web)

[Mudweizer]

What size cam was in the 454? (I never did find that info)

[Steve1968LS2]

What size cam was in the 454? (I never did find that info)

243/259 with lift of .624 and an LSA of 114

Overall not a very big cam given the displacement..

[Steve1968LS2]

And since someone bumped this old deal to the top I might as well update it..

Not much done since optima, fixed the sway bar and did a bolt check. Working on the little stuff. In January we will be making the DSE radiator closeout fit the new core support and finishing the install on the fire suppression system. Project is definetly getting to the point where everything is done. The tune is still a bit off, good at WOT, bad at idle and around town. Mike Norris will be fixing that when he comes out.

Will all the building done it's time to do some driving. People think "wow, that car's been done so long it must be all sorted out." but the fact is that the current form of BP is NOTHING like the car built back in my PHR days. Finally I will be able to get use to the car in its current state and get some track time (needed more for me than the car.. lol)

First up was hitting the local PCA autocross:

It was a very well ran event and I knew it would be that way when I arrived for tech and there was starbucks coffee and donuts set out. The PCA has a killer timing system that let them always have 4-5 cars on track at any given time. Because of this they were able to run around 90 cars 11 laps each!

Drove the course in 2nd gear and I could still break the tires loose easily. Had a great time and the others there liked seeing the "old" muscle car. I think it was a first time PT experience for most of them. On course worker said mine was the only car that scared them when they were working hte course since it was so loud and mean looking coming down the straight twords thier station. lol.. I took that as a compliment.

Anyways, if any of you have the chance to go to one of these specialty car events you'll have a blast and meet a lot of great people.

Oh, top speed was 72+ mph and my racepak showed lateral g's (sustained) of 1.2g+ in each direction. I ran in the 63.x range whereas cars with race rubber (A6, etc) were in the 58,59 range and all out track cars were in the 56 area. Next time I need a "pit bitch" to help me check tire temp/pres between runs since it's too hard to unbuckle and get back in quickly.

Here's a video.. if you go to YouTube there's a high-def version.. clouds look cool (rained in the afternoon which made for fun track time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIsRlpxqeew



Lateral Data showing speed and later-g


One of these cars is not like the others...

[CarlC]

I hear ya on the "old muscle car' thing. Lots of guys came over at the Speedventures event, shook my hand, and said "you brought THAT out here?"

[Mudweizer]

What spark plugs are you running in Bad Penny?

[dmc69]

Penny is one fine piece of machinery! How many man hours do you think you have invested?

[absintheisfun]

Is there any kind of software other than racepak that can provide this kind of data? I like what it can do, but dislike the look/interface in the driver's seat.

[RSX302]

Very cool Steve...I'd bet you could shave off a couple seconds easy just by running more laps. In a couple of areas it looked like you zigged when you should of zagged.... Did you take a ride with anyone doing the 58's? I personally need lots of laps when it comes to those damn little orange cones.

Watching your car build is an inspiration to us all. Get's me off my A$$ to work on mine...I'm starting to see progress which always gives second wind...

And since someone bumped this old deal to the top I might as well update it..

Not much done since optima, fixed the sway bar and did a bolt check. Working on the little stuff. In January we will be making the DSE radiator closeout fit the new core support and finishing the install on the fire suppression system. Project is definetly getting to the point where everything is done. The tune is still a bit off, good at WOT, bad at idle and around town. Mike Norris will be fixing that when he comes out.

Will all the building done it's time to do some driving. People think "wow, that car's been done so long it must be all sorted out." but the fact is that the current form of BP is NOTHING like the car built back in my PHR days. Finally I will be able to get use to the car in its current state and get some track time (needed more for me than the car.. lol)

First up was hitting the local PCA autocross:

It was a very well ran event and I knew it would be that way when I arrived for tech and there was starbucks coffee and donuts set out. The PCA has a killer timing system that let them always have 4-5 cars on track at any given time. Because of this they were able to run around 90 cars 11 laps each!

Drove the course in 2nd gear and I could still break the tires loose easily. Had a great time and the others there liked seeing the "old" muscle car. I think it was a first time PT experience for most of them. On course worker said mine was the only car that scared them when they were working hte course since it was so loud and mean looking coming down the straight twords thier station. lol.. I took that as a compliment.

Anyways, if any of you have the chance to go to one of these specialty car events you'll have a blast and meet a lot of great people.

Oh, top speed was 72+ mph and my racepak showed lateral g's (sustained) of 1.2g+ in each direction. I ran in the 63.x range whereas cars with race rubber (A6, etc) were in the 58,59 range and all out track cars were in the 56 area. Next time I need a "pit bitch" to help me check tire temp/pres between runs since it's too hard to unbuckle and get back in quickly.

Here's a video.. if you go to YouTube there's a high-def version.. clouds look cool (rained in the afternoon which made for fun track time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIsRlpxqeew

[Steve1968LS2]

Yea, just need more pratice with the car in this configuration.. I think the engine has 200 miles on it, most of them hard.

Need Mary to do a lap to see what the car is actually capable of.. gives me a goal to shoot for.

[Larry Callahan]

And the obligatory video:

Gives me goose bumps. I LOVE dyno vids.

[Motown 454]

Yea, just need more pratice with the car in this configuration.. I think the engine has 200 miles on it, most of them hard.

Need Mary to do a lap to see what the car is actually capable of.. gives me a goal to shoot for.

With her car laid up she'll probably be glad to.

[RS_Customs]

How goes test an tuning Steve? Anymore auto-cross days lately?

I think your one of the few that are running the stack pro-control gauges, I started a thread with some questions about them if you had a minute to look.

Robert

[Payton King]

Funny, I was just speaking to Ron on the phone today and said how quiet Steve had been. Not heard much from him. Hopefully he will jump in and tell us what he has been up too...If I recall you are waiting on Norris to tune your junk.

[Steve1968LS2]

Funny, I was just speaking to Ron on the phone today and said how quiet Steve had been. Not heard much from him. Hopefully he will jump in and tell us what he has been up too...If I recall you are waiting on Norris to tune your junk.

Just busy.. my reward for working hard is they give me more work.. ok, the truth is I volunteer.. This month for CP (July) I did all 5 tech stories, wrote the event coverage and they are running two cars I shot.. Also, the truth is that sometimes I get burned out a bit. I love cars, but it's really all I do at least 6 days a week and then my car/work gets in the way of my car/fun and I miss going to events I would REALLY like to attend.. so I get burned out.

Anyways, feeling great.. Track Rat is back moving forward thanks to some weekends donated by the guys at Best Of Show.. and best of all, Penny is running great.

Had an alternator problem and my spare was FUBAR as well. Took both alts to the local rebuilder.. the new one was DOA and the working one had a noisy bearing.. had both rebuilt to 180amp (cost $200 each). They had better last forever. Nice to have a spare I know is good though.

Turned out the replaced alt did short to an AN fitting.. fried out a small divot and blew three fuses. Replaced the fuses, re-did the wiring and BP is better than ever.. running great and charging like a champ.

New Spectre Performance air intake looks good, although I'm tempted to powder it black.. or grind off the welds.. we'll see. Also like the Anvil fender struts with the new black ends. We swapped the car over to the newer LS7 blade MAF from the old LS2 round type.. better flow, cleaner looking. Spectre Performance supplied the MAF kit and Mike Norris massaged the computer.

Now I need to start getting ready for the big drag race in July.. time to call Mickey Thompson for some sticky tires.

Engine bay with new intake and Anvil fender struts.. (also installed new Mastercraft seat harness systems.)

It was a good day in the shop.. made actual forward progress ;)

[Steve1968LS2]

How goes test an tuning Steve? Anymore auto-cross days lately?

I think your one of the few that are running the stack pro-control gauges, I started a thread with some questions about them if you had a minute to look.

Robert

Sorry I missed this Robert.. if you have any questions email me at [email protected]

[Bryce]

Steve,

I saw BP driving around cruising grand last night. It looks great!