48 Hour build

[Stg1Regal]

Bret
Awesome build just wish I could have seen it being built in person and seen you beat on it at RTMC.

Wanted to know if you folks at ridetech are going to release a full video set of the entire build would love to see it from beginning to end. ( on my time )
Thanks

[bret]

Matt Graves just left our shop with the 48 Hour Camaro to be in Florida for the Hot Rod Power Tour kickoff party on Saturday morning. If you see a cetain yellow 67 Camaro flying betweeen Indiana and Florida tonite and tomorrow...wave and say HI!
Matt will be doing daily updates from the Power Tour on the various forums, the 48 Hour Camaro website and our Facebook page. If you are going on the Tour, make sure you catch up with him. They will likely be in the Holley booth.
I'm going to join up with him at hte Nashville stop to run the autocross. Hope to see some of you there!

[parsonsj]

Bret,

How does the quick release steering hub hold up to "spirited" driving? We're using it on Unfair, but we obviously haven't tested it...

jp

[bret]

Bret,

How does the quick release steering hub hold up to "spirited" driving? We're using it on Unfair, but we obviously haven't tested it...

jp

Well...that particular unit added too much length to the column, so it currently has the standard hub on it. I need to get that back to you. I think it would work fine if I had allowed for the extra length when ordering the column...the device itself looks like a well made piece.
Also...unlike Velocity...we were able to get the seats down and back far enough to make entry/exit much easier, so a quick release was not as important. My Mustang, however, is a different story
I assume you will be at the kickoff party on Saturday?

[parsonsj]

I won't be there (working on getting a customer's car delivered). Sigh.

[bret]

48 Hour Camaro update

It has been one long summer! I’m not complaining…the 48 Hour Camaro has exceeded every expectation and even most of my hopes. We’ve put on about 13,000 miles, burned through 4 transmissions, 2 rearends, 11 sets of front tires, 4 sets of rear tires, one fuel tank, one fuel pump, a power steering pump, and 7 oil changes. I have no idea how much fuel…I just couldn’t bring myself to look!

One might look at the amount of “attrition” that we’ve had with parts this summer and think that we’ve had a run of bad luck. I think that considering the quantity and quality of use this car has had, our luck has been stellar! I didn’t build this car to set around and look pretty. It was built to demonstrate how easy the various parts manufacturers have made it to build a car like this, and how durable those parts are. The only way to that is to push the car to its limits…otherwise you’re just speculating.

Here is a question that I get ALL the time: “ does that [insert part or manufacturer] REALLY work?” I guess the perception is that even if I had problems with something I would try to seep it a secret, or at least gloss over it. Well, here is my personal and unabridged evaluation of the parts and systems of the Camaro this summer. For those who are interested, keep in mind these simple concepts:

1. For the consumers out there: This car has been used harder than any street car has a right to. REAL race cars have a team of professionals that attend to these components on an ongoing and regular basis. This is a street car that is driven like a race car.
2. For the manufacturers: My credibility is more important to me than your feelings. My opinions are just that…opinions. Others could have different experiences [better or worse] and therefore different opinions. If I only write about the good stuff it looks like an informercial!

Lingenfelter Engine – I have come to LOVE this Lingenfelter LS3. Initially we had to work through a couple of EFI tuning problems and ended up changing to a smaller camshaft to get more low end torque. After that…this thing just doesn’t give up! It made 470RWHP on Mike Norris’ dyno in September, which is only about 25 shy of the 427 cu.in engine that was in Velocity. It runs smooth, it pulls hard, and it’s never complained, even after being run “on the chip” multiple times. Score: 10

Engine accessories…Vintage Air Frontrunner, Holley cast aluminum oil pan, Hooker headers, Spectre air inlet system, Lokar throttle cable system – It’s hard to truly appreciate components that just sit there and do the job that you bought them to do. They don’t make any fuss, sometimes they can’t even be seen, they attract no attention until they break. That’s why you’ve not heard much about the components listed above…silently and completely efficient and effective. Score: 10

Holley EFI system – Here’s the one I get a lot of questions about. Everyone has looked at the self tuning capacity of the new Holley Avenger EFI with much anticipation…and for good reason. If it works [and it does] it resolves a LOT of the fears that some hotrodders have about EFI tuning [I don’t know anything about computers, etc…]. I would say that we initially experienced what I consider normal hotrodding bugs…a sensor was bad…a couple of wires got crossed…then we changed cams to get some more low end torque [so tuning started over]. Throughout ALL that the engine ran…OK. It just wasn’t the crisp efficient unit that I have been spoiled by with my Corvette and even Velocity. The self tuning feature of the system actually covered up some of these issues…so a normal EFI would have protested much more. The guys at Holley did not settle for OK, however. They found the bad sensor, they found where we screwed up the wiring connection, they plugged in a shelf program for the style of cam that we ended up with…and amazingly the engine now runs like it was intended to! No drama, just power. Score: 8.5 [and getting better daily!]

Transmission – My original direction of a Muncie 4 speed with the Gearvendors overdrive was a noble cause. I LOVED the simplicity of installation and the convenience of being able to push a button to engage the overdrive, especially on the racetrack. It’s almost an unfair advantage. The Muncie initially shifted great both up and down, the gearvendors unit performed flawlessly [after we rescued it from our mis-measured coupler clearance issue] and life was good until the trans gave up under my less than forgiving shifting style. The Muncie did not seem to be enchanted with the ongoing full power upshifting and rigorous downshifting that I put it through on the road courses. Each time I went on the big track I came back with the teeth missing from third gear. After the third time the guys at AGE very graciously suggested that I try another path until they could figure out why a transmission that regularly sees 800hp drag racing action would not hold up to the road course action. I say gracious because they did not try to blame the problem on me…they acknowledged the problem, set about on a fix, and did not let me continue to suffer in the meantime. Real men and real hotrodders.
The next fix in that area was a race prepped Tex T101a. This thing came out of an ARCA car and was complete with the gear dogs that allowed clutchless up and down shifts, and straight cut gears that made shifting effortless, but also made the car sound like a garbage truck going down the road. This is one hell of a transmission, but it lacked one crucial element: There is currently no adapter plate for the Gearvendors overdrive unit. That is why this transmission was a temporary fix. There is no way I would give up that gearrvendors overdrive. Besides the obvious RPM reduction that the .78 overdrive allows, I could run most big tracks in third gear only, toggling between direct and overdrive to affect gear changes. Like I said, almost an unfair advantage! It was great at the smaller autocrosses as well. Most of the Goodguys tracks are a first gear affair, but some are just a little larger…too long for first, but second is too tall. THAT is where the Gearvendors unit is a true advantage…it’s like first-and-a-half!
Score – Muncie – 5 – great for a street car – couldn’t hang on the big track with all the down shifting I do
Score – Tex T101 – 6 – great transmission but no adapter for the overdrive unit
Score Gearvendors overdrive – 10 – I WILL find a way to engage this tool. Maybe Gearvendors can get in the transmission business?

So what is the current status in the transmission department? Well, I’ve had people LINED UP to extole the virtues of the Tremec T56 Magnum. I initially had no interest for a couple of reasons: my last tremec experiences a few years ago were not successful, and the MOST of the people who were braying about the Magnum had yet to complete their cars, or at least use them the way I intended to use mine.
BUT…since I had to make a change…AND there were now a few people whom I trusted and who HAD actually used that transmission in anger successfully…And American Powertrain had a complete conversion system that made the installation very painless…we have now gone in that direction. At this point I truly do not have enough track time to give an informed evaluation [that will change shortly] but after initial installation and street driving…it’s looking like at least a 9!

Moser Rearend – I can’t imagine a company that is more efficient or more easy to work with than Moser Engineering. They can deliver a complete custom rearend in 2 days! This is not some “special favor” or a one time effort…they do this as a matter of everyday business.
Any by the way…this 12 bolt Moser unit works great. Proper fit, no noise, no leaks, no mistakes…it just works. We are using the new WaveTrac posi unit with a 3.50 gear. This design has plenty of drag racing track time on it, but not as much road course testing until now. We’ve traded out Wavetrac units a couple of time to allow disassembly and evaluation. Each time they have made a couple of small refinements to improve release and oiling and such things…all in the name of making it better! Score – 9

Baer Brakes – Best brakes in the world. Stable, linear, predictable, no fade, no pad knockback. Oh, yeah…they look kinda zoomy, too! Score - 10

Vintage Air A/C system and US Radiator – So, I’m sitting in the staging lanes in Nashville at the Power Tour autocross in 96 degree heat and at least that much humidity. I am a creature of comfort so I turn the air conditioning on and continue to sit there like that for another 25 minutes. Two guys walk up to chat about the car and reckon that I’ve not turned the car off because I’m afraid it won’t restart in this heat. When I informed them that, in reality, I had the A/C on to keep cool, they responded [in unision] “Bull****!”. So I said…stick your head in here…A/C blowing cold…temp gauge pegged at 196 degrees. My friggen new Z06 won’t even do that! Score – 10

ridetech Suspension – Ah, yes…let’s see if the owner of ridetech can at least appear to be somewhat subjective about his own products! OK…here goes!
Let me preface this part by repeating what many other manufacturers have told me directly: There is NOBODY harder on equipment than Bret Voelkel. I don’t abuse anything, but I don’t baby anything either. If there is a weak spot, I will find it.

Tru Turn front end – The Tru Turn was created because I tired of getting my ass beat in Velocity because I was handicapped by not being able to get anything bigger than a 245 mm tire on the front of it. When we built this car I told the guys that we are going to get a 275 tire under that frontend if it takes a sawzall to accomplish it! While we were at it, we discovered that we could fix the inherent bumpsteer issues as well…AND we could accomplish all this with bolt on parts! The result? 275 tires on a 10” wheel, full turning radius, no bumpsteer…all on a stock front subframe for $1000. Performance? This car sticks the frontend better than my Z06 Corvette. Problems? None of the 48 Hour car but I have heard of some customer experiencing clearance problems with Gen 1 small blocks with big headers. Score – 9

RideTech 4 link – We’ve had this bolt in 4 link for several years. The basic architecture remains the same, but we’ve made small refinements over the years…rear swaybar, articulating heim ends, offset lower bars to increase tire clearance…small stuff like that. We have also taken to recommending welding the cradle in IF you are going to use the car consistently with sticky tires. For civilians, it bolts in, its compatible with minitubs and 335 mm rear tires, you don’t need to cut your floorboard up, its compatible with ShockWaves AND coilovers…and it flat works. I’m not sure how I could make it much better [but I’ll keep trying!] Score – 9

Triple Adjustable Coilovers – Our new baby! I did not understand the tangible and massive differences between a twin tube shock and a good monotube shock until we started testing with these units. The “texture” of the road simply disappears. The shocks are reliable, responsive, predictable, and repeatable. They will make your car do about anything you want it to do. The ability to adjust low speed and high speed compression is a REAL nice tuning tool, especially for a rough track. What I want to refine…right now it takes a screwdriver to adjust the low speed compression and a 17mm wrench to adjust high speed compression. We’ve already developed knobs to replace this situation so no tools are needed. Score – 9 [10 when the knobs come online]

Forgeline Wheels – This is definitely an area where you get what you pay for. The Forgelines are not a cheap wheel. BUT…they do not leak, they are round AND in balance, the finish is perfect, they are light as hell, they do not bend, and they were delivered in about 3 weeks. Score - 9

BFG Tires – Here is what I really like about the BFG KDW series tires…they work well in the dry or the wet [meaning you don’t have to stress if you get caught in the rain], they wear nicely, and they are VERY forgiving and predictable on the track. Some tires are really great…all the way up to the point that you are backwards. With the BFG’s…they squeal, squall, bark, and howl WAY before they actually give up traction. Very comforting if you don’t have the benefit of years of racing experience under your belt. Score - 9

Ricks Stainless Tanks – I’m on the second iteration of gas tank from Ricks. The first one had 2 issues. First, the car would starve for fuel in a LONG lateral G situation with less than ½ tank of fuel. By long, I’m talking about a 5-10 second sustained 1G plus lateral load. This is a situation that 98% of you will never find yourself in. Think the carousel at Road America at 100mph. Even the healthiest of autocross action would not make the car starve, but the extended lateral g load would. So a refinement was in order. Before we could make that refinement I experienced a failure with the Aeromotive fuel pump while on the starting line at the Sandhills Open Road Challenge in Nebraska. Obviously I was pretty damn disappointed, but I do realize that any mechanical device can fail. It just happens.
So while we were refining the fuel tank situation, I discussed with Rick the feasibility of building this new tank in aluminum to reduce the weight. What ended up with was a new aluminum tank that incorporated the newest twin scavenge pickups from vaporworx, and a GM fuel pump module from a Cadillac CTS V. The new tank is about 35lbs lighter, the fuel pump is dead quiet, and I have run that sustained lateral G loading with under 2 gallons of gas in the car. Yeah, it’s fixed. Score for the old system – 5. Score for the new system – 10

So, what's next for the Camaro? Well...tomorrow we load it up and head for Las Vegas and the SEMA show and the optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational. After that we'll be doing the last 3 Goodguys shows on the West Coast...Pleasanton, Scottsdale, and Del Mar. Yes, the Camaro will be there, yes we will be running hte autocross at Pleasanton and Del Mar.
After that...a long deseved break for the car...and for me!

[NOT A TA]

Excellent post! Thanks for taking the time to write that Bret.

[RS_Customs]

Nice write up review Bret! Have fun out at optima and the GG stuff.

Robert

[John Wright]

^^I agree, great write up....I enjoyed reading every word of that....Thanks for putting forth the effort Bret.

[MattG]

I second that!

^^I agree, great write up....I enjoyed reading every word of that....Thanks for putting forth the effort Bret.

[CarlC]

Brett,

It's good to hear that the new fuel system is working well. I thought you had the Gen5 Camaro pump in that car?

If you get a chance let's talk at the Pro-Touring dinner. I have a few new gizmos that will be introduced that you might be interested in.

[brownz]

I second that!

Third this, I think you just sold me on some parts!!!

[Flash68]

Very nice update. Love it when that happens. Many just finish a big build and you rarely hear from them again. Thanks for the great level of detail. I look fwd to seeing this car at Pleasanton.

[tommycomfort]

Excellent update. It took me a while to read, so I'm sure it took some serious time to write. Appreciated!

[Yelcamino]

I couldn't agree more with what's been said already, great post and thanks for being objective with your opinions! Being able to read the facts from your experience will help the rest of us when it comes time to purchase parts!

[bret]

Brett,

It's good to hear that the new fuel system is working well. I thought you had the Gen5 Camaro pump in that car?

If you get a chance let's talk at the Pro-Touring dinner. I have a few new gizmos that will be introduced that you might be interested in.

Carl, you might be right...I need to verify that with Hector or Rick.

Also wanted to clarify...it's still a Ricks Stainless tank in the car, even though they built it out of aluminum. I'm trying to convince them they need to offer those tanks in aluminum to save weight They have been most accomodating and build a beautiful product. I've attempted to build my own tanks before...that is why I truly appreciate the effort that goes into creating a fuel container that will deliver fuel in a sustained 1g plus environment.
It LOOKS easy...

[sales@jcg]

Bret,
Great Update, great looking car! I still remember seeing that unmolested gem they day you bought her... I think We may do something ridetech inspired soon and also do something for the guys on the board... See you next week in Vegas!
-Jon

[compos mentis]

Welcome info and perspective Bret ... after the build and after a lot of thrashing.

[bret]

Just talked to Hector at Ricks Stainless Tanks...the fuel pump module is indeed a Gen 5 Camaro unit like Carl said, not the CTS V unit that I had mistakenly indicated above. Either way...it works great! The only down side is that now I have to pay closer attention to the fuel gauge. Before I could tell when I was down to 2-3 gallons...the car would want to starve a little Leave it to me to find somthing to complain about!

For all you guys going to SEMA...the 48 Hour Camaro will be out in front of the main entrance for most of the week. It will also appear at he ARMO banquet on Tuesday night [in case you go looking for it on Tuesday afternoon...]. I'll be around the car or around the ridetech booth to answer any questions about hte car or about suspension stuff.

We will also be in the optima race on that Saturday. They are allowing spectators this year. It is definatly worth your time to come to Pahrump to see the event in person!

[bishir]

I"m new to this site, but I watched the build too and chatted most of the way. It was fun to build vicariously though you guys. Ya'll basically did everything I want to do to my Chevelle, but can't afford yet. ;)