Operation Bad Penny version 2.1T (track edition)

[Steve1968LS2]

Since our cars are never really done I've decided to do some upgrades to Penny.

Actually what set this in motion was the driving event set for the day after SEMA. Some super exotic stuff is showing up, so I decided to give Penny some enhancements.

The engine on Penny has always been simple. Just a crate LS2 with heads, cam, intake and tuning. I thought of going with a blower but it's more fun and simple to just go NA and have less problems.

With this in mind I decided to pull the LS2 and stroke it to a 408. I really don't care about making more top end horsepower, but I'm doing this more for low end torque. I have the before dyno numbers so it should make for a good story on what gains there are from the extra displacement and a SLIGHTLY larger cam (due to the larger displacement being able to suck it up without hurting drivability).

Here's the kit:
http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=383&gid=187

I will also be having the LS1 T56 trans rebuilt by Rockland Standard Gear. Their three-cone deal will make the shifts smoother and some of the parts will be upgraded. But, the most important change will be to the gearing (I hate the .50 sixth gear.. useless). New gearing will be:

2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1.00, .80, .62

To knock a bit of weight off the car the hood will be switched over to a Carbon Fiber one from Anvil Auto. The 17 pound hood (which will be painted) will knock off almost 30 pounds from the front of the car.

We will also be installing a set of higher end Bilstein shocks to the car. There's nothing really wrong with what I have, but I need more travel so they are going to help me pick the RIGHT size for the car with the right valving. Chasing tenths gets expensive. This will be done at Race Car Dynamics in SoCal, hopefully next week.

I will also finally installing my Safecraft fire system and have my hardlines done by BENT fabrication. I think Tyler at ATS is working on a front tow hook that will work with my screens.

I'm also thinking of picking up a set of ultra light track wheels in 17-inch from Forgeline. They would only weigh about 18lbs each.
So that's the plan so far.


New forged Lunati Pro-Series non-twist crank (4340, 45lbs):


Wiseco flat top pistons (-13cc) forged from 2618 aluminum and CNC profiled. The rods are Lunati H-beam made from 4340 steel:


I guess I can put that nitrous system in now :unibrow:

[TheMonkey]

dang!

[mach1stang]

No no no your doing it wrong.

this is more like it,
http://nelsonracingengines.com/video...CamaroHigh.wmv

[cjrolke]

No no no your doing it wrong.

this is more like it,
http://nelsonracingengines.com/video...CamaroHigh.wmv

holy *****

[SatisTraction]

this keeps getting better and better!!

[andrewb70]

While its nice getting free stuff and throwing it in your car, I would reconsider. Strokers sound great on paper but I would steer clear. When the pistons are at BDC the oil ring is barely inside the cylinder liner. That is why strokers tend to consume so much oil. There is a great deal of piston rocking at BDC. Just my opinion.

Andrew

[BonzoHansen]

what rear gears do you have that 6th is useless?? I have 3.73s and use it all the time

[LMDGUY]

very cool!! is the driving event open to the public? if so where is it goin to be at? I dont think we are leaving Vegas till sunday.

[Steve1968LS2]

what rear gears do you have that 6th is useless?? I have 3.73s and use it all the time

I just don't like the feel of car with the .50 6th gear.. I'm sure the mileage is good, but that's not the point.

At 70 I'm doing 1600ish RPM... just feels sluggish.

I didn't use it much with my old 2000 SS Camaro either. :shrug:

[Steve1968LS2]

very cool!! is the driving event open to the public? if so where is it goin to be at? I dont think we are leaving Vegas till sunday.

Pahrump (sp?) raceway.. about an hour from Vegas.

It's the optima Ultimate Streetcar Invitational

[Steve1968LS2]

While its nice getting free stuff and throwing it in your car, I would reconsider. Strokers sound great on paper but I would steer clear. When the pistons are at BDC the oil ring is barely inside the cylinder liner. That is why strokers tend to consume so much oil. There is a great deal of piston rocking at BDC. Just my opinion.

Andrew

It's not about getting "free stuff and throwing it in my car"... I want to see what power benefit there will be by gaining more displacement. If that was the case I would call Magnacharger and have a kit sent over. I have the dyno info for the current engine and it would be interesting to see what gain there is in grabbing 44 more cubic inches.

I know some strokers CAN be problematic. Like stroking a 351W to 427. But many work just fine. The 408 in my Fairlane was a great engine. But, I will research 408 LS2s a bit more. Thanks for the tip

I read up a bit over at LS1tech.. you are right that there can be problems at BDC with the 408 but it sound that if the parts are matched up right and assembled right that it's not an issue. Seems like the biggest factor is the pistons. Here's what one builder over there said.

Both the Wiseco and Diamonds are working great. They both are designed for the LS1 and it's short bores. The 4.030 bore Wisecos and Diamond all have very low taper skirts that work great. The best piston would depend on what compression and usage you are after.

That's what I have, the low taper Wisecos. I will dig around a bit more.

[BonzoHansen]

I just don't like the feel of car with the .50 6th gear.. I'm sure the mileage is good, but that's not the point.

At 70 I'm doing 1600ish RPM... just feels sluggish.

I didn't use it much with my old 2000 SS Camaro either. :shrug:

go faster....what rear gears? I need facts!?!?!?!?

[Steve1968LS2]

go faster....what rear gears? I need facts!?!?!?!?

Faster? I don't need no stinking tickets

I have 3.90s and a 26" tire.

[barraza]

......But, the most important change will be to the gearing (I hate the .50 sixth gear.. useless). New gearing will be:

2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1.00, .80, .62

.........

You will be much happier with these gears, I have them in mine. The .50 sixth isn't optimum unless you have a very mild cam and can pull really low rpms under load. The other alternative of a lower rear gear helps sixth but makes first useless. Notice that these gears make 2nd through 5th in a t56 almost the exact equivalent of a m22 in 1st through 4th. But now you have what a m22 always needed, a lower first and a overdrive, perfect.

[LMDGUY]

Pahrump (sp?) raceway.. about an hour from Vegas.

It's the optima Ultimate Streetcar Invitational

very cool. Hopefully wont be too burned out from the week in Vegas

[andrewb70]

2.97 first gear is too steep. Personally I would go less than the current 2.66, especially with the added power. Go with the .62 OD.

Andrew

[JMarsa]

I don't recall the exact details but when I had my T56 rebuilt by Liberty and was dicussing gear sets, I thought there's only 2 choices GTO and Corvette/Camaro and once you choose one, you can't mix and match the gears because they have to match on the shaft. Maybe I'm off base.

--JMarsa

[streetk14]

Steve,

FWIW I have the standard F-body geared (2.66/0.50) T56 in my '67 Camaro with 3.70 gears and a 650 hp/600 tq 346ci LS motor. No matter what you do, 6th gear isn't going to be a good performance gear. It is simply a cruising gear and mine works just fine with taller gearing than you and a similar cam. I think it's more about your tune and the ability of the motor to run comfortably at those lower speeds. If I hit slower traffic I'll use 5th if I have to and then go back into 6th as speeds increase.

I also think the 1st gear is going to be too deep with the added torque of the stroker. It's going to be the equivalent of changing to a 4.30 rear gear with your current transmission. When I went from a basically stock 405 hp LS6 Vette motor to my blown setup, I went the other way and stepped my 4.11 gears back down to 3.70s to help with the added torque.

I guess you will get to see how it works for you when it is back on the road. I'm sure you've thought about this stuff already, but wanted to let you know what I've dealt with involving a very similar car setup.

Andy

[Steve1968LS2]

2.97 first gear is too steep. Personally I would go less than the current 2.66, especially with the added power. Go with the .62 OD.

Andrew

Did you see the gear choices I was given?... I started a thread in the manual trans section

I agree on the .62 OD

[Steve1968LS2]

I don't recall the exact details but when I had my T56 rebuilt by Liberty and was dicussing gear sets, I thought there's only 2 choices GTO and Corvette/Camaro and once you choose one, you can't mix and match the gears because they have to match on the shaft. Maybe I'm off base.

--JMarsa

There were four "sets" of choices.. actuall 5.

BUT, I think with some of them you have to go with the Tranzilla or Son Of Tranzilla.

What's first gear on a Z06? Isn't it 2.9x? (yes, I know they don't have 3.90 gears )