tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83180711788078813402024-03-20T05:26:16.222-04:00soloLOLIf you can't be fast, be entertaining.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-61356602355649130142024-02-19T12:41:00.009-05:002024-02-19T18:07:36.508-05:00Slapping tanks in 40-degree weather, AKA recap of the first autocross of the year<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMru0cwSiJuiASvjfg5O0oe_M_hzmRARQgKbA0PqSKR_qdrFZI4FCVk1dK2U73kmfgRlZfZITVAkSIkK9YO9uuQkip0I7zjK8yvf3xrh9VMABbYoBQJpvOYI76jWY5XAfR8mujTXPhpvpOg5_DiXZ0dBOTx-__pVByt7h2YbGXBFuoj-Eht-NA3Kr6k5c/s2048/post%20event.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro at virginia motorsports park" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMru0cwSiJuiASvjfg5O0oe_M_hzmRARQgKbA0PqSKR_qdrFZI4FCVk1dK2U73kmfgRlZfZITVAkSIkK9YO9uuQkip0I7zjK8yvf3xrh9VMABbYoBQJpvOYI76jWY5XAfR8mujTXPhpvpOg5_DiXZ0dBOTx-__pVByt7h2YbGXBFuoj-Eht-NA3Kr6k5c/w400-h301/post%20event.jpg" title="Eleven runs in the season opener, and the car made it through unscathed." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eleven runs in the season opener, and the car made it through unscathed.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My first autocross of 2024 is in the books, and the car made it through 11 runs -- five in the morning session and six in the afternoon -- on Saturday without any issues. </p><p>Sort of. </p><p>When I got home and was taking the car off the trailer, I noticed power steering fluid leaking. After I had installed a fancy Turn One power steering pump. It turned out the O-ring for the hardline gave up for some reason. It made it through some street miles, all the runs on Saturday but for some reason didn't fail until getting home. I guess that's better than doing it at the event and getting some "DNS" notations in the results.</p><p>Back in October, <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/11/spoiler-alert-testing-new-aero-upgrades.html" target="_blank">I returned to Virginia Motorsports Park with Tidewater Sports Car Club</a>, the first club I had ever autocrossed with. On Saturday it was another homecoming -- again at VMP but this time with NASA Mid-Atlantic. A brief history: NASA Mid-Atlantic started in the late 1900s as NASA Virginia, and I was actually the assistant regional director. Mike Garner was the director, and he was actually there on Saturday autocrossing his Volkswagen GTi. Jon Felton was kind enough to point Mike and I out in the driver's meeting if you can call it "kind" to recall events from 25-plus years ago!</p><p>Back to the future ... It was cold on Saturday. </p><p></p>Did I mention it was cold? It was cold. This was actually a makeup autocross from January that got canceled because of snow and cold weather. I actually towed down Friday after work because it was going to snow here in Maryland.<p></p><p>Temps in the morning may have hit 40, but it was impossible getting heat in the Hoosiers. I had a nice spin on my fourth run in the morning. About the ideal time Hoosiers would be nice and hot and sticky under normal conditions.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAOFqBndVe08iQ5SBYdZlQ48cJ4z3PQXLtETcUNXwk-ftCcuBNlL6EU9ZJ0atxEwq5VHd19ODhO2HjCmF3FPFUPlFSEtNuybJSsxvUdwgAfK7mGkw7OLRWBg2AsWVJh-k87m30yoWfabxt20Hgc68Pdd8f-_SKHDgA62NYp6821f6hkId88dVQvc6s1Y/s4080/PXL_20240217_175700719.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 Camaro in autocross grid" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAOFqBndVe08iQ5SBYdZlQ48cJ4z3PQXLtETcUNXwk-ftCcuBNlL6EU9ZJ0atxEwq5VHd19ODhO2HjCmF3FPFUPlFSEtNuybJSsxvUdwgAfK7mGkw7OLRWBg2AsWVJh-k87m30yoWfabxt20Hgc68Pdd8f-_SKHDgA62NYp6821f6hkId88dVQvc6s1Y/w400-h301/PXL_20240217_175700719.jpg" title="In grid for the afternoon heat, although there wasn't much heat." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In grid for the afternoon heat, although there wasn't much heat.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I finished second (out of two) in the CR3 class (2.5+ liters, 400+ horsepower, rear-wheel drive) in both the morning and afternoon sessions. After running mostly by myself in class last year, it was still good to have some competition. I was 12th in raw time (46.131) in the morning and I was seventh in raw time (37.707) when the course was reversed and slightly shortened in the afternoon.</p><p>See final results: AM <a href="https://getfastevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ax224am1-final.htm" target="_blank">by class</a> and <a href="https://getfastevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ax224am1-fast.htm" target="_blank">raw time</a>, and PM <a href="https://getfastevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ax224pm2-final.htm" target="_blank">by class</a> and <a href="https://getfastevents.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ax224pm2-fast.htm" target="_blank">raw time</a>.</p><p>Other than the leaking power steering line, the new power steering pump was great. No cavitating and spewing fluid from the cap at all after 11 autocross runs.</p><p>Here are the fast runs from the morning and afternoon sessions:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yHUuCuP6maQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="yHUuCuP6maQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a saying, "If you can't be fast, be entertaining." That rang true on my fourth run in the morning where I decided to give the car a little more gas coming out of the first 180, and it spun right around.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOiFGoZffCKOcZS2AaBUEEqspNQO4zBKoduzgDuSx39Y-hS58YGJVIa4-kY6o5T8KWcipmXBsp9hZ9Rbgu3g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>The car also drew a lot more attention than usual, I guess because a lot of people there had never seen it before. One guy said he used to have a 1983 Camaro and gave me his business card because he wanted to be first in line if I ever wanted to sell the car. Another guy asked me if the car had an Instagram. I told him, "Sort of, but there's also stuff about smallmouth bass." (Shout-out to my sister blog <a href="https://inreeltimefishing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">In Reel Time Fishing</a>!) </p><p>Another time in between runs with the hood popped, there were four or five people peering in the engine bay, and I jokingly asked, "Is something on fire?"</p><p>The SoloLOL content actually occurred on Friday night. Because it was supposed to snow in Maryland and northern Virginia, I decided to tow down after work on Friday. I had made a reservation with a Motel 6 (because they have an SCCA discount) in Petersburg, which was about 10 miles from VMP.</p><p>I got to the hotel around 8 p.m. and immediately started getting the heebie jeebies. It was just off I-95, but the neighborhood didn't give good vibes. The hotel had lighting in front but none in back, where I was likely going to have to park the truck and trailer.</p><p>As I was walking in, some guy outside was smoking a cigarette. And our interaction went a little like this:</p><p>Guy: "I like your car."<br />Me: "Thanks."<br /><br />I walked inside and he put out his cigarette and followed.</p><p>Guy: "Are you selling it?"<br />Me: "No."<br />Guy: "Well if you were going to sell it, how much would you want for it?"<br />Me: [thought for about five seconds] "Fifteen thousand!"<br />Guy: "Whoa! I don't have that much! I'm going to have to save for awhile!"<br /><br />Then he wandered down the hallway and was out of sight for a couple minutes. I still had not checked in because there was a customer at the desk who apparently couldn't get his card payment to work. More red flags.</p><p>Then the guy came back and started talking to me, and I couldn't understand a word he said. Just gibberish. Like he disappeared to go take a hit of crack or meth or shoot up (or all three). </p><p>I was texting Karen during all this asking if she remembered if there was a hotel down the road from VMP, and said she thought so. Googled and, yes, there was a Holiday Inn Express. I walked out and got in my truck to get a room there, and I figured my chances of getting murdered for my truck and car went down by 99 percent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4uV7q7JJFukzDudpGJCPY3qzZGZFozeCs9W1fXDqvSTgQG2AGF-jQfn-3hO0zr3OB9aM9WQcdAIWdoffGEE9mowJZpkpe70orBtDEYhu_GhGBZS8kXUzCpWRJ29NXJzdxFXK01OGRNAYw0MGIH4ezbiYJBQYJ_ZLBtuYjaht0yvH6EuDaZosxaqsa9k/s4080/PXL_20240217_021322736.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Camaro and MX-5 in hotel parking lot" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4uV7q7JJFukzDudpGJCPY3qzZGZFozeCs9W1fXDqvSTgQG2AGF-jQfn-3hO0zr3OB9aM9WQcdAIWdoffGEE9mowJZpkpe70orBtDEYhu_GhGBZS8kXUzCpWRJ29NXJzdxFXK01OGRNAYw0MGIH4ezbiYJBQYJ_ZLBtuYjaht0yvH6EuDaZosxaqsa9k/w400-h301/PXL_20240217_021322736.NIGHT.jpg" title="I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express Friday night and my chances of getting murdered went down." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express Friday night and my chances of getting murdered drastically decreased.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This might be the only autocross I go to until April. There really isn't anything close to me unless I want to run with a club I don't like running with. Otherwise, I'll probably be doing the D.C. Region test and tune on April 20 and their first event the next weekend.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-46399807915350752192024-01-19T11:30:00.001-05:002024-01-19T12:47:53.465-05:00Magical thinking: 2023 autocross recap, contemplating CAM and offseason upgrades<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhhyphenhyphen2QiiRQrtye12u5rx_UwsAETSK6eShVV31OFEdr_MkTb42OUGZNDgU15dKXQbN7Pgk_f9n9oH3y06qODT3GsPTryfC5dNr0XNS9FeMcoCjjMrwKtmqteS_2LyRs90m_XqnAv84XP26RPav8A2UDYxo5BtpjuP3uGOyFCSjDDWxdzevP72Yc6In4lw/s4080/PXL_20231229_203538386.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hot Wheels "Blown Camaro"" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhhyphenhyphen2QiiRQrtye12u5rx_UwsAETSK6eShVV31OFEdr_MkTb42OUGZNDgU15dKXQbN7Pgk_f9n9oH3y06qODT3GsPTryfC5dNr0XNS9FeMcoCjjMrwKtmqteS_2LyRs90m_XqnAv84XP26RPav8A2UDYxo5BtpjuP3uGOyFCSjDDWxdzevP72Yc6In4lw/w400-h301/PXL_20231229_203538386.MP.jpg" title="Hot Wheels "Blown Camaro"" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not actual size.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br />My 2023 autocross season was completed without much incident. I did have an issue with the car at an SCCA-Susquehanna autocross that after going through a whole bunch of stuff (swapping injectors, spark plugs and wires, even fuses) turned out to be nothing more than a loose ground in the back of the driver's-side head.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the season, I completed eight autocrosses and got about 50 runs total. There were two events where I left without making a run -- the Susquehanna autocross mentioned above, and an SCCA D.C. Region event where it was pouring rain, and I didn't feel like hydroplaning my way around the course.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Considering all the issues I had the past couple of years, I'd have to chalk 2023 as a major success</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. You know:</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">- Hydramax throwout bearing (twice)<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">- Fuel pump<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">- No. 1 rocker arm stud<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">- No. 6 valve spring<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">- Cylinder No. 7 on original block (piston ring gap not set) and <b>needing a new short block</b></span></span></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The only problem is that there really wasn't much competition during the season. Not as in nobody in C Prepared could touch my car, just there was really nobody else in CP! I only ran against a real CP car one time -- Eric Bonnett in his Mustang at my last event of the season, <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/11/spoiler-alert-testing-new-aero-upgrades.html" target="_blank">the Tidewater Sports Car Club autocross at VMP</a>.</span></span></p><div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It has me contemplating CAMT.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: none;" />A little.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />It wouldn't be that hard to make the car CAM legal. The rules are fairly open, basically CP light with an interior and street tires. I still have all the interior plastic pieces and would just need a new carpet and door panels. But I already bought a set of new Hoosiers, so I'm not leaning toward CAM that hard. "Big" Mike Snyder should have his Mustang (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNYlyOArJUY" target="_blank">the same one I drove at one event in 2021</a>, although it will be a lot different) together, and I'm guessing Sam Strano will make an appearance in it, too. So there's that.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm also thinking of doing the UMI autocrosses at their site in Pennsylvania. This year they had an Autocross Challenge, Muscle on the Mountain, and their premier event, King of the Mountain. These events require tires 200 treadwear and higher, i.e., no Hoosiers. They have minimum weight requirements for cars but they are weighed with driver, so it shouldn't be an issue running my CP car with its "stripped" interior. I'd just have to figure out what to do for wheels since there really aren't good tire choices to fit the 17-inch CCWs I already have. Maybe score a set of cheap 18s -- like OEM Corvette wheels -- and figure out the tire du jour?</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="outline: none;" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The car won't be a top contender, but the UMI events sound like fun competing against other pony cars.</span></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh_rAY7oRGnlkxT2s1F6vni5gwJCor2hV24CI7ijaFDSIuPWN0G9ntNlOoWRIXmEL6L1iH2NIxUNnPdLE9R2H2W3SwnX6Y7Q_1dIB95BFGpLvCtEuKoJ4weuyyUfOf-Re3hM8qHbmFmY5e7Q8mkeu7bu-GgzcEZ2hgpKY2lZV1ycWd5bPGEpz6nFybes/s4080/PXL_20231210_183943302.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sweet manufacturing f-body steering box" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh_rAY7oRGnlkxT2s1F6vni5gwJCor2hV24CI7ijaFDSIuPWN0G9ntNlOoWRIXmEL6L1iH2NIxUNnPdLE9R2H2W3SwnX6Y7Q_1dIB95BFGpLvCtEuKoJ4weuyyUfOf-Re3hM8qHbmFmY5e7Q8mkeu7bu-GgzcEZ2hgpKY2lZV1ycWd5bPGEpz6nFybes/w400-h301/PXL_20231210_183943302.MP.jpg" title="ew 12:1 steering box from Sweet Manufacturing." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New 12:1 steering box from Sweet Manufacturing.</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Regardless whether I run CP or CAM or the UMI events, there are always some minor offseason upgrades, most of which are already done. The first one was replacing the steering box -- not that there was anything wrong with the old one; I just figured the one in there is of unknown origin so I might as well upgrade.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY3X6Vts2CWptNB0zNwB5ij5WpS1zgz3EJO9kDYz5TEr6F1y3lc3UlV1f7tjSdry_fuduoV4JA58wvW3fem0f7RAtGzIal0sLvP8JOAGK_00EbNNWOgpWBJiXfVRzBDNMHcx_RLPBbpVVRMi_Txbd3tFJEE3paeYzdtGttyaIi52gHX4nBTeWjJ8aEOs/s4080/PXL_20240106_212000932.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen f-body umi camber plates" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY3X6Vts2CWptNB0zNwB5ij5WpS1zgz3EJO9kDYz5TEr6F1y3lc3UlV1f7tjSdry_fuduoV4JA58wvW3fem0f7RAtGzIal0sLvP8JOAGK_00EbNNWOgpWBJiXfVRzBDNMHcx_RLPBbpVVRMi_Txbd3tFJEE3paeYzdtGttyaIi52gHX4nBTeWjJ8aEOs/w400-h301/PXL_20240106_212000932.MP.jpg" title="Score! Used pair of UMI camber/caster plates!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Score! Used UMI camber/caster plates!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I scored a used pair of </span><a href="https://www.umiperformance.com/home/product-category/gm-mid-models/82-92-gm-f-body/82-92-gm-f-body-caster-camber-plates/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">UMI camber/caster plates</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to swap with the old ones. I think the old camber plates were made by a company I don't want to mention, and they didn't have any adjustment for caster anyway. After installing and doing a DIY alignment, it looks like the UMI plates allow for an even greater camber adjustment. Karen got me a fancy camber/caster gauge for Christmas so I can get more precise measurements with the new UMI plates.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Dh76OsIjqTAO0WQrmQAFSc8xKRw3Oep9qtmVYH7gl7sRGFqcRfK7t49HUomrR31w-ZUFxHR2DHK5BKtfqXH8JUpW2R7MKn515a5E-qIyewgfseUkG7TEJXQdNz49p2wH2p_J5SDlcqQZ3zM0roTCf7B9W181o3kLNC4T92mhTTL3H671NvQBWhNcHj0/s4080/PXL_20240107_232537539.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="diy camber caster gauge zackman" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Dh76OsIjqTAO0WQrmQAFSc8xKRw3Oep9qtmVYH7gl7sRGFqcRfK7t49HUomrR31w-ZUFxHR2DHK5BKtfqXH8JUpW2R7MKn515a5E-qIyewgfseUkG7TEJXQdNz49p2wH2p_J5SDlcqQZ3zM0roTCf7B9W181o3kLNC4T92mhTTL3H671NvQBWhNcHj0/w400-h301/PXL_20240107_232537539.MP.jpg" title="Karen got me a camber/caster gauge for Christmas!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen got me a camber/caster gauge for Christmas!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also replaced was the OEM 1998-2002 F-Body power steering pump </span><a href="https://turnonesteering.com/driving-application/ls1-power-steering-products/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">with a unit from Turn One</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This pump looks a lot like the OEM pump but has upgraded internals so hopefully solves cavitation issues. It's a direct-fit replacement for a 1998-2002 F-Body power steering pump, and because of the slots in the pulley, the pump can be installed without removing the pulley (which comes pre-pressed on the pump).<br /><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKhTxrF_6U2dWh46LjegtKb11yA4OsawgKNG1YWbIxei73n-lnkZLGxvYkxHavJCXJiX885fTx95zJwJ1CmvI4mtUeQd31U69hClIYwU58DEDihK2uGWdlRFSBjFfISSXUKeXQH8RaW-RgdX1CPXJZAV_-RgbUQ3dGB67h0EltPklPswhpJEn-7gLbRc/s4080/PXL_20231226_215253075.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="turn one ls power steering pump" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKhTxrF_6U2dWh46LjegtKb11yA4OsawgKNG1YWbIxei73n-lnkZLGxvYkxHavJCXJiX885fTx95zJwJ1CmvI4mtUeQd31U69hClIYwU58DEDihK2uGWdlRFSBjFfISSXUKeXQH8RaW-RgdX1CPXJZAV_-RgbUQ3dGB67h0EltPklPswhpJEn-7gLbRc/w400-h301/PXL_20231226_215253075.MP.jpg" title="Turn One upgraded LS power steering pump." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turn One upgraded LS power steering pump, hopefully to eliminate cavitation.</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The biggest offseason project, and one I haven't addressed, is constructing a front splitter. There really isn't an easy solution <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/09/downforce-or-downfarce-fabricating-rear.html" target="_blank">like the rear spoiler</a>, so unless I get some bright idea or a magic YouTube video pops up, I may wait until later in the year and see how other people have constructed theirs and mounted them.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the car is a work in progress, I guess as any CP car is. My goals for the upcoming season is to finish top 10 in PAX at least once. Back in the ESP days, I'd finish in the top 10 about a third of the time, so with the CP PAX, it's going to take some effort.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For your viewing enjoyment, I'll leave you with a short video of outtakes from last year:</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; outline: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-K6qAsRxNs" width="320" youtube-src-id="G-K6qAsRxNs"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-16822756160351271412023-11-03T10:46:00.003-04:002024-01-19T11:21:26.662-05:00Spoiler alert: Testing the new aero upgrades <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHTjF7_gNcLaKDyTudObhm2qB7JiKo5LZSDTxWXEUsFxWlb5gpUCsFNTNcigcZ1EcUeCoOoMReGxgsF_a-TJ4mi1emgg3SA3IcK4mbQhyphenhyphenFOk8_FqYydi6nhzSuvu3CDQE4hjUmUylplA/s4080/PXL_20231029_204956066.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ford F-150 and thirdgen Camaro at VMP" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHTjF7_gNcLaKDyTudObhm2qB7JiKo5LZSDTxWXEUsFxWlb5gpUCsFNTNcigcZ1EcUeCoOoMReGxgsF_a-TJ4mi1emgg3SA3IcK4mbQhyphenhyphenFOk8_FqYydi6nhzSuvu3CDQE4hjUmUylplA/w400-h301/PXL_20231029_204956066.MP.jpg" title="Virginia Motorsports Park used to be my "home" track, but I haven't been here in almost 20 years." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Motorsports Park used to be my "home" track, but I <br />haven't been here in almost 20 years.</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It felt like old times on Sunday! I made the tow down to Virginia Motorsports Park for an autocross with the Tidewater Sports Car Club.</span></span><p></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">I began my motorsports "career" drag racing at the track doing bracket racing on Friday nights in my first B13 Sentra SE-R, and TSCC was the first club I autocrossed with. <a href="http://tidewatersportscarclub.com/wp-content/uploads/wp_event_results_archive/1997/03-March.html" target="_blank">Even results from my first autocross are still on their site</a> (I think I DNF'd all my runs but they felt sorry for me and gave me a timed run.)</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">I've also done a bunch of autocrosses at VMP -- TSCC, NASA, Virginia Motorsports Club and SCCA Pro Solos. Even did one event there with the Tarheel Sports Car Club!</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">But I haven't been back in almost 20 years. My last autocross at VMP was i<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20040810104429/http://www.nasaracing.net/autox/jul25_04/results.htm" target="_blank">n 2004 when I drove Karen's black 1997 Camaro</a>. (She wasn't there for some reason ... maybe I snuck down there!) Nothing personal, it's just business. After moving to Maryland in the early 2000s and with FedEx Field opening for autocrossing in the early 2000s, there wasn't much motivation to drive almost three hours to VMP.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">My last autocross of the year was going to be two weeks ago with the D.C. Region in Waldorf, but since I bailed after it started dumping rain, I went internet searching for another autocross in the area.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj094JyiPgNZqHNiEpGbok1ufr-Axnot92tQOIZcquDgDBL8IWFNJPOsL5gx06D7pMI8wVXpveg-DpgfrETsamQcD1TFs19YBthQGXEJGhVT-u0AjC8t2VuxxFexnpkHD7l7MiIF0UyL9ttbutZHc1yHz760opThVWNs05w6e_mwIgEvemFfQhy3slBJmg/s4080/PXL_20231014_152013939.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="camaro autocross ccw wheels" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj094JyiPgNZqHNiEpGbok1ufr-Axnot92tQOIZcquDgDBL8IWFNJPOsL5gx06D7pMI8wVXpveg-DpgfrETsamQcD1TFs19YBthQGXEJGhVT-u0AjC8t2VuxxFexnpkHD7l7MiIF0UyL9ttbutZHc1yHz760opThVWNs05w6e_mwIgEvemFfQhy3slBJmg/w400-h301/PXL_20231014_152013939.MP.jpg" title="The scene from the last WDCR autocross. With rain and standing water and no other competition, I bailed." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scene from the last WDCR autocross. With rain and standing <br />water and no other CP competitors, I bailed.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">The TSCC autocross at VMP yesterday was about the only thing within reason. And after a deluge of rain at the WDCR autocross, the weather called for 80 degrees (in October) and sun the whole day!</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">This was the first autocross with <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/09/downforce-or-downfarce-fabricating-rear.html" target="_blank">the rear spoiler</a> and <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/10/im-louver-not-fighter-project-downfarce.html" target="_blank">hood louvers</a> so I was anxious to see if the aero changes did anything. </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">And the car felt a little different. It seemed more stable in the slalom, and there was a tight 90-degree left-hander where the car seemed to really put the power down. I thought I'd have to lift a little, but it felt like the two-year-old Hoosiers had the grip. Reviewing the videos (forgot to turn the camera on for the first run), I probably should have been more aggressive in the sweepers to see if the back end would take it.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">Overall, it didn't really feel like I put a really good run in. A couple mistakes or under-driving on one run, a little over-driving on the next run and a different mistake, etc.. Also, this was the first time driving at an autocross <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/08/bringing-heat-wdcr-autocross-4-recap.html" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">since Aug. 13</a> -- 10 weeks! Maybe there was also a little rust.<br /><br />My times were a 39.6 (+1), 39.9 (+1), 39.1, 39.2, and finally 39.0 (+1). The last run felt slower than that! It was actually a re-run because I stopped on course not for a downed cone but a corner worker standing next to the slalom just as I was entering.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_C8xn3afYmfupIBOTr8YSPf9AQJCbsaQG1VsPA3TD_mrxXCrirOf2ykdq6oNXgziYTM5axOAaSgV7ZmOEfl5syW_1-iIfi7Cr0ATfh59L7TqjhSBjazwHqVZPZjZ5mtV3h0VskzQ2ac/s4080/PXL_20231029_191802661.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen camaro autocross grid" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_C8xn3afYmfupIBOTr8YSPf9AQJCbsaQG1VsPA3TD_mrxXCrirOf2ykdq6oNXgziYTM5axOAaSgV7ZmOEfl5syW_1-iIfi7Cr0ATfh59L7TqjhSBjazwHqVZPZjZ5mtV3h0VskzQ2ac/w400-h301/PXL_20231029_191802661.MP.jpg" title="In grid for the last heat of the day." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In grid for the last heat of the day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">There were about 25 drivers in the heat so there wasn't much -- if any -- downtime between runs to think things over. Park the car, check tire pressures, spray the radiator ... and then I was seven or eight cars away from pulling to the line, so I was getting back in the car, putting my helmet on and cinching down the harness. I didn't even try to look at SoloStorm data.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">Since I've gotten back into autocross, clubs are aiming for smaller heats but with more runs. This event had 110-ish total competitors spread out over four heats, and everybody got five runs. Why not three heats with four runs?</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">Anyway, I won the "R2" class, which was all Prepared cars and indexed based on their PAX -- <a href="https://tidewatersportscarclub.com/wp-content/uploads/wp_event_results_archive/2023/10_10-29-2023_Points-Event-%237.html" target="_blank">see final results</a>. Now I can get into those discussions on "The Sandbox" complaining about how the yearly PAX updates are targeting me only!</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">Here's a five-minute video recap:</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IMcmNHX_xIE" width="320" youtube-src-id="IMcmNHX_xIE"></iframe></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">I think that might be it for the year and now figuring out what I want to do in the offseason to improve the car. I scored a set of used UMI camber/caster plates, which will be an easy improvement. The car has camber plates already but no modification to adjust caster.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">I'll probably also upgrade to <a href="https://turnonesteering.com/driving-application/ls1-power-steering-products/" target="_blank">a power steering pump from TurnOne</a>. My reservoir leaks pretty badly from the cap during runs, and I think it's from <i><a href="https://www.munciepower.com/company/blog_detail/hydraulic_pump_cavitation_what_is_it_and_how_can_you_prevent_it_" target="_blank">cavitation</a></i>. I learned that term back in the Sentra SE-R days because those power steering reservoirs also leaked. Basically, the pump turns too fast from all the steering inputs, and the fluid "boils" in the reservoir. The fix for the Sentras was to install a Nissan Stanza pulley, which was a little larger in diameter, and it "slowed" the spinning of the power steering pump. </div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">Talking to a guy at a WDCR autocross who had LS-swapped his Nissan 240SX (still with this Nissan stuff), he had a TurnOne power steering pump and said it didn't spew fluid when cranking the wheel back and forth during an autocross. The propaganda on TurnOne's website also says it improves horsepower by not robbing as much horsepower, too.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">So those are two relatively easy improvements. The hard and/or expensive stuff is going to be upgrading from the Koni shocks and fabricating a front splitter. I've already been talking to Sam Strano on the former. Rear Penskes aren't too hateful -- less than $1500 for a pair. Fronts might be a little more difficult (and too expensive) to acquire, but Sam thinks the single-adjustable Konis I have on the car already might be good enough.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;">The front splitter I think is going to come down to internet research, then mocking stuff up with cardboard like I did with the rear splitter. I still have leftover lexan, so I'll probably use some for the finished product. The only thing is there isn't an "easy button" to copy somebody else's thirdgen Camaro design.</div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-91312969684779033902023-10-01T16:56:00.008-04:002023-11-03T10:50:00.867-04:00I'm a louver, not a fighter! Project downfarce part deux!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjksm7eGvwkcZ0rOVhHtFNAqKm4EfbOAog4fb6f41PEkrP3SM_15W4Yt4Gq7wOZE3gxim2CMdPDVUh2YTRn-EeLHPBkOvebEw-DpxWDXUArdko5IqtnLY5u_swJbi4kiPJyv_0-5NLKAuiZGf39Kpg7dGEOde3TlJzNTSvaO07j_bjDvPAb1cMnToo2gw/s4080/PXL_20231001_201919228.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982-1983 Camaro hood louvers" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjksm7eGvwkcZ0rOVhHtFNAqKm4EfbOAog4fb6f41PEkrP3SM_15W4Yt4Gq7wOZE3gxim2CMdPDVUh2YTRn-EeLHPBkOvebEw-DpxWDXUArdko5IqtnLY5u_swJbi4kiPJyv_0-5NLKAuiZGf39Kpg7dGEOde3TlJzNTSvaO07j_bjDvPAb1cMnToo2gw/w400-h301/PXL_20231001_201919228.MP.jpg" title="Cutting a hole in your hood is better for aerodynamics." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting a hole in your hood is better for aerodynamics.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In an effort for better aero, I did something <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/09/downforce-or-downfarce-fabricating-rear.html" target="_blank">a little easier than fabricate a rear spoiler</a> -- installed hood louvers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Going down this internet rabbit hole looking for tips on improving aerodynamics for a autocross car, it seems hood louvers are a nice benefit. Air supposedly gets trapped under the front of the car at speed, and the air can't escape as quickly, so the front end "lifts." With louvers, air has an exit strategy, and the front end doesn't rise as much. Which means the front tires make better contact with the road.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And louvers allow the engine to run cooler.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And they look cooler.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There was only one company I could find online that makes direct-fit louvers for 1982-1983 Camaros, so I ordered a set from them. The kit came with rivets, washers (for fitting under the hood material) and templates for cutting. <br /><br />I opened the box and discovered they sent me directions for installing later 1985-1990 IROC/Z28 louvers, which are different than the OEM hood on my 1982 Camaro. And they sent a hardware kit for the later louvers, too, so the hardware kit was short six rivets and washers. I emailed them about it, but they didn't respond. At all. <br /><br />About $15 later on the South American Rainforest site, I had enough rivets and washers. Which is why I'm not going to mention the name of the company. No free advertising for you!<br /><br />Spend $330 for the an allegedly complete install kit, then spend another $15 on hardware to complete the installation.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Makes sense!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">(And FWIW, there are sellers on eBay who carry the 1985-1990 louvers for a WHOLE LOT cheaper than what this company does. I imagine they are all made by the same little Chinese kids. Unfortunately, knock-offs apparently aren't available for 1982-1983 hoods like mine.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The installation was pretty straightforward -- cut holes in the hood. Rivet louvers to hood. Done.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHR49WScF4EEaMZKpiiu_RjOnK7UiLjq5sszNiQPPvRnIpf-8OOTyQMr8kxVQK2KwUpVTJ_vHtIy45Q0-p_7EG-PQfQdeM_LGsgTqUmbus6IyRIbruskd3Aahzpzb2ahrlluOAL3lMLlFO2yRZpMDCsu_J3MQdDdHWjoUvoZ87dmiXJeTY18nl1oJNLE/s4080/PXL_20230930_155407282.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982-1983 Camaro hood louver install" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHR49WScF4EEaMZKpiiu_RjOnK7UiLjq5sszNiQPPvRnIpf-8OOTyQMr8kxVQK2KwUpVTJ_vHtIy45Q0-p_7EG-PQfQdeM_LGsgTqUmbus6IyRIbruskd3Aahzpzb2ahrlluOAL3lMLlFO2yRZpMDCsu_J3MQdDdHWjoUvoZ87dmiXJeTY18nl1oJNLE/w301-h400/PXL_20230930_155407282.MP.jpg" title="Driver-side hole cut with passenger-side template." width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver-side hole cut and passenger-side template.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The only issue was my reluctance to slice an OEM composite hood (basically fiberglass found only on 1982-1983 Camaros). Searching around online, I found used hoods for $300, and a few days ago someone in Pennsylvania was selling one for $150. If my genuine GM product got messed up, it wouldn't be hard to find a replacement. The worst case scenario was to just drop around $700 for a new replica.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't want to drop $700.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Whatever, just hack away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After cutting openings for the louvers, I realized after test-fitting that I sliced too much material off in a few areas. But it shouldn't really affect how the louvers fit -- might leave those areas without rivets or glue/resin composite material back on.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHpJKeKcQuybfIUd6axIdHpLLjO8oCpLqYK0yXTAi8ybx0sf91W5pciLF8sGZVQ5i5U-tFwCbINLFoDFpfKnawh74_MAf2xvfTGXJAFI7oa5eWvq6s9ZYi5vo0haDYAZfN4k_lW-xxE962vTbRWGq7nzXj5Vi-M6ZwMRaxWqgLHL5HpUpfNrUW5Gb1Q8/s4080/PXL_20231001_202012581.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982-1983 Camaro hood louvers" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHpJKeKcQuybfIUd6axIdHpLLjO8oCpLqYK0yXTAi8ybx0sf91W5pciLF8sGZVQ5i5U-tFwCbINLFoDFpfKnawh74_MAf2xvfTGXJAFI7oa5eWvq6s9ZYi5vo0haDYAZfN4k_lW-xxE962vTbRWGq7nzXj5Vi-M6ZwMRaxWqgLHL5HpUpfNrUW5Gb1Q8/w301-h400/PXL_20231001_202012581.MP.jpg" title="About 90-percent finished. The kit didn't have enough rivets and washers." width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About 90-percent finished. The kit didn't have enough rivets and washers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Autocrossing the car for the last time in about a week, so it will be interesting to see if I can notice a difference (along with the rear spoiler).</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-44017847963337688472023-09-13T08:55:00.011-04:002023-11-09T14:31:24.174-05:00 Downforce or downfarce? Fabricating a rear spoiler<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Around the time I semi-retired from autocrossing, aerodynamics (wings and things) had started to become the rage. My initial impression was that aero on a car doing 60 to 70mph was pointless.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I returned "full time" earlier this year, it seemed EVERY car that could add aero had something done. Big wings, splitters, louvers, etc. Talking with Maryland Mike Snyder earlier this year, he had added a spoiler and splitter to his C Prepared Mustang last year, and he said it made a noticeable difference.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">He's a friend who I trust so I started thinking how to add aero to my Camaro. </span><span style="font-family: times;">Camaro aero!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I decided the easiest thing would be to fabricate a rear spoiler for the car. While other Prepared classes have the flexibility of adding a wing, CP only allows a spoiler no taller than 10 inches from the trunk/deck lid. </span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>"It is a non-production rear spoiler which is mounted to the rear portion of the rear hatch, deck, or trunk lid. The spoiler may extend no more than 10.0” (25.4 cm) from the original bodywork in any direction. Alternatively in a hatchback, the spoiler may be mounted to the rear hatch lid at or near the top of the hatch in such a configuration the spoiler may extend not more than 7½ inches (7.50”, 19.1 cm) from the original bodywork in any direction. The spoiler may be no wider that the bodywork. The use of endplates is prohibited. Spoiler endplates are defined as any vertical (or semi-vertical) surfaces attached in front of the spoiler which have the result of capturing and redistributing air (downforce) along all or any portion of the spoiler. The angle of attack is free. The spoiler may not function as a wing."</i></span></p></blockquote><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The only open area of the rule is that it can be made from any material. Since my car is still somewhat streetable and I need to keep an eye out for the po-po, I decided to use clear Lexan.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Using my Google search skillz, <a href="https://www.polymershapes.com/" target="_blank">I found a local company that sold lexan by the sheet</a>, and they actually cut it to the size I specified. Only issue is that I had to buy the whole sheet, so now I have a lot of leftover Lexan! But if I messed up the spoiler, at least there was extra material left over.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I started by mocking up the spoiler using cardboard and blue tape.<br /><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPGnUN97oWMpLkXa59fBeTszuhOQl_Iow-KrLMUHVY9F497UDceE-pS0En7CLjvBotWBLUFOZgUrvuQXEG3GVqwkaO7F1tBBamGEfR3gNpT7o7SAnKMTEQPmSN1Uq6jUUmsVuMvdeyUesv6WDHLQyy_2amsoMCT1r3--azf1S6SB-xslw2t_og_OPHkU/s4080/PXL_20230718_212050913.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><img alt="Thirdgen camaro spoiler mockup" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPGnUN97oWMpLkXa59fBeTszuhOQl_Iow-KrLMUHVY9F497UDceE-pS0En7CLjvBotWBLUFOZgUrvuQXEG3GVqwkaO7F1tBBamGEfR3gNpT7o7SAnKMTEQPmSN1Uq6jUUmsVuMvdeyUesv6WDHLQyy_2amsoMCT1r3--azf1S6SB-xslw2t_og_OPHkU/w400-h301/PXL_20230718_212050913.MP.jpg" title="Cardboard mockup." width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cardboard mockup.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Thirdgen camaro spoiler mockup" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EXfT3z_qkVei-jgsO6SDnm0Iz400qBS1nUXEi9g3VLbMpi66w8_r3ufIuvUjy7eJP6d1RbSYKyfnOsMD2K00a9HrgfCptxmiqH80lM9P-razsbmDZw3X3bfpN7zNAgNXSXaU-Bey35DTp0DObC4stL6dm3FjLayCfMV7NEVfYh8woQohbJiGhK7NI8w/w400-h301/PXL_20230720_233839237.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cardboard mockup." width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Cardboard mockup.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EXfT3z_qkVei-jgsO6SDnm0Iz400qBS1nUXEi9g3VLbMpi66w8_r3ufIuvUjy7eJP6d1RbSYKyfnOsMD2K00a9HrgfCptxmiqH80lM9P-razsbmDZw3X3bfpN7zNAgNXSXaU-Bey35DTp0DObC4stL6dm3FjLayCfMV7NEVfYh8woQohbJiGhK7NI8w/s4080/PXL_20230720_233839237.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">For mounting, I debated between bending L-shaped brackets or using hinged piano hinges. I decided on the latter because I figured it would be easier to adjust the spoiler if need be. But since the end of the decklid has a slight curve, I thought it would be best to use three hinges instead of one big one (and it's an odd length, and I doubt I could find one that fit exactly.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">So it was off to drill holes in the decklid.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Thirdgen camaro spoiler mounting" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYfmEseb1i4lfSNJ_rm3Bwp9tDvruqLDG23rv1EL7OZi37vcDmloVu7IxqVBU8Buz6ETHGNxGn4Rnw4OyMeR9YXkgXazTXf_Eru_wDSE8iN8AeaG7OHByXbUWLtK_B35G1fohb7oI4UVWm9vB_Z3XOqyI7UwowiZrwtaL4mJ4DPzDDYFt6wueOJHuxVE/w400-h301/PXL_20230826_192949623.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Starting to drill holes to mount the hinges." width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p>Starting to drill holes to mount the hinges.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYfmEseb1i4lfSNJ_rm3Bwp9tDvruqLDG23rv1EL7OZi37vcDmloVu7IxqVBU8Buz6ETHGNxGn4Rnw4OyMeR9YXkgXazTXf_Eru_wDSE8iN8AeaG7OHByXbUWLtK_B35G1fohb7oI4UVWm9vB_Z3XOqyI7UwowiZrwtaL4mJ4DPzDDYFt6wueOJHuxVE/s4080/PXL_20230826_192949623.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">I had a kit with various size cap screws and mounted the hinges. </span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Thirdgen Camaro spoiler mount" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4v16XZBUd7eruE0-eYtOa2JpfXUd5tVASCa08hFQypN4teI3Sc-MFZ1PNiPNYWR18ivGpv1Qpp-S-ND5d4D_-zxmmXklEHPrmfuFap4myQ94H6orzKP2QO3pNQRxcnNsVORaSxGU1h3Hwd_IDhLnIgotYY-h0rzNNEAjEVDGk4xHY0tVUWFE6zddNpYY/w400-h301/PXL_20230826_191654050.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="One hinge mounted, two to go!" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p>One hinge mounted, two to go!</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4v16XZBUd7eruE0-eYtOa2JpfXUd5tVASCa08hFQypN4teI3Sc-MFZ1PNiPNYWR18ivGpv1Qpp-S-ND5d4D_-zxmmXklEHPrmfuFap4myQ94H6orzKP2QO3pNQRxcnNsVORaSxGU1h3Hwd_IDhLnIgotYY-h0rzNNEAjEVDGk4xHY0tVUWFE6zddNpYY/s4080/PXL_20230826_191654050.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Then I trimmed one of the Lexan pieces and sanded the edges. It doesn't mesh exactly to the decklid, and the top has a slight undulation, but it will work for now. Maybe I'll try to make it better or make another one from a leftover Lexan slab.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Thirdgen Camaro spoiler mounting" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHzxQcv79S9ePXxSDBku7gGrZEZg1D-pDA-xJye2jeg6TQkuo_HucR5B8cFVFZQ-7cqW1h5Es0hAgWCv707WphcHAe670HlTe5e9rasZHeWMx-CbjunG_MZKAnGWnOnKjeTTfxOgeFH139EcRe8dVRnr_cmfdH32zgDtrbgQW-Z6iFJl6vNJmDxcG2vo/w400-h301/PXL_20230903_172833417.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Cheapo adjustable rod supports." width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheapo adjustable rod supports.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHzxQcv79S9ePXxSDBku7gGrZEZg1D-pDA-xJye2jeg6TQkuo_HucR5B8cFVFZQ-7cqW1h5Es0hAgWCv707WphcHAe670HlTe5e9rasZHeWMx-CbjunG_MZKAnGWnOnKjeTTfxOgeFH139EcRe8dVRnr_cmfdH32zgDtrbgQW-Z6iFJl6vNJmDxcG2vo/s4080/PXL_20230903_172833417.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">Cheapo rod supports were acquired from the South American rainforest site and connected between the deck lid and spoiler -- one on each end and two smaller ones in the middle. There were existing holes in the decklid from where a later-thirdgen "high rise" OEM Camaro wing had been mounted (OEM wing was on when I bought the car, and I sold it a long time ago).</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: times; font-size: medium;">And the finished product:</span></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeW2kIP5MbMBEiZ35ecMLiNYQzRItM9vtluHbcg-owsgKfR4xbuq9klJzoxYUTilcdQX5ToO2gjMsBaruFfx3ymxKG6MYamn7K3lI-PGiSkzoc7iX9-86_7GmwLV9QtHNHziI5d7GpVC-p3rnKwJXV2JqHUNHdNNdzgWNYlj5o-nhXYIyWeQ1PlD5G24/s4080/PXL_20230911_231622441.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thirdgen Camaro rear spoiler" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeW2kIP5MbMBEiZ35ecMLiNYQzRItM9vtluHbcg-owsgKfR4xbuq9klJzoxYUTilcdQX5ToO2gjMsBaruFfx3ymxKG6MYamn7K3lI-PGiSkzoc7iX9-86_7GmwLV9QtHNHziI5d7GpVC-p3rnKwJXV2JqHUNHdNNdzgWNYlj5o-nhXYIyWeQ1PlD5G24/w400-h301/PXL_20230911_231622441.MP.jpg" title="The rear spoiler mounted." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rear spoiler mounted.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehdyjonzaTEKEYFuUVlXvi9_CANuC__JjgVPT9xr28NeAcv1aYooumNhs2RnQTYANrdySq8MbJ8TYVVv1AY4aTWuYMwTi7NGK39Ueb0Q67GgF4swk2glP-Hvqbgg2jrLIR8hnjB-B5u0MKKSAHvKkjo8qHKbwCDL88kzIRIrpsgOUgX-pEgcRbvAO6LQ/s4080/PXL_20230911_231651259.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thirdgen Camaro rear spoiler" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehdyjonzaTEKEYFuUVlXvi9_CANuC__JjgVPT9xr28NeAcv1aYooumNhs2RnQTYANrdySq8MbJ8TYVVv1AY4aTWuYMwTi7NGK39Ueb0Q67GgF4swk2glP-Hvqbgg2jrLIR8hnjB-B5u0MKKSAHvKkjo8qHKbwCDL88kzIRIrpsgOUgX-pEgcRbvAO6LQ/w400-h301/PXL_20230911_231651259.MP.jpg" title="The rear spoiler mounted." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p>Another angle of the spoiler.</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-41160114844102301872023-08-16T18:57:00.005-04:002023-11-03T10:48:24.382-04:00Bringing the heat! WDCR autocross #4 recap<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBrWVhwKA4WsLSw6seubXMtm9d1rpufTOmxe0oA1fQwIjmBreLGFkCOeiYiG_TsJWoin3ZKOO3VEFKFPh71nDFUJ235kAOSliUJ50mSWO7NQAS6y2E8ySR10FnCjshk2RjSqUh6wFNXO-IkzTN9VspM5uLF3l4Boa1INy7sFsat6ev1jyDy3NU88-VZi0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro autocross car" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBrWVhwKA4WsLSw6seubXMtm9d1rpufTOmxe0oA1fQwIjmBreLGFkCOeiYiG_TsJWoin3ZKOO3VEFKFPh71nDFUJ235kAOSliUJ50mSWO7NQAS6y2E8ySR10FnCjshk2RjSqUh6wFNXO-IkzTN9VspM5uLF3l4Boa1INy7sFsat6ev1jyDy3NU88-VZi0=w302-h400" title="Once again (knock on wood), the Camaro made it back on the trailer on its own power." width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Once again (knock on wood), the Camaro made it back on the trailer under its own power.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Every autocross this season I have had a coulda-woulda-shoulda run where I made a mistake on my fastest run which I thought cost me at least half a second. Sunday, there were a couple tiny botches on my fastest run, but overall, I was satisfied with my performance.<br /><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11jy93kOUGl12c6xhp9XvR46S0Q1R_y0G" target="_blank">We have results!</a> I was ninth in raw time (first time inside the top 10 this season) and 20th in PAX. There was another CP car, but it looked like a "stock car" set up for roadcourse time trials, i.e. not something built for meandering around a little autocross course.<br /><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It was miserably hot and humid. This was especially hindering to me after flying in Friday night after </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/u/0/blog/post/edit/8318071178807881340/4116011484410230187#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">a week's vacation out west</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> where 90-degree temperatures felt comfortable. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shooting from the hip, I made changes to shock settings before the last autocross, and the car felt great. Don't ask me what I did to the Koni single adjustables. Softened fronts and stiffened rears? Or maybe vice versa. I should write this stuff down.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2APdf-bauyM5U8Gj9PLrnGoJoBONwEaASeYlUX26xIJ7IXzFTRr382MtdPIYoBffWQkaq2i5GLuHms0D1rcRxsPVLntkpmaG2ZTFTazaUHRRL__m-Ym2GoJKx7iR70vuxG_pOdgLfmDV3Pgx0nmfZ1m-aE8VwuJ5Qm3QrX2TvtxLAWyi-jTZsxDPC3_4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro autocross grid" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2APdf-bauyM5U8Gj9PLrnGoJoBONwEaASeYlUX26xIJ7IXzFTRr382MtdPIYoBffWQkaq2i5GLuHms0D1rcRxsPVLntkpmaG2ZTFTazaUHRRL__m-Ym2GoJKx7iR70vuxG_pOdgLfmDV3Pgx0nmfZ1m-aE8VwuJ5Qm3QrX2TvtxLAWyi-jTZsxDPC3_4=w400-h301" title="In grid, another CP car! It looked like a car prepped for roadcourse duty." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In grid, another CP car! It looked like a "stock car" prepped for roadcourse duty.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Then before Sunday's event, the car got very minor upgrades with Gorilla Tape in the front grill hoping to streamline the radiator's airflow. Coolant temps seemed to max around 210 until my final run when temps mysteriously climbed to 230 after crossing the finish.</span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The course was straightforward, without super-tight sections as in a couple earlier autocrosses this year. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My times went progressively down from 36.3 to 34.5. The only blemish was a DNF on my fourth run where I lost track of the final cone -- slightly hidden by an elevation change -- before the finish.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">No sound issues this time, either. If you are one of the 12 viewers of </span><a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/07/not-so-fast-and-too-loud.html" style="color: #0e101a;" target="_blank">my last blog post</a><span style="color: #0e101a;">, the exhaust noise hit the limit of 100dbs at the July WDCR autocross. It had not registered over 95dbs at any previous autocrosses, so I found that odd. This time, the course was set up so the sound meter would be on the driver's side of vehicles, and my exhaust exit points on the passenger side. While I thought the July readings were an anomaly, sound probably wasn't going to be an issue with the positioning of the meter compared to the muffler output.</span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8s-JID8mEBH41-nW86zeUlb6adjIny36Tz-0UsnLx_ihPW9_ymAKRSLba_hWrfCAbA63SVhv3UiClJgFr0NVUAD_NFYkLj8WOmTFvRZqimuJ5VqYnUY1YIuqs95ya8LXyJvTi3i8_uRaCXMYgbAsVr3zGpLc_tXMtxzVOjc4RzwtGhuCk3N4MB3Kz4Jk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8s-JID8mEBH41-nW86zeUlb6adjIny36Tz-0UsnLx_ihPW9_ymAKRSLba_hWrfCAbA63SVhv3UiClJgFr0NVUAD_NFYkLj8WOmTFvRZqimuJ5VqYnUY1YIuqs95ya8LXyJvTi3i8_uRaCXMYgbAsVr3zGpLc_tXMtxzVOjc4RzwtGhuCk3N4MB3Kz4Jk" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mmmm, which flavor of LS-powered car do you want? Lining up is an LS1 S14 Nissan 240SX, C7 Corvette, fifth generation Camaro, and (my favorite) an LS1 FD Mazda RX-7.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">See the video of my fastest run:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/la-GlFf97rE" width="320" youtube-src-id="la-GlFf97rE"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Next up? I don't know. There isn't another WDCR autocross until October. Maybe try a Susquehanna SCCA autocross next month? Or [shudder] a PCA event at the Baysox Stadium. I'm toying around with aero ideas, so if that comes to fruition, I probably won't wait until October.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As always, don't forget to check <a href="https://inreeltimefishing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the companion blog</a> about fishing for smallmouth bass (<a href="https://inreeltimefishing.blogspot.com/2023/08/all-walleye-all-time-return-to-rainy.html" target="_blank">and sometimes walleye</a>)!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-84384959537378073132023-07-21T14:34:00.002-04:002023-07-21T17:51:31.115-04:00 (not so) FAST AND (too) LOUD<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l_BwxXAdT1hk5jNJlMwV2TGVpPUj1Z5DmOqSaFZvmiwekvN4pk8x5sNlaMBWQ1PhRqVULb7ZcYeQeVQEbaWBOFn_kiwZKrYhPMP5vZb1BIWT8Zwda253WMZQSSND6rktXCL0I3FPR5i5lHUM8NdAlMdufwzuRv-pesosXxatg5EjDZhx1DbCcGF1yoQ/s2048/paddock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro waldorf autocross" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l_BwxXAdT1hk5jNJlMwV2TGVpPUj1Z5DmOqSaFZvmiwekvN4pk8x5sNlaMBWQ1PhRqVULb7ZcYeQeVQEbaWBOFn_kiwZKrYhPMP5vZb1BIWT8Zwda253WMZQSSND6rktXCL0I3FPR5i5lHUM8NdAlMdufwzuRv-pesosXxatg5EjDZhx1DbCcGF1yoQ/w400-h301/paddock.jpg" title="Finally got another car as buffer between me and all the f'ing Miatas!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally got another car as buffer between me and all the f'ing Miatas!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another incident-free autocross in the books.<br /><br />Sort of.<br /><br />I mentioned from <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/05/saying-no-to-crack-avoiding-rain-and.html" target="_blank">the first WDCR autocross</a> that exhaust sound was being checked to appease the neighbors. I made it through that event without even breaking 90dbs. And apparently made it through unscathed at <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/06/if-you-aint-first-youre-last-but-what.html" target="_blank">the autocross after that</a>. Next D.C. Region autocross after that, not sure what the sound readings were but I received no warnings, so I thought I was good to go.<br /><br />On Saturday, event No. 3 with the D.C. Region in Waldorf, I made two runs -- first was a 38.4 and then a second faster on the next run with a 37.4. <br /><br />I came across the finish after my third run and clocked a 37.1. I made a little mistake going into one section and pushed a little wide and knew 36s were a possibility if I could clean that up.<br /><br />And then I was told my exhaust exceeded maximum sound. <br /><br />This is where I should have had a better understanding of the rules.<br /><br />Maximum sound reading is 100.0 per Appendix H of the SCCA rules. I was told my car was 100db, and with no way to fix it, I figured I was done for the day. I would have really liked to complete my two remaining runs and get into the 36s, but I loaded the Camaro on the trailer and took my ball home.<br /><br />When I got home, I looked closer at the rules, and indeed the maximum reading is 100.0. I was informed just "100" after my third run and the log from the workers monitoring sound showed just "100." So was it 100.0? 100.1? If I would have known the rule better, I could have asked for clarification and perhaps gotten one or two of my remaining runs in.<br /><br />But whatever, it's for a $5 trophy and nobody else is in C Prepared.<br /><br />Actually, they aren't giving out trophies as far as I can tell!<br /><br />Here's my fastest run with SoloStorm overlay:<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s4H9FlbaSbE" width="320" youtube-src-id="s4H9FlbaSbE"></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The car ran fine which seems to be the usual now. [knock on wood] Still need to figure out how to get another 1.5-2 seconds out of it, which I don't think can be accomplished as it sits now. Adding aero (rear spoiler and possibly a front splitter) is something that I think would cut some time, but I'd likely have to make that stuff from scratch. It's not as easy as hacking some aluminum or polyethylene and bolting it on -- I'd like to make it so pieces are easy to remove and reinstall in case of trailer/ramp clearance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next autocross is likely the second week of August again in Waldorf with the D.C. Region.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you've read this far, here is a teaser shot of (hopefully) that aero modification:</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh2FEEHe8XiJxs2btfXmJQLBAw0h9J-L5VphQKdlriqmAVmgYImTw294rP7eOXcbA0IUxoGCa6syUPkiF4n7fq1ZI9laztT3jyQSYbYC5BkocNXiA1KwWUuK89sihOzxh3ohOiNP_uJCHUzdYIR-YNoX4Ky2O3GRClFqGO1cHT1lGHbr4kUODzfEr3F0/s4080/PXL_20230718_212055418.MP%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro autocross aero3" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNh2FEEHe8XiJxs2btfXmJQLBAw0h9J-L5VphQKdlriqmAVmgYImTw294rP7eOXcbA0IUxoGCa6syUPkiF4n7fq1ZI9laztT3jyQSYbYC5BkocNXiA1KwWUuK89sihOzxh3ohOiNP_uJCHUzdYIR-YNoX4Ky2O3GRClFqGO1cHT1lGHbr4kUODzfEr3F0/w400-h301/PXL_20230718_212055418.MP%5B1%5D.jpg" title="Downforce or downfarce?" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downforce or downfarce?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-6032962249163021632023-07-14T08:43:00.003-04:002023-08-31T16:40:24.089-04:00Dead-nuts reliable? Another autocross without a hiccup!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopWgXd02qmQpVJTzmmKbmEOSXvbUXVThanqa2mSw_nPFdhKIm_t9XGNIRPBVKgYA-DqC85BIfZ_9jHfNSWOEZ-PsoF3Wv6vARP8kfMXWOMuGDjcNOsrz-hb_xue8zP6CI9po9y9IwHQdqg-p_5w5rvITL_ak2lFKeGXoG43iCvVhCq5ukACQGs4RzkIY/s2048/autox4u%20shot%20with%20watermark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen camaro autocross" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgopWgXd02qmQpVJTzmmKbmEOSXvbUXVThanqa2mSw_nPFdhKIm_t9XGNIRPBVKgYA-DqC85BIfZ_9jHfNSWOEZ-PsoF3Wv6vARP8kfMXWOMuGDjcNOsrz-hb_xue8zP6CI9po9y9IwHQdqg-p_5w5rvITL_ak2lFKeGXoG43iCvVhCq5ukACQGs4RzkIY/w400-h266/autox4u%20shot%20with%20watermark.jpg" title="First run maneuvering the "long" slalom in the middle of the course. (Photo by Perry Aidelbaum of autox4u.com)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First run maneuvering the "long" slalom in the middle of the <br />course. Did I hit the cone? <br />(<a href="http://www.autox4u.com/" target="_blank">Photo by Perry Aidelbaum of autox4u.com</a>) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After autocross No. 4 (not counting the PCA practice) and the car is ... like ... I'm scared to say it ...<br /><br />Dead-nuts reliable.<br /><br />It's made 25 runs this year without any major issues. It fires up with one click of the key and goes like the reliable appliance it was in the old ESP days.<br /><br />The only real issue is that it's a 41-year-old F-Body that doesn't handle like any modern car.<br />But that's half the fun.<br /><br />Anyway, I trekked up to Ripken Stadium for an autocross with Brandywine Motorsport Club. I've never autocrossed with this club, and oddly I've never even driven this car at this site. By the time I got the car in 2008, autocrossing had ceased to exist at Ripken for whatever reason and only restarted a couple years ago.<br /><br />The lot is good sized but is plagued by bumpy areas. A couple sections are like ski jumps. This is a picture from 2007 or so of me almost catching air in Dave MacDougall's STX Mazdaspeed Protege:<br /><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdU68pgSWJKCOpcg8PFNxW9fQ99L5ma0VEh5oxSvxVF2h6liPS879Vn5qSy3qZoG8bh3tyyS0Dxbupcc24ZwO2rJD-AuggLICh4Hn-yS7gbFUBmItSo0yIn1MfsqzOql1G0mA2Ge0cAQWjNFsmexgSBWnUIjYhkHZCMdrWl2FCHKaeS9PsRQ7SGqti9M/s604/mazda%20protege%20ripken%20bump.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="mazdaspeed protege autocross ripken stadium" border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="604" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdU68pgSWJKCOpcg8PFNxW9fQ99L5ma0VEh5oxSvxVF2h6liPS879Vn5qSy3qZoG8bh3tyyS0Dxbupcc24ZwO2rJD-AuggLICh4Hn-yS7gbFUBmItSo0yIn1MfsqzOql1G0mA2Ge0cAQWjNFsmexgSBWnUIjYhkHZCMdrWl2FCHKaeS9PsRQ7SGqti9M/w400-h266/mazda%20protege%20ripken%20bump.jpg" title="Ski-jumping an Mazdaspeed Protege circa 2007 at Ripken Stadium." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski-jumping a Mazdaspeed Protege circa 2007 at Ripken Stadium.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to the future, the weather was miserable Saturday. Temps in the 90s with unbearable humidity. One of those days where you're pounding water from the time you arrive on site until you're 30 minutes down the road with the AC blasting after leaving.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_l4qBEa6eUCy_NM60OM5lpKumxGfpb8pcebEP0MySRSljlTx5VQg59bKmPC2iHci35JTvCT043ISmvsFi8qRhJxXxgQ0zxTOvXBUlzTs7UoCOmtzOq68xvnLFmVgHGwwq8OSzG8CStPqZgQiejecUsm8eS2k2LWX5fr9q8wPY34YyBv2dRE5G7IdsjE/s922/heat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ripken stadium autocross" border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="922" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_l4qBEa6eUCy_NM60OM5lpKumxGfpb8pcebEP0MySRSljlTx5VQg59bKmPC2iHci35JTvCT043ISmvsFi8qRhJxXxgQ0zxTOvXBUlzTs7UoCOmtzOq68xvnLFmVgHGwwq8OSzG8CStPqZgQiejecUsm8eS2k2LWX5fr9q8wPY34YyBv2dRE5G7IdsjE/w400-h321/heat.jpg" title="First picture cropped showing the heat waves." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First picture cropped showing the heat radiating off the asphalt.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The course was a little more wide open than the WDCR course at Waldorf and made the PCA autocross look like a gymkhanna. There were two or three sections where my car -- which handles really well in a straight line -- could stretch its <b>L</b>eg<b>S</b> (Get it? LS.)<br /><br />I clocked a 44.3 on my first run but knew there was more time there. A mid- or even low-43 seemed doable. <br /><br />My second run was a little crossed up in one section and turned a 45-something. My third run was a 44.1. My fourth run was a 44.0 but a cone was tacked on for some reason.<br /><br />We were getting six runs, and I elected to skip my fifth run to cool the car and cool me. I sat in the truck with the AC going while everybody took their fifth runs.<br /><br />I felt better before my final run and was hoping to smooth out a few sections. That 43.X should be easy, right?<br /><br />Wrong. <br /><br />I throttled away from the start, shifted to second then got into the OPR and pebbles offline in arguably the fastest part of the course, which was just after tripping the start beam. I did a nice half spin, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsx2vdn7gpY" target="_blank">it was game over, man</a>.<br /><br />There weren't any other drivers in C-Prepared again, so I took the "win." I finished 10th in raw time and 25th in PAX. My goal -- if nobody else is in CP -- is to get a top 10 in raw time. I used to finish top 10 in PAX when the car was in ESP, but it's a little more difficult to accomplish with the CP PAX.<br /><br />Next up is a WDCR autocross at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. Again it looks like I'll be the only one in CP.<br /><br />In case you've come this far ...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq9Ph-yLT0OwjM7JQMQb_X-U2b-h2Q20PSPHtHqVnOtxDIuyZFJGSgFVY9Fntzn3cwxsBXxpnwfmaSsYj7zg7xQ1xrbUhV8lFd-Ae7a0LCIn14euf5i0MZP-0UCtuIpqff925v1AvLGTAGBwDmlmyGxOThkBnQMPhkfkDB7F_p1WDdOyIVzbSUUMSJG4/s5472/0A8A1331-(ZF-9735-77367-1-001).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro autocross" border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq9Ph-yLT0OwjM7JQMQb_X-U2b-h2Q20PSPHtHqVnOtxDIuyZFJGSgFVY9Fntzn3cwxsBXxpnwfmaSsYj7zg7xQ1xrbUhV8lFd-Ae7a0LCIn14euf5i0MZP-0UCtuIpqff925v1AvLGTAGBwDmlmyGxOThkBnQMPhkfkDB7F_p1WDdOyIVzbSUUMSJG4/w400-h266/0A8A1331-(ZF-9735-77367-1-001).jpg" title="Yes, it was clean! Although I did hit a cone somewhere else on this run. (Photo by Perry Aidelbaum of autox4u.com)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it was clean! Although I did hit a cone somewhere else on this run.<br />(<a href="http://www.autox4u.com/" target="_blank">Photo by Perry Aidelbaum of autox4u.com</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As I mentioned, it was the first time autocrossing my Camaro at Ripken, which got me thinking ... what other cars had I driven before at the site? I came up with 11, which is pretty amazing considering the site was active for only four or five years in the early 2000s.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Those cars were:</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">My STX (and probably ESP) 1990 Firebird Formula WS6<br />My last B13 Sentra SE-R<br />Lee Piccione's BSP E36 M3<br />Dave's Mazdaspeed Protege (pictured above)<br />Karen's black F-Stock 1996 LT1 Camaro<br />KENNY SORENSEN's F-Stock LS1 Camaro<br />Jason Burns' F-Stock Shelby Mustang<br />Big Mike Snyder's Street Modified-ish E36 M3<br />Eric Kriemelmeyer's STS Subaru 2.5 RS<br />Ian's or Little Mike's STS CRX<br />Some random dude's Subaru STi (winning the Subaru Challenge)</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's video with SoloStorm data from my fastest run:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-6Y5QHYVewU" width="320" youtube-src-id="-6Y5QHYVewU"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-37246594071240395342023-06-19T12:58:00.006-04:002023-06-22T22:34:20.398-04:00If you ain't first, you're last!! But what if you are also first and last?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOheZipzzfpGsrFvOw2gQJK8PHzQGiRFT-95But8Rz7YyCggO-KC1eUf9z2a6HhL6FeUyaA203LjdZKGds2RGkhQ0cwuXT7Kgdh0AKzGkPc00A32zHZTkSJWxmh7e6CLoPqFX8kXxTKJMQNc74DV4GDNffsN4sFqpybV3Aow_UhHXOaw4S_fAV94LEc0/s4080/PXL_20230612_221658288.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="champion radiator thirdgen f-body" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOheZipzzfpGsrFvOw2gQJK8PHzQGiRFT-95But8Rz7YyCggO-KC1eUf9z2a6HhL6FeUyaA203LjdZKGds2RGkhQ0cwuXT7Kgdh0AKzGkPc00A32zHZTkSJWxmh7e6CLoPqFX8kXxTKJMQNc74DV4GDNffsN4sFqpybV3Aow_UhHXOaw4S_fAV94LEc0/w400-h301/PXL_20230612_221658288.MP.jpg" title="A bigger radiator. Will it fit? Does it work keeping coolant temps down? See below." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiny new thing! bigger radiator. Will it fit? Does it work keeping<br />coolant temps down? See below.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Once again, took the win in C-Prepared!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because nobody else showed up in CP. As the great Dom Toretto said, it doesn't matter if you win by an inch or mile, winning's winning.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With a guaranteed class win, my focus was trying to make myself better. I figure right now, I'm about two SECONDS off being competitive on a national scale in CP. One second is just the guy in the mirror -- ME -- and another second is making the car better. Still a lot to do on the latter, but the cheapest way to fix things is to drive better, of course. Since I basically haven't autocrossed full-time since 2014, I have to be a little rusty and not mentally into it. Like just going through the motions driving parade laps.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No rain was in the forecast, and temps were going to be mid-80s. I was driving in the second heat, so the course was going to be clean.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My first run was tentative, as always it seems this year expecting something catastrophic to happen. The time was a 41.9, but immediately picked up 1.1 seconds (albeit dirty) on my next run. The third run was a little quicker -- 40.5, but that would end up being my fastest run even though I had two more left. The last two runs felt faster in some cases but I made a few mistakes and was narrowly off that 40.5 (40.6 and 40.7).<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The good thing is that I just bought Solo Storm so now I know where I lost time! Actually, I know exactly where I lost it on my last run -- heading into the "slalom" before the 180 turnaround, I tried to unleash more #merica bald eagles with the gas pedal and got loose. That was it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Solo Storm, that run was going to be about a half a second faster than my third run, but I threw it all away.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That section on my last run:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx-S2qXmQlpggpE1YB8lLP3HGalknC96iF5F6hrCfjlegbjBE3cPSnK8-_woWayQv57KIfiBK_s1jDXy4fyhw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And compare that to the third run where I didn't mess up:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7YPdcNSnwerIOK6suixvAuOZqyofA8kENSd4SurAm93CnNipZip_3kjBagAqpcZME8c3vJoDnstGdrY68_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Actually, if I wanted to, I could use the Ghettoracer* Theoretical Fastest Lap using fastest sector times, and with my second run as the baseline (didn't use Solo Storm on the first run), I coulda-woulda-shoulda been in the mid 39s!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The only time I used data acquisition before was with EricK in the Solstice (13 years ago!). I remember being able to overlay our runs and figure out why he was faster than me. There was one event where it was pretty obvious I was braking too much in one section, and knowing that helped me pick up time on the next run. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So now without a co-driver to compare to, I can at least look at data from runs. Here's a video of the 40.5 with the data overlay:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lpf8l3MKNWs" width="320" youtube-src-id="Lpf8l3MKNWs"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The car is feeling like the ESP days with the old reliable L98. Man, this car has no issues!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>[RonHowardNarratorVoice]There was still an issue.[/</span><span>RonHowardNarratorVoice]</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sometime in the past four years, I replaced the gas cap. Not because there was anything wrong with the old one, just thought it would be something cheap to replace since the old one is who-knows-how-many-years-old. Actually, I think the new one was installed trying to diagnose why the fuel pump was dying a few years ago (not sealing?).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The new cap, while it was an OEM-style replacement, hasn't fit quite right. It would take a couple tries before it fit snugly. When filling the car up Sunday morning, I wasn't paying attention to how many times the cap twisted before it clicked. Twist, click-click-click -- it must be good, right?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After my second run, Steve Mitchell, who was the safety steward, ran over to me in grid and said corner workers reported the car was leaking gas on right-hand turns! WTF?!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw-CLAWYWSC44fqJP2GosRVhN1Be9FjrdvurCoQnI-sbHf1yFBvJWIgYINOLX-M6A4RrSNWFTVfz0dW5ZVAFEmWRdhHAHUYBgXK8-dj8zOmNFCoa0cQy-9mQkBypcrZUYPH0waFHU3YBggGvT9kvFR2V_aeytzOhgjZFJFzUr0HaugZBthadMhpWHHFU/s1090/Qiu-01968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen camaro gas leak" border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1090" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlw-CLAWYWSC44fqJP2GosRVhN1Be9FjrdvurCoQnI-sbHf1yFBvJWIgYINOLX-M6A4RrSNWFTVfz0dW5ZVAFEmWRdhHAHUYBgXK8-dj8zOmNFCoa0cQy-9mQkBypcrZUYPH0waFHU3YBggGvT9kvFR2V_aeytzOhgjZFJFzUr0HaugZBthadMhpWHHFU/w400-h349/Qiu-01968.jpg" title="It's a gas, gas, gas!" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a gas, gas, gas!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We took a look, and sure enough the left-rear quarter panel by the fuel door was coated in fuel. I took the gas cap off, put it on again -- it spun a half turn and clicked three times.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After the next run, Steve said corner workers were again saying gas was coming out.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was ready to load it up on the trailer since I didn't have a fix. Messing with the cap and trying to twist it on repeatedly, it finally made two complete rotations before clicking. Steve affirmed that would work, and the car didn't pass gas on my last two runs.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I got home, I did some internet research and found a Stant cap which should be a better fit. I can't remember where the current cap came from whether from the south American rain forest site or PepAdvancedZone. I guess all GM fuel caps don't fit alike.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Going back to the original theme trying to better myself (since the car is sooooo reliable now), comparing video from the previous autocrosses this year, I was closer to the cones and only hit two total for the event.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Without CP competition, all I can do is compare times to other drivers. I picked a few "top" drivers from the previous WDCR autocross and measured how I did against them then and how I did on Sunday. In every case, I closed the gap. Nothing huge -- a tenth here, four tenths there, but it's still progress.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What's Fonzi like?</b></span></h3></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One change to the car since the previous autocross was installing a three-row radiator. At the PCA autocross, coolant temp was climbing toward 220 before my final runs. Not terrible, but it was only 75 degrees that day. I figured with summer coming up, it couldn't hurt changing the skinny OEM-style radiator with something bigger.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://shop.championcooling.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=1_8_110_832" target="_blank">Champion Cooling makes one</a> that is basically a direct fit for third generation F-Bodies, and it's around $250 through <a href="https://www.ebay.com/str/reliableradiator" target="_blank">their eBay store</a>. Just have to trim the rubber snubbers (I made new ones out of foam), and it fits with the stock upper shroud and fan assembly.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziBF1chQIFiosmldi4O7ior93KyEK1z9mucfcDyUKTtI46285vr9TTxalUUzho3S-50aUoGoXQzjZViOxrzOARdj2Y9WTB1DhuTjGGLar1CXuMzp9xMoWD1EdisGg-8YybCThPcHdf8YC5CQ8LyHpe_oojQbr0IcDtz8saMgelrWEXFDND86oL253ag0/s4080/PXL_20230612_221938827.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="champion radiator thirdgen F-body" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziBF1chQIFiosmldi4O7ior93KyEK1z9mucfcDyUKTtI46285vr9TTxalUUzho3S-50aUoGoXQzjZViOxrzOARdj2Y9WTB1DhuTjGGLar1CXuMzp9xMoWD1EdisGg-8YybCThPcHdf8YC5CQ8LyHpe_oojQbr0IcDtz8saMgelrWEXFDND86oL253ag0/w301-h400/PXL_20230612_221938827.MP.jpg" title="Champion Cooling three-row radiator installed!" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champion Cooling three-row radiator <br />installed!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday was about 80 degrees, but the coolant temp didn't go over 210 and seemed to hover in the 200 zone.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Something that I did before this, in an effort to keep the interior cool, was install heat shielding where the headliner would go. Since my car is in C-Prepared and I don't need no stinkin' interior, I had removed the headliner and pretty much everything else except for the dashboard. If you've never stripped a vehicle interior, it is FUN! I did it one other time with my road-race Sentra SE-R.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After I did that though, I noticed when putting my hand on the top while inside the car, it was freaking HOT! It doesn't help my car is black.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So I got a roll of shiny thermal heat shielding that has a sticky side, trimmed to fit and pressed it to the roof.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a comparison with the interior of my truck first and the Camaro (both are black):</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U_JC28w4rNCEHHhjEYzqsKsqwzJHJiErq-YLWmaZ7stIb0_L3RvvKsqRbqiz3lro2-vTw-A_JyrjKeoNsgQu80ur_r2SzdyRNuY69kjYnQPDjqCtHCllPO5PewPp7sLALs7nrLIBw_IFdMqojbBQEzGT2UnXR3zNJ-stpdX7yRYJRP0-HKLUhagUr_w/s4080/PXL_20230617_171813876.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="truck interior" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U_JC28w4rNCEHHhjEYzqsKsqwzJHJiErq-YLWmaZ7stIb0_L3RvvKsqRbqiz3lro2-vTw-A_JyrjKeoNsgQu80ur_r2SzdyRNuY69kjYnQPDjqCtHCllPO5PewPp7sLALs7nrLIBw_IFdMqojbBQEzGT2UnXR3zNJ-stpdX7yRYJRP0-HKLUhagUr_w/w241-h320/PXL_20230617_171813876.MP.jpg" title="Truck interior, 114 degrees." width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truck interior, 114 degrees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgVqKNryaBglhPKX9GR5qstKZ5g7fe1HX1pOc6lS-BTXUHeZ091I1mG00JpMn8aHIWWkJoE1x5cJj_ZqU2_SxYtHDovhiZVQpNUo5kckoLk1SZtATh_BUd6moO8euwplwOOJ4h-dUvImc3th79hEGuVaR_kJoLaBlAWeJqbQditCCuFWLTxmA8lqTv54/s4080/PXL_20230617_171722433.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="camaro interior thermal shield" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgVqKNryaBglhPKX9GR5qstKZ5g7fe1HX1pOc6lS-BTXUHeZ091I1mG00JpMn8aHIWWkJoE1x5cJj_ZqU2_SxYtHDovhiZVQpNUo5kckoLk1SZtATh_BUd6moO8euwplwOOJ4h-dUvImc3th79hEGuVaR_kJoLaBlAWeJqbQditCCuFWLTxmA8lqTv54/w241-h320/PXL_20230617_171722433.MP.jpg" title="Car interior, 99 degrees." width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car interior, 99 degrees.</td></tr></tbody></table><span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">It didn't transform the inside to an arctic tundra, but a few degrees cooler helps at least psychologically. "Man it's hot in here but it could be 15 degrees hotter!" I would almost argue it's a "comfort and convenience" thing if you're required to run a full interior to replace the headliner with a thermal barrier. But if you're in a class like that, your car probably has air conditioning anyway.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next up is an autocross <s>on Saturday -- postponed because of possible inclement weather</s> July 8 at Ripken Stadium with Brandywine Motorsports Club. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bonus pics from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/qiu_media/" target="_blank">qiu_media</a>:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oL79NUl0JtgGn0XQA3xtYF52bWWqtzbjOknGON6MaAff1GwItoUhXbgPpT7kOcWSXAFKacP8oX28Jf1REBIY8KTYfsmrNNsgfOHYozFlhJ_7fUqOufNkAxRofmIE3aItVV15jfr935AxBTJDyBxpsUJM4rMx2ryp5iaVLTRyWwzcLUMmQIb_Tr5PsCQ/s6000/Qiu-01968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen Camaro autocross waldorf" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oL79NUl0JtgGn0XQA3xtYF52bWWqtzbjOknGON6MaAff1GwItoUhXbgPpT7kOcWSXAFKacP8oX28Jf1REBIY8KTYfsmrNNsgfOHYozFlhJ_7fUqOufNkAxRofmIE3aItVV15jfr935AxBTJDyBxpsUJM4rMx2ryp5iaVLTRyWwzcLUMmQIb_Tr5PsCQ/w400-h266/Qiu-01968.jpg" title="Original uncropped pic from above spewing gas." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original uncropped pic from above spewing gas.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxaZwWOdYQ7MwOOWdtDT8YSDHFgHXoE2ErckXyYVZsobrEwxrKvQvj8iBBNt0NulTr-dSHzjkis0cBuzHzxd5F-Q-Xzdc7lJcaPLpyPWCEO_PRWrfaZn_jQ5VOMeFzVKrpu4I_m_WwkZB9_y5xAiuFnEemXYdvq05EInEbyNFu1M-wz4AWteqJSYLPik/s6000/Qiu-01957.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="thirdgen camaro autocross waldorf" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxaZwWOdYQ7MwOOWdtDT8YSDHFgHXoE2ErckXyYVZsobrEwxrKvQvj8iBBNt0NulTr-dSHzjkis0cBuzHzxd5F-Q-Xzdc7lJcaPLpyPWCEO_PRWrfaZn_jQ5VOMeFzVKrpu4I_m_WwkZB9_y5xAiuFnEemXYdvq05EInEbyNFu1M-wz4AWteqJSYLPik/w400-h266/Qiu-01957.jpg" title="Another pic, a few seconds earlier." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another pic, a few seconds earlier.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i>* Ghettoracer was (still is?) this guy on "The Sandbox" racing forum who got banned a couple times. He would brag about running fast laps as an instructor in a student's car among other transgressions. One of my favorite things was his Ghettoracer Theoretical Fastest Lap. If his fastest lap was X.XX, he would -- based on his faster sector times from other laps -- add sector times together, so in his mind, that was his actual fastest time. Like your fastest overall time was 1:31 on lap five, but you went two tenths faster in once sector on lap six, and a tenth faster in another sector on lap 10, so you really ran a 1:28.</i><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-90524280857460216142023-05-31T16:36:00.003-04:002023-06-16T08:59:10.733-04:00Invasive species! Autocrossing the Camaro again with a Porsche club<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpiOML3y-YTdEvSGH8bKxyTzX35HF4O7d9rh20OTaD7otj2mi_w8EeOMnzUK4CPs6bDdpficNKzGrEg9RXGswaP0Nu2j8zRTN_HU-_hejx87SzI1muu8ht5IswTdXa4ci_XT099W6DnI519LvncTMkygeUPrMzco93lxfo7s7pOn6COHTRL3zfDAQ/s4080/camaro%20grid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 Camaro at an autocross" border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpiOML3y-YTdEvSGH8bKxyTzX35HF4O7d9rh20OTaD7otj2mi_w8EeOMnzUK4CPs6bDdpficNKzGrEg9RXGswaP0Nu2j8zRTN_HU-_hejx87SzI1muu8ht5IswTdXa4ci_XT099W6DnI519LvncTMkygeUPrMzco93lxfo7s7pOn6COHTRL3zfDAQ/w400-h240/camaro%20grid.jpg" title="In grid waiting for first runs" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In grid waiting for first runs.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Completed six (<b>SIX!</b>) runs at the local PCA autocross on Saturday. If you're scoring at home, the car has now finished 15 autocross runs since 5.3 Volume 1.1 has been unleashed.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There weren't any issues with the car other than coolant temps were running close to 220 near the end (and with only a couple of minutes pulling to the line for a rerun after "stopping" for a downed cone on my final run). Although poking around online that doesn't seem too unheard of for LS operating temperatures, so maybe I'm over-thinking.</span></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I did make one small change to the car <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/05/saying-no-to-crack-avoiding-rain-and.html" target="_blank">after the WDCR autocross</a> -- 1,050-pound springs in front with new <a href="https://www.umiperformance.com/home/product-category/gm-mid-models/82-92-gm-f-body/82-92-gm-f-body-weight-jacks/" target="_blank">UMI weight jackers</a>. Previously the car had 950-pound springs and a weight-jacker kit from some other company I won't name (been dealing with them since back in the SR20DE days and vowed never to buy from them again ... so swapping out their weight jackers for UMI's was something I've been wanting to do for awhile).</span></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also installed an oil-pressure gauge. Since <a href="https://www.tunerstudio.com/index.php/tuner-studio" target="_blank">TunerStudio</a> has an oil pressure gauge as part of its gauge cluster (viewable running the software on a laptop), I figured the Megasquirt 3 Pro should be able to support an external gauge. Peter Florance of <a href="https://pftuning.com/" target="_blank">PF Tuning</a> did his magic and sent me a "tune" to upload so that a gauge could be wired into the "trunk" of extra wires on the <a href="https://www.diyautotune.com/product/ms3pro-ultimate-standalone-engine-management-system/" target="_blank">standalone DIY Autotune LS harness</a>. Spliced in power and ground with the already functioning coolant temp gauge, and ... it worked! To me that's a major achievement because I suck at electrical stuff.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQ7D19D9IeGnuVhZfKL8EP3qP8VQouqNjR7jAgFR58irfwxNh9jaje070THMRfEl-1dCUIEVE6g6S_tDODHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The course might have been one of the most complicated courses I've run since <a href="https://tidewatersportscarclub.com/wp-content/uploads/wp_event_results_archive/1997/03-March.html" target="_blank">the late 1900s at Fentress Airfield</a> where, because of the site layout, courses routinely doubled back on a section that had been run before. But Fentress was an oddball site. The Bowie stadium site is pretty straightforward other than a row of islands. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This one on Saturday had a loop right off the start where you circled around and went through it again in a different way. Walking the course with my 25 years of autocross experience, I thought I wouldn't have any issues remembering which way to go but figured there were going to be a lot of DNFs.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv8wEbtPGiRfi5IDmsW4jFHLtsfM8fcZ7gKgYcyJ_H_3v7w927nI02T-wcOfH9dKsHMtUG54AodVeNNfvZe4cEMFo2qqorLHKrSL0ikaOWFoE2rjTF8-HorQ5F8bEW6sKDqi0cWyildAvTjXx-IUEKmqPQbOag-qbEBBVajqyn1ZKuB1Oc_5MpovA/s2048/baysox%20loop-dee-loop%20course.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Confusing autocross course map" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv8wEbtPGiRfi5IDmsW4jFHLtsfM8fcZ7gKgYcyJ_H_3v7w927nI02T-wcOfH9dKsHMtUG54AodVeNNfvZe4cEMFo2qqorLHKrSL0ikaOWFoE2rjTF8-HorQ5F8bEW6sKDqi0cWyildAvTjXx-IUEKmqPQbOag-qbEBBVajqyn1ZKuB1Oc_5MpovA/w320-h241/baysox%20loop-dee-loop%20course.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first local autocross in 25 years where I felt<br />I needed a course map.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, I got to work as corner captain during the first heat and made more calls to timing for off-course runs than maybe perhaps my entire career of autocrossing. There must have been at least 30 off-course calls. Twice drivers had three DNFs on one run in that section.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not sure why the course was designed this way other than to make it 60+ seconds instead of 45. Make a 45-second course that's easy to follow, people have less DNFs and have more fun getting actual timed runs. A handful of drivers had instructors riding along on their final sixth runs!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the course had two tight offsets that were painfully slow in my Camaro -- I was one-handing the steering wheel going from lock to lock.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;">It's a Porsche club, and I'm not a member, so whatever. Probably won't run with them ever again. It sucks since FedEx Field is no longer an option, the "best" sites in the immediate area have dwindled to Waldorf and Ripken.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Other than a crappy course, things went OK for me. Improved my time on every run and my final fastest run was clean.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I think.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I'm writing this, four days later, results haven't been posted. Their "live timing" website also wasn't working, so I couldn't check times/cones as the event progressed. Oh and they had the announcer's volume so low I could only hear if I was next to the speakers at the timing trailer. Not that I was trying to be super competitive, but it would be nice to know where my times stood in comparison with faster drivers. Is my shitty Camaro any good?</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Edit: Just after I posted this, results were released. I was sixth in raw time, seventh in the SCCA index class and 20th in PAX.</i></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I guess at this point every autocross is a test and tune, so I shouldn't be caught up in the final results. Especially since there weren't any other C-Prepared cars.</span></span></span><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a link to my fastest run, a 62.7:</span></span></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: times; outline: none;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; outline: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nzc4TTLAtVE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Nzc4TTLAtVE"></iframe></div><br /><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: times; outline: none;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Te<span>mperature was only about 75 degrees, but I think I might try a bigger radiator since summer is imminent.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="outline: none;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="outline: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Next up is the WDCR autocross in Waldorf on June 18. I'm really starting to feel more confident in the car not having a mysterious whack-a-mole moment like what plagued me two years ago. It's feeling like back in the ESP days where I could just stab it and steer.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; outline: none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note: There's a little Easter egg in this blog post. It's a link to results from my very first autocross ever.)</span></i></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-56995134690088154282023-05-17T17:53:00.003-04:002023-05-17T21:58:23.341-04:00Saying "no" to crack, avoiding rain and WINNING!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpSe2-UvIEO4EnFQTXU6-wtLutVhX5V4OUrFT4Nnm1ytN0nxTFEIMdciS8kAA3z4XQOoNUCOgIMusNlN7ETR4XYFShBSI38nefs9mhx1oS0CVBXdtEv7LFW2IUNHJBN2hw1j306uLr100VBdjW_10CB4q3kLFIId9OETN2b3WR6hzJ6P-XoRFmvCM/s2048/waldorf%20paddock%20enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 Camaro at rest" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpSe2-UvIEO4EnFQTXU6-wtLutVhX5V4OUrFT4Nnm1ytN0nxTFEIMdciS8kAA3z4XQOoNUCOgIMusNlN7ETR4XYFShBSI38nefs9mhx1oS0CVBXdtEv7LFW2IUNHJBN2hw1j306uLr100VBdjW_10CB4q3kLFIId9OETN2b3WR6hzJ6P-XoRFmvCM/w400-h301/waldorf%20paddock%20enhanced.jpg" title="Mother Nature threatened, but she stayed away." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Nature threatened, but she stayed away.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finally a meaningful autocross. No test-and-tune. No bailing after one run like two years ago (twice). Basically I haven't completed more than one run in the Camaro at a "real" autocross since 2017.</div><p>This was with the SCCA's Washington D.C. Region, which has moved its main autocross venue to Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland, because the FedEx Field lots have gotten too expensive to rent, and the surface there has gone downhill to classify it as "borderline sketchy."</p><p>The Waldorf lot isn't terrible, but it's small (in comparison to FedEx), low-grip asphalt and doesn't offer much variation for course design. </p><p>I got to thinking on the trek down, I had not autocrossed here since ... 2014! One thing that has changed since the last time -- my reliance more on GPS directions. Instead of going through the stoplight hell that is Waldorf, Waze routed me on Route 5 north of town and over back roads.</p><p>We got five runs, and I went progressively faster as my rust diminished and my trust in the car increased. Took the win in C Prepared to boot! Although nobody else dared to show in the class. Or their car was broken. or something.</p><p>I should circle back in time. Since LS V1.0 was in the car, all the way up to <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-talkin-about-practice-unleashing-53l.html" target="_blank">the PCA test-and tune autocross</a> last month with LS V1.1, the car hasn't felt right. Mainly the steering hasn't been as crisp. I attributed it to my rustiness and cold tires. <br /><br />A few weeks ago, I took a video underneath the car sitting in my driveway as I sawed on the steering wheel, and the suspension on the driver's side had a bunch of play. Posted on a couple thirdgen F-Body Facebook groups, and the consensus was the frame was cracked where the steering box mounted.</p><p>After taking the steering box off, sure enough, the frame was cracked:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY8_7Zvuu2vMqv_1vVAoG5Blf42ropWH8RhpmaY0-ipsGsNzhwsfA3KfxKm4N8921u97vwx5Ni3fNG89hM3Ju4HY3g9WkTXyd9Z-H396kSxHoNiVB2uYcOXgu8MIF-Amsm_Ysnx5srJsM7o-ieoMS6HT_zdd4fXIUWTPIwjRdCpxL1APWKoPZ2OjR/s2048/crack.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Frame cracked where the steering box mounts." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1542" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUY8_7Zvuu2vMqv_1vVAoG5Blf42ropWH8RhpmaY0-ipsGsNzhwsfA3KfxKm4N8921u97vwx5Ni3fNG89hM3Ju4HY3g9WkTXyd9Z-H396kSxHoNiVB2uYcOXgu8MIF-Amsm_Ysnx5srJsM7o-ieoMS6HT_zdd4fXIUWTPIwjRdCpxL1APWKoPZ2OjR/w241-h320/crack.jpg" title="Just say "No" to crack!" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just say "No" to crack! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I took the car to Jason from the old F-Body Central at his new hideout in central Virginia so he could meticulously apply welds to band-aid it together.</p><p>At the same time, he swapped in new 3.23 gears. The car had 3.73s which were OK with the old 250whp TPI L98 and T10 transmission. But the car now has 130+ whp over the old engine, and <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-1-aisin-ar5-swap-into-ls-thirdgen.html" target="_blank">an Aisin AR5 transmission</a> with a shorter second gear. At the PCA test-and-tune, it was easily hitting the rev liter in two places on that tiny lot.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwd8ZKzXp6Uinvl2nwHBv8f2ZdpKuioUIwax2Hjk7ipamkIF4gOKSNVq84WE0-mdazDveiB85LjAinKkEGBlEGbVFcbf-WXFD3yocL78uw360lUTYlON2eSmEKG3l5BrbW64xJZy-fM72U4Gzvi0Y9AS3_ItrmaFxoDaXizFKTn72fTz2-91bde54/s2048/new%20gearz.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="10-bolt gm differential" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxwd8ZKzXp6Uinvl2nwHBv8f2ZdpKuioUIwax2Hjk7ipamkIF4gOKSNVq84WE0-mdazDveiB85LjAinKkEGBlEGbVFcbf-WXFD3yocL78uw360lUTYlON2eSmEKG3l5BrbW64xJZy-fM72U4Gzvi0Y9AS3_ItrmaFxoDaXizFKTn72fTz2-91bde54/w240-h320/new%20gearz.jpg" title="New Motive 3.23 gears from Strano's." width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Motive 3.23 gears from <a href="https://www.stranoparts.com/" target="_blank">Strano's</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Fixed suspension, more usable gearing. Let's return to Saturday's autocross.</p><p>Other than the car failing to make all its runs, my biggest fear was actually going over the minimum sound requirements. Because of the stadium's proximity to houses (which weren't there in 2014 -- hey, we were here first), the site has a maximum noise allowance of 100db. Blow 97db, get a warning. Go over 100, figure out a way to fix your car's exhaust noise.</p><p>These restrictions have been in place at national SCCA events for awhile. With the old engine in the car, it rarely broke 90db and was usually in the 87-88 range. The car has the same no-name muffler now as it did then, but it is wayyyy louder.</p><p>After my first run, I casually scanned the workers to see if anybody was heading in my direction to inform me the exhaust was too loud.</p><p>Nothing.</p><p>Second run. Nothing. And on like that.</p><p>After results were posted online, the time readings followed. My car's sound reading maxed out at a whopping 85.5db. That's it.</p><p>Nothing broke. "Won" C Prepared. Made sound. </p><p>Here is a little video synopsis with my fastest run sandwiched in:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOCqUWXQwJ0" width="320" youtube-src-id="jOCqUWXQwJ0"></iframe></div><br /><p>So now the car has completed nine autocross runs since the resurrection, a few street excursions, and finally I might be at the point of not being scared of the car's old whack-a-mole issues.</p><p>Hopefully.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEDV7_1IcxcsmsgVdEP1VmPy4122qbzSwtVE4a_q3fu9uYybK5JyIZyklE7mUfXcIlFLNA2eOzgYYebae9nDUoxyx2JjkGJlu6W0EiOoBiIRzYfC4HhSqOFPKMXkxJ2aCmPoPYrfmJRzevBIGrLs6VKoMsxfyXnD-1FXLbFfA5gboOmFxF5LGweQe/s4080/PXL_20230514_005802468.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Interior 1982 camaro" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEDV7_1IcxcsmsgVdEP1VmPy4122qbzSwtVE4a_q3fu9uYybK5JyIZyklE7mUfXcIlFLNA2eOzgYYebae9nDUoxyx2JjkGJlu6W0EiOoBiIRzYfC4HhSqOFPKMXkxJ2aCmPoPYrfmJRzevBIGrLs6VKoMsxfyXnD-1FXLbFfA5gboOmFxF5LGweQe/w320-h241/PXL_20230514_005802468.MP.jpg" title="The rain stayed away until driving home." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain stayed away until driving home.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVNNx2Xl8DM-YC_bzqFJktoDfp-X4bvJcKbkBFn9JFxU5-o0qfTOM2X47dl7yM2kH-euyIzEECzwL9Wba4W7ML-RJgqSArioO3dz08BtxSe3Ol_VPk9smFvE2XBU18eku-64bucOuScYlvmH78H3II6S6Dqx4sU2Ud8gD7J8cyv2CUrUD_tEt_CHp/s2048/waldorf%20paddock%20enhanced%20enhanced%20agab'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVNNx2Xl8DM-YC_bzqFJktoDfp-X4bvJcKbkBFn9JFxU5-o0qfTOM2X47dl7yM2kH-euyIzEECzwL9Wba4W7ML-RJgqSArioO3dz08BtxSe3Ol_VPk9smFvE2XBU18eku-64bucOuScYlvmH78H3II6S6Dqx4sU2Ud8gD7J8cyv2CUrUD_tEt_CHp/s320/waldorf%20paddock%20enhanced%20enhanced%20agab'.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-71380617382043880532023-04-07T08:10:00.003-04:002023-04-07T08:10:42.315-04:00FABbot short-shifter install for Aisin AR5 transmissions<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfgmJF8FnqqKmjQ2OxGvSjBnyoUT1JYI8qmJ8CxC7WWhlP6-KwHd7jWZZgk47Em8tLQcS7Un95tgUFoRI0ALBOnaQx4nu3TcUqc7Zc2p1oizwMhA1HZScUZwd7gCtxtIRRP4RniSS76p8o_KveqAlvqTiP6ll27EjGw2h6VSO1CndIWmwXvtyFv_m/s885/IMG_20230406_174508656_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img alt="fabbot ar5 short shifter for LS swaps" border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="498" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfgmJF8FnqqKmjQ2OxGvSjBnyoUT1JYI8qmJ8CxC7WWhlP6-KwHd7jWZZgk47Em8tLQcS7Un95tgUFoRI0ALBOnaQx4nu3TcUqc7Zc2p1oizwMhA1HZScUZwd7gCtxtIRRP4RniSS76p8o_KveqAlvqTiP6ll27EjGw2h6VSO1CndIWmwXvtyFv_m/w180-h320/IMG_20230406_174508656_HDR.jpg" title="The FABbot AR5 short shifter installed." width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The FABbot AR5 short shifter installed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you recall, in late 2021, in one of the rare one-and-done success stories with my 1982 Camaro during this whole LS swap ordeal, <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-1-aisin-ar5-swap-into-ls-thirdgen.html" target="_blank">I had an Aisin AR5 transmission installed</a>. This is the two-wheel-drive version of the transmission that was found in 2004-2012 Chevy Colorados and GMC Canyons (also in Pontiac Solstices and Saturn Skyes, but they are slightly different and aren't as easy to fit in LS-swapped cars).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Instead of paying $$$$ for some flavor of Tremec TKX TKO T56 whatever, these Aisin AR5s can be found for dirt cheap at junk yards. I got mine for $900 with 11,000 miles at a local yard -- it was even already out of the vehicle sitting there waiting for a new home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though the AR5 is in a low-horsepower light-duty trucks, people have been mating them with LS engines and even Toyota 2JZs, most commonly found in the drifting community.</div><div><br /></div><div>A company by the name of FABbot offers a kit for putting AR5s behind LS engines -- <a href="https://www.fabbotfab.com/products/fabbot-ar5-to-ls-nexgen-adapter-bundle?_pos=1&_sid=8c093ebc2&_ss=r" target="_blank">bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, throwout bearing and stainless steel hydraulic lines</a>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLqYviVkPSCdc9DQJdIgQ6xMkfC4IItUAXJh90U9L4pzge4A4xGMjr6Ez54EbGngNMfdft0u7_wAm5lQnM0r-Pf4sFMuiEhXRru55VGfJemBU6rE1ssfQT4mJZ-XakfUEcqa0_wd7qMp9x3qKBoJN5zcUpNNCa6Rzh-Dt7GRukHEvSahUVAq3fQ1-/s4080/PXL_20230405_225853699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stock ar5 shifter" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLqYviVkPSCdc9DQJdIgQ6xMkfC4IItUAXJh90U9L4pzge4A4xGMjr6Ez54EbGngNMfdft0u7_wAm5lQnM0r-Pf4sFMuiEhXRru55VGfJemBU6rE1ssfQT4mJZ-XakfUEcqa0_wd7qMp9x3qKBoJN5zcUpNNCa6Rzh-Dt7GRukHEvSahUVAq3fQ1-/w320-h241/PXL_20230405_225853699.jpg" title="The stock Colorado/Canyon AR5 shifter." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The stock Colorado/Canyon AR5 shifter.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When I got my kit in November 2021, I opted to have the transmission installed with the stock shifter that came with the transmission. Either FABbot had just started offering a short shifter or it wasn't available at the time, I can't remember. </div><div><br /></div><div>After successfully dyno-tuning my car a few weeks ago, I was browsing their website and saw the short shifter kit <a href="https://www.fabbotfab.com/products/04-12-colorado-ar5-billet-shifter?_pos=2&_sid=5fcb4abff&_ss=r" target="_blank">was on sale for $189</a>, $160 off the normal price, and I ordered one up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I installed the kit yesterday, and it took about 20 minutes. All that was needed was a 1/4-inch ratchet (I cheated with a cordless ratchet), extension and 12mm socket to remove the four bolts from the stock shifter, and a 9/32nd hex socket to install the new bolts that came with the kit. A 3/16th hex bit was needed to snug the lever to the shifter. Included in the kit was a Dum Dum lollipop, and I finished that off about five minutes before the shifter was completely installed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QSDO73YpvdhvXzsgXlbgU1G6jQjyITlVGqB2chvhvGaxiGF0ID3wIBXJ4nqW7uGN2htRltzW3fh4o2Qk4M-5vSmMN6H4GaBn4VoHy5cv-2thJlPZEKhEjcsyERN0HZ8Qi9oZXCSvcKT6Bjv03txp_T7QhPavq0Tse45wrXvZlhuLBaGqeBFXa8RI/s4080/PXL_20230407_120412356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="12mm socket and hex tools" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QSDO73YpvdhvXzsgXlbgU1G6jQjyITlVGqB2chvhvGaxiGF0ID3wIBXJ4nqW7uGN2htRltzW3fh4o2Qk4M-5vSmMN6H4GaBn4VoHy5cv-2thJlPZEKhEjcsyERN0HZ8Qi9oZXCSvcKT6Bjv03txp_T7QhPavq0Tse45wrXvZlhuLBaGqeBFXa8RI/w320-h241/PXL_20230407_120412356.jpg" title="Along with a 1/4-inch ratchet, these are all that was needed to install the shifter." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along with a 1/4-inch ratchet, these are all that <br />was needed to install the shifter.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The only issue was one of the dowel pins from the original shifter remaining in the transmissions, but that was easily jostled loose with a center punch.</div><div><br /></div><div>The generic shift knob I got from Amazon happened to have the required m12X1.75 thread pitch, although FABbot offers their own.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the short video I put together about the install:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tt_hqSIl5j4" width="320" youtube-src-id="tt_hqSIl5j4"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /><div>Some pics of the FABbot clutch and flywheel when I was installing 5.3 v2.0:<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxQDURGBj78Bic2hKwhVFZDLG5Uvoa0gVWXLzg-FOz_4KJk1U-DYC2h6qmEnjS25Q2qabP9A8oL4m1mIbzc_eRIU8o1PlQcUNcvaKvGNrMJfP6r5qgL9CoV9gSZrSL1tRn12UK4TvqNwB62ebt18-q_cxBYJsx8CF7Dpo3lSe62ZwwmdgD0YhU4k/s4080/PXL_20221104_221048586.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FABbot flywheel" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxQDURGBj78Bic2hKwhVFZDLG5Uvoa0gVWXLzg-FOz_4KJk1U-DYC2h6qmEnjS25Q2qabP9A8oL4m1mIbzc_eRIU8o1PlQcUNcvaKvGNrMJfP6r5qgL9CoV9gSZrSL1tRn12UK4TvqNwB62ebt18-q_cxBYJsx8CF7Dpo3lSe62ZwwmdgD0YhU4k/w241-h320/PXL_20221104_221048586.jpg" title="FABbot flywheel that's included in their AR5 kit." width="241" /></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl1i6Wi2GuQECaa6RFB0gdVpKVqNshuaxBuurKE-y_fVZMABboQouWkpOBgJykJPI-wqMw2MUunJawGeFW-TIUTeVze5O56uSFeoxx7K_ZTwAzaiH9YGwlfWU0MfSe_sMPNE-8gDmE-ul3wBVuPEbSTLCEbVUSIIgjS_wqfq4yEmGmvDvkM5dq9OH/s4080/PXL_20221105_152508573.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="FABbot clutch" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl1i6Wi2GuQECaa6RFB0gdVpKVqNshuaxBuurKE-y_fVZMABboQouWkpOBgJykJPI-wqMw2MUunJawGeFW-TIUTeVze5O56uSFeoxx7K_ZTwAzaiH9YGwlfWU0MfSe_sMPNE-8gDmE-ul3wBVuPEbSTLCEbVUSIIgjS_wqfq4yEmGmvDvkM5dq9OH/w241-h320/PXL_20221105_152508573.jpg" title="FABbot clutch that's included in their AR5 kit." width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The FABbot clutch and flywheel that comes<br />with their LS kit.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-80532317296836506662023-04-03T22:48:00.007-04:002023-04-05T20:56:58.066-04:00We talkin' about practice -- unleashing the 5.3L of fury at a test and tune<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bginHR43bOWFeg1177rmRcACrP0tsd_J4tO8mS7lwPyOjDXv5xf9MsT08o471aHDNlKWturf49gPxjrarJLdj-W0Kqx7CHj1ytKuMnkUUu4uA7jXfBp_tUh-x3SH9CMgS9W0ELRP0piBuFXBiMVlBtqd_v66OIW22jhfSNXM62VhHOsQERJ8yKeD/s4080/PXL_20230402_180417652.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1982 camaro on a trailer" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bginHR43bOWFeg1177rmRcACrP0tsd_J4tO8mS7lwPyOjDXv5xf9MsT08o471aHDNlKWturf49gPxjrarJLdj-W0Kqx7CHj1ytKuMnkUUu4uA7jXfBp_tUh-x3SH9CMgS9W0ELRP0piBuFXBiMVlBtqd_v66OIW22jhfSNXM62VhHOsQERJ8yKeD/w320-h241/PXL_20230402_180417652.jpg" title="Four runs with minimal drama, loaded under its own power back on the trailer and ready to go home." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four runs with minimal drama, loaded under its<br />own power back on the trailer and ready to go home.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Finally, a full event (sort of) with the LS-swapped Camaro. It wasn't a real autocross since it was a test-and-tune with the Chesapeake PCA, but I'll call it a win since the car made four drama-free runs.<p></p><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">You may recall after <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVMyXmqRaac" target="_blank">5.3 v1.0 hit the dyno</a>, I attempted several autocrosses. I got one run in at a Susquehanna SCCA event before the throttle cable ripped out of the nub on the throttle body. Then I completed one run at a WDCR autocross before a rain deluge dumped ponds of water on course making it unmanageable on new Hoosier A7s. There was another time I couldn't make it to up the hill to grid at another WDCR Summit Point autocross because the fuel pump was dying. Another time where the clutch throwout bearing gave up while trying to load the car on the trailer the night before an autocross.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">There might be one or two other fails I'm not remembering or trying to forget.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">With <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNToPglveVw" target="_blank">5.3 v2.0 freshly tuned</a>, and then taking it for a<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2p1dFexMXg" target="_blank"> nice afternoon drive around the 'hood</a>, it was time to put the car to the test.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">With only two autocross runs since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAGLnLZmt60" target="_blank">my last full autocross on Oct. 1, 2017</a>, to say I was nervous would be an understatement. Would it hold together? Would some mystery whack-a-mole rear its head?</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08oPz5meb4lejkLGXHb-cr-g-JUdUiBm-3gvTYYxtd8oXIzUyWzziTQALnIw9l0uZRlCIKFkTzMjyqLDJep_J1HhCAtA95oBtQW_uO42I5eyjJG-HYnBP77SggELvHCF134UB_qHlKn9buTgibXaR62n_wvdVu1Fj3sLHWH-OIyfvgwcDgFfYN6v/s527/map%20to%20PG%20stadium.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="DMV map to Baysox Stadium" border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="330" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS08oPz5meb4lejkLGXHb-cr-g-JUdUiBm-3gvTYYxtd8oXIzUyWzziTQALnIw9l0uZRlCIKFkTzMjyqLDJep_J1HhCAtA95oBtQW_uO42I5eyjJG-HYnBP77SggELvHCF134UB_qHlKn9buTgibXaR62n_wvdVu1Fj3sLHWH-OIyfvgwcDgFfYN6v/w200-h320/map%20to%20PG%20stadium.jpg" title="Eighteen miles, which means between 18 minutes and 40 minutes commuting in the DMV." width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eighteen miles, which means <br />between 18 minutes and 40 <br />minutes commuting in <br />the DMV.</td></tr></tbody></table>Sunday's test-and-tune was at Prince George's County Stadium, AKA, Baysox Stadium. It's an OK lot with a challenge of running through "island" sections in an effort to make a decent-sized course. The best thing about the site is that it's the shortest distance from my house out of just about any place in the area.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">There were 40+ competitors with about half driving Porsches. Since WDCR lost FedEx Field and migrated further south to Regency Furniture Stadium, the clubs who have been utilizing Baysox Stadium will see an uptick in attendees this year.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">The event was split into two heats, and I ran first. First car off to boot! </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">I made it through the first run and was really tentative trying to shake off rust but mainly hoping the car wouldn't break. Temps were in the 50s so getting heat in the Hoosiers was a challenge. The front tires especially had zero grip.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">PCA does their "grid" with just two lines of cars stacked nose to tail. I'd prefer a true grid to park after each run and check tires and whatever instead of getting back in a line that doesn't stop until the next line starts moving. </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">After my third run (after jump-starting the car -- may have to rethink my lightweight battery choice), I parked in my paddock spot. We were projected to get eight (8!) runs. The power steering was whining I suspect because the reservoir wasn't entirely full. Plus with the rapid-fire format, cooling the car down was more preferable than trying for a fast time at a practice autocross.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Pulling the car in line for one final run, I clocked a 49-something. Four relatively successful runs were a win in my book, so I loaded the car on the trailer. Danny Kao might have been FTD in the 45s piloting his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8b88US-6ts" target="_blank">midlife crisis</a> Porsche GT2.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Driving impressions so far, it may be the fastest vehicle (going by HP/weight) I've ever driven just behind a few practice runs in Rod McGeorge's SSP C6 Z06. </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">1. SSP Z06</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">2. This thing (3,000 pounds, 382 whp)</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">3. Stock C5 Z06s</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Of course brought a GoPro but it wasn't loaded with an SD card. No video for you! Or me. You will just have to believe my claims.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">The Camaro powered to the rev limiter twice in this little lot. Longer gears will make it more manageable -- perhaps 3.23s. But the car rips to the rev limiter without any noticeable drop in power. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQXzNWdAN7UO6YY51nxbVc4Z8f5FiOuqCm6dGCRaK_llJetnYF2x4_5__VMBIz0or8LQJtda4s6is1qCTICVLCVraGsEHK02d88qE6TXpS4zXfx6Xl5aLeQ1GdorDOPeJTHsN4ROmmii9Wdp_zjqIE0u5EpUeZn6dPSBGT2INHDLQhgLjBHicSSxL/s1161/dyno%20chart.png" target="_blank">Looking at the dyno plot</a>, horsepower is ramping up all the way to redline while torque falls off a tiny bit.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Going by my self-imposed limit of autocrossing within a 120-mile radius, the next event isn't until the end of April (if I want to go to Harrisburg with SCCA-Susquehanna) or May 6 with this same PCA group but at Ripken Stadium.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-85080836686525538992023-03-22T22:02:00.009-04:002023-03-27T22:41:19.167-04:00I think I'm gonna go down to the shore -- DYNO RESULTS!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKH_1UPTM1KhGJwdguA_I-ecInKZLy9f5mWaFh8rwRwJ28qwvumR1C8G9UA4sB1HcZIdS5SETSQ5zZVgFiEh8xMf5RSlKfwXV8IIRUojf_PBwzG-DlI36vWi1s_jNyMlHd8yAyHf8Jfhj0lc5ce_HuDYm48eMIihROzUB-q6cHqdp3WzldEyDwqDu/s4080/PXL_20230318_153717665.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Camaro on a dyno" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKH_1UPTM1KhGJwdguA_I-ecInKZLy9f5mWaFh8rwRwJ28qwvumR1C8G9UA4sB1HcZIdS5SETSQ5zZVgFiEh8xMf5RSlKfwXV8IIRUojf_PBwzG-DlI36vWi1s_jNyMlHd8yAyHf8Jfhj0lc5ce_HuDYm48eMIihROzUB-q6cHqdp3WzldEyDwqDu/w400-h301/PXL_20230318_153717665.jpg" title="All strapped in and nowhere to go." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All strapped in and nowhere to go.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Finally got a chance to take the Camaro to Peter Florance of <a href="https://pftuning.com/" target="_blank">PF Tuning</a> fame for dynoing at <a href="https://www.abacusracing.com/" target="_blank">Abacus Racing</a> in Virginia Beach. <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/01/my-ls-motor-won-lottery-because-its-rich.html" target="_blank">If you recall</a>, I installed the "new" 5.3 last year and got it started, but it was <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2023/01/my-ls-motor-won-lottery-because-its-rich.html" target="_blank">running really rich</a>. </p><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">I waited until after Christmas to get a <a href="https://walter-racecraft.myshopify.com/products/tick-performance-clutch-master-cylinder" target="_blank">Tick clutch master cylinder</a> because of clutch engagement problems. Between that and weather issues -- Peter said ideally, he tunes if the temps are 55 degrees or higher, and wouldn't you know it, southern Virginia was mid- to lower-40s for about eight straight weekends -- it wasn't until this weekend where Mother Nature finally cooperated. Who knew she could be a bitch even away from an autocross site!</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">The tow to the beach was thankfully drama free. This was really my first time towing with my new (now in possession for one year) <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-new-boost-buggy.html" target="_blank">2017 Ford F-150</a>. Rolling 87 octane and getting almost 15 MPG in sometimes crappy I-95/I-64 traffic.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74W8muGG2-x8fm9BXO4C62fneC1sh6b-sgLlFw2Jv1k6v7M6kFviIaWL1KDq9l_6sVicib-DtlMi6nkhiCK9WDrpGpQFVTCoKIQUNa1iVn581y2u9FMvLmbInNLE4QLo6AuzosRnr9jP5BDipc8WMOUkk9DI25rqjdMoXiYFEYoplD23dffLRu-eE/s4080/PXL_20230318_141500777.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ford f-150 3.5 ecoboost mileage" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74W8muGG2-x8fm9BXO4C62fneC1sh6b-sgLlFw2Jv1k6v7M6kFviIaWL1KDq9l_6sVicib-DtlMi6nkhiCK9WDrpGpQFVTCoKIQUNa1iVn581y2u9FMvLmbInNLE4QLo6AuzosRnr9jP5BDipc8WMOUkk9DI25rqjdMoXiYFEYoplD23dffLRu-eE/w320-h241/PXL_20230318_141500777.jpg" title="The new-to-me Ecoboost F-150 sipped almost 15mpg while towing. The Lightning maybe would get 15mpg not towing anything with the cruise control set at 55 on the interstate." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new-to-me Ecoboost F-150 sipped almost 15mpg<br />while towing. The Lightning maybe would get 15mpg<br />not towing anything with the cruise control set at 55 on<br />the interstate. And it needed 93 octane.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">I unloaded the car, we strapped it on the dyno, I swapped in new spark plugs with Peter's diligent supervision, and we went to work.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yeZvZv7Dc1k3Bv_i9IwxFlAI_naKRsSIDqt35zIo0plRONc-xR8y2REk3u8ccQrD0JxpgzrDqzdLpmhXFf_hqm2vfvB9y6V1l4jWZhcTYuOnmFoiP23Av3yD_fNLOozDlQhEaye-RWTYBF_y6K5svTzoz8qz4ZnFAxFEtysCSESsOVSjdVYaOHkb/s4080/PXL_20230318_181057772.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Laptop computer dyno tuning" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yeZvZv7Dc1k3Bv_i9IwxFlAI_naKRsSIDqt35zIo0plRONc-xR8y2REk3u8ccQrD0JxpgzrDqzdLpmhXFf_hqm2vfvB9y6V1l4jWZhcTYuOnmFoiP23Av3yD_fNLOozDlQhEaye-RWTYBF_y6K5svTzoz8qz4ZnFAxFEtysCSESsOVSjdVYaOHkb/w241-h320/PXL_20230318_181057772.jpg" title="Peter working under these conditions." width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter working under these conditions.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Well, mainly I watched Peter work. He did a few easy runs under load around 2,500 RPM on the dyno to break things in. </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">The car had smoke from the exhaust and what appeared to be oil burning off the headers. I attributed it to brake fluid from bleeding the clutch eleventy times before installing the Tick master cylinder. The passenger side had oil seeping from the valve cover. The bolts weren't snug, but even after re-tightening, some oil still seeped out. I didn't address that leak since it wasn't that bad, but when I got back home, it seemed like the gasket wasn't entirely snug in the groove of the valve cover. </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Anyway, the exhaust smoke, we presumed, was from first engine's residual oil lingering in the exhaust. I first started chasing issues early last year when it smoked badly and a small pool of oil formed under the exhaust exit. After repeated dyno runs, it was virtually smoke free.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">After break-in, Peter did four or five dyno pulls. With tweaking, the best run was 382 horsepower and 361 foot-pounds of torque. The old setup was 368/362. Peter attributed the increase to slightly cooler weather than last time, but, hey, more horsepower is still more horsepower! Figuring 12-percent to 15-percent drivetrain loss with a manual transmission (depending on who you want to believe on the internet), that's 427 to 439 horsies.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQXzNWdAN7UO6YY51nxbVc4Z8f5FiOuqCm6dGCRaK_llJetnYF2x4_5__VMBIz0or8LQJtda4s6is1qCTICVLCVraGsEHK02d88qE6TXpS4zXfx6Xl5aLeQ1GdorDOPeJTHsN4ROmmii9Wdp_zjqIE0u5EpUeZn6dPSBGT2INHDLQhgLjBHicSSxL/s1161/dyno%20chart.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="5.3 ls dyno" border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1161" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQXzNWdAN7UO6YY51nxbVc4Z8f5FiOuqCm6dGCRaK_llJetnYF2x4_5__VMBIz0or8LQJtda4s6is1qCTICVLCVraGsEHK02d88qE6TXpS4zXfx6Xl5aLeQ1GdorDOPeJTHsN4ROmmii9Wdp_zjqIE0u5EpUeZn6dPSBGT2INHDLQhgLjBHicSSxL/w400-h225/dyno%20chart.png" title="The chart comparing 5.3 v1.0 and 5.3 v2.0." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chart comparing 5.3 v1.0 and 5.3 v2.0.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">Also, the new setup seems to just be running better. Go figure with piston rings properly gapped! It runs smoother, and the O2 readings are virtually identical between both sensors right at startup. With the old 5.3, the O2 readout was inconsistent on the digital gauge -- one side would be bouncing around in the 11s while the other was in the 12s -- and wouldn't have similar readings until the engine temps warmed up. And even then, I was chasing my tail bugging Peter about it running mysteriously rich or lean, and he would send me new tunes to try.</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBzFn0q2uo_3RuLumLJoytbscKcfEUvMIX5HhqXAlCrqzT6XTiwWKPdmzaAsV43Tvp3RQXgu11z1SgZTznZUPM3XgFLC92iqn38t2Hz7ePHMHes_iOABH4_HJNE8uyNhgFlwczyOHOsPIPH_MFn5Ca-V7RTZPZYO_iLXxN4XDqA3RbhGEK_cjcEru/s4080/PXL_20230318_180205317%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="fuel pressure gauge" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBzFn0q2uo_3RuLumLJoytbscKcfEUvMIX5HhqXAlCrqzT6XTiwWKPdmzaAsV43Tvp3RQXgu11z1SgZTznZUPM3XgFLC92iqn38t2Hz7ePHMHes_iOABH4_HJNE8uyNhgFlwczyOHOsPIPH_MFn5Ca-V7RTZPZYO_iLXxN4XDqA3RbhGEK_cjcEru/w320-h241/PXL_20230318_180205317%5B1%5D.jpg" title="Cheapo fuel pressure gauge that attaches to an adapter on the fuel rail. Plenty of room!" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheapo fuel pressure gauge that attaches to an <br />adapter on the fuel rail. Plenty of room!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">And some dyno video:</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gNToPglveVw" width="320" youtube-src-id="gNToPglveVw"></iframe></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">So things are looking ... good? Hopefully Project Whack-A-Mole doesn't have any major issues ... again. </div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;">First "event" on the schedule is a test-and-tune with the Chesapeake PCA at the Bowie Baysox Stadium. It's not a big lot but it's probably the shortest distance I will tow for an autocross -- about 20 miles. If something goes wrong with the car, the drive of shame won't be as brutal!</div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="outline: none;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none;" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-46401160658838861522023-01-27T11:53:00.001-05:002023-02-04T13:41:03.237-05:00My LS motor won the lottery because it's rich!<p><span style="font-family: times;"> Now almost a full year since the initial trouble(s) began, the engine is back in the car and it runs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Sort of.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgespTVUyoAzTzwWrJGZJAIcuiM-0oqCvrodpxpfRIoItZ3HRoLtkA71rHdyvld-dpOf_YGxfdWe9lADMensbafFGZNTVR3VbscNNew6jz3sI75L85sOXALSanhFJNI_co7BzvHIidvfki3Ojvh2fF5HUVCs0wAt2JADOAlkGOAUafWrVvnKPSqWmwt/s2048/5.3%20V%202.0%20plugs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img alt="Rich spark plugs" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgespTVUyoAzTzwWrJGZJAIcuiM-0oqCvrodpxpfRIoItZ3HRoLtkA71rHdyvld-dpOf_YGxfdWe9lADMensbafFGZNTVR3VbscNNew6jz3sI75L85sOXALSanhFJNI_co7BzvHIidvfki3Ojvh2fF5HUVCs0wAt2JADOAlkGOAUafWrVvnKPSqWmwt/w320-h241/5.3%20V%202.0%20plugs.jpg" title="Rich spark plugs" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;">My LS motor won the lottery -- it's rich!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: times;">That's after maybe 5-10 minutes between three startups idling in the garage.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I'm guessing that since the first engine didn't have the ring gaps set properly on any piston, the tune <a href="https://pftuning.com/" target="_blank">Peter</a> put on the car was compensating for something. Now the engine runs more efficiently, and now it has to be re-tuned. So in a couple weeks, I'll load it up for the trek down to Virginia Beach next week so Peter can tune it again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The car actually fired up the beginning of December, but I had issues with the clutch engaging. I worked on it for about a week bleeding and bleeding and bleeding, but the pedal was still soft. Even the 6-speed Crosstrek had a stiffer pedal. Finally with Christmas out of the way, I decided to splurge for an adjustable <a href="https://walter-racecraft.myshopify.com/collections/driveline/products/tick-performance-clutch-master-cylinder" target="_blank">Tick master cylinder from Walter Racecraft</a>. Matt Walter is a thirdgen guy who lives in Maryland and sells parts to fund his Camaro drag car, not to put food on the table.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">If you're scoring at home, my car originally had a mechanical "Z-bar" clutch linkage, and I decided to convert to hydraulic. The company I bought the hydraulic conversion kit from (that the slave cylinder twice, so no free advertising for you) sent it with what looks like a stock 1998-2002 F-Body clutch master cylinder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">This is what should have come with the original kit from the other place that I won't name. (As I mentioned before with <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-1-aisin-ar5-swap-into-ls-thirdgen.html">the writeup on the Aisin AR5 install</a>, it now has the slave cylinder FABbot has in their LS conversion kit.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Installation was pretty easy even though the master cylinder is jammed under the brake booster. Only a little blood was donated. I decided to make it fit better (or something like that) with a plate from the cabin side.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm33mRvD6fOBlAdbLpMMH9nPKOow5roq803ZxF4nQ2_PY5Osm3qACeWs0vQe7BOI9AfiTAneZT8ijH0_l0HHebxfbfHkWRe7P6_LXHR1pr5OKa46eU4mxxOBzjP5jrCJz9Mwrjz9vTI__cOw-FqGS6Dz-f_WMpdTVW31_YQLCT2YhfdAOew7H2Y2hQ/s4080/master%20cylinder%20rod.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img alt="Firewall plate for clutch master cylinder mounting" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm33mRvD6fOBlAdbLpMMH9nPKOow5roq803ZxF4nQ2_PY5Osm3qACeWs0vQe7BOI9AfiTAneZT8ijH0_l0HHebxfbfHkWRe7P6_LXHR1pr5OKa46eU4mxxOBzjP5jrCJz9Mwrjz9vTI__cOw-FqGS6Dz-f_WMpdTVW31_YQLCT2YhfdAOew7H2Y2hQ/w241-h320/master%20cylinder%20rod.jpg" title="Firewall plate for clutch master cylinder mounting" width="241" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;">It ain't pretty but nobody's going to be looking under there anyway.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: times;">Some people online recommend doing this but welding the plate to strengthen the firewall. I don't have a welder, so this is how it's going to be for now</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The rod end didn't exactly fit on the nub of the clutch pedal, so with my new air compressor (Christmas present from the brother-in-law) fired up, I grounded that bitch down.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oYvWuKZmH8hpipJAXW5XPxCLRvPhHgfwPiE_fUkfsEm7Bah_6aYH3n9gkxwGKkIWC0AV35V41PxILDpsP4sVGZPJ39OfQeNSz37w1-O0xQ0gTEn0z0Ctou94QFmEsSCSlneNG8t7wOu-tb8O8qdLoRKo7GPRh0JyHyhAOhSCU7xQnk13Xngn9emo/s4080/rod.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img alt="Spherical rod end machined to fit" border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oYvWuKZmH8hpipJAXW5XPxCLRvPhHgfwPiE_fUkfsEm7Bah_6aYH3n9gkxwGKkIWC0AV35V41PxILDpsP4sVGZPJ39OfQeNSz37w1-O0xQ0gTEn0z0Ctou94QFmEsSCSlneNG8t7wOu-tb8O8qdLoRKo7GPRh0JyHyhAOhSCU7xQnk13Xngn9emo/w320-h241/rod.jpg" title="Spherical rod end machined to fit" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;">Custom work!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: times;">Searching online, I couldn't find a rod end that would work. I even found <a href="https://thirdgens.com/2018/02/16/clutch-pedal-rod-end-dimensions/" target="_blank">a website that had the correct specs for the rod end</a>, but searching on McMaster Carr, Grainger, etc., produced no results. Since this rod end doesn't really do much but hold the rod in place, I figured grinding away wouldn't be an issue.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">But if anybody can find someplace online that has the correct rod end, I'm all ears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">So I guess it's ready for dynoing. If you're reading this now and in the future can't find this post, it means something bad happened on the dyno and I deleted everything.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-72186212366497750412022-11-19T14:53:00.005-05:002022-11-19T19:22:16.333-05:00Prime time! The $15 LS priming tool that really isn't $15<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeoH-7ImazUobWDflQjV85G54vmIOkbiR_VzPFXqt5edVlgLO69t1C7TwOw98057F4N-KWF54uiQcgDQXv54CLX2wf1Arir04m2CwZ6eDdjAiJtX0s7hdJVxwn9rGfRDLhkAo3QItSM7gSV2vKi-Lakyuqdir5c_p7IOBxR-ceMWImao-XOLAQ24v/s4000/mini%20compressor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mini air compressor" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeoH-7ImazUobWDflQjV85G54vmIOkbiR_VzPFXqt5edVlgLO69t1C7TwOw98057F4N-KWF54uiQcgDQXv54CLX2wf1Arir04m2CwZ6eDdjAiJtX0s7hdJVxwn9rGfRDLhkAo3QItSM7gSV2vKi-Lakyuqdir5c_p7IOBxR-ceMWImao-XOLAQ24v/w320-h240/mini%20compressor.jpg" title="Mini air compressor" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using this mini air compressor, I attempted building <br />the mythical "$15 LS Priming Tool."</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There are videos floating out there about "The $15 LS Primer Tool" for priming General Motors "LS" family of engines. They are misleading because it doesn't cost a mere $15 for the tool. It's $15 for <a href="As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." target="_blank">the weed sprayer</a> used to contain the oil, but you have to buy everything else such as a fitting to connect compressed air to the sprayer, adapter that goes into the plug on the block and hoses. </p><p>Following is how I did the kit with a mini air compressor used for airbrushing.</p><p>First, you need <a href="https://amzn.to/3TL7oyh" target="_blank">the $15 sprayer</a> which you can get from the South American Rainforest Company. Or maybe a local store has the same thing. Or you already have one and don't use it anymore, and therefore you are actually saving the $15!! You might get lucky and have all the stuff in your garage and don't need to buy anything at all, so you did it for free!!</p><p>The key thing is that you don't need a high capacity bottle because just a couple quarts of oil are needed to prime the engine. You just need a container that will hold pressure.</p><p>What you need:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3El5AX6" target="_blank">The sprayer</a></li><li>An adapter to screw into the bottle for pumping in air (plus a drill and drill bit to make the hole)</li><li>Teflon tape</li><li>1/4" hose (preferably clear) replacing the trigger assembly that comes with the spray bottle</li><li>A fitting to go to the block in place of the oil pump cap</li></ul><p></p><p>Once you get the bottle, you drill a hole for your air fitting of choice. This fitting could vary, so choose your hole wisely. Hahaha. Choose your hole wisely.</p><p>If you have compressed air, you could screw in a fitting to connect an air chuck, or you could screw in a Schrader valve or tire-valve-like fitting. (I thought about the latter because I have a really good tire inflator that gets power connecting to a car battery.)</p><p>Since I had one laying around, I drilled a hole in the bottle and screwed in a <a href="https://amzn.to/3OmCawe" target="_blank">1/8" Barb x 1/4" NPT male brass fitting</a> after wrapping the threads with teflon tape. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbJWJdiPRbU4RZSYTMcSO8380B_LsucuZUOC5wfCi1J6VbAVVZpceVnJZSm8uz4TPp_DaA9PbJqbviHj8sg71nAjr_rdms21ewMEhfUh0idKP7G3lcNILBLi_mAVXlsyOTZAU8_xqVPAKXI884EjpPJKJDtRN5lPSSRhou0QHiP8ZjyK_1jno0nUV/s4000/brass%20fitting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbJWJdiPRbU4RZSYTMcSO8380B_LsucuZUOC5wfCi1J6VbAVVZpceVnJZSm8uz4TPp_DaA9PbJqbviHj8sg71nAjr_rdms21ewMEhfUh0idKP7G3lcNILBLi_mAVXlsyOTZAU8_xqVPAKXI884EjpPJKJDtRN5lPSSRhou0QHiP8ZjyK_1jno0nUV/s320/brass%20fitting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I drilled a hole in the bottle and screwed in a small brass fitting.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>This was connected by a rubber hose to the small airbrush compressor.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89CoZlKcW3PdSlW3UXRm1XCiwOiznJWb8RICvkXjUADNNp4gzk3BYnQDCmh1z2_IV3UtWIjn5h76tk5nw2ed7OSfIILNwKakEeRLy4VjHFbsiwojL41mJRzRPH9jpWUeNG1Lp6ow99JdmpQZq2La9KV2KJ1fsaxSTvEamEIq61GTjd3vLEgdCpTr2/s4000/compressor%20fitting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89CoZlKcW3PdSlW3UXRm1XCiwOiznJWb8RICvkXjUADNNp4gzk3BYnQDCmh1z2_IV3UtWIjn5h76tk5nw2ed7OSfIILNwKakEeRLy4VjHFbsiwojL41mJRzRPH9jpWUeNG1Lp6ow99JdmpQZq2La9KV2KJ1fsaxSTvEamEIq61GTjd3vLEgdCpTr2/s320/compressor%20fitting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the coiled air hose from the compressor, this rubber hose went in place and connected to the brass barb on the spray bottle.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I've had this compressor for 10+ years because I was going to get into plastic car models. That hobby never got off the ground, but this little air compressor worked for priming the first engine and installing valve springs (barely worked for the latter job but it's only a bad idea if it doesn't work).</p><p>Some of the Youtubers say a fuel pressure gauge needs to be installed on the bottle -- drill a hole, and screw the gauge into the bottle as done with the air fitting. But the little airbrush compressor I have maxed out at 40 psi while priming, so I don't think adding a pressure gauge is necessary if doing it this way.</p><p>The spray bottle already has a plastic coupler with the nozzle attached. Replace the trigger assembly and hose with a clear 1/4" hose.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac-oPEL5ze4clU6XAuENHf92YOhM7KortjzQaUGkLLKzVjEaILoqoehz5ZXleDmZG5uNE810s20qB8KAlv863Q1jQEtmapJrkOZwPn35Kb9oxq15QmzJWDAf6p_8VqJFJ9oDoiiNvZ2Z58g2YlkShsyqiVT-pTPLdwWVnjFw7VCFVwvQU_lfCuE0x/s4000/trigger.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac-oPEL5ze4clU6XAuENHf92YOhM7KortjzQaUGkLLKzVjEaILoqoehz5ZXleDmZG5uNE810s20qB8KAlv863Q1jQEtmapJrkOZwPn35Kb9oxq15QmzJWDAf6p_8VqJFJ9oDoiiNvZ2Z58g2YlkShsyqiVT-pTPLdwWVnjFw7VCFVwvQU_lfCuE0x/s320/trigger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trigger assembly removed from the fitting.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngrdlt3mMXPFxccBIgzPcaNqprKspGNkhKRNPjWTzz7PaR3D5Sjc8W9IyTCprGaRLSzSrFdW9zbRLnZfKdCEa15ssCmexABn40sxySBxUVOp52cWGXQAWZzMD8QaaC7lzfb3o_VW1g0IZrGWQqU30q1sTdIexyXTKjWeHEYo0XwfbBXjFrRtGjCSf/s4000/clear%20hose%20connection.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngrdlt3mMXPFxccBIgzPcaNqprKspGNkhKRNPjWTzz7PaR3D5Sjc8W9IyTCprGaRLSzSrFdW9zbRLnZfKdCEa15ssCmexABn40sxySBxUVOp52cWGXQAWZzMD8QaaC7lzfb3o_VW1g0IZrGWQqU30q1sTdIexyXTKjWeHEYo0XwfbBXjFrRtGjCSf/s320/clear%20hose%20connection.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trigger assembly is replaced with a clear plastic <br />hose to verify oil is actually flowing.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Next up, remove the oil pump plug on the driver's side of the block. This step is universally agreed so you can't skip it!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rv1dGOZzboyDKBRLEvudYyz6YS-IOP9G9_Kmp9EVHqRNvFkraprIRQedykCEOteDFAUqrITyvua3cb23laaMTBPK3Yh4II02MNqtDB__YEVYmBvWnxrv4J8jb1bv-MxiBW_0Ugn6nxDvjZgtcfxUyEUu3WU_ygbdT_YdxpWOQ2wKUfACtvzm7lko/s4000/oil%20pump%20plug.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Rv1dGOZzboyDKBRLEvudYyz6YS-IOP9G9_Kmp9EVHqRNvFkraprIRQedykCEOteDFAUqrITyvua3cb23laaMTBPK3Yh4II02MNqtDB__YEVYmBvWnxrv4J8jb1bv-MxiBW_0Ugn6nxDvjZgtcfxUyEUu3WU_ygbdT_YdxpWOQ2wKUfACtvzm7lko/s320/oil%20pump%20plug.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plug on the passenger side of the block, easily <br />removed witha hex socket.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There are some variations on what adapter to put in the plug's place. Some Youtubers install <a href="https://amzn.to/3hW95M2" target="_blank">an M16 to 1/8 NPT adapter</a> that you need to thread another adapter on the female side so it will fit the clear 1/4" tube.</p><p>The way I did it was with <a href="https://amzn.to/3EobLJI" target="_blank">an M16 P1.5 to OD 10mm barb adapter</a> that screwed directly into the block and connected directly to the tube. Sort of.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGagqKi0HRhzw-v0jE2NY6adOJHbJdk4iLMf92JNCK6mYrnAZKfQNhHGrEuEu_wv3kp-d1ItC0Sl_0NA8sBAfH5zbALZJFCBOw74OhTjHmQ51ENR_BPxbrdMoPxKMgfR5xzTcILMuv8zyCm6zr7HRNAbspKoC54WQDI4Dmli1hgCZJL7_IMR6LJNke/s4000/adapter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGagqKi0HRhzw-v0jE2NY6adOJHbJdk4iLMf92JNCK6mYrnAZKfQNhHGrEuEu_wv3kp-d1ItC0Sl_0NA8sBAfH5zbALZJFCBOw74OhTjHmQ51ENR_BPxbrdMoPxKMgfR5xzTcILMuv8zyCm6zr7HRNAbspKoC54WQDI4Dmli1hgCZJL7_IMR6LJNke/s320/adapter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The adapter screws into the block in place of the plug.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The 1/4" clear hose was a little too small to attach to the nipple, but I made it work fitting a small piece of 3/8" rubber hose onto the adapter, plugging the clear tube in, and clamping it down.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMhRYWdNvm6EmYfrefvQ-KTkCPh-oX7u_a2avwsIfOnEMV8aD0-KNiJhSJhrznyLPfU-uCecxBeQEU3VuIS5qe4REjQTht7-O2tg9o2SDrLwoA4GgDIGsZgoP8rimgSWSR5Ny0oOo0056JYyLTD3uk0Ox1bQFS-Bom45O9CWQAmNFI9s2yWaSbAMT/s3356/connection.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2394" data-original-width="3356" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMhRYWdNvm6EmYfrefvQ-KTkCPh-oX7u_a2avwsIfOnEMV8aD0-KNiJhSJhrznyLPfU-uCecxBeQEU3VuIS5qe4REjQTht7-O2tg9o2SDrLwoA4GgDIGsZgoP8rimgSWSR5Ny0oOo0056JYyLTD3uk0Ox1bQFS-Bom45O9CWQAmNFI9s2yWaSbAMT/s320/connection.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course I didn't get a picture with the adapter screwed <br />into the block, but this is what the connection looked like <br />with a piece of 3/8" fuel hose and two small clamps.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>With my little airbrush compressor, I wasn't worried about high PSI bursting a hose off a connection or oil leaking.</p><p>I actually think this would work without any sort of compressor -- the hand pump would be adequate, but you'd have to manually pump to keep pressure, and it would take longer. With my priming kit, it took about five minutes to push two quarts of oil through.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDF1yxSQxmPRazLf-jo3U_SA0zqjSZTEVROHp2fOmtADRlkIB2vyUO_OkhCtNEpMPkvWXvjTCtps-54f0y0dr94rSRubiIz8hHwA7ICikfU26zrQXeecoSC4mum8xTxdB2LPbzUWhd1ow5YceBIMJXtAa5vtbFA1RDoCKlEQ0PICgCnY2Tnnn0czt/s4000/rockers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oil primed through LS rocker arms" border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDF1yxSQxmPRazLf-jo3U_SA0zqjSZTEVROHp2fOmtADRlkIB2vyUO_OkhCtNEpMPkvWXvjTCtps-54f0y0dr94rSRubiIz8hHwA7ICikfU26zrQXeecoSC4mum8xTxdB2LPbzUWhd1ow5YceBIMJXtAa5vtbFA1RDoCKlEQ0PICgCnY2Tnnn0czt/w320-h240/rockers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oil doesn't come gushing through the pushrods --<br /> it's more of a trickle. You can see a small pool of oil <br />collected on the top of each rocker arm.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This was in my unheated garage in 40-degree weather, but I cheated a bit and kept the oil in the house before starting the priming process.</p><p>Again, the only real deviation is how you are going pressure air in the spray bottle, which dictates what adapter you use on the bottle.</p><p>Since I used a few things I already had in my garage, here's an estimated rundown of what this kit cost:</p><p>$15 - <a href="As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." target="_blank">Weed sprayer</a><br />$10 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3XeYcoK" target="_blank">1/4" clear tubing</a> (had some leftover pieces)<br />$13 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3EobLJI" target="_blank">Adapter that goes into the block</a><br />$7 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3OmCawe" target="_blank">Brass fitting</a><br />$14 - <a href="https://amzn.to/3EmgUlM" target="_blank">1/8" rubber hose</a> (another leftover piece)</p><p>That comes to $59 for all the components not counting the airbrush compressor. Also not accounted for is the piece of 3/8" fuel hose and clamps to mate the adapter on the block with the clear tubing, because who doesn't have a piece of 3/8" fuel hose and small clamps laying around? Also teflon tape (I have three rolls for some reason).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK4FJaG8ikTn1wy0Fv9gY0XlEq5RdZYCnIMcO3UBSPWeRScZnlv5JRr9Ek-bVzVORROn8Y_xXhPdJnwC0qcHyPg2pEu6AQQba9RDxiQPjXjsR303qWvrb1JdrdxqpjB8lLTf-6M9TeTubRg7grYcb0zXHCnMR5lv28NXpwv4D2Fil9QQdE2UnUL16/s4080/PXL_20221119_202020044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="LS engine oil priming kit" border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK4FJaG8ikTn1wy0Fv9gY0XlEq5RdZYCnIMcO3UBSPWeRScZnlv5JRr9Ek-bVzVORROn8Y_xXhPdJnwC0qcHyPg2pEu6AQQba9RDxiQPjXjsR303qWvrb1JdrdxqpjB8lLTf-6M9TeTubRg7grYcb0zXHCnMR5lv28NXpwv4D2Fil9QQdE2UnUL16/w241-h320/PXL_20221119_202020044.jpg" title="LS engine oil priming kit" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The $15 LS Primer Kit<br />(not all parts included)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Disclaimer: <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 13px;"><i>As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</i></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-43918314472613498072022-11-12T10:40:00.001-05:002022-11-20T17:35:49.353-05:005.3 install<p> Just some random pics of the old engine for reference when installing the new engine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssRD64lqsxRwZDH82AJaU0BwEBLtE-Y9c4dWK4jRswFmbzp-F-oLmOe6QaJ5QLyoQQ5-Wl_VPcs6ILi1JwydGajqs7yoGkzOW0240OGOoiCeZUGRQ2-aydahWV_eudwliDlraLzMuTNZ084u_-cImzP6USScC8bG4OGuqkIQFwoTt6CYRbCWGdKgV/s2272/engine%20bay%20727b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssRD64lqsxRwZDH82AJaU0BwEBLtE-Y9c4dWK4jRswFmbzp-F-oLmOe6QaJ5QLyoQQ5-Wl_VPcs6ILi1JwydGajqs7yoGkzOW0240OGOoiCeZUGRQ2-aydahWV_eudwliDlraLzMuTNZ084u_-cImzP6USScC8bG4OGuqkIQFwoTt6CYRbCWGdKgV/s320/engine%20bay%20727b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3bwirGxo5iyXhnPZGuXac2_VlLoMSW4rI1B5KP1IRwLnSkgkSWzZN_Ex5jz-FHMRDfRPKbmtygXhaJUOwFTyiQSbex6YrXVQ956q63a87amTMEWeqzymLoblioex9Pq7WWEQE2EXQWbxxvZ5Fg7mwAwH6ZNEenc7MqTrTt1iP5WrauldMpVObatR/s2272/engine%20bay%20727a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3bwirGxo5iyXhnPZGuXac2_VlLoMSW4rI1B5KP1IRwLnSkgkSWzZN_Ex5jz-FHMRDfRPKbmtygXhaJUOwFTyiQSbex6YrXVQ956q63a87amTMEWeqzymLoblioex9Pq7WWEQE2EXQWbxxvZ5Fg7mwAwH6ZNEenc7MqTrTt1iP5WrauldMpVObatR/s320/engine%20bay%20727a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4e7k21ALnBFYnZq24J_efMxrOfAtXxXFyVXQwVDoyR2rzy22U8F57LSJSLmFAUkBBdajBkw7lpeQXGprjgnaFUVxGKshWfk2TmrinljB3izEKmh8VvIeeQ3D81LMHyAvx-suP8KAAVd3JVksuVeYjzOkcmIO-bRYjNEP4qKAxVidkF68J2v5-hfl/s3264/20211123_112518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpGG-SCzTI0FnYZA5CNPNifO8ibbz9JBrIAJKp5x02mTQu7S0wnWkIBmXb72_pGk0CusfZQ1ya6fLYwKmnIxIMMoAYEA3yiahIlOj2oG0ickON6nXBezhGQ-4fOBgt7-wCBJeIaHnJU2zff9hbHgXt2HImTiwPMBbTLGflo8nNb-xVOQAQL84tTN/s320/IMG_1605.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-10963796135312614152022-10-29T23:57:00.004-04:002022-11-21T09:41:35.463-05:00I'm Mr. Interlux Brightside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D2duJEE8ZVnxEDMbjqm-7amYmCH2tT3i6ZdgjZEQK4mTvI5HGDHF-j3YKDWjRWgFUdwyUM6UXgXImRmPRob3yYszhWDdOGEXYJ0bCdev5mAHlhr26IdcMLua5DiYEkrHfMqEUd8KnCOX3g2aoaQ1zPXnjYVY1LFadkRH-ynHlZdo8eQInGi661xu/s1824/IMG_1675.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="interlux brightside boom mat" border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D2duJEE8ZVnxEDMbjqm-7amYmCH2tT3i6ZdgjZEQK4mTvI5HGDHF-j3YKDWjRWgFUdwyUM6UXgXImRmPRob3yYszhWDdOGEXYJ0bCdev5mAHlhr26IdcMLua5DiYEkrHfMqEUd8KnCOX3g2aoaQ1zPXnjYVY1LFadkRH-ynHlZdo8eQInGi661xu/w320-h240/IMG_1675.JPG" title="interlux brightside boom mat" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver's side footwell after the Boom Mat and<br />Interlux Brightside marine paint.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Not much of an update. Just minor prepping my 1982 Camaro autocross car if/when 5.3 Version 1.2 is finished. </p><p><br />The car was originally black, and ripping out the interior has revealed (no surprise) the original flat-black paint. When working in the interior in my black hole of a garage with mediocre lighting, any dropped socket or torx bit seems to fall into the Hotel Oblivion. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm93wt_z8Rb2n_o5kEu_8Po8gBp7UvHMx_3ywkzueRbtEV0Up4pUUfWXeJcLcdEYsfx9SZQy_gfferomqQkQ_I9osF19NXpsLSp1JC7wHfKfxDX9vyYeAp0A0pXEB1tEf3rwbs57X4C04LmWBYs4pJcRstHJL1bisALDVEwtvC189Im6i8HfhNDVnQ/s1824/IMG_1674.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm93wt_z8Rb2n_o5kEu_8Po8gBp7UvHMx_3ywkzueRbtEV0Up4pUUfWXeJcLcdEYsfx9SZQy_gfferomqQkQ_I9osF19NXpsLSp1JC7wHfKfxDX9vyYeAp0A0pXEB1tEf3rwbs57X4C04LmWBYs4pJcRstHJL1bisALDVEwtvC189Im6i8HfhNDVnQ/s320/IMG_1674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I wanted to coat the metal floor with sound deadening/heat resistant paint. Searching on the internet, which is my number one skill for prepping this car, I settled on <a href="https://amzn.to/3UWsQ4z" target="_blank">Boom Mat spray-on sound deadening</a>. Bought a can and experimented in the car's backend. The pit/trunk area which is an ideal canvas for this kind of stuff.<p></p><p>Who doesn't like experimenting in the backend?</p><p>The Boom Mat was easy to control layering the ... paint? Not much overspray. Very little fumes. As long as the critical bits were masked off, application was pretty easy.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXz9xLSAF5mTIRtEO9TMqBsypqB6YWmxXBV8s-Trkz0H1Ap5-PXDzjwMzlI5K-bawF4jP4Rbw5ohVOjc5DXZWY7D1qnIbBllvCHft4PtbXnCHqzirqX_usr-pWiKIyheY19xb_VDy0HwB5IF6bU9WlixaiccHMZQdm3bsclkX3LzB2qoEH4BzzhjXf/s1824/IMG_1676.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXz9xLSAF5mTIRtEO9TMqBsypqB6YWmxXBV8s-Trkz0H1Ap5-PXDzjwMzlI5K-bawF4jP4Rbw5ohVOjc5DXZWY7D1qnIbBllvCHft4PtbXnCHqzirqX_usr-pWiKIyheY19xb_VDy0HwB5IF6bU9WlixaiccHMZQdm3bsclkX3LzB2qoEH4BzzhjXf/s320/IMG_1676.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />I wanted to brighten up the interior and painted over the Boom Mat (after it dried, of course) with white <a href="https://amzn.to/3EkJrbg" target="_blank">Interlux Brightside marine paint</a>. <div><br /></div><div>This is a paint that people use to cover the exterior of their boats, so it's really rugged. I even used it 15 years or so ago when resurfacing the Sentra E trunklid that went on the last Sentra SE-R. The paint is really easy to apply with a foam roller, which I did on the Sentra trunklid. I did more wet sanding on that, but with the Boom Mat spray speckled layer, I didn't do anything else but foam-roller the Interlux paint.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Interlux/foam roller "trick" on car exteriors isn't that uncommon. I first learned of the process because people had been doing this on their roadrace cars. Why spend $$$$ for a showcar paintjob when the car was probably going to get dented anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>First impressions: It looks pretty good! I only painted the front half of the car's floorboard since "the pit" is occupied by the intake manifold, radiator, alternator and other parts since the engine <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2022/05/project-whack-mole-may-2022-update.html">was sent off to be rebuilt</a>. Once the those parts go back on with the engine install (and the weather warms up), I'll tackle the rest of the car.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=fishsolo-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B07TTDRP6H&asins=B07TTDRP6H&linkId=6e8b96595b32847b25e085f632c8285b&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=fishsolo-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00280Q144&asins=B00280Q144&linkId=c87b2b203c1546bb989204b5afe7a967&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Disclaimer: <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 13px;"><i>As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.</i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-28166066664632415442022-10-29T23:49:00.002-04:002023-02-04T13:42:57.020-05:00We can rebuild it. We can make it better. Resurrection of Project Whack-A-Mole.<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6GhULZ60bKoq8nqiBbJ8e4QjONmjQT6Pjro99IaRXLY8VBFABhpuH0GCwFXwEZF7Dck9mNd2MCNexcSqLNEVuzayI3nqMHVSzI4b9x6mm_olLFVaO5Kebt67YUWX5-fdip95YWS_KAe2tnIZP0zEesR8LjJN9eEcGjRI9qax7TE9kromPzTFsjR2/s2048/ls%20v%201.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aluminum block LC9" border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6GhULZ60bKoq8nqiBbJ8e4QjONmjQT6Pjro99IaRXLY8VBFABhpuH0GCwFXwEZF7Dck9mNd2MCNexcSqLNEVuzayI3nqMHVSzI4b9x6mm_olLFVaO5Kebt67YUWX5-fdip95YWS_KAe2tnIZP0zEesR8LjJN9eEcGjRI9qax7TE9kromPzTFsjR2/w320-h241/ls%20v%201.2.jpg" title="I'm not sure if this is Version 1.1 or 2.0. New block with seven of the old pistons, old crank, old heads, old cam." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure if this is Version 1.1 or 2.0. New block with seven of the with components from the previous engine: seven of eight pistons, crank, massaged heads, and cam.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And we're back I guess kinda sorta.</p><p>Back in May, <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2022/05/project-whack-mole-may-2022-update.html" target="_blank">I outlined the plight of my 5.3 LS motor</a>. Which suddenly developed:</p><p>1. Broken rocker stud on No. 1 cylinder, tried fixing that and discovered ...<br />2. Broken valve spring on No. 6 cylinder, tried fixing that and discovered ...<br />3. Scored cylinder wall on No. 7</p><p>Three completely unrelated issues happening all at once. Charlie from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" mapped it better.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAaejLADa16zYrgSiwM2gUS9TPEpZf85svuJB9hqFhbGKTsQ0KEJTQycnKAigW2P1DofoT4vfDrRo998O0RNnRnOIv_x5WGPo0YqWd1ndD-7aeQv6lzVbhaUJJa42CaT-csYOA6ZIs_HZvtC5NfJ2laAlBcj7XOO2sDZsA1Gjuv1sfQiI5Ljy3AJn/s796/charlie%20map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Charlie It's Always Sunny" border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="796" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAaejLADa16zYrgSiwM2gUS9TPEpZf85svuJB9hqFhbGKTsQ0KEJTQycnKAigW2P1DofoT4vfDrRo998O0RNnRnOIv_x5WGPo0YqWd1ndD-7aeQv6lzVbhaUJJa42CaT-csYOA6ZIs_HZvtC5NfJ2laAlBcj7XOO2sDZsA1Gjuv1sfQiI5Ljy3AJn/w320-h242/charlie%20map.jpg" title="Charlie work, trying to figure out what went wrong with my engine." width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie work, trying to figure out what went wrong with my engine.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the time, I worked for a company that sold remanufactured engines and transmissions throughout the lower 48 continental United States, and they had just started a plant on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that would be dedicated to Chevy LS engines (mainly truck 5.3s) and Chrysler Hemi motors, among other things.</p><p>I approached the company owner (who I worked with at a previous job ... we'll just call him Ed) about my dilemma, and Ed said, "Sure, bring your engine down." I loaded the hurt motor into the back of my <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-new-boost-buggy.html" target="_blank">new pickup</a> and trekked to work. Then the engine made another journey to the the new facility in Cambridge, Maryland, for teardown. The diagnosis was the No. 7 cylinder was fucked. The block, since it had been bored to LS1 specs, wasn't reparable. So I needed a new block and piston.</p><p>Ed found a 5.3 block (a 2007+ aluminum block with a 58x crank trigger -- exactly what I had) in a pile of cores, and a plan was hatched. Keep the cam, the crank and the massaged cylinder heads. Machine the "new" block and replace the bad piston.</p><p>We can rebuild it. We can make it better.</p><p>Except the only holdup was one Wiseco piston to match the other seven good pistons was on global backorder until late July.</p><p>And then in mid-June, I tendered my resignation. Ed said, "No worries," and the plan proceeded.</p><p>We can rebuild it. We can make it better.</p><p>August came around. Then September. That one Wiseco piston was still backordered.</p><p>Finally last week I received a text that from Ed the replacement piston had come in, and my "new" engine would be ready shortly.</p><p>We can rebuild it. We can make it better.</p><p>The guys at the shop unboxed the new piston and found instructions detailing that the rings should be measured and properly gapped. Seems like basic stuff, but they decided to check the ring gap on the other seven pistons from my original engine. </p><p>Ed forwarded me the text:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f0f2f5; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">"We found Pat's failure. Evidently his previous builder installed the rings without setting the end gap. All were .001-.003. Required is .020-.023."</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p>Coupling with the SR20DE "built" by a shop for my <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050122092446/http://www.blackshirtracing.com/" target="_blank">old Nissan Sentra SE-R roadrace car</a> that had disappointing results, I keep thinking I should have done this engine myself because it would have been a whole lot less money, and I could blame the poor workmanship on me. Not somebody I paid $$$$ to build it right. </p><p>Now I'm back to where I was early last year -- installing an LS engine into my 1982 Camaro -- but I **think** it should be easier. All the bugs like fuel delivery, hydraulic clutch with the <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/12/part-3-keep-on-truckin-aisin-ar5-swap.html" target="_blank">Aisin 5-speed</a>, and this, that and the other thing should be worked out. Just plug and play now, right? Right?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-39418664627801325902022-05-17T22:25:00.006-04:002022-05-27T18:34:34.277-04:00Project Whack-A-Mole May 2022 Update<p>I don't know where to start with this. I wish I had some great story about autocrossing and going for FTD and blowing up the engine or a mis-shift or something like that. But nothing. This car breaks while sitting in the driveway.</p><p>It started in December when awakening the car from an early winter slumber out trying take it for a spin (not literally) around the test loop. Cranked it to life, let it warm up and noticed smoke coming from the back of driver's side valve cover like oil was leaking onto the header.</p><p>First WTF moment.</p><p>Thinking the valve cover gasket might be leaking for some dumb reason, I took the valve cover off to find this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE0CChw_eXivBW8006Pd1Re7b3mB5BMsfuU9bBooAG2sG-diMKXyQSN4JFib_EFI81NYdp1m0C2BIr3_rquRlSDczUX1Vqt0nBTUIzdwh553vd5JIS-Fq1KocnFtS9FaQY5jvdjSG9xWeCna_SLgPAlCUihRt1dzfxCd9RTN1AP3VgjHDtNrmsZO3/s2048/broken%20rocker%20stud.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ls engine broken rocker stud" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoE0CChw_eXivBW8006Pd1Re7b3mB5BMsfuU9bBooAG2sG-diMKXyQSN4JFib_EFI81NYdp1m0C2BIr3_rquRlSDczUX1Vqt0nBTUIzdwh553vd5JIS-Fq1KocnFtS9FaQY5jvdjSG9xWeCna_SLgPAlCUihRt1dzfxCd9RTN1AP3VgjHDtNrmsZO3/w320-h240/broken%20rocker%20stud.jpg" title="ls engine broken rocker stud" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good name for a band would be Broken Rocker.<br />But I don't like this music.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>That's from the No. 1 cylinder. The engine wasn't making weird noises or anything.</p><p>I went down an internet rabbit hole trying to figure out what rockers those were. They basically had a three-piece stud design -- stud through the rocker, a "nut" on top and a hex screw that tightened everything. After posting a picture on the Mullet Militia Facebook page (Thirdgen F-Body enthusiasts not a real militia so don't put me on some watch list), there were a few comments like, "WTF is up with those rockers?" Most people said they or others were using stock rockers with upgraded trunions for even applications approaching four figures in horsepower. Whether it be a 5.3, 6.0, 6.2 or whatever flavor of LS engine, OEM rocker arms were up to the task, especially for my mild power plant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eVMyXmqRaac" width="320" youtube-src-id="eVMyXmqRaac"></iframe></div><br /><p>Just wanting to fix the fucking broken stud, I contacted my engine guy and apparently those rockers were so out the ordinary, he couldn't even remember what he installed. He stopped by my house with what he thought was a replacement rocker stud and produced a simple one-piece ARP stud that wasn't even close to working</p><p>Then he ghosted me.</p><p>I decided to get <a href="https://www.michiganmotorsports.com/ls-rocker-arms-trunion-kits/ls1-rocker-arms-with-upgraded-trunions-installed-fits-4-8-5-3-5-7-6-0-ls2-ls6-lq4-lq9-ly5-lm7-l33/" target="_blank">OEM-style LS rockers with upgraded trunions from Michigan Motorsports</a>. They have always been great -- ordered a few things from them, and they always have fast service. They have a plethora of parts from moderate engines to higher horsepower applications.</p><p>Got the new rocker arms and since the 1.7 ratio was the same that was stamped on the fancy aluminum rocker arms I took out, figured it would just be a matter of replacing the rocker arms.</p><p>Nope. The pushrods that were in the motor were wayyyyy too short and wouldn't even keep tension with the rocker arms while going through the torqueing sequence Michigan Motorsports provided.</p><p>So I bought an adjustable pushrod tool (keep in mind all this isn't go-to-the-local-parts-store-and-be-back-in-5-minutes ... it's research stuff on the internet, order something, wait a few days for it to be delivered and hope everything works out for the best). Used the pushrod tool and calculated instead of the 7.2-inch pushrods that were in there I needed 7.3-inch pushrods. Ordered a set of those.</p><p>A few days later, installed the new pushrods, torque sequence again, buttoned everything up, fired the car and it ran like SHIT! No weird noises just chugged and billowed smoke.</p><p>Talked it over with Chris from work (who <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-2-its-in-hole-aisin-ar5-swap-into.html" target="_blank">fabricottled the Aisin 5-speed</a> and the exhaust) and he suggested stock-length (7.4-inch) pushrods, and I should be fine.</p><p>Back to ordering online, waiting a few days. Installed the new pushrods. Torqued the rocker arms in the correct sequence and procedure. Fired up. Ran exactly the same -- like SHIT!</p><p>Had thoughts about pushing the car off the cliff. Contacted a couple people who have been interested in the car and inquired if they still wanted to buy it. Thought better of it (I use that phrase loosely) and decided to punt and take it to a shop.</p><p>If you're scoring at home, we have leaking oil (from somewhere) and the No. 1 intake rocker with a busted stud that was "fixed" with whole new rockers.</p><p>What the shop diagnosed was this, second WTF moment:</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSO8VN-Y4F2_KJNEZnC2qlGbhrxmCse6ylvHljzteRMCRg3jk2ilGBcSb8NupIioDtM_qkrDQSePJdv_0jQZFYrUUhFWrDaOoaAB0zvCo3WKk52TLhlrP2dYuesqhn-80P-6oEip9rf43PyC3U3gUbiJWF4cm-7BV15w0JDuX7LOa_kVqrVPgGKtt/s2048/277751099_10227885847475527_3726010841415491763_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ls engine broken valve spring" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSO8VN-Y4F2_KJNEZnC2qlGbhrxmCse6ylvHljzteRMCRg3jk2ilGBcSb8NupIioDtM_qkrDQSePJdv_0jQZFYrUUhFWrDaOoaAB0zvCo3WKk52TLhlrP2dYuesqhn-80P-6oEip9rf43PyC3U3gUbiJWF4cm-7BV15w0JDuX7LOa_kVqrVPgGKtt/w240-h320/277751099_10227885847475527_3726010841415491763_n.jpg" title="ls engine broken valve spring" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valve spring on No. 6 that decided<br />it was done with its life.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On the No. 6 cylinder. On the opposite side of the engine where the troubles began.</p><p>I opted to take the car home and try and fix it myself. My reasoning was that if I had paid someone for a "built" engine and had all these problems, I could do work myself and save money instead of having other people work on it.</p><p>So I ordered new valve springs (again after careful research) and convinced Pete (who helped me put the engine in the car originally as well as get it fired up for the first time) to come over and install the new valve springs.</p><p>That went alright. Had already removed the passenger-side cylinder head to check for damage from a possible dropped valve (piston looked OK) and even installed the driver's-side valve springs with a mini compressor topping out at 20 psi to keep the valves closed.</p><p>Then I mentioned to Pete, "Oh yeah by the way, I forgot when installing the pushrods, the lifter felt squishy when pushing down on the pushrod on the No. 1 intake where the stud broke." I demonstrated, and he said, "Uhhhh, yeah that lifter is bad."</p><p>Off to the computer to scour the internet. Again back to Michigan Motorsports for a kit with LS7 lifters and head gaskets. Took that head off. I decided to take my time before putting the heads back on and clean the block up where coolant and gunk went down the threaded holes in the block for the head studs.</p><p>Then the third WTF moment:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn7PBOzooWyEmU7IdfNoKi6aUsptvgAEXcu2Hx8qe0j9Hi1mapyqW7T0os_2gF5ks8W2Gr32vOAwDaHeLUWDpheOfzcIgorjot8SKZOVUDVasAoS8tntXpi0g6jnTtu-QzspsRSkRRvCaqD99ynSAN0xICmGz-yAehfYqRXyYILuSjkh5KlD-8Td7/s3264/20220502_190209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn7PBOzooWyEmU7IdfNoKi6aUsptvgAEXcu2Hx8qe0j9Hi1mapyqW7T0os_2gF5ks8W2Gr32vOAwDaHeLUWDpheOfzcIgorjot8SKZOVUDVasAoS8tntXpi0g6jnTtu-QzspsRSkRRvCaqD99ynSAN0xICmGz-yAehfYqRXyYILuSjkh5KlD-8Td7/s320/20220502_190209.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire No. 7 cylinder had enough of this bullshit.<br />So have I, No. 7 cylinder. So have I.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>No. 7 cylinder. And I don't even know what happened here. Actually don't know what happened with anything. The engine did <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVMyXmqRaac" target="_blank">about 10 dyno pulls</a> with zero issues. Drove it around the test loop a few times. A couple autocross runs (which were defeated because of things not related with the engine).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R3s4HSBqCufm-6RIFbFlQ1xd0M793aaA-U4VoHcfgAxZhZe7JpSuDzEpybdLYcYZxWx_jU8jvxSGcd1hjmj_16z4v5Renxlpd4vMVlPeDU1x_NfUJLU2jxdJo147YNuVaKfS45WAWWtw6nYSJ_r-mhegTNQyUTBynIWsn5K95TCUAq-0kQVRt2Uh/s1507/bad%20piston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="bad ls piston" border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1507" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R3s4HSBqCufm-6RIFbFlQ1xd0M793aaA-U4VoHcfgAxZhZe7JpSuDzEpybdLYcYZxWx_jU8jvxSGcd1hjmj_16z4v5Renxlpd4vMVlPeDU1x_NfUJLU2jxdJo147YNuVaKfS45WAWWtw6nYSJ_r-mhegTNQyUTBynIWsn5K95TCUAq-0kQVRt2Uh/w320-h294/bad%20piston.jpg" title="bad ls piston" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bad piston, scored up really good.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>However, all is not lost, at least for now. Luckily because of my job, a plan is coming together. We can rebuild it. We have the technology. We have the capabilities. We have another 5.3 all-aluminum block. Will it be better? Faster? Stronger?</p><p>Or maybe <a href="https://inreeltimefishing.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the fishing blog</a> will get more attention. Or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNYlyOArJUY" target="_blank">beg for co-drives</a>.</p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-12985439551598689642022-05-17T22:25:00.005-04:002023-02-04T13:44:14.403-05:00The Electric Cool-Car Acid Test (Straightpipe Magazine reprint)<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzt8Dg_ydIu2GJupLTYM4C1b7vXiJQQAiMq3_iEVG2Dw07jCwObc6bzwksFaxmL_--WriQwezLD6rlacYQn3CefnHtidv3rUqaiRRYxR5utQAMQyJ_ODzp2Gd7RTXtu-QMF9f_OABKvorf0F3Gi89v3dWNXbkIu4rpXFz3BhGsvc-k-VDbfdj2fbfU/s3456/tesla-10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tesla roadster" border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzt8Dg_ydIu2GJupLTYM4C1b7vXiJQQAiMq3_iEVG2Dw07jCwObc6bzwksFaxmL_--WriQwezLD6rlacYQn3CefnHtidv3rUqaiRRYxR5utQAMQyJ_ODzp2Gd7RTXtu-QMF9f_OABKvorf0F3Gi89v3dWNXbkIu4rpXFz3BhGsvc-k-VDbfdj2fbfU/w320-h213/tesla-10.jpg" title="tesla roadster" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripping the Tesla Roadster around our own<br />Top Gear test track.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The Electric Cool-Car Acid Test <p></p><p>A reprint from the November 2010 online edition of Straightpipe Magazine</p><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ltOd9fdasxj0pXg5RnBRnxmCJmCQc3-5ZHrYCxbV2a3IDC5WlK9BMju4O7jM5f_OqiKOgiNuoo5oLojk56tApd7Y-ou2cffwO8-Xx3hEKNYYTBcAPysCpAg5Ljshd6-td7hKRbuGsfpfDkdooDup3H_4qR2AxVQk7hUiWbVNttxpPesHJ8LYbIy/s3456/tesla-12.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tesla roadster" border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0ltOd9fdasxj0pXg5RnBRnxmCJmCQc3-5ZHrYCxbV2a3IDC5WlK9BMju4O7jM5f_OqiKOgiNuoo5oLojk56tApd7Y-ou2cffwO8-Xx3hEKNYYTBcAPysCpAg5Ljshd6-td7hKRbuGsfpfDkdooDup3H_4qR2AxVQk7hUiWbVNttxpPesHJ8LYbIy/w320-h213/tesla-12.jpg" title="tesla roadster" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tesla Roadster was built off the Lotus Elise<br />platform which means it is not very comfortable for<br />tall people.</td></tr></tbody></table>Finally my non-paying “job” as editor of the WDCR’s online magazine paid off for something! While no money has
been exchanged, I did get a chance to drive a cool car when Eric Kriemelmeyer, Straightpipe “managing editor,” sent
a message asking if I wanted to do a test drive/evaluation on a Tesla Roadster. My response: “Hells yeah!”<p></p><p>I didn’t know that much about it other than it looked like an Elise and was all electric. (It is in fact based on the Elise
chassis – manufactured in England then sent to the U.S. for final assembly.) </p><p>I love the concept of electric vehicles but until they are cheaper and battery life is longer, I haven’t gone gung-ho
into oogling over every electric vehicle concept out there. </p><p>Anyway, we readied for the test and set up a skid pad and short slalom at the lot at Blue Crab Stadium, where
Autocrossers, Inc., holds events throughout the year. With permission of stadium officials, of course. </p><p>Before that, Eric and I went to his house to get his Solstice GXP, the car we autocrossed together this year in B
Stock. We thought it would be a good comparison – and possibly use on future comparisons if given the opportunity
for FREE ADVERTISING on other cars. </p><p>We kept the OEM tires on and didn’t switch to R-compounds to give it a
better real-world comparison. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx7Q4UHlvPTHtu2vWgC4KHg4yQNnj69xbbhz22vPoxpAVI1YJDkyfW8zoDHyC78Uw33atpEP2Evp1oCYnZIaCauvx6BbB8SY14wzkm8zr0y2UoM4ddqDj1bUGAp7RQT35jSvWyVSfAavwVgT_wYp5FOa2C8Zm48n510PQ72fbzC1dKDN3o7YZITLX/s3456/tesla-15.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tesla emblem" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="2304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx7Q4UHlvPTHtu2vWgC4KHg4yQNnj69xbbhz22vPoxpAVI1YJDkyfW8zoDHyC78Uw33atpEP2Evp1oCYnZIaCauvx6BbB8SY14wzkm8zr0y2UoM4ddqDj1bUGAp7RQT35jSvWyVSfAavwVgT_wYp5FOa2C8Zm48n510PQ72fbzC1dKDN3o7YZITLX/w213-h320/tesla-15.jpg" title="tesla emblem" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seems like a cool concept.<br />I wonder if anything will become<br />of electric cars in the future.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Shaun Phillips, who was bringing the Tesla down and has been helping to setup the company’s Washington, D.C.,
dealership, had to make a detour because one of his bosses told him a high-profile government agency was
interested in a demonstration. I figured he was trailering it down because of the car’s range, but Shaun showed up
just driving the car and said it had plenty of juice for our testing. And to get him home.
Tesla Motors' Shaun Phillips explains how the Roadster gets its juice. <p></p><p>The car is pretty quiet with the only hum coming from the accessories. If I actually owned one, I’d have to get a CD
with Formula 1 or Top Fuel dragster noises to make my brain comprehend the car was actually doing something. </p><p>The car does have a key, but you had to press the “D” button to get it to move then the “P” button when you wanted
to park it. The interior is kind of tight for someone taller like me (6′2″), but it’s one of those things I could live with by
mashing the gas pedal. Often. Shaun said he has a customer who bought a Roadster who is 6′7″! As a comparison,
I’m more comfortable in the Roadster than Eric’s Solstice. </p><p>Acceleration from a dead stop was on par with an AWD car — it just went. No power lag or anything. All 240 HP and
240 ft-lbs of torque were *right there* as soon as you stomped on the gas. And like the Elise, the Roadster’s
powerplant is over the rear drive wheels, which helps for acceleration as well as handling balance. </p><p>Also of note, we
were driving an older Roadster — <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110313233154/http://www.teslamotors.com/roadster/specs" target="_blank">Tesla has a new version which makes 288 HP and 295 ft-lbs of torque</a>.
Handling was pretty good but it also had Yokohama Advan Neuva tires. It felt better in the skidpad and through the
slalom than the Solstice, but I suspect the OEM Goodyears on the GXP had a hand in that. </p><p>The steering on the
Tesla felt really good on initial turn in but kind of vague or sloppy the more you turned the wheel. I assume that
feeling is because it doesn’t have the tension of a drive belt on a power steering pump. It has a smallish steering
wheel, which lends to the whole racecar vibe of the car. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXsUWIgWsKpmO57mza5bQWB3EaetgTns_-flaJIgOQdN92UhkYzjjc3JytPA8QyM4NZRMN78SVpeWMKRSyw5_xU9CF2FxLWSYmlweOsbzJDiG28aDHm6RTgN8IhfePskj3IH04ZKywpZzzX3TqskFOki8L4m6hpRA-U_C5i1eEg_DWryBektXnail/s3456/tesla-5.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="unexpected company" border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXsUWIgWsKpmO57mza5bQWB3EaetgTns_-flaJIgOQdN92UhkYzjjc3JytPA8QyM4NZRMN78SVpeWMKRSyw5_xU9CF2FxLWSYmlweOsbzJDiG28aDHm6RTgN8IhfePskj3IH04ZKywpZzzX3TqskFOki8L4m6hpRA-U_C5i1eEg_DWryBektXnail/w320-h213/tesla-5.jpg" title="unexpected company" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing to see here officers. Do you hear anybody<br />revving engines and doing crazy things?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The car definitely
attracted attention as many members of the stadium staff, who were preparing for a baseball game that night, came
out to take a look at the electric kool car.
But this isn’t supposed to be a racecar, really. At this point, especially with it’s $100,000+ pricetag, it’s out of reach
for most people, but more affordable electric cars are in the company’s future plans. <p></p><p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110130072220/http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/09/ff_tesla/" target="_blank">Wired magazine had a good article in its October issue</a> profiling Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Basically, the Roadster is just the first step in building the
company through electric cars. The second step – a four-door sedan – <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110126093601/http://www.teslamotors.com/models/" target="_blank">is getting ready to hit the streets in 2012 inthe form of the Model S</a>. With a battery pack replacing the engine for power, space will be saved, and the car will
have more room for passengers and cargo. The claim is that five passengers and two children can fit in the car
comfortably. </p><p>The third step in Musk’s plan is to offer low-cost electric vehicles. The price on the Roadster is over $100,000 while
the Tesla web site lists the base price on the Model S as $49,000, so a more affordable car is definitely a step in the
right direction. </p><p>The maximum range on the Roadster with a full charge is about 250 miles. Shaun said with more aggressive driving,
it’s in the 180-mile range.
In comparison, the numbers released on the Model S have it slower 0-60 than the Roadster, however, tripping the
clock at a claimed 5.6 seconds is certainly nothing to discount if you happen to line up against one as you’re staring
at the “This lane ends in 300 feet” sign while at a stoplight. </p><p>The Model S will also have a 300-mile range, upping the
Roadster by 50 miles.
Being a gearhead, I wonder if the Roadster could be driven to a track day, flogged for the weekend, and still have
enough juice to make it back home? </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLmgAePzgKOxVAeU3Wjzohqt0mfoy2LzWoW0YbxCwIcoWwaiY9Z1QqnhhozQpF4QgFx7uwqn7yrOX6kfl8p00Q3g5TH3lk3EjO937lYHFgcTdah7Iuu0-ErVMKPt08UqXu30wNYodb-eUniH7p5BSY7QbojNiyPWXhV5blE6ls-NdnsIIp0oXIDch/s3456/tesla-7.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tesla roadster wheel" border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLmgAePzgKOxVAeU3Wjzohqt0mfoy2LzWoW0YbxCwIcoWwaiY9Z1QqnhhozQpF4QgFx7uwqn7yrOX6kfl8p00Q3g5TH3lk3EjO937lYHFgcTdah7Iuu0-ErVMKPt08UqXu30wNYodb-eUniH7p5BSY7QbojNiyPWXhV5blE6ls-NdnsIIp0oXIDch/w320-h213/tesla-7.jpg" title="tesla roadster wheel" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is louder? The Tesla "engine" or brake<br />pads clamping on rotors?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />While the Roadster’s pricing is way out of my range, I like the concept. Where have a lot of great automotive ideas
come from? The likes of Formula 1 and high-end production cars as concepts trickle down and become more
common and cheaper to produce. <p></p><p>Shaun mentioned that the next-generation — the Roadster S — has even more
advancements like batteries that are easier to remove and an improved “black box.”
The Wired article detailed how Musk recently purchased a production plant in Fremont, Calif., from Toyota for less
than $50 million with an eye on Model S production. Along with that and electric cars from Nissan and General
Motors (albeit the Chevy Volt is gas assist), it appears that the electric car is in the early stages of entrenching roots
in the market. </p><p>With the limited range of the electric vehicles on the market now, how can an electric vehicle be used for anything
other than local commutes? Enter Coulomb Technologies’ <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20110202120039/http://chargepointamerica.com/" target="_blank">ChargePoint America</a> program, which is made possible by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the
Department of Energy.
On Nov. 16, the first curbside public charging station in Washington, D.C., pumps (I can’t help but call them that) offer
220 to 240 volts of charging which is estimated to fully charge electric vehicles within four to six hours. </p><p>Also, in the
greater metropolitan D.C. area, the program is offering hundreds of free EV charging stations for public and home
charging to individuals and businesses, as has been done in other parts of the country. </p><p>Is it possible to make a cross-country trip only on electricity alone? I guess it’s possible but at 200 or so miles per
tank of electricty with several hours of charge time, it would still be quite the undertaking. But no doubt
bolstering ranges of cars while shrinking price tags, coupled with the availability of charging stations (think less of
“gas stations” and more of stations available at hotels), it’s hard to imagine that this is going to be a flash in the pan.</p><p> https://web.archive.org/web/20110119111907/http://straightpipemagazine.com:80/archives/563</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-81024541897910913492022-02-07T20:20:00.013-05:002023-02-05T22:11:56.763-05:00The new boost buggy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5qhg16Bwks4sdJ0l3PobhD3_x99N1RcWgKfY6sTKVVPfwb4lP0l1i3NsCCGRceSoBQSnEZtlDx_A2So-vc6elDt4DNzKfjKM7LWeabXAYl8RfAdb484ql6ANQHG_5kNFqGIds4HEDd_J4z2tPlrXLK9VeCmp_AcNUVS9Is3C77LBUZ5Y9TBIpbGJM=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ford f-150 ecoboost" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5qhg16Bwks4sdJ0l3PobhD3_x99N1RcWgKfY6sTKVVPfwb4lP0l1i3NsCCGRceSoBQSnEZtlDx_A2So-vc6elDt4DNzKfjKM7LWeabXAYl8RfAdb484ql6ANQHG_5kNFqGIds4HEDd_J4z2tPlrXLK9VeCmp_AcNUVS9Is3C77LBUZ5Y9TBIpbGJM=w320-h240" title="ford f-150 ecoboost" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new-to-me 2017 Ford F150 with a 3.5 twin-turbo<br />and 10-speed automatic transmission.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This all started when I submitted the information on my 2003 Ford F150 Lightning through one of those online sites* to see what they would give me for the truck, a 2002 F-150 Lightning. It had 136K miles, no accidents, just some minor blemishes and wear and tear. Still runs and drives flawlessly but wanted to see what I could get for it.</p><p>They offered $16,100 for the Lightning which was more than what I bought it for in 2010 with 51K miles. For about a week, I searched for trucks seeing what was out there, but I was still not committed to getting rid of the Lighting. Eventually that offer expired, and I submitted a new request and was sent an offer of $15,750. Still not bad. </p><p>After convincing myself that this rocket ship of a truck needed replacement with something more modern, I committed more to an internet search. It's still an awesome truck and leaves me grinning like an idiot every time I drive but since going back into towing duty last year, its dependability worries me. I don't want to worry about a tow vehicle -- and not the Camaro -- being down for maintenance <a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-lightning-is-struck-down.html" target="_blank">like what happened last year</a>.</p><p>Local autocrosser Kevin H. had his transmission go out on his F-250 that's the same era as the Lightning with the same 4R100 transmission, too. No warning, just backing up his truck at home and the transmission failed. He said since he installed the new transmission, some things that he kind of ignored before -- not shifting smoothly, kind of "hunting" when up-shifting -- came to light with the new transmission that does all that stuff without issue.</p><p>Kevin actually got his replacement 4R100 from me through my job. Oh did I mention I sell remanufactured engines and transmissions for a living? That experience kind of weighed in my decision on what truck I wanted next. Or rather, what I didn't want. We get tons of calls for Dodge Hemi replacement engines as well as General Motors 6L80 transmissions, so that basically left only two options for half-ton trucks -- Fords and Toyotas, which we get very few inquiries on, so maybe they are more reliable. Also, I don't think I know anybody with a Toyota but know of at least three with 3.5 turbo F-150s and they seem to like them.</p><p>The replacement tow vehicle had to be new-ish (maybe 2015 and newer), but I didn't need something over-the-top like a 3/4-ton or one-ton. The Lightning has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, and newer half-ton trucks are more than twice that. Even the 2.7-liter Ecoboost can tow more than 10,000 pounds. Of course I didn't want a 2.7 -- it had to be a 3.5. Thought about a 5.0 with all the V8 rumbly noises, but a magazine article comparing a 5.0 to a 3.5 gave a slight edge to the latter.</p><p>Sure I probably could have sold the Lightning for more than the Vroom offer through Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, but selling through Vroom meant I wouldn't have to deal with tire kickers or people ghosting after responding to their "Is this still available" request. I tried Carvana but was only offered $12K.</p><p>Paul P., who also has a CP Camaro and has helped on my Camaro some, had just traded in his 2018 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost for a 2020 because a dealership gave him some kind of stupid deal. I had begun looking for used F-150s and he offered his for a test hit. </p><p>My biggest concern, if you want to call it that, was losing the fun factor of the Lightning. There aren't many options for a truck that runs low 13s at the drag strip, so I was worried about having a lethargic truck that couldn't get out of its own way. </p><p>"Magazine racing," 3.5 Ecoboost F-150s run around 14.6 at 96 mph at the drag strip, which is a tick slower than my old 1990 Firebird when it had a 305. More than a second slower than the Lightning but not terrible.</p><p>Driving Paul's truck, it definitely had some pep, and the transmission even has a sport mode. He said towing with his Camaro on a trailer, it's still quick enough to get away from stupidity. His truck has the "max tow" package which has an assist for backing up a trailer. Basically turn that on, take your hands off the steering wheel and turn a little knob to guide the trailer while watching the backup camera. "I turn this on and look like a hero," he said.</p><p>So I started narrowing my search for a 2017+ with a 3.5 Ecoboost, max-tow package, and an extended (not crew) cab, around $35,000 and 50,000 miles.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAAReHtT1_9Dus99Q_qUnmCJb4NhztjA174qA97-qOUbCmFpAh5AZTdm6Vc_yyG8oiJmc0_bDegSVtsqQBv3w0xK9-UO7F1Vt4goyZMzvLpovEaPSU5r5RLyKtjbHRwpVLmnt6zG_tkqmKQZhTI39IPxR5em_MKhXjo8XUoHyEyS9AY56qTFxCxBoP=s3264" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="f-150 trailer backup" border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAAReHtT1_9Dus99Q_qUnmCJb4NhztjA174qA97-qOUbCmFpAh5AZTdm6Vc_yyG8oiJmc0_bDegSVtsqQBv3w0xK9-UO7F1Vt4goyZMzvLpovEaPSU5r5RLyKtjbHRwpVLmnt6zG_tkqmKQZhTI39IPxR5em_MKhXjo8XUoHyEyS9AY56qTFxCxBoP=w240-h320" title="f-150 trailer backup" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With dealers vague on options, the<br />tell-tale sign for an F-150 with the <br />"maximum towing" option was the<br />knob for the trailer backup assist.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Searching the internet, not a lot ads detailed complete options. One ad I found listed 10 different details for a Sirrius subscription. It took some sleuthing to narrow down which trucks had the max-tow option, namely if there was an interior shot to see if the backup assist knob was on the dash underneath the four-wheel-drive selection knob.<p></p><p>Narrowed it down to two -- one at a dealership in northern Virginia, a 2018 F150 with 51K miles, and 2017 F150 with just under 25k miles. Both were nearly identical in price. Other than the years, they were about the same -- both black with cloth interiors, 4WD, 3.5 Ecoboost, 10-speed transmissions. Only real differences were the 2018 had a chrome grille while the 2017 was all black. </p><p>Karen and I trekked out yesterday and looked at the F-150 in northern Virginia first. Some little things set me off first -- a cracked rear taillight and the chrome on the side steps peeling away. Karen slid underneath it and said there was a lot of surface rust and salt residue. It also needed new tires. It turned out, it was originally purchased in Canada and was there all its life until making it to an auction in Ohio where the dealership got it. They didn't appear to want to budge on the price, and the salesman even got his manager to come in for some reason. We said thanks but no thanks and headed south to look at the other truck.</p><p>This F-150 at <a href="https://www.baysideford.com/" target="_blank">Bayside Ford in King George</a> originated in Maine before it was purchased at auction last year. I'm guessing that with the lack of availability of new vehicles, dealerships have been boosting their stock from auctions so their lots look full. This truck had some minor surface rust underneath but not nearly like the Canadian transplant in northern Virginia. Basically as long as there weren't any issues, this was going to be my new truck. I figured finding something in that price range with that mileage would be pretty difficult, and every other truck with that mileage was newer and several thousand dollars higher.</p><p>I'm probably the easiest person to close a sale when I find something I want. The first Sentra SE-R, the first Lightning, the second Lightning, and now this truck, all purchased used from some kind of dealer where I showed up with a dumb grin and said, "I want to see that one."</p><p>Early impressions are that, as expected, a truck produced in 2017 is a whole lot nicer than a truck from 2003. The Lightning has cruise control and a CD player (that doesn't work), and that's pretty much it. No touchscreen fancy technology or anything digital other than the trip odometer. The new truck is immaculate inside and is almost "too nice" like it shouldn't be a truck.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT5WVAR-LaBIOeOnMX0wNZePBsiDbcO5eAJQKwBQIlXnpXSkNMJyJady-LytxWTZp6ixhtHyo3Yo0PYEZ0T7f6YdGHNAbOE-BcZRdAF7nx8dNCsCYF_3YPGz6BiH132jJXl56bke7IZnJFHckxyuD7J2J1JpSpT-NdfGGD8USRjl887NP-p4muzTUJ=s3264" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2003 Ford Lightning console" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhT5WVAR-LaBIOeOnMX0wNZePBsiDbcO5eAJQKwBQIlXnpXSkNMJyJady-LytxWTZp6ixhtHyo3Yo0PYEZ0T7f6YdGHNAbOE-BcZRdAF7nx8dNCsCYF_3YPGz6BiH132jJXl56bke7IZnJFHckxyuD7J2J1JpSpT-NdfGGD8USRjl887NP-p4muzTUJ=w320-h240" title="2003 Ford Lightning console" width="320" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXyElRhSP2pskN5BYtxVFlV4SW6Cr5rtxeQE8wHNtIYVYOnY5j-P02VI9N777t6voZQqHFuyMPJ0CAFk8IFC1JMUanNQa3sepxpDnOqoj6-YCfh2plL7M6MjU3-oGK-Ooz8UcL6BQUEaUAfHjzXRTbQMiIlmoH7Q6m0JoY_Lc2QtFDzjy2emvN6K-i=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="2017 f-150 console" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXyElRhSP2pskN5BYtxVFlV4SW6Cr5rtxeQE8wHNtIYVYOnY5j-P02VI9N777t6voZQqHFuyMPJ0CAFk8IFC1JMUanNQa3sepxpDnOqoj6-YCfh2plL7M6MjU3-oGK-Ooz8UcL6BQUEaUAfHjzXRTbQMiIlmoH7Q6m0JoY_Lc2QtFDzjy2emvN6K-i=w320-h240" title="2017 f-150 console" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dashboard confessional: The 2003 console<br />versus the 2017 version.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p>Drivability of course they are almost night and day. There is a reason why Jeremy Clarkson on his "Top Gear" test drive said something like, "It's like unleashing George Thorogood and all his Delaware Destroyers." Instant torque, almost violent upshifts on full throttle, super charger whining, stupid fast that will still kick the shit out of most cars on the road today (ask me about the encounter a couple years ago with a Hemi Charger). And other than the Dodge SRT-10 with the Viper engine or a Ford Raptor, there really isn't a truck out there as fast. I always said, it's a truck that thinks it's a car. Or, it's not a real truck.</p><p>The Lightning also requires 93 octane fuel while the 3.5 Ecoboost F150 manages its performance -- 375 horsepower and 470 foot-pounds of torque -- on the cheap stuff. And on the trip home with some stop-and-go traffic showed 19.5 MPG. I might have edged into the 15 MPG range with the Lightning once or twice on complete highway driving but usually settled in around 12-13 MPG and 9 or 10 when towing.</p><p>But the new truck can get out of its own way, and the 10-speed transmission is super smooth. Something that would be interesting to find is a 2WD F-150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost with a regular cab and see how it compares to the Lightning. I would bet that could run high 13s out of the box, but that is probably an elusive unicorn.</p><p>I'm going to miss the Lightning. Two trips towing the Camaro to Nebraska and back twice, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKnuqtUoU3E" target="_blank">several autocross runs</a>, some laps on the Shenandoah Circuit, and just driving trying to merge onto the highway and leaving cars in the dust ... I haven't driven it in two weeks trying to avoid seller's remorse. </p><p>However the new F-150 is growing on me. Although it's not stupid fast, all the other bells and whistles will numb the pain when the Lightning eventually leaves. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIZCRtrtOkUDiaablbAVvjWuVYve8K6Wt4rAbtIWJ73TMZ3RktHloW9O1-V3Z3pUaOo9atSDd2SY_qTWvUCU1nxtrUXPGK0CEPraXXZ7-p7FKnf3bJ1sbJs6oMi1jA1AeiggUdGsTDjs5DMFbzWok4Ol-3f5CajH9wwdPdO9qcm56uvC1ca5M5QA98=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="f-150 ecoboost" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIZCRtrtOkUDiaablbAVvjWuVYve8K6Wt4rAbtIWJ73TMZ3RktHloW9O1-V3Z3pUaOo9atSDd2SY_qTWvUCU1nxtrUXPGK0CEPraXXZ7-p7FKnf3bJ1sbJs6oMi1jA1AeiggUdGsTDjs5DMFbzWok4Ol-3f5CajH9wwdPdO9qcm56uvC1ca5M5QA98=w320-h240" title="f-150 ecoboost engine" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underneath the hood is really clean, nicer than<br />the exterior.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBjIXolTatRoORS0oO5A9L1h28tsvrIypJI24hkyBauRd_fdAdJ1fZsQug_Z7YJ1_W84NGqIwwTTLxNujHFy0pB4AzencC1PgbRpHrUomfbOPm0cgynd4JWGGae660AVmc2SvnnAhNMD3lR-CZahbUsAgbJd6wdj4ROPY6O32zihCyuqmHp44tdnD_=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="F-150 ecoboost" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBjIXolTatRoORS0oO5A9L1h28tsvrIypJI24hkyBauRd_fdAdJ1fZsQug_Z7YJ1_W84NGqIwwTTLxNujHFy0pB4AzencC1PgbRpHrUomfbOPm0cgynd4JWGGae660AVmc2SvnnAhNMD3lR-CZahbUsAgbJd6wdj4ROPY6O32zihCyuqmHp44tdnD_=w320-h240" title="F-150 ecoboost" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dat ass.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLPfdK6XD1L7nLvQUtdUMX-LDAu7dYqTzRas44xKiYIth2CL7THUjxhU2jMPpiOjM5VN5cTa4Q6OU0-v34OUxcPc-4-asgGdsRnG_mTM9gR4FgdozO96Gx5Ejo7Qw_EkDAXKsiCy8bfuGXnd_zJX6YY53hgX7_aDyo_YUK-ssYnPavnRribWRfGlpV=s3264" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="f-150 grille" border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLPfdK6XD1L7nLvQUtdUMX-LDAu7dYqTzRas44xKiYIth2CL7THUjxhU2jMPpiOjM5VN5cTa4Q6OU0-v34OUxcPc-4-asgGdsRnG_mTM9gR4FgdozO96Gx5Ejo7Qw_EkDAXKsiCy8bfuGXnd_zJX6YY53hgX7_aDyo_YUK-ssYnPavnRribWRfGlpV=w320-h240" title="f-150 grille" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grille matching the paint instead of chrome.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>* Edited out the name of the site because they offered $15,750 but when the actual agreement was sent, it was actually about $1,000 less. So I may actually be selling the Lightning the "traditional" way -- Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Ugh.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-31188044026987584482021-12-03T23:57:00.008-05:002023-02-04T22:41:39.245-05:00Part 3: Keep on truckin' (Aisin AR5 swap into an LS Thirdgen F-Body)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSLz0_hKWNz0NFWAjc_6jz-OM02GqyEHIiqnJhYstgSyqaFNBbqKZH3uEtaNIazbHX5JMeWI1GpI6VsXwLQDEqP0QoMk_SX21T3-hTsl9wLEaITRB4EbP4Jpv2qUpS9eDyBLvsTLaEgQ/s1961/fall+colors2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1961" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSLz0_hKWNz0NFWAjc_6jz-OM02GqyEHIiqnJhYstgSyqaFNBbqKZH3uEtaNIazbHX5JMeWI1GpI6VsXwLQDEqP0QoMk_SX21T3-hTsl9wLEaITRB4EbP4Jpv2qUpS9eDyBLvsTLaEgQ/s320/fall+colors2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's got a truck motor, a 325 cubic inch plant,<br />truck tranny. It doesn't have catalytic converters<br />so it will run good on regular gas.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><p>The 1982 Camaro with the General Motors 5.3 Silverado/Sierra engine is truckin' with the Chevy Colorado 5-speed manual transmission and the <a href="https://www.fabbotfab.com/collections/transmission-adapters" target="_blank">FABbot adapter kit</a>.</p><p>Got the shortened driveshaft back on Monday. The shop that did put the driveshaft under the knife said it had been altered before and wasn't sure how well balanced it would be. I guessed it wouldn't be that bad or at least not noticeable -- since all the carpet and interior panels were tossed, every clunk and rattle is amplified.</p><p>Chris bled the clutch and finally the car was back on the ground on Tuesday ready to roll. He took it around the block that morning and said everything seemed to be working OK. I took it out on my lunch break, got out on Route 50 to see how it was in fifth gear, and it drove great. No vibrations from the driveshaft.</p><br /><a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-1-aisin-ar5-swap-into-ls-thirdgen.html" target="_blank">As mentioned in part 1</a>, the transmission came from a local salvage yard, but it didn't come with a shift knob, so Chris rigged up a temporary fix. It was better than what I found in the bling-bling aisle at the Auto Zone around the corner, but I still ended up ordering something else online.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k9Wx7s2hgv2Z5aeaA_bm_aoUteGa7p4GN7t2rQ3yZfbJsA_MCLUABlAO6ENaTa8DPPZtB41CwC-dfX-2504tRNQZ4EzmuG_K-YilaYHoc5O5IufIXqFUac85CuMGn6IzP91HvyPrx-g/s2048/got+wood.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AR5 Colorado transmission wood grain shifter knob" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7k9Wx7s2hgv2Z5aeaA_bm_aoUteGa7p4GN7t2rQ3yZfbJsA_MCLUABlAO6ENaTa8DPPZtB41CwC-dfX-2504tRNQZ4EzmuG_K-YilaYHoc5O5IufIXqFUac85CuMGn6IzP91HvyPrx-g/w240-h320/got+wood.jpg" title="AR5 Colorado transmission wood grain shifter knob" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got wood? The super special Aisin<br />AR5 custom wood grain shifter knob.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p>One thing, maybe subconsciously, about wanting to replace the T10 was how clunky it felt. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gai1klVckO4" target="_blank">Watching a video drag racing the car</a> at 75-80 several years ago, the gear changes are cumbersome. Not that there's anything wrong with the transmission, but it's old, notchy 1960s technology.</p><p>The AR5 is much smoother and feels like most modern manual transmissions. Granted I only have to worry about 1-2 shifts while autocrossing, but it should be nicer to drive on the road or if ever doing something on track where more than two gears are needed. </p><p>Also the old American Powertrain hydraulic setup wasn't really confidence inspiring. The clutch first took forever to bleed because a tiny O-ring in the slave cylinder wasn't sealing properly. So after chasing my tail on that, the hydraulic bearing failed while loading the car onto my trailer, then the replacement failed as well with, I don't know, two autocross runs and a few street miles. Hopefully the FABbot kit is the solution!</p><p>The car seems to be ready to mow some cones, but now it's the offseason. Plans are to put finishing touches on the Camaro while it's sitting in the garage with maybe a side trip to get some <a href="https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/autocross-spoiler-angles/47098/page1/" target="_blank">downfarce</a>. Hopefully all the side projects are easy and don't generate more Project Whack-A-Mole issues.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5QbJ-H45Ohs8WEO_SXrKV6EWRyyxWEyG8qihhom9yvhblA3eS0bKthvwnROoXCGMh5Iw0w9RAhvx9pwU6ySZF6iYLkWHPqdv-e7okgwvsyyHBmO87VI-ChH-gAc5693bUnzJRADxLdmzz06leqe8kfqggMrJ4ZUaLUSZlNRCaPlyIoZouSU_koEMI=s2048" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ls swap off-season checklist" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5QbJ-H45Ohs8WEO_SXrKV6EWRyyxWEyG8qihhom9yvhblA3eS0bKthvwnROoXCGMh5Iw0w9RAhvx9pwU6ySZF6iYLkWHPqdv-e7okgwvsyyHBmO87VI-ChH-gAc5693bUnzJRADxLdmzz06leqe8kfqggMrJ4ZUaLUSZlNRCaPlyIoZouSU_koEMI=w320-h240" title="The off-season checklist" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The off-season checklist.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-12972922590702946642021-11-23T21:43:00.005-05:002021-11-23T21:53:17.031-05:00Part 2: It's in the hole! (Aisin AR5 swap into an LS Thirdgen F-Body)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T3XDg5vJ6Ac8HTi-RRDsUPt_QJWK8Nl_5lUCrMfDwfm1KRzLbx5LKmSu1lWygPtxqU4xoNLBhye_MhyphenhyphengGkpFE0UKmpvTxnWX9XKqFHoY6haxeeYK3PZ8-o8nykJEzX1o1M5TSDKGPAc/s2048/20211122_111908.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AR5 thirdgen F-Body swap" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T3XDg5vJ6Ac8HTi-RRDsUPt_QJWK8Nl_5lUCrMfDwfm1KRzLbx5LKmSu1lWygPtxqU4xoNLBhye_MhyphenhyphengGkpFE0UKmpvTxnWX9XKqFHoY6haxeeYK3PZ8-o8nykJEzX1o1M5TSDKGPAc/w320-h240/20211122_111908.jpg" title="1970 Chevelle and 1982 Camaro, both with LS engines and Colorado/Canyon 5-speed manuals" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple of old GM cars with LS engines<br />and AR5 5-speed manual transmissions.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The transmission is in. One part of the install I thought might turn out difficult had a fairly simple fix. Another problem crept up that I didn't even think about, and sheet metal had to be cut.</p><p>After acquiring the <a href="https://www.fabbotfab.com/collections/transmission-adapters/products/fabbot-ar5-to-ls-nexgen-adapter-bundle" target="_blank">FABbot AR5 bundle</a> and (the most important piece) an 11,000-mile five-speed transmission from a 2008 Chevy Colorado, the ace mechanic from my work, Chris, went to work.</p><p><a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-1-aisin-ar5-swap-into-ls-thirdgen.html" target="_blank">As mentioned before</a>, Chris has done several LS swaps including some thirdgen F-Bodies. In fact, he basically did the same thing -- an LS 6.0 engine with an AR5 -- in one of our owner's project cars, a 1970 Chevelle. This kind of gave me the idea of doing the same thing on my car.</p><p>Anyway, Chris coaxed and prodded and finally got the transmission in yesterday, but the the shifter base wouldn't fit through the opening in the transmission tunnel, so a slight modification had to be made.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJKDHy9uJF-OMYM4KsghuNKMGMSaDM3ujdrPhV3CDnvgxvTWB68Hi3etUHPzt7YSoOvDOMTYD8pLQRhyy3xrF1lfJyP2s2ukXIwjfb4qGaLApu68gvJDKBRWqLprYeABPrMshuS-sOeo/s2048/20211123_075255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJKDHy9uJF-OMYM4KsghuNKMGMSaDM3ujdrPhV3CDnvgxvTWB68Hi3etUHPzt7YSoOvDOMTYD8pLQRhyy3xrF1lfJyP2s2ukXIwjfb4qGaLApu68gvJDKBRWqLprYeABPrMshuS-sOeo/s320/20211123_075255.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hole in the transmission tunnel<br />had to be, um, tweaked to accomodate<br />the shifter. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>This probably makes an AR5 swap a no-go for most thirdgen F-Body owners. If the car still has a full interior, the center console plastic above the transmission tunnel would have to be hacked or removed. But since my car is essentially a racecar with nothing left of the interior except the dashboard and gauges, it's not an issue for me. It's still kind of an eyesore but I have some ideas to make it look better, or at least presentable.</p><p>As I mentioned in Part 1, the length of the transmission assembly (trans/bell/adapter) was a little longer than what came out of the car (four-speed T10 + big-block Chevy bellhousing). The front of the torque arm is mounted on a plate with a spherical bearing, and I was worried that it might interfere with the 5-speed's tailshaft.</p><p>Earlier in the year, Chris built the exhaust off the long-tube headers and fabricated a new brace for the T10 because of clearance issues for the piping. With the new transmission, he ditched that brace and actually welded on a small piece on the torque arm brace to support the rear of the AR5.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzL0WlELTZyMHeMdgeZduONC2CcFs3_yxAAu1V-9u_yLNlDE55YgjWfbVuiP9z5QFEXCkIn0ZAPri3ycHMgOjy5YDjyVupoSwNUu4KKJiJ-cu6_GHAX075LHw9yFBLMmGM8s3qr-gtJc/s2048/20211123_112518.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AR5 thirdgen F-Body transmission swap" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzL0WlELTZyMHeMdgeZduONC2CcFs3_yxAAu1V-9u_yLNlDE55YgjWfbVuiP9z5QFEXCkIn0ZAPri3ycHMgOjy5YDjyVupoSwNUu4KKJiJ-cu6_GHAX075LHw9yFBLMmGM8s3qr-gtJc/w320-h240/20211123_112518.jpg" title="Torque brace! Transmission mount!" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rear of the trans was supported using the<br />torque arm brace, which is a basterdized piece<br />that was already part of the car.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Really nice how that worked out.</p><p>One thing that went exactly as predicted, the driveshaft had to be shortened. The driveshaft has been delivered to a local shop to go under the knife, but it probably won't be ready until after Thanksgiving.<br /></p><p>Stay tuned for Part 3! Hopefully it's just a simple test drive with everything all buttoned up.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318071178807881340.post-5582068381575709392021-11-20T11:56:00.005-05:002021-11-23T21:44:52.029-05:00Part 1: Aisin AR5 swap into an LS Thirdgen F-Body<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPBo4Nhs01Kn6wconslf9ccSZk8y3KCSrWLCCzdye5iqv2Xjd5wSP5F9vlgiDwMEo35-wXbZNJiovyRmyewh7yBigXOm8k08Rx1EKBniOjoS5l3wD19TDzQz2dSd4vrYj3nve7T0xxWQ/s2048/aisin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1644" data-original-width="2048" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPBo4Nhs01Kn6wconslf9ccSZk8y3KCSrWLCCzdye5iqv2Xjd5wSP5F9vlgiDwMEo35-wXbZNJiovyRmyewh7yBigXOm8k08Rx1EKBniOjoS5l3wD19TDzQz2dSd4vrYj3nve7T0xxWQ/s320/aisin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An 11,000-mile Aisin AR5 transmission from<br />a Chevy Colorado. A staple in the drifting world,<br />let's see what it will do in a thirdgen F-Body<br />behind an LS engine for autocrossing.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Project Whack-A-Mole continues. I finally figured out the fuel pump issue. The old Delphi fuel pump, struggling to deliver fuel, was replaced with a new <a href="https://deatschwerks.com/collections/fuel-pumps/series-dw200" target="_blank">Deatschwerks fuel pump</a> which seemed to cure things. So I took the Camaro out for a test hit.</p><p>The car felt good driving it around some shifting through the four gears. Then I got on a more open road, mashed the throttle in second, shifted fast to third, but the car wouldn't accelerate under its own power in gear. Clutch pedal went dead, it would go through gears but they wouldn't engage. I suspected it wasn't an issue with the T10 transmission but back to the hydraulic throwout bearing, which had already failed once before.</p><p>I called Karen (she answered the phone, "Where are you?"), she picked me up, we got the Lightning and trailer, loaded the car up and took it home.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMPlv9bCutttYqj7GVGPzRsM8VT1-7zqI3cC-jRYgLBn39P2rQ0eACyGqP5LeMSfn51mdqe95RjPOlwTOXEnCSdoOea7JaflG7XqX4VoTj_VV3TedsGqbWShMlu0x4bXBJI1dDoCDwBs/s2048/IMG_1412.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Thirdgen F-Body torque arm mount" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMPlv9bCutttYqj7GVGPzRsM8VT1-7zqI3cC-jRYgLBn39P2rQ0eACyGqP5LeMSfn51mdqe95RjPOlwTOXEnCSdoOea7JaflG7XqX4VoTj_VV3TedsGqbWShMlu0x4bXBJI1dDoCDwBs/w320-h240/IMG_1412.jpg" title="Thirdgen F-Body torque arm mount" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the torque arm is mounted on my car<br />with the original T10 transmission. The AR5<br />is a bit longer so it's going to be interesting<br />to see how this works out. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Towed the car to work a week or so later. With the four-speed T10 manual transmission, I told myself that if the gearbox ever came out again, it wouldn't go back in. The original T10 might be a weak link behind the 5.3 LS engine, and I had been thinking about a change. Of course the obvious answer is T56, but even used ones are really pricey. Tremec came out with a 5-speed TKX a little while ago which looks really stout, but it's $2,500+.<p></p><p>The drifters have found a cheap option to go behind their LSx-powered BMWs and 240SXs and whatever rear-wheel-drive cars -- an Aisin AR5 5-speed manual found in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisin_AR_transmission" rel="nofollow">a handful of GM vehicles</a>. They even use them to <a href="https://www.driftmotion.com/product-p/dm3445.htm" target="_blank">put behind Toyota JZ engines</a>, and there is also <a href="https://www.onallcylinders.com/2019/11/13/monte-makeover-part-7-selecting-and-sourcing-parts-for-the-transmission-swap/" target="_blank">someone who put the transmission in his LS-swapped 1986 Monte Carlo</a>! (Really good info in that link comparing the AR5 to the usual suspects of manual transmission options.)</p><p>AR5 transmissions aren't plentiful, like any manual transmission nowadays, but when found, they are really inexpensive -- a search on <a href="http://Car-Part.com">Car-Part.com</a> uncovered several used in the $500 range.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlTx6Uo3jA_iqaCcfrXRVkk85W3czXBwJLaN6gZXRUFJIdyvutltH39yCBMV4aNfeoUZDU2fuWbEfJMrycGYdk9BYoCqcDYfQeTz5pRMvGV0Jw3Y7CL5ig4cH9Jd64xzchpjQ-cqqRhI/s2048/20211119_164332.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="FABbot AR5 to LS bundle" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlTx6Uo3jA_iqaCcfrXRVkk85W3czXBwJLaN6gZXRUFJIdyvutltH39yCBMV4aNfeoUZDU2fuWbEfJMrycGYdk9BYoCqcDYfQeTz5pRMvGV0Jw3Y7CL5ig4cH9Jd64xzchpjQ-cqqRhI/w277-h320/20211119_164332.jpg" title="FABbot AR5 to LS bundle" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the FABbot AR5 to LS bundle -- <br />bellhousing, slave cylinder and Redline <br />gear oil. Not pictured are the adapter <br />plate, clutch and flywheel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It's not all that cut-and-dried to mate one of these GM transmissions to an LS engine. However, a company called FABbot already did all the homework and has <a href="https://www.fabbotfab.com/collections/transmission-adapters" rel="nofollow">all the parts needed</a> including a super convenient bundle kit to complete the swap. Bellhousing, adapter plate, clutch, flywheel, hydraulic slave cylinder, even three quarts of Redline gear oil. They even have clutch stages ranging from 400 horsepower up to 700 so FABbot seems confident the AR5 trans will hold up to some power despite GM's rating that it's only good for 260 foot-pounds of torque. The Monte Carlo link above (<a href="https://www.onallcylinders.com/2019/11/20/monte-makeover-part-8-ar5-transmission-swap-step-by-step/" target="_blank">see also the second part of actually installing the trans</a>) has a good breakdown of why the rating is so low, theorizing GM only rates the transmission for its most powerful OEM configuration, which is the turbo Solstice/Redline. I should mention that I have some experience with the AR5 having autocrossed with Eric Kriemelmeyer in his turbo Solstice back in 2010.<div><p></p><p>Gearing wise, it shouldn't be too much of a difference from the ol' T10. Since my Camaro is just an autocross car, only first and second gears are a concern. The Colorado/Canyon AR5 has first/second gear ratios of 3.75/2.26. <a href="http://www.pontiacpower.org/BW.htm" target="_blank">The Borg Warner T10</a> (supposedly original) from my car, 3.42/2.28.</p><p>I found a transmission from a 2008 Colorado from a local salvage yard with just over 11,000 miles, ordered the FABbot kit and made the plunge.</p><p>The biggest issue that doesn't make this an easy swap in an F-Body is that the AR5 doesn't have anything on the tailshaft to connect the torque arm. Thankfully my car has been basterdized enough so that's not an issue. Also the AR5 with the FABbot bell housing and adapter is about four inches longer than the T10 with the big-block Chevy bell housing, so my driveshaft is going to have to be shortened. Should also note that I did the measurements on the AR5 not with my transmission but one at work that is already in a 1970 Chevelle with an LS. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVgOE7Y0tZ873zkXhHLtGoSf8Bo7dYxOsou5TnlpVzf7FPYnV0brgiOqanci82U3p_1Wnsu0EOg6FOEfnzloliIVSgBV2bvKeWSOjAaXY-uIm8ra1h57Na0GYz7R-DL6NS7Ln6ED1UsQ/s2048/20211119_164207.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVgOE7Y0tZ873zkXhHLtGoSf8Bo7dYxOsou5TnlpVzf7FPYnV0brgiOqanci82U3p_1Wnsu0EOg6FOEfnzloliIVSgBV2bvKeWSOjAaXY-uIm8ra1h57Na0GYz7R-DL6NS7Ln6ED1UsQ/s320/20211119_164207.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The T10 removed to reveal the hydraulic<br />release bearing has blown a seal ... again.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Camaro has been on a lift at work for the past week or so. With the AR5 transmission at the shop, and the FABbot bundle arriving yesterday, our ace mechanic Chris finally got around to dropping the T10 and seeing what the actual issue was. Sure enough, the hydraulic bearing had blown a seal. This is an American Powertrain bearing designed for people like me who are replacing mechanical clutch linkages with hydraulics. <p></p><p>When I started finishing the car up earlier this year, I had installed an American Powertrain Hydramax kit to replace the old Z-bar linkage. The setup survived about 10 dyno pulls and some street driving but failed in May when I was loading the car onto the trailer to take it to an autocross. I figured maybe I didn't shim it right. </p><p>Took the car to work then, Chris found the throwout bearing in the same state as the picture to the right. He determined it needed less shims and installed another American Powertrain bearing that had already happened to be laying around at the shop (Chris has done several LS swaps with success using the same Hydramax kit). So it's a little puzzling that after two autocross runs and some street driving that the new bearing failed in the exact same way as the old one. It's not like the car has monster power (360/353 to the wheels) or I have been doing crazy launches and hard shifting.</p><p>The FABbot kit comes with a different hydraulic setup so we will see how that one fares. <br /><br /><a href="https://sololol.blogspot.com/2021/11/part-2-its-in-hole-aisin-ar5-swap-into.html" target="_blank">Check out Part 2!</a></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0