TEGGSRB18C1's 2013 2SS/RS 6MT life long build

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by The_bald_eagle_machine

You sir are definitely a perfectionist. Not an insult though, the car looks like it is coming along very nicely. With these cars once you have headers it is definitely more difficult to stay off of the loud pedal. Less miles per gallon, but more smiles per gallon.

Thank you man! I've been dying to take it out but I haven't had time. It's pretty much done now, got the fuel line bracket back from the fab shop and he did a great job, I still ended up putting some rubber washers under it to push the line up over the covers. I didn't want it to rub.

So this is the finished product. All wrenching is done (sans torque check after a few heat cycles) Next is getting a new laptop for tuning. I tried using the TDN app on my phone to set up my RTD and they weren't communicating well.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Father's Day weekend, took her out on the maiden voyage and put a few miles on to make sure everything was good. Came back, looked everything over and my only issue was the line running from the intake to the oil separator. It got hot and the small amount of tape I have on each end holding the sleeving to the hose started to unravel.

I feared this when initially installing it but I figured the clamp would hold it all together....no, it didn't. I took it apart, picked up some 3/4 heat shrink and remade the ends. Looks even better than before. And because I was feeling froggy I threw the strut bar on to top it off.

I'm pretty pumped about how this all turned out. Now that the car has proven itself, it's tune time.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Just one last piece and I'm done, I swear. I picked up this lightly used Elite Engineering catch can for $25. Came with some funky bracket for another platform, I know I said I wanted to go with the over the radiator style setup but I changed my mind in favor of the traditional idler pulley mount.

I made up some more sleeved lines and picked up more fuel injection clamps which don't really work here as well as other areas of the bay. I may revise my whole clamp setup at some point but for now, it's functional and still looks clean.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Picked up this mint Kicker OE optional subwoofer package. I have been hunting down a OE subwoofer solution for a little while now. Truth be told, I really wanted the MTX dual 10" option but I couldn't find one that the seller would ship. They must be heavy or awkward or something.

So, I settled for the Kicker. I know there are much better aftermarket solutions but as you can probably tell, I have an affinity for plug and play/OEM plus type stuff.

I'm probably going to wait to install this. I'm thinking about picking up a Lloyds trunk mat to match my front floor mats but I want to make sure these two won't interfere with each other before coughing up $200.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Answered my own question on the trunk mat by doing a dry install. As a matter of fact, it doesn't even fit over the OE gray carpet mat all that well. I ended up having to cut it which I was not super pumped about. I do not like making permanent modifications for possible temporary parts.

The wiring and instructions for this thing are vague. I found a YouTube video from a few years ago to be way more useful. Kicker wants you to use those whack ass crimp slice connections. I disregarded that and went with these Posi Tap connectors. They spliced right into the driver side rear 6X9 wiring harness.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with this thing. I've had some multi sub, 1000+ watt systems before so I kinda doubted how much this would hit but it's not bad at all. For a compact OE plug and play solution, definitely gets a thumbs up.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Found this BNIB Eibach Pro Kit on FB Marketplace for $175, couldn't pass it up. I was originally going to go with OE ZL1 springs for a .75" drop but the 1" from the Eibach's will be just fine.

These are for way way down the road but I need to pick out some struts for these. My OE struts only have 15.7K miles on them but let's be real, even the garage queens aren't spring chickens...these cars are getting old. I was thinking Bilstein B6 but some people on here were complaining of the struts themselves giving a varying ride height but some of those guys were running Z/28 strut mounts so more research is required.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

I've been hanging onto this last piece until tuning was done. Fran had the car dialed in within 3 tune revisions. I'm happy with his work, the car drives just like stock. I'll be back in his tuning que when I get the rear diff built.

So this is probably it for 2023, a cherry on top to finish the engine bay. You can see my car came equipped from the factory with one of the two aluminum horizontal badges (which one is up for debate) from the scratches of whomever pulled it off. Maybe the original owner, maybe a tech at the dealership I bought it from, who knows.

I like the Chevrolet Performance emblem a little more than the GM Performance Division version so I picked one up and "restored" it to original form.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Veterans Day Cars and Coffee at the Hershey Auto Museum. Car showed amazing and recieved quite a few compliments. This is it for the year, the Pennsylvania car scene shuts down for the next 5 months.

So winter plans are pretty simple: install the divorced clutch reservoir and flushing the brake system. I want to pick up the Motiv Power Bleeder pump first though. Other than that just trolling for deals on diff parts.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Whew, it's been a while since I've updated this. I changed careers, and in turn, put the Camaro on the back burner for a minute. I actually left the state for training for the better part of a month.

While I was there, I made the best of it and picked up this BNIB GM Performance 3.91 gear set off FB marketplace. This was a pretty decent score. I really wanted AAM gears for the best chance at negating gear NVH. I want their master bearing/seal set too.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Here's a few old school 5th gen mods, black billet strut mount covers and tensioner cover. My wife got these for me for Christmas and I just picked up the tools to do them this weekend. The offset strut socket is stupid expensive but it does make the job easier.

[Joe.G]

What was needed to be done to do the strut covers? Looks nice.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by Joe.G

What was needed to be done to do the strut covers? Looks nice.

You just need some form of pass through 24mm socket and T50 torx. You may be able to use a impact and bypass holding the strut shaft still but this was a little more precise.

I was able to torque the strut nut down to Drakes 49 ft lb. spec. That tool pictured is $95...

[Joe.G]

Does loosening this have any effect on the alignment?

[morepowerjoe]

Just wanted to say that your car is looking fantastic! Reminds me of my black 2012.