[Tim M]

Track day in the Evo was a ton of fun. Would have been much better in the bigger HP car (Camaro!). Slow lap video:



Did receive a new near exact replacement for the TB...this time from Katech. Work of art!:

[Tim M]

Katech 103 MM throttle body did the trick...car runs like previous. Also received the Nick Williams back with fresh electronics - now 100%. Expensive repair, but simple to fix!

Fast forward a month...car was ready for an autobahn run.

Oil changed, full tank of 98 octane (93 US), and tires pumped to 42 psi cold...headed out at 0500 Sunday morning for the hour drive to an optimum location - river bottom, concrete and a long, unrestricted straight without on ramps:



Not the goal of 200 mph, but it did survive 2+ miles at WOT and drove home so can't complain. 6 mph increase from previous.

There are still issues - end of the run had a catch can overflow which moistened the engine a bit to the point of coming out the hood vent! Admittedly, I failed to drain the catch can before the run, but it had only been 700 miles...possibly an issue. I did pull the plugs following the run and all looked happy. Also did a cranking compression test: 190-198 even across all 8 cylinders.



Boost: Also noticed the boost dropped after 1.5 miles - lost 2 psi, 11 psi to 9. That could be ~25 CHP loss right when it needed it. This is OEM pulley sizing.

Alignment: Car has -3 degrees camber on the front - possibly not ideal, but I'm more concerned in the toe - noticed a bit of extreme inside tire wear which is not normal even with this camber. I also noticed the car wandered more than previously...this could be extra rolling drag.




Brake cooling: I had recently installed the several times larger cooling ducts from a Cadillac...they definitely hang down far more than the OEM's...might help to pull them off next time. Surely the underside of the car has minimal impacts?



The acceleration in 4th is very impressive and 5th is nearly so especially considering the 'long' gearing.

I guess the project is not complete! More to follow...:-)

[6spdhyperblue]

That really doesn’t have much issue getting to 195

[Tim M]

6spdhyperblue: agreed! The GPS is not accurate on the acceleration...for instance shift into 5th was right at 150 mph. It definitely struggled at the very high numbers...

[Tim M]

This forum posted a simple, neat reliability upgrade - plastic coolant thermostat shield. Folks have lost blower belts which then whip around and break off the small plastic barb on the thermostat housing - thereby losing coolant.

Seems like a good idea with the higher rpm I'm spinning the blower (OEM ratio, but 500 rpm past factory redline).

Before:



After - couldn't be easier - slip on and use OEM nuts to secure:



Scheduled for an alignment adjustment due to the excessive toe on the front and will decrease the negative camber from negative 3 to 2.5 degrees. I find the car a bit wonky at that camber at the higher straightline speeds. Hopefully the toe will reduce drag as well.

[Tim M]

Well more to the story...the catch can was not filled...where did the oil come from? Likely source was a failed front main seal...but why did it fail. Possibly the crankcase is pressurizing excessively and rolled the seal out - allowing oil to exit the engine and spread via the rotating balancer.

So begins the removal...takes me hours to do this stuff, but finally the mega bolt is off:



And the balancer has vacated the position:



Old front main seal...looks a ok! Hmmm. Then I notice a wiring harness pass thru that is dislodged (oil pump has two settings - this wire controls that). Could this be the issue? It doesn't fit snugly in the hole and it was dangling...surprised to see the volume oil though. Nonetheless, we will apply a bit of RTV to further snug it in (I recall installing a new assembly with this new shortblock). Hopefully it didn't receive a push due to excess crankcase pressure...this would be an assembly error.



For safety's sake, I did purchase a leak down tester and will give that a shot - supposedly the best indicator of the health of the engine...



Crossing my fingers...

[Boost Creep]

A little UV dye in the oil might help locate the source of any leak.

[Tim M]

Boost Creep: normally agree, but I think the dislodged wiring harness pass thru plug was the culprit. Why it popped out - not sure. Then again the engine engine was covered in oil so...;-)

Get it back together today is the plan - thanks!

[Tim M]

Back together! (video above)

Still amazing - smooth idle and 700 hp...modern technology!

And we will be piloting this car to Goodwood Festival of Speed this week! Did this same trip 5 years ago...4 countries, a train, and wrong side driving - great adventure!

[Tim M]

Wednesday departure at 0530 took right into heavy rain...great way to start with a dirty car... Nonetheless, zipped to the German border for last 'inexpensive' fuel (~$4.50 gallon):



Next stop was Calais, France for an overnighter to set us up for the channel tunnel crossing:



Refueled on the economy and total price was nearly $170! Ouch...next morning was boarding the train for the 80 mph channel crossing via tunnel - always a modern marvel. I read Popular Mechanics articles on this engineering feat many years ago...now ~$200 gets you an uneventful trip 250 feet beneath the sea level.

The locomotives are work horses...back and forth without a bath!



#1 car on the lower deck (2 decks)...tempting*to set a speed record on a train, but a bit tight:



Loaded:



Camaro is relatively wide...only 3.5 inches per side which took some concentration to drive the length of the train without rubbing!



Swung by a car wash to rid the 650 miles worth of rain and bugs - clean car is happy owner!:



The 416 hasn't missed a beat thus far. Solid 20 mpg for the 650 miles covered...with a dozen traffic staus (jams) to idle endlessly - seems low until you consider 700 CHP...I'm happy. Throttle response needs work though...

Tomorrow is one of the best car events, IMO...hopefully we'll stay dry!

[Tim M]

What an event! Little damp in the AM...amazing to see the supercars being driven...in the wet and muddy conditions:



and:



Never saw another Camaro in attendance - ours is a rarity!

Incredible mixture of cars, bikes, side cars...

Turbine-powered car:



Mercedes:



Koenigsegg:



Ferraris:









Various F1 cars...favorite certainly are the V10 cars with the 20,000 rpm shriek:



I recall this from my early childhood...



Travis Pastrana driving the Family Truckster - going for the record!:



Even NASCAR representations:



Possibly the slowest vehicle on the hill - aerocar. Yes, it did make a pass...partial:



Folkestone, UK awaiting chunnel crossing:



Just a feat of human engineering...picnic smooth during the 35 mins transit beneath the English Channel:



1400 miles covered, 19.3 mpg with over a dozen traffic jams experienced. 20.3 mpg highway average...no oil consumed, no CE lights. Cruise and AC luxury! Impressive modern technology...

If you'd like to visit UK/Europe...highly suggest lining up with the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed!

[Tim M]

Believe a curbing strike on the Ring some time ago resulted in a slight alignment change...wearing the insides of the front tires significantly...or not enough track time to even it out!

Either way, fresh fron Goodyears were mounted:



And installed:



Smooth at 165 mph today...great to have a 'relationship' with a local high end car shop to not damage the wheels and provide a good balance the first time...for 50 Euro. :-)

Nearly 7000 miles on the new 416!