[Tim M]

Success! I drove home from the heart-breaker! And picked up a bit of HP as well...

740 crank HP to be exact. Last iteration stopped the dial at 700 CHP...so x-porting the LT4 blower and porting the OEM exhaust manifolds and cats added 40 CHP! I'm happy with this result - nice ascending power curve and believe it will be sufficient for the big goal on the autobahn.

Big thanks to Ted Jannetty for supporting the dyno session and reflashes - definitely worth the effort.

Fortunately, a rather uneventful dyno video:



I will say the drive home was not without a 'hmmm'. Leaving the shop, a new noise developed...does not appear to be mechanical and may have contributed to the LTFT's split that was noticed. More to follow tomorrow!

[Tim M]

My go to machinist/welder did it up right:



Even smoothed the interior:



New gaskets:



Solo exhaust install is a full body experience, but managed:



And we have success! I believe the tapping noise to be the mechanical high pressure fuel pump on the high lift aftermarket cam lobe (32%)...smooth idle cam is still a bit rowdy even in stealth mode (video below):

[Tim M]

Took a short trip to Austria...416 running like a top. We've seen 21 mpg at 82 mph without traffic. Today, 30 mins of stau's...German/Austrian traffic jams...:





And arrival:





Check out that white top in the background - we are sitting at 4200 feet...beautiful area Soelden, Austria.

[Tim M]

The new engine has passed nearly 12,000 miles since born - a success in of itself! Piece of mind, but likely unnecessary, I swapped in a new set of the same PSI 1516 Beehive valve springs.

[url]

Compared to my previous C4 Corvette (with clamshell hood), this car is bit harder to work on. Took ~7 hours (included loosing 3 valve locks in the bowels of the lower engine compartment)...and the TI valve retainer, due to their deep design, were a bit of a pain to 'dislodge'.



My tools:



Fresh valves seals (since I was in there):



And what makes 7100 rpm possible:



Plugs looked great! (I was a bit hamfisted on one of them...)

[url]

Lot of work for likely no gains...bit more confidence as we have another drive to UK scheduled in a few days via the Chunnel again. Destination - Goodwood Festival of Speed...where we are allowed to park in the 'Supercar Parking!' Looking forward to it!

Still can't believe this Chevy makes such power...;-)

[Tim M]

With spring change complete...changed oil and pointed the car north with my young assistant to Goodwood Festival of Speed in South England. Tickets (bought in February!):



8 hours Stuttgart to French side of the English Channel tunnel - Chunnel. Few traffic issues, but survived. Stayed the night to ensure we made the chunnel train in the morning. SS awaiting its load time:



Driving on board...got lower level on both trips...bit of fun going up:



Loaded:



Camaro is wide...about 4 inches on the other side:



And mirror proximity to the restrooms...got to be on your game as you drive the length of the train loading/off loading!



Offloading:



Side trip to Duxford Imperial Air Museum...impressive...even get a ride in a Spitfire (for $4000)!



Bath before the big show at a local base watching F-35s launch and recover:



Stayed the night in south London...good parking!:



Goodwood size is immense...grown over the years since it was only 3 days back in the early 2000's and only cost $50 to watch:



Camaro is considered an exotic in Europe, so special parking!:



Travel companion loved the drifts cars...loud, smoke, and fire:



My favorite...F1 V10 models...incredible sound (below is a video!):



Fittipaldi's jet car - yes it runs with several passes:



Close up...Fittipaldi is doing an interview in the driving suit:



CANAM example...love the exhaust note...tiny front tires (air ducts seem out of place...):



Beautiful!:



Older Ferraris...got to seem them make noise up the hill!:



Even a rally stage...loved the Audi Quatro - sound is intoxicating!:



And several Colin McRae cars in attendance...yes they drove them in the dirt!



We were parked in the vicinity of this car - T50...Cosworth V12 with 12,000 rpm capability.* $3.1 million price...passed us on the motorway on the way out sounding like F1 over again - wow!



On the road!:



Manufacturer's midway was tremendous...this Hyundai display is all temporary!:



Heading home reversing out course...crazy UK roads - Narrow!





last car on the chunnel train!



Last day was a 10 hours enroute...easy on the smooth roads, Camaro's stability, and 83 mph cruise speed. Overall 1,520 miles covered and just shy of 19 mpg. We had more hold ups this year which likely impacted the mileage a good bit (example - 30 mins of idling at the French passport control - not sure they like UK leaving the EU!)

If you ever get a chance, Goodwood Festival of Speed is the ultimate to see and hear all these incredible machines run! Nowhere else the same opportunity...very fortunate we are!

[Boost Creep]

Sounds like you had a blast, looks like great weather as well.

[mpride]

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures. Really enjoyed that.

[Tim M]

Well, car, schedule, weather, and a lowest traffic Sunday lined up for another go for top speed. 0430 wake up to get to the optimum flat, straight autobahn of about 60 mins distant.

Unfortunately, not successful...car accelerated wonderfully until 194 mph where it laid down twice...minor and then more significant after hitting 196. Second slow included oil on the windshield from the now-designated, "oil-leak-indicator-hole" in the hood.



Fortunately, it wasn't sufficient to cause any roadway issues...pulled off and noted spray originating from the aftermarket catch can:



Later inspection showed some oil in the supercharger (less than OEM, but expect close to zero):



and:



Catch can revealed 50 ml in 500 miles of driving (likely most of which was the last mile at 6800 rpm!):



Data showed knock - which was likely the first laydown (minor) and then oil on the belt which drastically reduced power with a drop of 12 psi to 9.



Positives: engine survived 6800 rpm for extended period at 740 CHP and got me home to live another day.

Negatives: 6800 rpm seems like a bit of a ceiling. And ruined my follow-on visit to the Nurburgring on a perfect weather day.

Ted suggested I run better fuel...which I can do. 98 RON is easily accessible at ~$4 gallon. Shell also sells 102 RON, but at three times the cost...~$10 a gallon! But certainly worth it to find its topspeed.

I leaned forward a bit with a new, slightly shorter belt (for more tension) and even a new Griptec pulley in the same diameter to freshen the belt grip (miles will wear the pulley smooth).

Car is rock solid at speed even with -2.5 degrees of negative camber up front. Very impressive Chevy product!

[RobZL1]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Well, car, schedule, weather, and a lowest traffic Sunday lined up for another go for top speed.* 0430 wake up to get to the optimum flat, straight autobahn of about 60 mins distant.

Unfortunately, not successful...car accelerated wonderfully until 194 mph where it laid down twice...minor and then more significant after hitting 196.* Second slow included oil on the windshield from the now-designated, "oil-leak-indicator-hole" in the hood.



Fortunately, it wasn't sufficient to cause any roadway issues...pulled off and noted spray originating from the aftermarket catch can:



Later inspection showed some oil in the supercharger (less than OEM, but expect close to zero):



and:



Catch can revealed 50 ml in 500 miles of driving (likely most of which was the last mile at 6800 rpm!:



Data showed knock - which was likely the first laydown (minor) and then oil on the belt which drastically reduced power with a drop of 12 psi to 9.



Positives:* engine survived 6800 rpm for extended period at 740 CHP and got me home to live another day.**

Negatives:* 6800 rpm seems like a bit of a ceiling. And ruined my follow-on visit to the Nurburgring on a perfect weather day.* *

Ted suggested I run better fuel...which I can do. 98 RON is easily accessible at ~$4 gallon. Shell also sells 102 RON, but at three times the cost...~$10 a gallon! But certainly worth it to find its topspeed.

I leaned forward a bit with a new, slightly shorter belt (for more tension) and even a new Griptec pulley in the same diameter to freshen the belt grip (miles will wear the pulley smooth).

Car is rock solid at speed even with -2.5 degrees of negative camber up front. Very impressive Chevy product!

Awesome stuff, regardless! I'm sure you'll get the little issues worked out. Which catch can are you running, the "mild" or the "wild"?

[Tim M]

RobZL1: I'm running the mild version...figured my HP is certainly on the lower end...

New 'rough' pulley arrived...surface treatment prevents belt slippage...although my problem is just keeping the fluid (foreshadowing!) inside the engine!:



Installed like butter...replacing the same:



Gave it the OEM look (blacking out the writing...not like the bolt on hub is OEM...):



And headed to the Nurburg Ring for some laps...been nearly a year since I've had this car on track. First time at full power and boy was I rusty with a rear wheel drive car! Unfortunately, day ended on the wrecker at the 3.5 lap point...:



Main serpentine belt half shredded and cut a coolant hose...:



Belt remnants...half of the belt is still functioning...the other half is acts like a buzzsaw!:



Extremely lucky nil coolant was spilled on track...confirmed by the track marshal several times - quite a relief!

$20 belt turns into a $478 tow off the track and $30 a day for storage while waiting for the long tow. Fortunate, it appears roadside assistance will cover the 200 mile tow back to Stuttgart while it awaits parts from the states. As I waited for my ride home...another 10 cars were carted off the track...$478 a pop! No wonder they had a nice waiting room... ;-)

On the bright side, the car ran like a top - faster than I have skills for - scary - Yes! Even on my warm up hitting 155 mph on the fast part of the track. Throttle action was far improved and allowed much greater confidence feeding in the power. Quite happy!

[JANNETTYRACING]

Glad all is well.

Not sure if this could help you. https://jannettyracing.com/products/...A&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[Tim M]

Ted - great product...and already installed! I believe the thermostat is still in one piece...hard to tell on the side of the track with a cell phone light...

[Tim M]

Still waiting on the car to be shipped to Stuttgart...

Video of the previous experience...nothing earthshattering, but the sound is intoxicating - GoPro does a pretty good job of recording it...quite a package!

[Tim M]

Well, flat bed arrived to a friend's shop...car is dirty, but no damage noted!* Hoped the main serpentine and coolant hose would take 20 mins...times myself...42 minutes!* I despise road side repairs, but this one was simple and permanent - fortunately!



It runs!



Drove 45 mins home with nary an issue.* Today I blasted it at the car wash...ridding of coolant spillage.* Phew!