Archive for the ‘ Corvette ’ Category

Mods done, tuning now

Well, I have all the parts installed.  Quick recap of what was completed since Feb 2010 (yes it took me a while):
1) Exhaust – Longtube headers, high flo cats, xpipe, left the titanium Corsa in place.
2) Engine – Vararam intake, 100mm MAF, 90mm TB, 102mm FAST manifold.  Fuel lines, rails, regulator.
3) PCM – HP Tuner pro, LC-1 wideband sensor
 
Right now I am tuning the vehicle’s PCM (computer) for the added stuff.  I am using HP Tuner Pro software along with a wideband scanner which is dual purpose between reading air/fuel from the headers and simulating the narrowband stock O2 sensor so my PCM doesn’t freak out.  I am very new to tuning however I am using a great "teach yourself" type training from www.thetuningschool.com.  I highly recommend this course for anyone that wants to get into Tuning.  I am still cleaning up the wiring in the car from the wideband scanner.  It’s all run into the glove compartment currently and I hope to make a container for it to clean things up a bit.
 
Can’t wait to get this thing tuned, already the exhaust note makes it known that I’m not stock anymore heh.
 
So am I done with the vette?  Heck no, lots of other plans.  I am getting pricing for a new motor in the event the stock LS1 (has 196K miles) goes.  I’ll more than likely go forged and I’m looking at either an LS2 with stock bore size or an LS2 402 stroker.  I am going to do dished pistons so I can go blown (supercharger) at a later date.  Working with A&A Corvette in California to get this done, they do great work.
 
That’s it for now.  Hope to get the before and after video of the exhaust sound up here soon.
 
L8r,
Mowpow

Out with the 87, in with the 98

Just noticed I suck and didn’t post that I sold the 87 corvette but I think that’s old news now.  I purchased a 1998 Corvette that has 195K miles on it.  It’s in great condition.  I got it in Sept 09 and it’s kept me pretty busy.  Not that there was anything wrong with it, I just decided to start "fixing things" right away.  In other words, upgrade some things.  The car is white so right away I knew it had to be a decepticon tribute.  I saw this one dude’s white vette with a punisher sticker on the back and it was all blacked out.  I was pretty impressed by how that looked and I’m not even one to like white cars.  I knew that’s what I had to do if I ever got a white car so here we go! 
 
So far, here’s what I’ve done:
 
  1. Replaced Automatic shifter – Old one was pretty worn out.  The previous owner had one and gave it to me with the car so I installed this first.
  2. Installed a Viper alarm system with voice module.  This taught me more about the car’s electronic system than I cared to know heh.  Plus, I now can take apart the entire interior and put it back together.  The voice module also has a PA system so I use that for a good laugh from time to time.  I also installed a proximity sensor so if someone looks in the window or puts their hand in the car when the windows are down it says "Warning, self destruct system is now active".  Classic. 
  3. Decepticon Sticker on the back window, decepticon oil cap.
  4. 15 Purple LEDs on a rocker switch.  These are pretty cool and very subtle and add to the decepticon theme.
  5. Blacked out all lights except for headlights and side markers.  I plan to do the side markers just haven’t gotten to it yet.
  6. Replaced the rotors (fronts were warped) and repainted the calipers from red to black, again going with that black/white combo color.  This was brutal and took weeks as I had many challenges.  Stripping the calipers was a bigger pain than I ever imagined.  Painting them wasn’t too fun either but they look a lot better.  I hand painted the white corvette lettering on the front calipers.  One came out great, the other, meh not perfect.  When this paint goes, I will definitely do powdercoat as I am never doing a manual paint on calipers again.  I also broke a brake banjo bolt and let me tell you how hard that was to find to replace, it sucked.
  7. New parking brake shoes.  The old ones fused to the old rotors which indicates either someone was having fun with the ebrake when driving or flat out forgot to disengage it and drove a ways with it on.  Who knows.  This was another pain as there was this little clip, ah never mind, I’m having flashbacks now.

Currently, I am installing LG long tube headers, high flow cats and a new x pipe (also LG motorsports).  I have the driver side one in and I also replaced the tunnel plate.  The new tunnel plate is 1/4" thich aluminum.  Essentially it keep the body from flexing and also protects the drivetrain and keeps exhaust heat out of the cockpit.  The stock one is pretty crappy.  I took pictures so as soon as the exhaust is done, I’ll dump them all up there.  While doing this exhaust I also noticed that the Corsa titanium mufflers are not secured to anything, they are just hanging over the rear axle.  I have to figure that out to as I knew I heard something rattling back there just couldn’t tell what it was, now I do!  I am also replacing the spark plugs and wires since they look OEM.  I’m using Taylor wires with AC Delco Irridium plugs with stock gap.

Next, I have these parts that I plan to install.  They are sitting in my garage as of right now but I’m anxious to get them installed:

  1. FAST LSX 102mm intake.
  2. Nick Williams 90mm Throttle body
  3. Torrent fuel rails, new fuel lines and a pressure regulator – Hinson Super Cars is fabricating this for me now as this is required for the new intake (http://hinsonsupercars.com/)
  4. 160 deg thermostat
  5. Vararam cold air intake – this system is pretty cool, it draws air from the fog light bays in the front.  Brilliant design.

Once all this is done I’m going to get a tune (have to with all the mods, sheesh) and have it dyno’d.  It will be interesting to see what numbers I put down with these upgrades.  Best guess is probably +35 hp at the rear wheels, the tune alone with the headers will probably get that so it’s a modest guess.

One thing that is eating away at me is the oil leak that I think is coming from the rear main seal.  I don’t think I can get to this without pulling the motor so I’ll probably not worry about this just yet.  The only thing that sucks is that the oil is dripping onto the cats so it smells like burning oil on my car all the time.  Boo.

Anyway, I’ll post pics as soon as I get to a stopping point and get the car back on the ground again!

Jake

87 Vette all ready to sell

Well, done everything I want to do to the 87 Vette as it is ready to sell.  Posted some pictures so check them out!

Corvette status

Well, I’ve officially had my Corvette for 7 days and it’s kept me pretty busy.  The day after I got it home my son and I got in the car to take it to my parents to show it off.  Turn the key, click, no starting for you! 😦  After some troubleshooting and research, turns out the starter is bad.  I thought this might happen as the previous owner had an issue starting it initially when I looked at it. 
 
After about 8 hours, lots of cussing, bruises, ruined clothes, and money spent on tools, the starter is now swapped out and she started right up.  Luckily the neighbor across the street from me was able to help since he worked on LS1’s in the past, this was a huge help. 
 
The main problems I had with swapping the starter were:
 
1) I’ve never swapped a starter out in my entire life.
2) I didn’t have very many tools.
3) The fuel lines ran right over the starter.
4) Long tube headers made this working in tight quarters to say the least.
5) The wires for the starter were way too short. I had to hook up the wires when it was bolted in and the whole to get my hand to the wires was smaller than my hand.
 
I noticed after driving the Corvette a couple times the idle is a bit rough.  Today I cleaned out the throttle body, it was pretty nasty.  I haven’t driven the car since the cleaning but I image throttle response will be a bit better now.
 
Next I plan to powerwash the engine since it looks like crap but I need to finish the baby room first!   I’ll post some new engine pictures once I have it cleaned up.
 
I also have some ideas about the projects (short and long term) that I would like to do in the Corvette:
 
Exterior:
1) Full Zaino detail to help with the swirls in the paint.  Polish the wheel wells.
2) Blackouts for all lights.  I am still thinking about this one.
3) Bring back the personal license plate "Mowpow".  I had this on my 2001 Camaro SS.
 
Interior:
1) New seats.  All controls work fine but the leather looks terrible and is quite worn.
2) Minor dash/control repairs.  There are cracks in the plastic facings on the dash but the top is in good shape.  The driver side window switch is damaged but still works (part on order).  Carpet needs to be cleaned. 
3) Upgrade the radio.  I don’t have any tapes anymore :).
4) Replace the steering wheel.
 
Engine:
1) Powerwash and detail.
2) Reseal oil tank.  Not leaking majorly but did notice some ooze when I was replacing the starter.
3) May need a new AC compressor.  Strange clicking noise when AC is on but it still blows cold air.
4) Turbo.  ~6-8 psi boost.  Add some power to the top end and raise HP to the 500’s.  This is definitely long term hehehe, $5 grand at least :).
 
I’ll take some new pictures of the exterior once I get it Zaino’d up.
 
Jake

New toy

Well, the 2006 Eclipse is no more, say hello to my 1987 Chevrolet Corvette!  Haven’t gotten to drive it very much today but I imagine I will come up with all sorts of excuses to get it out tomorrow.  All I have to say is damn, this thing is fast.  I snapped a couple pictures tonight but will get more when I polish her up a bit with some Zaino action!  Check out my Photo’s section, here is one:
 
 
 
I would like to also thank my wife for allowing me to finally get a hot rod I can get in moderate trouble with.  Jen, you are the best!
 
Jake