Camaro SS

[CheapJeep]

Bought my Camaro SS back in Feb 2011. Since then it has stayed stock for the last 42,000 miles with the exception of adding 2 10" JL audio subs and amp.

Factory Specs.
-LS3 rated at 426hp and 420 lb-ft
-TR6060 manual 6spd.
-2SS package (console gauges, sunroof, leather)
-RS stripes

Stock Pics





I hadn't done any performance modifications to it since I wanted to keep the powertrain warranty from being voided. After it ran out at 36,000 I decided to start ordering parts.


The List
-Texas Speed and Performance (TSP) 1 7/8" primary to 3" collector long tube headers.
-TSP 3" high flow cats.
-TSP 3" exhaust with x-pipe and magnaflow mufflers.
-Comp camshaft. 231/236 .641"/.615" 112 lsa
-PRC .675" dual valve springs, seats, retainers
-TSP chromoly 7.4 pushrods
-3 bolt cam gear and ARP bolts
-TSP 15% underdrive pulley
-160* thermostat
-Hurst stage II short shifter
-RotoFab intake
-Nitrous Express plate system
-Pfadt Engineering stage II suspension
-American Racing Wheels Boulevards 20x8" front and 20x10" rear

About 6 months ago while the Camaro was parked at the office all day, never left, I came out to find a dent in the driver side front fender. No car on that side only a median. Regardless, I had searched junkyards and craigslist for months to no avail. Vendors wanted around $380 including freight shipping then another $400 in paint/labor. Dealership quoted $1000 for parts, paint, and labor.

Luckily, I came across a pair of cyber grey fenders brand new with only 100 miles on them from AAC Lighting Concepts on Camaro5.com. The owner wanted custom z06 vented fenders and AAC had the stock ones sitting for over a year.

For $180, I got both front fenders even though I only needed one, only problem was they didn't want to ship. So I left on a friday after work and drove to New Orleans, had a good night on the town, picked up the fenders the next morning and made it home with 2 new fenders wrapped in blankets in the back seat. Good deal...

[CheapJeep]

Fenders...





Cam install pics....

[CheapJeep]

More...








Suspension...

[CheapJeep]

Back up and running...

Added a heritage grill and retro SS emblems.








Finishing the Nitrous Express system tonight. Taking it over to Late Model Racecraft tomorrow for dyno tuning.

Running a Lingenfelter LNC-2000 for timing retard duties, MSD 8969 digital window switch, NX tps, and NX automatic bottle heater. Built my own stand alone fuel system using a Jaz 1 gallon fuel cell and Holley blue fuel pump mounted in the trunk with -8 steel braided lines routed to Holley fp regulator in the front.

[BroncoJo]

How many horsepower did the thermostat add?

[Sharpe]

Needs spinners.

[RCcola55]

Are they going to spray it on a dyno run?

[Sparling]

How many horsepower did the thermostat add?

Probably about as much as your new headlights. Except the T-stat actually does something.

[sam_hodnett]

Awesome, but I like the stock wheels better

[KrazyKarl02]

When are you going to the track? Let me know, I'll go be track bitch.

Not being a dick, but with the cam and shat, did it effect drivavbility? My brother-in-law had a mustang 302 with GT-40 heads (in an explorer...), put a cam in it and it would not start if you had the A/C on or foot on the brakes. Any difference?

[BroncoJo]

My new headlights shine light as my old ones didn't ...

[tigweld]

whats the reasoning behind going back to standard springs from the beehives. the larger retainer and bigger spring have to weight quit a bit more. this seems anti productive.

[CheapJeep]

How many horsepower did the thermostat add?

The factory t-stat doesn't open until 190* or so. The 160* helps keep heat soak/temps down a few degrees.

Are they going to spray it on a dyno run?

Ya, LMR called this morning and changed my tune time to 2pm today.

Awesome, but I like the stock wheels better

I don't... I hated the way the spokes stuck all the way out to the lip of the wheel. I wanted something that had a wide lip and the spokes tucked back near the center giving it the old school muscle car look. It's hard to tell in the pics since they're chrome.

[davido]

Nice!

The one I saw in NE had covers like these also, to complete the retro look.



I would have gotten a photo, but we were too busy "doing work" in and out of traffic. I was in a Jetta.

[CheapJeep]

When are you going to the track? Let me know, I'll go be track bitch.

Not being a dick, but with the cam and shat, did it effect drivavbility? My brother-in-law had a mustang 302 with GT-40 heads (in an explorer...), put a cam in it and it would not start if you had the A/C on or foot on the brakes. Any difference?

Thinking about tonight. I'll let ya know for sure.

My department manager has a wrx STI with a bigger turbo and I kept stomping him. Then he put a water meth injection kit in and I lost. Now he just finished putting another new turbo on and is tuning today as well. So....we're planning on settling the grudge match tonight.

As for the drivability...right now with the factory tune in it, I have gone from having 4 catalytic converters and 4 O2 sensors to only 2 high flow cats and 2 o2 sensors (been like that since I did the exhaust a couple months ago). With the cam swap and everything else it's definitely throwing codes. However, it starts right up and maintains idle even after cruising at hwy speeds. The tune will disable the missing o2 sensors, recalibrate a/f ratios, maf, etc. basically it won't throw codes and will run excellent.

whats the reasoning behind going back to standard springs from the beehives. the larger retainer and bigger spring have to weight quit a bit more. this seems anti productive.

I don't think the beehives would last very long with near .650" lift. With dual springs on each valve the chances of breaking a spring are decreased, especially in the upper rpm range. They would wear out faster as well and I wouldn't want to have to change springs every 20k miles.