'14 AGM 1SS/1LE Track build [COTW 11/17/14]

[X25]

I've been talking to Michael at Improved Racing. He told me that C6 Corvette owners who also eliminated the OEM cooler typically get to about 240-250 degrees oil temp with this kit. I am wondering if the oil temp sensor is correct, or if it's a fake 'calculated' number like some suggest at the forum. Does anyone know anything about it?

I am also wondering if the thermostat is indeed allowing full flow, but there's no easy way to test it, short of installing a pressure sensor on the cooler core. Michael suggested I could try with the oil adapter that has no thermostat to check on it.

Long story short, perhaps it's working correctly, and I should just install a temp sensor of my own to validate. An expensive method to validate for sure. Or perhaps there is an issue (like thermostat not opening as it should, etc.), but it is very hard to test these things out.

[X25]

Read this!
http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.p...l=1#post508830

OK I think I am a victim of computer wizardry. I will just install a REAL oil temp sensor (or get it installed).

I'm pretty close to calling complete BS on the ECM's calculated oil temp value on the LS3....here's why:

• GM info states: "This parameter displays the temperature of the engine oil as calculated by the control module using various sensor inputs", but I haven't yet found any details on exactly how it is calculated or what sensors are involved.
• I first disconnected the so-called 'oil level/temp sensor' on the passenger side of the oil pan and let the car idle for 5 minutes. During that 5 min where this sensor was disconnected, my Aeroforce Interceptor displayed what appeared to be a valid oil temp reading. A few days later, I left the sensor disconnected all day. The 'Check Oil' warning eventually appeared on the dash, and my Interceptor continued to provide a valid oil temp reading, up to my normal 200-ish street operating temperature.
• I then disconnected the Coolant Temp sensor...same results, Oil Temp still had a valid reading on the Interceptor while idling for 5 min (haven't done a full day like this yet). Logic suggests that ECT is somehow involved with oil temp calculation, but how much is anyone's guess. We also know that some people have found that calculated oil temps are lower when using a coolant thermostat that opens at a lower temperature.
• I then disconnected the Oil Pressure sensor...same results, Oil Temp still had a valid reading on the Interceptor while idling for 5 min (haven't done a full day like this yet). As the car sits now, all 3 sensors (oil level, ECT, and EOP) are disconnected, and I'm still seeing oil temps that are apparently reasonable and continue to change with the engine idling. I'm not really sure what other sensors to check. I suspect IAT or AAT, but I'm not going to mess with either of those right now. I'm also starting to suspect that engine run time and or RPM is also a significant part of the calculation.
• Lots of folks with wet sumped LS3's (Camaro/G8/wet sump Vette) have found that calculated oil temperatures are relatively unchanged after oil cooler installation (big coolers, small coolers, Air to Oil, Water to Oil, it doesn't seem to matter much). This just doesn't make any sense at all.
• LS engines with actual temp sensors (e.g. LS1 & LS6) seem to respond much better to oil coolers. This seems normal. Case in point: This CTS-V Oil Cooler How-To, which is a copy of a C5 Z06 (LS6) installation, shows 290's before the cooler install in 70-80 deg ambient temps, and after the cooler install, he saw 232 in ambient of 94 deg F during track events. The size of the cooler in this example is almost identical to the one in the Harrop kit and the one I'm using, and yet, somehow, the LS3 calculated oil temp is almost completely unaffected by an oil cooler?? It just doesn't add up.

[X25]

I should have realized this fake gauge issue the day I installed the oil cooler, since the engine oil temp was climbing very fast considering there was no warming aid by the coolant anymore (it was showing wrong temp). Anyhow, lesson learned, moving on. I ordered the following:

• Improved Racing ENV-150 Dual Inline Oil Sensor Manifold Block: This will let me tap into the line oil temp and pressure.
  
  
• Autometer 5286 direct-fit gauge-pod for Camaro: This should provide a good location for the gauges.
  
• Autometer 6348 Oil Temp Gauge
  
  
• Autometer 6327 Oil Pressure Gauge
  
  

[X25]

Legend: Planned | Procured | Installed

• Engine / Powertrain
  • TSP 304 LT Headers with custom 3" X Pipe (TSP's own x-pipe did not fit perfect).
  • Improved Racing oil pan baffle.
  • DEI coil boots.
  • 2000 degrees F matte-gray header coating.
  • Diablosport Intune w/ custom tune from FSP - $489 shipped.
    
  • DeWitts radiator - $575 shipped.
  • Improved Racing oil cooler with Setrab Series 1 / 72 rows.
  • Improved Racing oil sensor manifold (ENV-150).
  • BMR engine mounts - $259 shipped.
    
• Interior
  • Schroth Racing RallyE 3 ASM - $179.95.
  • Autometer 5286 direct-fit gauge pod.
  • Autometer 6348 Oil Temp Gauge.
  • Autometer 6327 Oil Pressure Gauge.
• Handling
  • Z/28 suspension package . $3449 shipped.
    
    • Front/Rear DSSV struts,
    • Front/Rear sway bars with end links ,
    • Front control arms,
    • Rear upper and lower arms.
  • BMR BK024 Cradle Bushings,
  • BMR BK018 Front Lower Control Arm Bushings.
  • Tires
    • Hankook Ventus R-S3 305/30/19 for daily driving.
    • Pirelli Trofeo R, Hoosier R7, or similar 305/30/19 for track duty.
  • Wheels
    • Forgestar CF5V 19"x11" (+17, +40 offsets) spin forged for track duty.
    • APEX ARC-8 19x10.5 +22 spin forged wheels for daily driving / rain.
• Brakes
  • Quantum - Competition Brake Cooling Kit - $239.95.
    • Naca ducts: $20.
  • StopTech ST60 Front BBK 15” red (83.193.6800.71).
  • Stock rear rotor (92245929) - $85.31 shipped x2.
  • Pads
    • Raybestos ST43 R2600.18 Front pads for StopTech ST60 caliper.
    • Cobalt Friction XR2 Rear (CRB-XR2-D592-15.0MM-R).
• Misc.
  • Blown smart-fuse for skip-shift - $1.
  • HSA elimination - $80 shipped.

[X25]

I edited previous posts where I had negative oil temp reviews on radiator and the oil cooler, since I was being fed fake oil temp data by OEM sensor.

I just installed the APEX wheels with Hankook RS3s, and the fitment looks very much like what Dropspeed had with his Z/28 wheels.



Apex wheels next to the OEM rear wheel with G:2


Front is almost tucked in, but rear is not. My Forgestar wheels will fix this issue.








Holy droop

[X25]

The weights of wheels were as follows:
Apex Arc-8 + Hankook RS3 +TPMS = 55lbs
OEM Fronts + G:2 (half worn-out) + TPMS = 57.6 lbs
OEM Rears + G:2 (half worn-out) + TPMS = 59 lbs

This validates that APEX wheels are about 23 lbs, while OEM fronts are 26.6+ lbs, and rears are 28+ lbs.

[L99CAMA2011]

Great. Those wheels look like the TSW 19x10.5" I had. Front is in more though. Guess it's the strut you have vs my Bilsteins. Let's see how your laps go in comparison to the 20"s.

[X25]

Originally Posted by L99CAMA2011

Great. Those wheels look like the TSW 19x10.5" I had. Front is in more though. Guess it's the strut you have vs my Bilsteins. Let's see how your laps go in comparison to the 20"s.

If I can find a track day that is. The weather seems to be cooperating less every passing day.

I am receiving the ST43s for StopTech BBK on Thursday, and should also receive the oil temp sensor and gauge within a week (they're shipped already). Once I receive the BBK, I will install gauges, BBK, and Z/28 suspension altogether.

Speaking of which, I should contact the vendor for the StopTech brakes; they did not send any e-confirmation mail after my payment : P

[X25]

For those interested (info from StopTech directly):

• Stock rears: ~32 lbs.
  • SS rear stock rotors: 24lbs each.
  • Calipers including pads: 8 lbs each.
• StopTech ST41 2-piece 355mm rotors and ST41 caliper: ~30.1 lbs.
  • 355x32mm AeroRotor w/ Typical RearHat & Hardware: 19.048 lbs.
    • AeroRotor 15.548 lbs
    • Typical 355mm Rear Hat & Hardware 3.5 lbs.
  • ST-41 Caliper (32mm Wide) w/ Typical Bracket & Pads: 11.044 lbs.
    • Caliper: 7.524
    • Bracket: (w/ Studs, Nuts , Washers) 1.302
    • Pads: 2.218

[X25]

Added fluids info; very important in my opinion.

Legend: Planned | Procured | Installed

• Engine / Powertrain
  • TSP 304 LT Headers with custom 3" X Pipe (TSP's own x-pipe did not fit perfect).
  • Improved Racing oil pan baffle.
  • DEI coil boots.
  • 2000 degrees F matte-gray header coating.
  • Diablosport Intune w/ custom tune from FSP - $489 shipped.
    
  • DeWitts radiator - $575 shipped.
  • Improved Racing oil cooler with Setrab Series 1 / 72 rows.
  • Improved Racing oil sensor manifold (ENV-150).
  • BMR engine mounts - $259 shipped.
    
• Interior
  • Schroth Racing RallyE 3 ASM - $179.95.
  • Autometer 5286 direct-fit gauge pod.
  • Autometer 6348 Oil Temp Gauge.
  • Autometer 6327 Oil Pressure Gauge.
• Handling
  • Z/28 suspension package . $3449 shipped.
    
    • Front/Rear DSSV struts,
    • Front/Rear sway bars with end links ,
    • Front control arms,
    • Rear upper and lower arms.
  • BMR BK024 Cradle Bushings,
  • BMR BK018 Front Lower Control Arm Bushings.
  • Tires
    • Hankook Ventus R-S3 305/30/19 for daily driving.
    • Pirelli Trofeo R, Hoosier R7, or similar 305/30/19 for track duty.
  • Wheels
    • Forgestar CF5V 19"x11" (+17, +40 offsets) spin forged for track duty.
    • APEX ARC-8 19x10.5 +22 spin forged wheels for daily driving / rain.
• Brakes
  • Quantum - Competition Brake Cooling Kit - $239.95.
    • Naca ducts: $20.
  • StopTech ST60 Front BBK 15” red (83.193.6800.71).
  • Stock rear rotor (92245929) - $85.31 shipped x2.
  • Pads
    • Raybestos ST43 R2600.18 Front pads for StopTech ST60 caliper.
    • Cobalt Friction XR2 Rear (CRB-XR2-D592-15.0MM-R).
• Fluids
  • Engine oil: Mobil1 0W-40.
  • Differential oil: Amsoil 75W-110 (no additive required).
  • Transmission oil: Amsoil Signature Series Multi-Vehicle Synthetic ATF.
  • Brake fluid: Motul RBF 600.
  • Coolant: GM DexCool @50%.
  • Suspension grease: Amsoil Synthetic Polymeric Truck, Chassis and Equipment Grease, NLGI #2.
• Miscellaneous
  • Blown smart-fuse for skip-shift - $1.
  • HSA elimination - $80 shipped.

[X25]

Originally Posted by L99CAMA2011

Great. Those wheels look like the TSW 19x10.5" I had. Front is in more though. Guess it's the strut you have vs my Bilsteins. Let's see how your laps go in comparison to the 20"s.

I forgot to note: these APEX wheels are indeed 23lbs as claimed.

[X25]

My brother wonders if the Z/28 suspension have any impact on the ride height. We'll see soon!

[Firefighter]

Originally Posted by X25

My brother wonders if the Z/28 suspension have any impact on the ride height. We'll see soon!

I've wondered that myself...

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[L99CAMA2011]

Originally Posted by X25

My brother wonders if the Z/28 suspension have any impact on the ride height. We'll see soon!

How does the Camaro feel with those 19s. How much faster?