ZL1 #140 starting mods

[1st Gen Forever]

Not much to update on my ZL1 other than I've got about 7500 miles on the build with no issues. I have been contemplating changing my headers and catback to something with 2" primaries and 3" to the stock mufflers to see what that does to my torque curve and 1/4 mile times but don't want to lose that low end torque on the street (passes 600ft-lb at 2600rpm). It's so much fun!

I do have to share a personal experience I've had with my stock Goodyear F1 G2s on my ZL1.

My tires are still stock although the car is putting down about 724rwhp in average warm weather (90*F) and the car is a manual. As the weather has started to cool here in Arizona, I have had a few surprises with traction after 1st taking the car out when temps were around 55 to 60 degrees but the car was still drivable obviously. I have no idea the power the car is making with the cooler weather. I had to pass on local dyno event today that would have been fun.

Jump to last night. Ambient temp was 34*F and I had to drive about 10 blocks from a restaurant to my house. For the life of me, I absolutely could NOT drive my car without the rear tires feeling like steel spindles on asphalt! Around every corner the rear end hopped like I had a locked differential. And every gentle effort to speed up from a stop light or sign was a ballet between clutch and gas.

I would definitely NOT attempt to drive in cold weather with these tires. Even with stock HP, it seems they will just catch you off guard and surprise you.

Be careful!

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by 1st Gen Forever

Not much to update on my ZL1 other than I've got about 7500 miles on the build with no issues. I have been contemplating changing my headers and catback to something with 2" primaries and 3" to the stock mufflers to see what that does to my torque curve and 1/4 mile times but don't want to lose that low end torque on the street (passes 600ft-lb at 2600rpm). It's so much fun!

I do have to share a personal experience I've had with my stock Goodyear F1 G2s on my ZL1.

My tires are still stock although the car is putting down about 724rwhp in average warm weather (90*F) and the car is a manual. As the weather has started to cool here in Arizona, I have had a few surprises with traction after 1st taking the car out when temps were around 55 to 60 degrees but the car was still drivable obviously. I have no idea the power the car is making with the cooler weather. I had to pass on local dyno event today that would have been fun.

Jump to last night. Ambient temp was 34*F and I had to drive about 10 blocks from a restaurant to my house. For the life of me, I absolutely could NOT drive my car without the rear tires feeling like steel spindles on asphalt! Around every corner the rear end hopped like I had a locked differential. And every gentle effort to speed up from a stop light or sign was a ballet between clutch and gas.

I would definitely NOT attempt to drive in cold weather with these tires. Even with stock HP, it seems they will just catch you off guard and surprise you.

Be careful!

yeah when they say don't drive these below 40 they are not bs'ing. I drove mine last week it was 35 degrees and I did not feel very comfortable at all even stock power levels. so I can't imigine at your power levels.

[KD Innovations]

Good reliability update.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Originally Posted by 1st Gen Forever

Speedworld track prep was much better than Firebird. I was actually caught off guard by how well the tires stuck. Ended up having some ECM issues where the car wouldn't let the engine rev out over 4k in 1st gear so my best pass was the first one of the night. 11.2 @ 127mph

Was a fun night and met lots of nice people last night. Some even owned mustangs... :-/

What was the ECM issue that caused the problem at 4k rpm? I have hit this "limit" on a perfect launch a few times and was wondering the resolution. My car is an auto and I know the programming is complicated. Does anyone know of an abuse tab or sneaky torque limit that could be causing this problem? Thanks.

[KD Innovations]

Any new updates on the car?

[1st Gen Forever]

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

What was the ECM issue that caused the problem at 4k rpm? I have hit this "limit" on a perfect launch a few times and was wondering the resolution. My car is an auto and I know the programming is complicated. Does anyone know of an abuse tab or sneaky torque limit that could be causing this problem? Thanks.

I'm honestly not sure. I haven't been back to the track since that night. Just been driving on the street. It only did it trying to launch hard with some RPMs. Soft launches were fine.

I've got 9000 miles on the car now since the build and I've just been commuting and playing on the street. Amazingly fun but I'm going to try running MT ET Street drag radials as my normal tires. The stock goodyears almost make the car dangerous!

[1st Gen Forever]

I've had some inquiries into the cam used in my build since the low end torque comes on so quick. In my opinion, the early power on my build is combination of the cam, Mast heads, and 1 7/8 inch primary headers.

I didn't spec the cam myself. I relied on KD Innovations to do the homework on that to match something to the heads and exhaust. So I' don't feel too comfortable sharing what someone else deserves credit for. Hopefully everyone understands. Give Keith a call or email at KDi http://kdinnovations.com/ and I'm sure he'll help you with the right match for your build. KDi was great to work with when I did mine and I'm sure they'll steer you in the right direction!

Thanks!

[1st Gen Forever]

Noticed a muffler problem last night...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=290596

[cvp33]

I thought Keith got out of the business and left a few customers hanging? There are several threads on CTSVowners.com.

[1st Gen Forever]

I don't spend any time over on CTSVowners.com so wasn't aware. That sucks!

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by 1st Gen Forever

I don't spend any time over on CTSVowners.com so wasn't aware. That sucks!

Yeah, sucked for the guys left hanging. I traded in my 2010 CTS-V for my 2013 ZL1, I was spending a lot of time over there. Keith's semi-local to me, but I was warned to steer clear of him.

On another note, I used RPM in Garner. They blew up my motor from a lean tune and then claimed I got bad gas from Shell. Left me with a $4k bill. Nice guys.

[1st Gen Forever]

Haven't been on the forum in forever! Figured I'd log in tonight and share a long term update on my build in case anyone cares.

Life's been chaos lately for me which is why I haven't been on the forum. I also never made it back to the track to try to break into the 10s with better drag radials and more fine tuning on the launch.

However, I do have 39k miles on the car now (34k on the mods), all street driven and no issues other than the GM supercharger recall due to bearing noise. Currently not driving it while I work out how to get the supercharger replaced and new one ported the same.

Hoping to return to the forum and possibly share some track updates after I get the supercharger replaced.

[scdrj]

Thank you for resurrecting this old thread Otherwise, I may have never had the chance to read it. Your car is rather special IMO. 724rwhp at altitude on 91, and 34K on the built odometer.

I hope that chaos is not family or health related...

I also hope to see some new track times. I can't help but feel you have been denied some kind of affirmation.

Those Nittos suck IMO. And track prep will make or break you. You have probably already figured that out... I had seen where you had mentioned using MTs everyday. I would consider something like Continental extreme contact DWS.

Instead of race fuel, have you ever considered Torco?

When I first went to the track, my car laid down a low 9 in the 1/8th with an automatic We only have a 1/8th track here. It is not like I do not know how to drag race. I did a lot of it 30 years ago. After learning a few things about the car and several more trips to the track, I slowly dropped those ETs without doing any mods to the car. Bone stock, on the factory GYs, I ran a 7.99. With MTs, and a CAI I ran a 7.29 with torco and everything else stock including the tune. That should be 11.4 territory in the 1/4. I do not want to go on about my car. I just want to gain a bit a credibility with you before I suggest the following...

Buy a cheap pair of wheels...maybe even replicas, and mount up a pair of MT/DRs. Let them down to 18 psi cold (track only). Leave the car in tour, but hold the traction control down for 10+sec until you have defeated traction and stabilitrak (nannies). However, in my experience, everything has not been completely defeated. Also remove number 40 and 43 fuse. Your stirring will lose a little bit of power assist. I don't intend for this to happen, but it just seems to be part of it. However, it works. Do a John Force burn out. Launch that car like it is serious If the track is just reasonably prepped, you will be well on down into the 10s.

Our track has rules too, but I only run on test and tune nights. They do not pay any attention to how fast I run. There is no way in hell I'm installing a roll bar, drive shaft loop, etc... And slicks...it aint happening. My car is a daily driver.

BTW, I never saw your cam specs...

[AZ-ZL1]

Gila Raceway has been strictly enforcing the "unaltered" rule. I've been sent home twice now for going below 11.5 without a cage. The first time, about a dozen of us were sent packing. Tuscon is still allowing people to run but damn...hate to drive 2 hrs to drag race.