Finally getting boosted!

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by Ron_Robinson1

Awesome work man, but did u guys cut the floor out to get to the fuel pump? How will u deal that back up. Or maybe I'm just looking at it wrong

Yes, the back seat was removed and a hole cut out to access the pump, which will be re-sealed--much cheaper alternative to dropping the whole rear and tank. Manny, up above, did the same thing himself and made a custom access door, if I recall. Do you have the link to your thread on that project, Manny?

[Ron_Robinson1]

Yeah I would like to see the pictures when your done with the access door. I'm 90% done with my build sc, cam etc. I'm gonna install my zl1 pump and boost a pump before next weekend also.

But say I wanna up power later, it would be great to not have to drop the whole tank twice.

[MANNYS2SS/RS]

Originally Posted by fldrummer

Yes, the back seat was removed and a hole cut out to access the pump, which will be re-sealed--much cheaper alternative to dropping the whole rear and tank. Manny, up above, did the same thing himself and made a custom access door, if I recall. Do you have the link to your thread on that project, Manny?

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...ss+door&page=2

[fldrummer]

Well, last night the install was completed...well, kinda. When we tried to fire her up, the injectors weren't firing, so this morning, we had them all removed, cleaned and tested. All of them were good, except one (Siemens DEKA 60-lb high impetance), so we're using some new ZR1 injectors that were going to go on a different application. I was a little concerned that they might not flow enough, but the Lashway team assured me they won't get even close to maxed out (we'll soon see). The car is currently on the dyno, getting tuned by Josh@Lashway. We also ordered a smaller pulley, in case the stock one doesn't provide the desired numbers. We will also install a catch can, down the road (I hear there's a 2-month back-order on RX and others right now). This is getting exciting.

[fldrummer]

'Still some engine bay cleanup left to do. 'Forgot to mention, we also cut about 1/2" off the throttle body end of my CAI intake tube to get it to fit (I guess the TB now sits a little bit further forward than it did with the stock intake manifold). Also, Erik@Lashway took the initiative (I didn't even ask for it; he just did it, LOL) to paint my VMAX TB to match the blower for a cleaner look; it's almost a perfect match (thanks, Erik).

[Ron_Robinson1]

That looks great man!! Post some numbers

Also what stage catch can are you going to install?

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by Ron_Robinson1

That looks great man!! Post some numbers

Also what stage catch can are you going to install?

Not sure which catch can we'll be going with, as of yet (haven't really discussed it yet)... As for numbers, tuning is still in the process of getting done. It's only getting about 5 lbs. of boost right now, so we will definitely be going to a smaller pulley in a week or two. I heard it through the grapevine that I'm already at 500 lb-ft. of rwtq at 5K RPMs though and this is probably the most conservative [heartbreaker Mustang] dyno I've had my car on.

[Ron_Robinson1]

Our builds are very similar, so I'm curious about your numbers. My new cam is 228/236 LSA 115. Plus u have gears which will up your TQ on the dyno I think.
I will get numbers till middle of April, up here in NY winter won't end.

I will PM you later, I have a 3 RX catch cans. Two of them are stage 1s the other is a 2.

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by Ron_Robinson1

Our builds are very similar, so I'm curious about your numbers. My new cam is 228/236 LSA 115. Plus u have gears which will up your TQ on the dyno I think.
I will get numbers till middle of April, up here in NY winter won't end.

I will PM you later, I have a 3 RX catch cans. Two of them are stage 1s the other is a 2.

Awesome news, thanks! We just got another surprise. Josh was seeing more flow from these injectors than he expected and then the lightbulb went off in his head as he remembered these are actually 63-lb. Lingenfelter (re-flowed, not re-drilled) injectors, not 56-lb. ZR1s. I'm just gonna bite the bullet and stick with these, since they work so well...

Also, I'm not making much boost (~5 lbs, they said) with the stock pulley, so the numbers are not great/desired. We were planning to swap to a smaller pulley (which arrived today also) anyway, so that should do the trick, but I'll have to come back a week from now to get that done, as we're pressed for time and this rental car fee is killing me! LOL Sorry, but I'm gonna have to hold off on the "final" numbers until then. But, so far, so good!

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by fldrummer

...Also, I'm not making much boost (~5 lbs, they said) with the stock pulley, so the numbers are not great/desired. We were planning to swap to a smaller pulley (which arrived today also) anyway, so that should do the trick, but I'll have to come back a week from now to get that done, as we're pressed for time and this rental car fee is killing me! LOL Sorry, but I'm gonna have to hold off on the "final" numbers until then. But, so far, so good!

Well, perhaps I jumped the gun when I said the above, as Josh wasn't anywhere near done with the tune. When he was done, we were both a little [pleasantly] shocked at the results: 568 rwhp (and still climbing at 6800 RPM)/493 rwtq with a nice, flat torque curve. Boost is still only 5-5.5 lbs with the cam bleeding a bit of it, so we still might pulley down and try to reach 7-8 lbs. In the meantime, I'll drive it around for a week or two, as is to see how I like it. I've only driven it home, so far, so not much seat time yet. I'm surprised 1st gear is still useable, but I haven't gotten on it too hard (yet)...

'Just want to give a big shout out to Erik, Josh, and Ryan at Lashway Motorsports for a great install experience (and for allowing me to watch the progress), as well as Michael (s/n "Z69") for the Maggie! 'Great attention to detail and safety checks, etc. I can't wait to get on this thing some more! Here is the dyno sheet (sorry for the poor lighting; I'll try to get a PDF image of it, eventually...

[Ron_Robinson1]

Congrats my man, I bet when you pulley down it will easily be over 600. It's like driving a whole new car again. I remember the first time I pulley downed and had my 04 Cobra tuned, It was a night a day difference.

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by Ron_Robinson1

Congrats my man, I bet when you pulley down it will easily be over 600. It's like driving a whole new car again. I remember the first time I pulley downed and had my 04 Cobra tuned, It was a night a day difference.

Thanks. I don't doubt it either. I don't know whether to be happy or disappointed that 1st gear is still as useable as it is. It's not as torquey off the line as I expected (especially considering the very flat torque curve on my dyno sheet); it feels more like I'm running a centrifugal than a PD blower. They tell me it's due to my cam, but I dunno. Hopefully pulleying down will fix that, but either way, the current difference puts a smile on my face.

[fldrummer]

Originally Posted by fldrummer

Thanks. I don't doubt it either. I don't know whether to be happy or disappointed that 1st gear is still as useable as it is. It's not as torquey off the line as I expected (especially considering the very flat torque curve on my dyno sheet); it feels more like I'm running a centrifugal than a PD blower. They tell me it's due to my cam, but I dunno. Hopefully pulleying down will fix that, but either way, the current difference puts a smile on my face.

Well, after more seat time and some explanation from Josh@Lashway, I see why 1st gear is still useable. Apparently, the bypass valve on the Maggie doesn't shut to allow boost to build until the throttle is open a certain amount (or something like that). I had been taking it easy off the line, so it still drives with good "civility" just like before. However, if I mash the throttle (not even half way, mind you) just after letting out the clutch to get moving, the instant torque is there and the tires just basically laugh at me! LOL 'Learn something new every day... Now if I can just get this annoying "Service Stabilitrak" warning to stop rearing its ugly head, constantly, I'll feel even better.

[fldrummer]

Well, a day after getting the car back with the Maggie, I started noticing some unusual noises under the hood (sounded like wind howling between tall buildings in a city) after long drives. 'Took it back to the shop and everything was checked and looked normal, except for the supercharger coolant being a bit low. 'Had it topped off and checked for leaks (none were found) and I went on my way. For nearly a week, the car drove beautifully and the noise never reared its ugly head...until Thursday night, when it suddenly came back louder than before when I reached my destination for the evening. In the morning, I checked the coolant reservoir and, sure enough, it looked bone-dry!? I drove it back to the shop, keeping it out of boost. We topped it off again and checked for leaks--still could not find any, so we assumed it was an internal leak, which apparently it was. We removed the plugs and found coolant coming out so, apparently, there must be a leak in the Maggie's intercooler. This was a slightly used kit that had been sitting around for a while (how long, we don't know) and the leak is probably so small, one would not see it with the naked eye...

So, the Maggie is now off the car. The intercooler will be removed and tested to find the leak and hopefully sealed to fix it. Worst case, we'll have a brand new one overnighted from Magnuson. Kudos to the Lashway team for going the extra mile and allowing me to borrow some of their rides for the weekend, as this is my only car (yeah, I need to get a beater for a DD--in due time, I suppose)... I'm lucky my engine didn't sustain any major damage from this and we caught it early; hopefully this will just be a minor, temporary glitch...

On another note, they finished another Maggie build on a 2012 SS this week, that has a similar setup to mine (slightly different cam). They used a smaller pulley (which I might go to in the future)--made 605 rwhp/560 (if I recall) rwtq... The grin on the owner's face after his first drive looked pretty familiar; LOL!