Kev's 2011 2SS Convertible Build [COTW 3/28/11]

[Drago77]

Been awhile since I posted, and although these are preliminary pix (car dirty, and it's like, 3am...) I just couldn't resist!

First off, we have the painted/polished fuse box. Not going to mention vendor names in this case, but their a$$-holes, and their product really isn't worth the $$$. Engine cover was custom painted by Atlantic Collision, who does all my body work/paint... Mikes the Sh*t! And yes- I did cut EACH individual screw head on the fuel rails by hand... PITA! FInally, hood Bowtie and stripe emblems done by EMBLEM PROS- what a class-act company, I can't stress enough the quality of workmanship and customer service!

Will post better pix this weekend in the sunlight, and when the cars cleaned up for the next TCC5 meet!

Thanks for looking! (Emblem Pros- they're the sh*t!!!!)

[Drago77]

Someone just pointed out to me... the stripes are NOT bubbled, as they kinda look in the 2nd to last pic... it's actually a relfection of the pop-corn ceiling in my garage, lol! Bad lighting, high gloss paint and camera phone= horrible picture quality!

(You can see it on the fuse box cover in the 6th pic as well...lol)

[Drago77]

So...

Moving right along; lower grille insert install.

Thought it would be a lot more work, (and I guess it was, for the size of the pieces...) but pretty simple- intimidating but simple!

As much as I hate to admit it- I pulled a vid off you tube which walked me completely through the fascia removal... 2 hour job, tops! Contemplating turning the driver side vent into a scoop for the CAI...

[mcotton]

looking good

[Drago77]

Extreme Performance worked out a deal with JL Audio to build the convertible Stealth Box prototype using my car... in return, I got the box! Well, it's getting even better than I hoped, as JL just informed me, not only are they building/supplying me with the prototype vert Stealthbox, but also a complete "convertible" Slam-Pack system! Should be back next week, but here's some initial photo's sent to me today from JL Audio.

Give the full details when I get her back, but I believe I'll be running (3) amps, C3 front door speakers and a Stealth Box with (2) 10"s...

[4thGen427CI]

I just love your car bro! You inspire me to almost trade the fourth gen in for a convertible in black and white to go with the hard top white and black

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by 4thGen427CI

I just love your car bro! You inspire me to almost trade the fourth gen in for a convertible in black and white to go with the hard top white and black

Thanks bro! That's actually pretty ironic, cuz if you look at the beginning of my thread, my 4th gen looked VERY similar to yours! Good taste!

[4thGen427CI]

Originally Posted by Drago77

Thanks bro! That's actually pretty ironic, cuz if you look at the beginning of my thread, my 4th gen looked VERY similar to yours! Good taste!

Haha yeah I saw that and was like wow! This guy thinks just pretty close to me!

[Drago77]

Playin w/ my phone, thought these came out nice and a better look at my new grille vents

man, she's come a loooong way

[Drago77]

OK, got her back from JL Audio! Let me tell you, above all- what a class-act company! Absolutely amazed at every aspect of my dealings with JL, including the follow up!

The deal: they get my car to design a stealth-box for the vert's, and rights to photo and use images for advertising, I get a complete "Slam-Pack" system, installed, free!

This consisted of:

-Dual Stealthbox sub-enclosures, each containing a TW5 slim 10" subwoofer (less than 2.5" thick)

-C5 replacement door speakers

-Customized capacitor for stock tweaters

-XD 700/5 amp

Complete wiring/installation/brackets/harnesses to include a custom bass level knob under the steering wheel.

All together the process took a little over 3 weeks. Extreme Performance, proud sponsors of Camaro5 (and Treasure Coast Camaro 5) arranged the deal and transported my vehicle via flatbed to JL Audio. Upon completion, I went to personally pick up my car. I was given a full tour of the facility, demonstrated how everything was made from prototype to shipped product, what a process, and what an excellent facility!

Finally- my car! (I will be adding more pix as I take them over then next few days- components are tucked away in there good, not easy to get good pix!)

FIT- Inside, everything looked completely stock, minus the absence of the Boston Acoustic logos on the speaker grilles...lol Bill! Trunk- at first glance, you don't see a thing. However, if you look low and deep into the trunk, under the safety tarp that seperates the trunk from the recessed top, you can see a "U" shaped box in there. The concave in the center allows for some access to what little space there is under the tarp, while the stealth boxes hold the speakers, downward firing in the apex of the curve. The amp, was mounted in the spare tire compartment, next to the battery, litterally taking up absolutely zero usable space.

SET-UP- The JL amp is running the front speakers and the subs. Meanwhile, the factory amp, is powering the rear passenger factory speakers, the rear factory sub was removed.

SOUND- Let me preface this by saying I've never owned a professionally designed, installed system before. Initially, using their demo CD, I was completely speechless. The sound was crystal clear and the bass, a tight, pounding that you could feel as well as hear, a far cry from the factory "Premium" system. I noticed a very distinct "stage" presence to the system with the vocals phased toward the front center of the car, with the music on the sides in perfect stereo and the low end from behind. Took some getting used to that type of seperation in a car, but wow.

The bad... then I took out the demo and put in an MP3... I never realized how much quality is lost in compressed files until then. The bass was lacking and the highs seemed flat and muddy. I spoke with JL and they're going to custom tweak it to my liking next week.

THE GOOD- in the mean time, I did a little snooping and discovered the gain settings... the bass was set at 2.5/10, while the highs and mids were at 3.5/10. Well, a little tweak to the radio EQ and bumping the bass up one level- and magically, its a SERIOUSLY BAD ASS SYSTEM on any music format! Absolutely amazing sound!

I litterally drove around aimlessly for hours tonight listening to the music!

THANK YOU JL AUDIO!

(Pix- first 3 are courtesy of JL Audio during the install, and depict the custom tweeter capacitor, the replacement door speakers, and the amp placement- mind you, none of the items are in their neatly packaged, final state. The remaining pix are of the stealth box in the trunk. Plz bare with the grainy cell-phone pix, wie has the camera!)

[Drago77]

After waiting nearly 5 months for an exhaust system I liked, and one failed attempt, I finally have something that WORKS! (But of course, not withou some tweaking)

I started with Flowmaster which didn't fit, went to Borla which were too quiet and ended with Magnaflow, which are (almost) just right.

Of course, par for the course with me, it couldn't be easy- Magnaflow released a Cat-Back, Competition series convertible kit in June... however, the GM "Performance Package" AKA- ground effects, system is still a work in progress, with a tentitive release in 4-6 weeks... which is what they told me... another 4-6 weeks ago!

That being the case, I turned to my friends and TCC5 sponsors- Extreme Performance in Palm City. After putting poor Adam in the poor house for a week, we settled on a price installed, and they were off to custom fit the Magnaflow NON-GFX convertible comp, cat-back to my car.

3.5 hours later, a few cuts, some welds and a little creativity, and here it is!

From what I can tell, the biggest "difference" was merely the tips... obviously the mamoth 5" Magnaflow tips wouldn't fit in the gfx bezels ,so they had to cut the stock tips and weld them on. Looks as good as can be for the peramiters they had to work with, and as always, Extreeme did a top-notch job.

Now granted- those of you who've read my earlier exhaust posts, know the sound I was looking for. Magnaflow didn't quite deliver...it's a higher pitch than what I'd hoped, and quiet at idle. However it does "scream" at you at WOT (and I say scream as opposed to growl, because it's a higher tone than I'd hoped.) Overall, 110% improvement over stock, no drone, almost no sound whatsoever in cabin and a nice little roar during acceleration. You definitely know it's there, and the car is much more "ominous"... but not as deep as I'd hoped... yet... (headers to follow...)

"Before" video- STOCK exhaust with K&N Typhoon CAI


"After" video- MAGNAFLOW Competition Convertible Cat-Back, w/ K&N Typhoon CAI

[GreenMonster]

very nice just spent the last idk 15-20 min reading every page. very impressive, great build and congrats on cotw.

[Drago77]

Originally Posted by GreenMonster

very nice just spent the last idk 15-20 min reading every page. very impressive, great build and congrats on cotw.

Lmao! Yeah... its a bit long.... first time I've ever done anything of this magnitude, definitely have it well documented!

[Drago77]

Mmm... long tube off road headers ordered today, video after install