572HP's New Convertible Build

[572HP]

After purchasing a Callaway Camaro (coupe) in June of 2010 off a dealer's lot, I still felt something was missing. Everyone on this forum was having so much fun building their car. Although I made some changes to the coupe, Callaway did almost all of the work. When the convertibles were announced, I knew this was what I wanted. I wanted to be able to build it up like most of you.

Here is a link to my callaway coupe thread: [COTW 11/22/10]: 572HP's IOM Callaway SS/RS

What I am looking to do is to build a two-tone convertible. Although I will do some performance mods, my main objective is cosmetics. I don't like over-the-top changes, because I felt that GM's looks for this car are pretty awesome already. Performance with the SS is awesome as well, so performance mods will come later.

I'm going to keep this first post updated with the latest. The next few posts will show the progression.

Here is the latest:

Mods Done [List Updated 4/25/2012] -
TSW Nurburgring 20" Wheels (Custom flat black powder coat + red pinstripe)
Borla "S" Catback Exhaust
CAI Air Intake (Custom painted)
Window Tint
2-Tone Paint with red pinstripe
AAC LED side markers (I custom painted these - whiteout)
AAC License Plate LEDs
AAC LED Backup Lights
Painted Strut Tower Brace
Custom painted bowties
Blacked-out tail lights
Blacked-out SS emblems
Blacked-out tail light bezels
Matte black painted lower front facia
Pedders XA Coilovers
Pfadt Front & Rear Sways (bought these with the lowering springs - but the springs were not right for this car)
Pedders Front & Rear End Links
Pedders Front Radius Rod Inserts
Pedders Rear Solid Subframe Bushings
Pedders Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings
Pedders Rear Upper Control Arm Bushings
Pedders Alignment Bolt Kit (front camber holes elongated)
Pfadt Rear Trailing Arms
Pfadt Rear Toe Rods
Pfadt Lower Control Arm Reinforcements
Hawk HPS Brake Pads
Pedders Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Motul Brake Fluid
White Interior Side & Dash Panels
Dyed Leather Stitching Red
Custom Jannetty Tune
Changed All Interior LEDs (Speedometer, Radio, Steering Wheel, Shifter, Window Switches, 4-pack Gauges, Headlight & HUD Switches) to Red/White
Custom Fiber Optic Lighting for Homelink (Garage Door Opener)
ZL1 Fuel Pump
Pair of TSW Nurburgring 18" Wheels and Nitto Drag Radials
ProTorque 2800 Stall Torque Converter
ADM Air Intake Scoop for CAI Box
Holley LS Valve Covers
ARH 2" Headers w/Cats + Straight Connectors for the Track (Ceramic Coated by SwainTech)
Whipple SuperCharger (Powder Coated White)
Injector Dynamics ID850 1025cc Injectors
ZR1 3-Bar MAP Sensor
ZR1 Spark Plugs
Elite Engineering Catch Can
Custom Aluminum Intercooler Reservoir
Billet Specialties 8.75in. Black Overflow Tank
Billet Custom engine dress-up accessories
JDP RGB Halo Kit
RPI ZL1 Splitter
ZL1 Rocker Panels
Powder Coated Calipers - "Black Ice" logo. ThePowderCoater.com
Hotchkis Chassis Max Brace

Please see progression pictures below in the next two posts.

LATEST PHOTOS FROM 4/25/2012



















































Images from Speedometer LED replacement (changed from Ice Blue to white/red):

DIY Change LEDs in Speed/Tach Gauge







DIY Change Radio LEDs

[572HP]

The beginning:

02/08/2011 - (1100) Order placed at dealership. Order passed GM edit tables but dealer has not received allocation to place order.
02/08/2011 - (1102) Order entered via web.
02/08/2011 - (2000) Order accepted by GM. Dealer used allocation to place order into production.
02/09/2011 - (2500) Order preferenced. Order pulled to the production system.
02/09/2011 - (3000) Order accepted by production control. Parts being ordered and production process is underway.
02/17/2011 - (3100) Order available to sequence.
02/19/2011 - (3300) Order scheduled for production. Order is scheduled into the plant build cycle.
02/23/2011 - (3400) Order Broadcast (internal plant paperwork order produced). Order is sent to various build & supplier areas to bring order together.
03/02/2011 - (3800) Order produced and vehicle is being prepared for shipping. For Cadillac, GMC and Buick customers, please contact your dealer or customer service for further updates as no further updates available at this time.
03/02/2011 - (4000) Vehicle available to ship.
03/02/2011 - (4104) Bailment invoice created (vehicle is about to leave plant property).
03/03/2011 - (4B00) Your car is bayed and is waiting for transportation by truck, rail or transfer to vendor.
03/07/2011 - (4B00) Your car is bayed and is waiting for transportation by truck, rail or transfer to vendor.
03/09/2011 - (4200) Shipped (vehicle is shipped to the dealer or interim point of delivery).
03/10/2011 - (4106) Bailment released (vehicle has left plant property).
03/10/2011 - (4150) Invoiced (order is invoiced to the dealer).
03/18/2011 - (4B00) Your car is bayed and is waiting for transportation by truck, rail or transfer to vendor.
03/18/2011 - (4800) Rail ramp unload. Vehicle has been unloaded from train.
03/28/2011 - (6000) Vehicle delivered to customer or dealer has completed customer paperwork.
03/28/2011 - (4200) Shipped (vehicle is shipped to the dealer or interim point of delivery).
03/30/2011 - (6010) Delivered and final paperwork assigned.
03/29/2011 - (5000) Vehicle has been delivered to dealer.

Here are the pictures when it arrived off the truck on 3/28:






The car arrived on Monday 3/28. I wasn't able to pick up the car until Tuesday. I worked on breaking in the engine on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, I started some mods. I first installed the Pfadt lowering springs. I finished the springs on Thursday, got the windows tinted, and installed the Borla S Catback exhaust and CAI air intake.

Stock exhaust.


Borla S Catback


Here is the thread discussing the exhaust:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138299

On Friday, 4/1 I got the wheels installed and alignment done:

[572HP]

Suspension Upgrades [9-15-2011]:
Pedders XA Coilovers
Pfadt Front & Rear Sways (bought these with the lowering springs - but the springs were not right for this car)
Pedders Front & Rear End Links
Pedders Front Radius Rod Inserts
Pedders Rear Solid Subframe Bushings
Pedders Rear Lower Control Arm Bushings
Pedders Rear Upper Control Arm Bushings
Pedders Alignment Bolt Kit (front camber holes elongated)
Pfadt Rear Trailing Arms
Pfadt Rear Toe Rods
Pfadt Lower Control Arm Reinforcements
Hawk HPS Brake Pads
Pedders Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Motul Brake Fluid



Battery Upgrade [10-2-2011]:
Braille 15lb Lightweight Battery


Fuel Pump [12-10-2011]
ZL1 Fuel Pump


Torque Converter Install [12-31-2011]:
ProTorque 2800 Stall




Supercharger Install [1-8-2012]:
Whipple Supercharger (Custom White Powdercoat)
ARH 2" Headers w/Cats (Ceramic Coated by SwainTech)
Injector Dynamics ID850 Injectors
ZR1 3-Bar MAP Sensor
ZR1 Spark Plugs
Holley Valve Covers
ADM Air Intake Scoop

[Muck_Fustangs]

[Lightrider]

Thanks for sharing 572HP! I'm going to enjoy this build...

[Toyaholic]

Oh!... to see a brand new Vert taken apart!

I'll be watching...

[Rookie50]

WOW !!! Looking forward to the progress

[06blownSS]

It looks GREAT lowered!

How much of a drop is it?

[GbrilliantQ]

Beautiful car. Congrats

[camaro2lt]

wow what do you do for living??? Congratas on the new vert!!

[thespymaster]

WOW........ very nice................ and the HP to back-up the looks

[2010 SSRS]

absolutely awesome.

[10spokess]

Did you keep the Callaway? and you should update what you drive lol

[572HP]

Thanks everyone! The convertible is meant as my daily driver. I try not to put very many miles on the callaway. The new convertible almost has as many miles as it does already.

Originally Posted by 06blownSS

It looks GREAT lowered!

How much of a drop is it?

These are the Pfadt lowering springs. The drop is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 from stock. The back is just a little too low for me. I may end up putting on coilovers so that I can adjust the height. I have two boys that ride in the back, which makes the car even lower. The Pfadt springs were designed for the coupe, and probably didn't take into consideration the additional weight towards the back for the convertible top mechanics.

[4RD H8R]

Some of those pictures look familiar, kind of a deja vu sort of thing.
The car pretty much looks the same today as in the pictures posted but I wil try to take a few pictures tomorrow (Saturday) if possible of the massive amount of parts that are off of the car at this point, as long as you promise not to freak out when you see it (lol ).

This thing is gonna look sweet!!!!

[572HP]

Originally Posted by 4RD H8R

Some of those pictures look familiar, kind of a deja vu sort of thing.
The car pretty much looks the same today as in the pictures posted but I wil try to take a few pictures tomorrow (Saturday) if possible of the massive amount of parts that are off of the car at this point, as long as you promise not to freak out when you see it (lol ).

This thing is gonna look sweet!!!!

Should look familiar to you! Thanks for taking the pics. 4RD H8R and his crew at Performance Auto Collision are working their magic. I trust you guys will be able to put it back together. It wouldn't be there if I didn't. Send me more, PLEASE!!!

[572HP]

Just about ready to start the paint.

Here is a new picture of all of the parts...

[572HP]

In the pictures with the back bumper removed, there is a black rectangle on each side of the trunk. Is this some type of vent? If not, what is it, and what is it for? Vents for the battery in the trunk? Does this maybe contribute to exhaust drone due to the location? Anyone???

[4RD H8R]

If you mean this piece, it is a pressure relief vent. It is there so when you close the doors or the trunk it is easier. With the tighter seals modern cars have, it gives the air someplace to escape when closing things. I can't think of any late model cars that don't have them.
As far as drone, I don't think it would make any difference.

[572HP]

Originally Posted by 4RD H8R

If you mean this piece, it is a pressure relief vent. It is there so when you close the doors or the trunk it is easier. With the tighter seals modern cars have, it gives the air someplace to escape when closing things. I can't think of any late model cars that don't have them.
As far as drone, I don't think it would make any difference.

That's it. Thanks for the explanation. It makes sense.

[SUX2BU]

What color scheme are you going with? I love the black wheels on verts with black tops, but I'm a little biased.

[572HP]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

What color scheme are you going with? I love the black wheels on verts with black tops, but I'm a little biased.

You'll have to stay tuned! I hope it will be ready to pick up on Monday 4/18.

[Lightrider]

Originally Posted by 572HP

You'll have to stay tuned!

Bet you can't wait to get it back? It'll be a loooong weekend!

[Toyaholic]

Originally Posted by 572HP

You'll have to stay tuned! I hope it will be ready to pick up on Monday 4/18.

You're such a tease!

[572HP]

Yep, getting pretty anxious! I just heard that it will probably be Wednesday before it is ready. They took off all of the panels, will paint them, then reassemble it, add pinstripe, take back apart to clear it, then assemble it again.

Originally Posted by Lightrider

Bet you can't wait to get it back? It'll be a loooong weekend!