SLOWLS1's 2010 2SS Build Journal
 

Been here a while and decided to start my build thread!


Brought her home in January 14th of 2022. Bone stock aside from Borla S-Type catback, black bowties, spoiler, and some vinyl stripes. Right at 64k on the clock and not in the best of condition. Plenty of road rash to be had.

https://i.ibb.co/yQnzWPq/D30-C64-DF-...B12-A44371.jpg

I decided to do this build a little bit different than my previous builds. I was going to try and follow 1 rule. I always did things 2 and 3 times over because I never could think far enough ahead to know what I really want.
DO IT ONCE, DO IT RIGHT. Figure out the mod plan and follow the mod plan. So far so good minus a few small stepping stones.!

Current Mod List:

Exterior:
19x10 and 19x11 APEX ARC-8 wheels wrapped in Michelin PS4S
OEM ZL1 Front bumper
GM Heritage Grill
OEM ZL1 side rockers
OEM ZL1 rear diffuser
Tinted Side Markers and Tinted Reverse Lamps
DE badged all around
ZL1Addons Wickerbill on stock blade spoiler
Satin block trim rings on taillights

Interior:
Kenwood DMX907S
iDatalink KIT-CAM1 with RR Maestro
Frameless mirror
Dual gauge pod pillar
Banks SuperGauge and AEM wideband
Hardwired Radar Detector Install
Lloyds mats in front and trunk
SS branded door sill plates
Ice blue LED lighting in footwells and trunk


Engine:
Roto-Fab Cold Air Kit
Borla S-Type catback

Suspension and Drive-Line:
Airlift Performance 3H system 3/8"( FLO tanks and VIAIR compressors )
Baer Eradispeed 2 piece rotors
Rebuild and powdercoated calipers
Stainless steel brake lines
Hawks HPS pads
OEM 3.45 diff

Up next:
TR6060 swap, AGP twin turbos, and cam!

Thanks for looking, she's got a ways to go! :cool:

First thing I did when getting her home was put her on jackstands. Pulled the struts, rotors, and calipers off and starting installing the Airlift kit. Installed the new rotors and brake assemblies.

Old
https://i.ibb.co/mRQYV5H/3-A84-B41-A...-ADA96-BB4.jpg

New
https://i.ibb.co/BskTccm/IMG-1315.jpg

Plumbed all 4 corners for the air bags, and pulled all the cabling for the height sensors.

https://i.ibb.co/2SN9C0m/IMG-1357.jpg

Mounted height sensors.

https://i.ibb.co/M8DrL5S/IMG-1408.jpg

Drilled the front strut towers for the camber plates.

https://i.ibb.co/BcW6jtp/IMG-1737.jpg

POR15 in the trunk area

https://i.ibb.co/FKTHkgJ/IMG-2637.jpg

Fabricated an electronics enclosure for the 3H system.

https://i.ibb.co/T4trTv7/IMG-0090.jpg

Added "emergency strategies" for when things don't work. Schrader valves with cut offs so that I can air the bags up if there is a system failure. 3rd compressor mounted behind battery if the other compressors fail.
https://i.ibb.co/qFQCbD8/IMG-2648.jpg

Fabricated a custom mounting solution for 2 FLO air tanks with the compressors mounted to them under the rear deck.

https://i.ibb.co/VBQBM1Q/IMG-2534.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/BtNxbjz/IMG-0341.jpg

Fabricated a custom mounting solution for the Airlift Display.

https://i.ibb.co/1QYNSD0/IMG-0119.jpg

When aired out, the stock from bumper "almost" hits the floor! :confused0068:
https://i.ibb.co/pv9zjCd/F0-ACA7-B1-...96-CD8-C60.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6Js1K0n/759-C3851-A...A3-B670-B5.jpg

Next came ZL1 front bumper and side skirts. Heritage grill installed, and all badging is gone.
Put the stock spoiler back on and added a wickerbill.

Until I decide what I'm doing exhaust wise, No diffuser is installed. I have the diffuser waiting to go on. The Borla system is 2 big tips instead of quad tips for the diffuser I have. Once the turbos and cam are installed, I will decide if I keep the S-Type or go with something different.

Did some serious paint correction, unfortunately the car is riddled in paint chips and small defects. That all will have to wait till last. Paint will be the last major stage for her.
https://i.ibb.co/WfX6ykr/IMG-1898.jpg

Spent the summer driving her, doing minor things, and A LOT of DETAILING inside and out. But now the next stage has begun.

TR6060 swap with Tick Hydraulics and McLeod RXT.

She is put to bed and in the process of disassembly.
https://i.ibb.co/2MMCfQg/IMG-0646.jpg
Pig mat and QuickJacks FTW!
https://i.ibb.co/mvXLmjb/IMG-0650.jpg

Yes, that's trans fluid, was dark and to be honest was probably never changed. It sits at about 65,500 miles now
https://i.ibb.co/y43TRpK/IMG-0652.jpg

Awesome build so far! Can't wait to see how it turns out for you. Looks like you've got a nice setup to work with in your garage.

Thanks :thumbup:

I've got more time and effort in the garage than I do the car. It's OK, just not enough space for activities. :twitch:

It's the car's turn now though. :w00t:

Looks awesome Bro...How do you like that Lift?

Finally a SlowLS1 build thread! Everytime I see your car posted, I always want to know more about it. Those stock brakes looked pretty cooked. Mine were in a similar state when I did my original brake upgrade. I have the same issue, I tend to do the same jobs multiple times because I can't think far enough ahead... I did eibach sport suspension on my car first, hated it and immediately bought coilovers... I must have done similar stuff on my 87 Trans am atleast 5 or 6 times... Different suspension itterations, brake setups, axle combinations... I've learned its better to just get the good stuff the first time even if it hurts the wallet a bit more.

I would buy them again. Not having enough ceiling height for a normal lift, it was the next best thing I found. Only real cons being no access from sides, and storing everything when not in use can be a pain. I do wish it had more than 2 locking positions.


I have thought about this for a while but TBH, there is a lot of intimidation in this sub. I look at everyone else's car in here and most of them are well documented and very clean rides. I have not done a good job of documenting the things I have done. For example, when doing the air ride install, I didn't take many pictures or document much of what I did, and a lot of what I did is custom work. Also the condition of the car was in pretty poor shape when I got her.

That being said, I have some very big projects starting and want them to be documented, and I DO enjoy sharing will you guys and getting feedback. :thumbup:

And yes, it is harder on the wallet in the start, but every car I've built in the past was done 2 and 3 times over because I didn't put a lot of thought into it. More impulsive decision where made, a lot of them were mistakes. Multiple cams or headers, nitrous to blower, swaps etc... All costly but now is different times. I was more of a drag racing nut, always chasing another tenth. Building drag queens that I could drive everywhere.

The internet makes it a lot easier to research and get ideas. But mostly I have matured in how I think about it. I want this car to be an all around fun weekend car that may not do anything great, but can do all of it good enough without sacrificing the enjoyment of driving it. I made that commitment to myself with this car, and plan to stick to it.

I promise.... :fear:

Auto to Manual Swap
 

Progress has been made.

Old L99 harness is out, 6L80 is unbolted and ready to drag out from under her.

Up next, pull the shifter and start working on pedals.

I’m getting too old for this sh!t. :bonk:

Pedal out, marking hole for clutch pedal.

Totally awesome!! I like your plan too, enjoy EVERY aspect of that Camaro, and your build. I wish I would have started a build thread back when I first started, 12 years ago but I NEVER in a million years thought I would have gone as far as I did with mine!! Once you start, you can't stop!! Have fun with it, I'm sure it will be awesome when you get finished. I mean awesomer, she's already awesome..

Yea, I regret not having the sense to start one from the beginning. I would have took more pictures!

Can’t wait to see it come together, I’m particularly interested in the 6060 swap, I’ve contemplated this myself. I’m like you in that I do everything my self. Nice work so far, that thing has a bad ass stance.

It's good stuff, and wayyy out of my league, but never the less we all have our specialty and Skilled Trade.

Thanks for sharing such an awesome build! Like they say, if it were easy everyone would do it.:thumbup:

I'll let you know of any road blocks if I come across any. Not a lot of info on people that "complete" the swap and what it took to do it. I feel like I did all the research I needed beforehand. For the most part it's just straight up mechanic work. Let's see how it plays out. :bonk:

Secret to success is having the proper tool for the job, knowing how to ask the right questions, and some good common sense. I'm certain you could do it. :cool:

Thank you sir. I will keep you all updated as the build progresses. :happy0180:

Pedals are in, what a pain in the ass!

I just have to say your suspension setup is bad ass!

Nice job on the work so far with the TR6060 swap...I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

And BTW, your garage looks awesome. What brand of tiles did you go with on the floor?

Thanks for the compliments :happy0180:

The floor is GarageDeck, made by snap-loc. Absolutely love it and regret not doing it sooner. Million times better to stand/lay on than concrete.

MAJOR Milestone this evening.

Segment swapped the ECM with a manual trans calibration. Started without issue. I did cheat a bit, as I disabled the clutch interlock until I wire in the clutch position sensor.

Currently no exhaust, MAF or cam sensor, and no trans but test fire started and ran a couple seconds, long enough to verify operation from the tune side. Only light on is the airbag light because the Driver seat is not installed and SES dues to cam sensor not connected.

Very pleased with this! :D

First Start

Up next, get the trans in and the hydraulics working.

Dude thats awesome!

I'm very f'n hyped about this.

I went into this project with so little information on anyone that completed it "successfully" that would share info. I said screw it, I will figure it out as I go, hours of research on the topic and here I am.

FWIW, there is a lot of misinformation on this. Modifying engine harnesses, and BCM programming, etc...

I pulled the L99 harness, put in the LS3 harness. Read out my program in the ECM without the TCM connected. Segment swapped the ECM with with a M6 file of the same OS. Mechanically disabled the Key lock solenoid, although I know how to do it electrically and "may" do that before I button it up. Here I am, car is as happy as a pig in mud. 3 wires for the Clutch Position sensor and a relearn procedure, then all safeties are in place and working.

Mechanically, it all works with exception of the clutch pedal. No hole in the firewall. No biggie, fabbed a template and went to town on making the hole.

It started the first attempt and there was no can bus faults, all modules present and accounted for. She's happy and so am I! :D

Sounds like a little bit of an intense job to be honest. I get it though, i wouldn't trade my manual for any automatic. My toy/sports cars have to be manual. Just something about rowing through gears that gives me the feels.

Did you add a seperate reservoir for the clutch fluid?

I enjoy the complicated stuff. LOL
I much prefer manual for my toys, wasn’t gonna get rid of the car, so swap it is.

I mounted a separate reservoir here, and was able to use the stock line. I’m happy with it.

bad ass! Congrats on the huge progress so far! Can’t wait to see it in and on the road!

Well done, can't wait to see it in the Spring...we can take a ride on I26 :smiling1:

Thank you sir. :cool:

:laughabove: Anywhere but I-26.

I have a remote reservoir myself and didn't want to install it just yet because i didn't want to risk introducing air into my clutch line by swapping the lines out... Mounting it here and reusing the old line might be preferred.

I believe you could use that location with pretty low risk of getting air in the clutch hydraulics. I considered a few locations and I chose that one because the stock line worked, and it's out of the way of other activities. The lid is a little tucked under the cowl, but plenty of room to still get it off. I'd estimate there is 1.5-2" between the lid and the underside of the cowl.

Going under...
Going in...
Done!

Trans is stabbed in. :w00t:

Really nice and clean, I guess you going with the one piece Driveshaft correct?

Initially no. Once I procure a ZL1 diff, I will be.

I can't wait till it's ready and see that Monster. lol

I love demo! My favorite part of any project. :happyanim:

Man, I have to say that your passion is second to none.

It's a sickness I swear. I have a picture of it in my "minds' eye"

Clean and minimal.

:D

Awesome progress!!!!