Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums - Camaro5.com - Screwed Over & Picking Up the Pieces: My 1000hp 5th Gen Rebuild [COTW 8/31/15]

So, a few of you know the story about my car.. For those who don't here's a few links to get you acquainted with my fiasco of a 5th Gen project, named "Katrina". Here's a few posts.. Which were made in haste and in anger. I cannot tell you how disheartening it has been to go through this. It sucks the life out of you, causes marital conflict, and has cost me a small fortune in the process.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397956
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399008

Since then, the car was removed, and brought home on a flat bed. It barely idled, rattled and squeaked, had scrapes and scratches all over the place, and just overall was in piss-poor shape. It sat in the garage until I found a suitable shop to make sense of this mess. I am not even going to say names, or call people out. The folks that all had a hand in creating this mess know who they are.

I am going to put this stuff behind me, as the rebuild has finally commenced. Due to the fact that I was drained financially, without a complete/running car to show for it, I've been forced to sell a bunch of the brand new parts, and downsize my expectations. The car will be receiving a PD blower in place of the F1x setup, and the engine will be rebuilt, as it's a complete train wreck.

I wanted to show pics of the tear down/rebuild. These are from the shop that's fixing the car, as it comes apart. They say that a pic is worth a thousand words? These pics are worth around 30 grand (and still counting).. This is from the shop that's working on the car now-

First few things that we see when we pop the hood-

Butt connectors were used for the new injector plugs for the Injector Dynamics fuel injectors:
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...4a&oe=55E371D4

Rats nest of wiring and lines for the nitrous system (which was left open/uninstalled)-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...09501480_o.jpg

Incorrect pulley spacing on this idler caused it to dig into my brand new polished throttle body-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...79612598_o.jpg

Lots of grit and dirt on the throttle blade. Makes me wonder how long the car was run without a filter. Keep in mind that it was not drive-able when it left the shop-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...c1&oe=55C2330A

The hose to nowhere. Just dangling in the engine bay from a catch can that wasn't even securely mounted in it's holder-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...b3&oe=55C8ED3A

One of the many scrapes and scratches. This one is probably the worst. The entire engine bay will need to be repainted at this point, as there's at least a dozen places where it's down to bare metal-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...31086485_o.jpg

Lost the correct bolts for the strut bar? No problem. Just air gun a few Home Depot zinc plated bolts in. Stripped one out? Ah, just go ahead and leave it out. Two bolts should hold-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...3b&oe=560B706E

Digging a little deeper. Here's a pony tail holder and a sheet metal screw that's been run into the metal fender, apparently trying to hold it in place. You can see where the 10mm bolt that's supposed to hold it in place is cross threaded, and not tightened down all the way. I literally have no words for this-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...f2&oe=55C3DF15
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...ad6783f40cb4c5

:facepalm:

Pulling the fender liners out, and getting ready to remove the power train, this was found. Bare wires, on sharp edges, un-loomed, with relays just dangling, and a nitrous line that's been left loose, to rub on the inner fender and other wires-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...f4&oe=55DD58ED
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...f3&oe=55BF2645
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...39832655_o.jpg

We remove the power train, and find this. Every bolt was finger tight, and 3 were backed out. The drive shaft bolts connecting the rubber donut to the transmission were also barely snugged down. No wonder the car rattled and made a bunch of racket.-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...7d&oe=55BF5F71

Fully "done up" heads-
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...48543878_o.jpg
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...55473735_o.jpg

A little silicone for your FAST intake?-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...7a&oe=55D6BAF1

Whoever changed the rear main seal didn't do the job properly. The seal was replaced, but someone forgot to put a few dabs of silicone where the rear seal cover, pan, and block meet up. The result was a leak from that point-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...1b&oe=55BF4D19

That leak caused oil to get on the Mantic twin disc clutch, and it slipped bad enough to destroy the discs and floater plates. I've cleaned everything up as best as possible with brake cleaner so you can see the discoloration and damage to the pucks-
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...e2&oe=55DA93FE
https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hp...1a&oe=55DB3BC2

So, all that we have left to do now is tear the engine down. Hopefully the parts that were paid for are in there. The heads have to be gone through, as they're definitely not up to par.. Nor do they contain the parts that they were supposed to have. They may well have to be replaced, as someone went in with a dremel and hogged out the ports on the intake side. I'm not sure what they flow at low lift, but it could cause drive-ability issues. We will have them flow tested and provide data.

The camshaft is the wrong spec as you suspected(turbo cam), so it will have to be replaced as well. As far as the bottom end.. Someone decided that h-beam rods and a stock sleeve/stock head bolt diameter LS3 were good enough for about 1400bhp.

I've accepted what's happened, and I'm still very angry about this. Civil action is not out of the question. However, I just want to get my car running right now. I've been without it for almost 6 months. So, stick with us as we fix this thing.. It's a nightmare, but we'll get it sorted out.