The Bald Eagle Machine Chronicles

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Hell yea! Love it! I actually just saw your pm from when I was on vacation earlier today sorry for not getting back to you, but it looks like you made out ok. I did my first dovetail with no template and it was a stressful endeavor until it was wrapped up. You did good! That’s the best spoiler for the 10-13’s by far in my opinion. My favorite part of having that spoiler is how the corners pieces Just barely show on top of the quarter panel “hips” in the side view mirrors. Something sexy about it for sure!

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Hell yea! Love it! I actually just saw your pm from when I was on vacation earlier today sorry for not getting back to you, but it looks like you made out ok. I did my first dovetail with no template and it was a stressful endeavor until it was wrapped up. You did good! That’s the best spoiler for the 10-13’s by far in my opinion. My favorite part of having that spoiler is how the corners pieces Just barely show on top of the quarter panel “hips” in the side view mirrors. Something sexy about it for sure!

Yeah, it was definitely stressful. Gonna wire up the third brake light to the same circuit as the factory one so that they both flash when braking. I live in South Florida and everyone struggles to pay attention on the road, so anything I can do to personally keep from getting rear ended I will. I love the look. All she needs is a Hood extractor and I will be finished with the exterior appearance mods.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Installed the third brake light... I mean, the 4th brake light, from my GM dovetail spoiler. Almost like factory. Pictures are with trunk popped.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Took a picture inbetween waves of rain from Hurricane Ian. Thought it just looked too good not to post it.

[Leadsled]

Looks good! be safe out there

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Nice! What splitter is that? SLP?
My dovetail got painted today. I can’t wait to get it on there. Your car looks killer

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Nice! What splitter is that? SLP?
My dovetail got painted today. I can’t wait to get it on there. Your car looks killer

Yeah, its an SLP front splitter. Thanks, its really coming together. I think all it really needs now for the exterior is an ACS Composites 4teen hood insert kit and I'm gonna call it done! I have considered having the inferno orange hood and trunk decals painted on the car, but I am not sure about that one just yet.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Installed the BMR poly diff and subframe bushings this week. Definitely a noticeable change in the car. It hooks better, is easier to control, and I feel more connected to the car. I do notice alot more NVH, but for me, with a manual transmission... it makes me feel more connected to the drivetrain. I can feel the shifts, hear the differential noise, and to me its a plus. I don't mind the "racecar" feel. The ahop that did the work is located in Pompano Beach Florida, and said they would charge anyone from the community $700 if you bring your own parts. So hit me up if you are in the south Florida area and want to have the work done. I will direct you to the shop that did mine.

[morepowerjoe]

Originally Posted by The_bald_eagle_machine

Installed the BMR poly diff and subframe bushings this week. Definitely a noticeable change in the car. It hooks better, is easier to control, and I feel more connected to the car. I do notice alot more NVH, but for me, with a manual transmission... it makes me feel more connected to the drivetrain. I can feel the shifts, hear the differential noise, and to me its a plus. I don't mind the "racecar" feel. The ahop that did the work is located in Pompano Beach Florida, and said they would charge anyone from the community $700 if you bring your own parts. So hit me up if you are in the south Florida area and want to have the work done. I will direct you to the shop that did mine.

Nice sir. I'm going to have to get that done at some point.

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by The_bald_eagle_machine

So, I'm gonna vent a little frustration here... I got my Granatelli pro wing in the mail. I noticed that the wing wasn't "Perfect" as in some of the casting/fiberglass was a little dinged and dented. You could clearly see the lines where the 2 pieces are laminated together. I didn't think nothing of it and since I had been waiting almost 2 months for the spoiler to arrive, I took it to my local paint shop and had it painted satin black. I installed the wing and I was very happy. I loved the new look.

Fast forward about 2 weeks and we had a long week of bad rainy Florida weather. It had just rained all morning the day before, and I go outside and notice that water is puddling up on my trunk and not running down the car like the stock spoiler. I open the trunk so that the water can run off the front and into the cowl and low and behold... The spoiler is full of water, and I mean FULL. As I lifted the trunk all the way up, water starts pouring out of the spoiler. I noticed that the lamination line that I noticed before and didn't pay any mind to, is separating. The dings in the corners were also part of the delamination. Mind you every bolt hole was surrounded with red 3m double sided tape, because I didn't want fluid leaking into the trunk. I immediately removed the spoiler and reinstalled the stock one.

I call Granatelli and speak to Joey Granatelli, I sent him pictures and videos of the spoiler and his response was "Yeah, if you tighten the nuts on the spoiler too much it will delaminate the wing". He made it sound as if countless people have done this already and it was a known issue. BUT, the spoiler didn't come with any instructions, so there was nothing to warn you about overtightening the nuts and ruining your $700 custom spoiler. He also told me that because I had the spoiler painted that "unfortunately since you painted the spoiler, I can't give you a refund or even exchange it for you. Imagine what would happen if I processed an exchange and the guys in the warehouse received a black painted spoiler. That would be unacceptable" So basically I was Shit out of luck.

I find that this was not handled in an acceptable manner. Maybe I am just "seeing red" because of my frustration but I feel like a company as big as them, should have stood behind there product a little more and worked with me on a solution. I ended up throwing the spoiler in the dumpster. Will not be buying any products from them ever again personally. Maybe I'm the idiot for buying a spoiler from a company that specializes in spark plug wires and throttle bodies. I should have spent the money on the ACS wing like I was going to originally. Oh well, live and learn.

end rant...

I’m not gonna gum up your build thread with JR Granatelli horror stories, but I have them as well… (side note, his spark plug wires are Autozone bulk wires cut to fit and covered with his little boots…) I wouldn’t buy an umbrella in a rain shower from that POS…

I’m really enjoying your build, and I almost got in the market for a used 5th Gen to replace mine after she sold, but I opted for a bass boat instead… Enjoy the beast you’re assembling… She looks fantastic, you have good taste…

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

Nice sir. I'm going to have to get that done at some point.

Thank you sir, a big improvement in my opinion. A little pricey overall though. Might do a 3:91 gear and an LPW diff cover in the future.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Originally Posted by SSE 4 2SS

I’m not gonna gum up your build thread with JR Granatelli horror stories, but I have them as well… (side note, his spark plug wires are Autozone bulk wires cut to fit and covered with his little boots…) I wouldn’t buy an umbrella in a rain shower from that POS…

I’m really enjoying your build, and I almost got in the market for a used 5th Gen to replace mine after she sold, but I opted for a bass boat instead… Enjoy the beast you’re assembling… She looks fantastic, you have good taste…

Yeah, I was so excited because the wing looks badass... honestly I could have had it repaired but at the price I paid it was a disapointment. I could've just bought an anvil carbon fiber wing! Love my GM Dovetail though. Appreciate the positivity man!

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

Spotted this sweet deal on ebay from LeeCParts for $300. Aeroforce interceptor scan guage and AEM wideband guage, with the dual pod defrost guage pod. This is gonna be a sweet little setup for when the supercharger goes in early 2023.

[wastepile]

Originally Posted by The_bald_eagle_machine

Decided that with all the black trim from the zl1 parts, that it was time to remove the cracked, chipped and faded vinyl stripes. After watching a few videos, I decided that steaming them was the way to go. BEST $30 I ever spent! Bought this little Bissel steamer off of Amazon. Not one piece of vinyl ripped, tore or left residue. Did the whole job in 30 minutes. I personally think it looks great! What do you guys think?

I didn't even consider taking off my stripes until I saw your build journal a while back. While washing the car recently I saw that they're peeling a bit in the back. Will need to decide if I apply a new set or go with something new.