Speedster's SST Camaro Build Thread [COTW 9/13/10]

[Info@PeddersUSA.com]

+a bunch

Lots of good people here!

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by Info@PeddersUSA.com

+a bunch

Lots of good people here!

...and one cranky old goat (I need more naps)

peace, patience, kindness, self control... those are most excellent traits and B has them in abundance

[Darth_Emma]

speedster is the leastest butthead on all of Camaro5! (And I mean that with all sincerity!)

[Mr Twisty]

speedster for president!

[calbert1999]

Originally Posted by speedster

Well, it's a good news bad news scenario, so first the good news:

Good News:
We road tuned the SST for a while today.
First, did normal 'street driving' tuning. Car running phenomenal.
Second, did one or two low psi boost runs to tune the primary to secondary fuel pump and injector transition.
Third, did about 10-12 6 psi/750hp 1st/2nd gear runs to dial in secondary circuit. Shifting at 7200 rpm.
The car ran flawlessly and was surprisingly quick given the tire limitations we have.

Bad News:
The transmission has never felt right since day 1 and today proved it. It destroyed itself after those simple runs. Tranny was not overheated accoriding to the CompuShift computer. We were taking off in first gear and it just went away. Without that, the SST was going to be on a transport next week and home for Pony Wars. Pissed off is an understatement. This was not NRE at all. I was driving from the start and we were monitoring everything. This is 100% Bowler.

Needless to say this tranny has been the biggest waste in both time and money. Advice - stay the hell away from Bowler.
So, we will be trying to get a tranny from Finish Line, Rossler or RPM as fast as humanly possible.

The takeaway is that the SST is a blast to drive. From docile to an animal with a quick twist. The rollcage is so integrated you barely notice it and the car suspension is very tight. The car is very controllable when the power comes on. It is a smooth, violent feeling. The sounds is really cool too. Between the turbos exhaust and Blow off valves it is quite the symphony.. Anyway, I have a few so-so videos since I had no idea the tranny was going to toast itself but there is something from the driver's viewpoint.

A special thanks to Cali_Camaro for coming out to check it out. I was going to take him out for a ride when he came back, but the tranny ate it before he got back. Sorry dude... I will be out again shortly.

Thanks for continued support you guys.
Without you I would have lost my mind a while back...

-B

Man, I can't even desribe the way you must feel. Sorry, to hear bad news.

[G200 Pilot]

Well done Mike on your offer to Bruce!! Now, can I have your LSX engine? Lol

[Kyle.Gilmour]

That converstation you had with Tom about the wastegates... and their "inbetween" state... did anything ever come from that... my TIAL BOV does the exact same thing... little worse than yours I think. I was even told it was because it is on the cusp of being off or on. It sounds like a chatter when I hold it steady, then loud as hell (in a good way) when you have decent load on it.

any cure for that... spring tension, anything?

[mikepage0007]

Originally Posted by G200 Pilot

Well done Mike on your offer to Bruce!! Now, can I have your LSX engine? Lol

won,t eve tell you what almost happen...glad i did not go get engine...while they were crating up motor, they realized that it had a 24 tooth reluctor wheel and called me to see if i was swapping computer...i said no...there gonna have to tear it down and install the 58 reluctor wheel and ls3 sensor...i read that it hadf the 24 , but slipped my mind...would of sucked to go thru install and then have no juice...karma, someone,s lookin out for me...i keep coming over to bruce,s trhread and maybe some of my karma will rub off..lol..almost 9pm , bruce, have any luck today?..fill us in...

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by Kyle.Gilmour

That converstation you had with Tom about the wastegates... and their "inbetween" state... did anything ever come from that... my TIAL BOV does the exact same thing... little worse than yours I think. I was even told it was because it is on the cusp of being off or on. It sounds like a chatter when I hold it steady, then loud as hell (in a good way) when you have decent load on it.

any cure for that... spring tension, anything?

I believe with your centri, it's a case of at idle, or just off idle, it's creating enough boost to exceed the boost settings and it has to vent off the extra pressure...

Under full throttle, your flowing more air and it will close off until the boost setting is reached and then it will vent again... Under part throttle, at verying RPM's, it will open and close as it vents off extra boost... Corey had one in the shop recently that at idle it was venting all the time, and as soon as he jumped on it on the dyno, it would close until it caught up with the full throttle demands and then vent off and on as needed...

In B's case, at part throttle, those Great Big turbo's are making enough boost for them to exceed the boost levels at varying RPM's.. Under full throttle as the boost controller does it's job, this will probably disappear until high RPM's are reached and then it might vent, but this thing is built for such high boost... Wow, I bet that thing is loud as heck if you jump on it and then get out of it suddenly and those BOV's pop open... Mine is loud at 12 lbs of boost, I couldnt imagine what his sound like at 30+ lb's of boost... PPPSSSSHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[speedster]

Originally Posted by armysig

Your car sounds amazing!

Thank You. It sounds a little louder than we anticipated, but I think we'll keep it that way for now.

Originally Posted by 600hp-lpe

Cool video's Bruce.. not so cool your trans went BYE BYE before it's time...

Sounds wicked! I'm loving the exhaust note.

Once you get the bugs worked out, it's gonna be amazing!

Thanks Dan... Going for a ride in your machine is what keeps people like me motivated !!

Originally Posted by GTAHVIT

BRAVO! You, Sir, are a good man.

Agree 100%


Let me tell you guys something about Bruce....

I've gotten to know him fairly well over the last couple years... Even in our private conversations he has not once said anything disrespectful towards those involved in the building of this car. Of course he's frustrated by the delays. But not once has he taken a shot at any of the companies working on SST.

We are lucky to have you here, Bruce.

You are a class act my friend. Thanks for everything, and I'm sure SST will be the the kind of car people remember their entire lives.

Hang in there Boss man. Indy will be a great place to show her off.

Wow Chris. Thanks. Guess I had you fooled..

No, seriously if there is any class it rubbed off of you.

Originally Posted by PQ

To reenforce what's been said about Bruce.

I was told I was a patient guy with my problem. Bruce is a rock.

Hate to hear about the tranny. If you can be patient, Bruce, then we sure can.

Here's to you getting it worked out quickly.

...and getting the driveshaft heading your way. Should be out the door shortly.

Originally Posted by SSE 4 2SS

I agree, Bruce is absolutely Class in every way... as are so many members of Camaro5...

I suppose I mentioned that to demonstrate the frustration I know he must feel... When I had the true pleasure meeting Bruce and PQ at the Fest II, it was a genuine pleasure, one of my major highlights of the whole event...

Likewise. It was a GREAT time meeting you. It's what makes Camaro5 so very cool. P.S. "Fuzz" said Hi and still remembers getting butterflies in her stomach when you hammered Brandi.

Originally Posted by Info@PeddersUSA.com

+a bunch

Lots of good people here!

Amen Brother Pete.

Originally Posted by MisterCamaro69

...and one cranky old goat (I need more naps)

peace, patience, kindness, self control... those are most excellent traits and B has them in abundance

Thanks Mikey. But don't seel yourself short - you are far from cranky.

Originally Posted by Darth_Emma

speedster is the leastest butthead on all of Camaro5! (And I mean that with all sincerity!)

Well every site has a leastest butthead. Guess that is a good title to have. Thx D.E.

Originally Posted by calbert1999

Man, I can't even desribe the way you must feel. Sorry, to hear bad news.

Yeah, it was a bummer, but better there than in the burnout box at Pony Wars. With our luck it would have been on the first pull...

Originally Posted by G200 Pilot

Well done Mike on your offer to Bruce!! Now, can I have your LSX engine? Lol

Mike is the man !! And yes, see if you fanagle that LSX...

Originally Posted by Kyle.Gilmour

That converstation you had with Tom about the wastegates... and their "inbetween" state... did anything ever come from that... my TIAL BOV does the exact same thing... little worse than yours I think. I was even told it was because it is on the cusp of being off or on. It sounds like a chatter when I hold it steady, then loud as hell (in a good way) when you have decent load on it.

any cure for that... spring tension, anything?

Oh yeah, we definitely know the solution for that. We were using the lightest springs during the granny runs in case we had any tuning issues - it puts the least strain on the throttle butterflies and you have zero backpressure to the turbos so you get the best manifold pressure readings. Once tuned I will put in the next spring tension in the set (or whichever one gives me the desired pressure release). That way it gives you a good, clean release. We were just being very cautious during road tuning. Also, the 'beat' sounded cool at times - just not ALL the time...lol.

Originally Posted by mikepage0007

won,t eve tell you what almost happen...glad i did not go get engine...while they were crating up motor, they realized that it had a 24 tooth reluctor wheel and called me to see if i was swapping computer...i said no...there gonna have to tear it down and install the 58 reluctor wheel and ls3 sensor...i read that it hadf the 24 , but slipped my mind...would of sucked to go thru install and then have no juice...karma, someone,s lookin out for me...i keep coming over to bruce,s trhread and maybe some of my karma will rub off..lol..almost 9pm , bruce, have any luck today?..fill us in...

That is good to hear that you know before you tried to fire it up.

Originally Posted by SSE 4 2SS

I believe with your centri, it's a case of at idle, or just off idle, it's creating enough boost to exceed the boost settings and it has to vent off the extra pressure...

Under full throttle, your flowing more air and it will close off until the boost setting is reached and then it will vent again... Under part throttle, at verying RPM's, it will open and close as it vents off extra boost... Corey had one in the shop recently that at idle it was venting all the time, and as soon as he jumped on it on the dyno, it would close until it caught up with the full throttle demands and then vent off and on as needed...

In B's case, at part throttle, those Great Big turbo's are making enough boost for them to exceed the boost levels at varying RPM's.. Under full throttle as the boost controller does it's job, this will probably disappear until high RPM's are reached and then it might vent, but this thing is built for such high boost... Wow, I bet that thing is loud as heck if you jump on it and then get out of it suddenly and those BOV's pop open... Mine is loud at 12 lbs of boost, I couldnt imagine what his sound like at 30+ lb's of boost... PPPSSSSHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Yeah Robert, it is pretty loud at higher boost. If you watch the engine dyno video at about the 8 second mark you can really see the BOVs release when the dyno cuts the throttle. So much pressure that it vaporizes the air at the outlet.

With regards to the BOV setup specifically on the SST, they will only open when the throttle position is less than the previous position. We can adjust the amount of relative difference with the spring pressure. We just don't want to build up too much positive pressure on the throttle blades and risk bending them. A little is OK. A lot - not so good.

[speedster]

Originally Posted by mikepage0007

won,t eve tell you what almost happen...glad i did not go get engine...while they were crating up motor, they realized that it had a 24 tooth reluctor wheel and called me to see if i was swapping computer...i said no...there gonna have to tear it down and install the 58 reluctor wheel and ls3 sensor...i read that it hadf the 24 , but slipped my mind...would of sucked to go thru install and then have no juice...karma, someone,s lookin out for me...i keep coming over to bruce,s trhread and maybe some of my karma will rub off..lol..almost 9pm , bruce, have any luck today?..fill us in...

Mike -

I wanted to say once again a HUGE THANK YOU !!
What an incredible offer. You 'da man...

I did get in contact with Mike today and am pretty sure I will end up going with him. There are some things they are doing that I believe no one else is. Parts are right. Price is right. He referenced Rossler as his baseline and went from there.

As far as yours, I will let you keep it in the queue for yourself because all of the transmissions he has are waiting for the same thing - 300M shafts. He told me about Boeing buying up the US's 300M supply so that they would not be delayed in manufacturing the 787 Dreamliner so there is a hefty shortage. I asked him where yours was but he said he could do one as fast from scratch in the same time due to having to wait for the same shaft order. Regardless, your offer will not be forgotten. Very awesome of you.

I have to get a hold of Bowler tomorrow to see what their response is, but Mike sounds like the right guy.

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by speedster

Yeah Robert, it is pretty loud at higher boost. If you watch the engine dyno video at about the 8 second mark you can really see the BOVs release when the dyno cuts the throttle. So much pressure that it vaporizes the air at the outlet.

With regards to the BOV setup specifically on the SST, they will only open when the throttle position is less than the previous position. We can adjust the amount of relative difference with the spring pressure. We just don't want to build up too much positive pressure on the throttle blades and risk bending them. A little is OK. A lot - not so good.

I can see that, I'm not sure exactly what the surface area is of the throttle blades, but at 30+ psi, and at least 12 sq/inches of surface area, you can put 350+ lbs of pressure on the throttle blades... which is huge...

[Mr. Wyndham]

Wow, I just got all smilie-faced from reading the last few posts.

A perfect example of the reason I'm proud to be a member of this site and this community.

[Merc]

Originally Posted by speedster

Mike -

I wanted to say once again a HUGE THANK YOU !!
What an incredible offer. You 'da man...

I did get in contact with Mike today and am pretty sure I will end up going with him. There are some things they are doing that I believe no one else is. Parts are right. Price is right. He referenced Rossler as his baseline and went from there.

As far as yours, I will let you keep it in the queue for yourself because all of the transmissions he has are waiting for the same thing - 300M shafts. He told me about Boeing buying up the US's 300M supply so that they would not be delayed in manufacturing the 787 Dreamliner so there is a hefty shortage. I asked him where yours was but he said he could do one as fast from scratch in the same time due to having to wait for the same shaft order. Regardless, your offer will not be forgotten. Very awesome of you.

I have to get a hold of Bowler tomorrow to see what their response is, but Mike sounds like the right guy.

Sounds like you have things well in hand.