VIN 140 lands tomorrow!

[brt3]

Originally Posted by LagunaSecaZL1

Are you going signing up with TrackMasters-Racing for the Sears Point track day? What run group are you planning on being in? Did you have a White C63 AMG and were you at Laguna Seca last year?

I usually run at Laguna Seca in the open passing group(advanced) but I have not tracked my ZL1 yet.

I'm signed up for TrackMasters at Sears Point on May 31/June 1 and June 28/29. Also wait-listed for HOD at Thunderhill on June 7/8.

I've never run with TrackMasters before, and this makes me nervous. I really like the way David Ray runs things at Hooked On Driving -- they have a very strict "no bozos" policy, and they quickly get rid of THIS GUY whenever he shows up. They must be doing something right, as Lockton offers a significant discount if you run with them. I haven't cross-checked the rate with other HPDE events, but HOD claims they are getting a discount because of their safety record.

Basically, my attitude is this. I tried Lockton HPDE Insurance the first time I ran my car with HOD. After that I realized the best insurance is to choose a group that doesn't tolerate BS on circuit. That, and drive like you don't have anything to prove. I drive for my enjoyment and to maximize my skill set, so I try to leave my ego at home. If someone's faster than me I give them a quick and easy point-by -- then, if we're in similar cars, try to figure out where they're better than me to that I can raise my game.

Because I'm a first-timer with TM I signed up for Mixed. I know Laguna Seca very well, but I need some time to relearn Sears Point. I used to run there some 20+ years back in a Spec Racer Renault. Let's just say that Sears Point in an 1,800 pound/140 horsepower car is NOT the same track it is in a 3,800 pound beast like the Z/28. I'll be working on smooth and steady and getting used to the new car, then slowly dialing it up from there.

I ran with HOD the past two years in a silver C63 AMG Black Series. I think I ran 4 events at Laguna Seca and 1-2 at Sears Point before selling the car. I wanted more track time and was starting to realize the actual cost of doing that in an AMG. Once the Z/28 was announced I was smitten; I placed an order for the car and sold the Black Series...

[brt3]

Originally Posted by b4z

I never understood the removal of the sound and temp insulation on the 2 generations of Z06s. One of the most annoying things on a long trip is noise. If I had a Z/28 I would add it back. Even if it was 30-50 lbs extra.

I'm really not sure how much weight-saving came from removing the sound-deadening stuff. I will say I'm trying to figure out a solution that preserves my hearing. Just ordered the latest Bose in-ear noise-cancelling headphones. Not cheap, but folks swear by these -- and I've heard some rave reviews from guys who ride Harleys. Given that, there's no reason they shouldn't work with the type of noise inside the Z/28.

Understand -- I'm driving some 27 hours and 1,800 miles in two days. I love my hearing and want to keep it, so if the Bose units don't work I can return them for a refund. Glad to have such colossally First World problems... :big grin:

I realize that most states make it illegal to listen to music with headphones while driving. However, I'm hoping that if I keep anything that I might listen to music on packed away in my briefcase in the back of the car, I'll be able to demonstrate to Johnny Law that I'm really just trying to minimize hearing loss...

[LagunaSecaZL1]

Originally Posted by brt3

I'm signed up for TrackMasters at Sears Point on May 31/June 1 and June 28/29. Also wait-listed for HOD at Thunderhill on June 7/8.

I've never run with TrackMasters before, and this makes me nervous. I really like the way David Ray runs things at Hooked On Driving -- they have a very strict "no bozos" policy, and they quickly get rid of THIS GUY whenever he shows up. They must be doing something right, as Lockton offers a significant discount if you run with them. I haven't cross-checked the rate with other HPDE events, but HOD claims they are getting a discount because of their safety record.

Basically, my attitude is this. I tried Lockton HPDE Insurance the first time I ran my car with HOD. After that I realized the best insurance is to choose a group that doesn't tolerate BS on circuit. That, and drive like you don't have anything to prove. I drive for my enjoyment and to maximize my skill set, so I try to leave my ego at home. If someone's faster than me I give them a quick and easy point-by -- then, if we're in similar cars, try to figure out where they're better than me to that I can raise my game.

Because I'm a first-timer with TM I signed up for Mixed. I know Laguna Seca very well, but I need some time to relearn Sears Point. I used to run there some 20+ years back in a Spec Racer Renault. Let's just say that Sears Point in an 1,800 pound/140 horsepower car is NOT the same track it is in a 3,800 pound beast like the Z/28. I'll be working on smooth and steady and getting used to the new car, then slowly dialing it up from there.

I ran with HOD the past two years in a silver C63 AMG Black Series. I think I ran 4 events at Laguna Seca and 1-2 at Sears Point before selling the car. I wanted more track time and was starting to realize the actual cost of doing that in an AMG. Once the Z/28 was announced I was smitten; I placed an order for the car and sold the Black Series...

Your points are valid. I have been tracking with TMR for the past 13 years. I can say that I much prefer Advanced group with open passing, because "point by" groups typically don't give "point bys." I actually do a courtesy "point by" in the open passing group, even though it is not necessary, because it lets the overtaking driver I am aware of the faster car.

What I don't like about the Open Passing group, is some cars using slicks. These have the tendency to fling pebbles at you when trailing them. So it is a trade off. Go in the "point by" group and come into the hot pits when stuck behind a non-responsive person that will not "point by" or go in the open passing group and potentially get damage to your car.

I will start a separate thread to coordinate Camaro 5 members in NorCal track days. It is much better to do a track day with cars of a similiar design. It is disapointing when I do a track day and I'm the only pony car. In the past few years, NASA spec Mustangs and Boss Mustangs appear at the track days I attend, but Gen 5 and older Camaros have been absent. While I appreciate all drivers and cars, and it is NOT a competitive interest, I would like to attend track days with Gen 5 Camaros. Even if we are not in the same run group, I would still like to attend the same track day to see how the Z/28 performs and share feedback.

[Skylane765]

Originally Posted by 90503

...I hope none of you guys take this wrong....but....this break-in business always bugged the heck out of me......I always believed the worst thing to do is keep the rpms low, as well as hold at a consistent speed for an extended period of time was not advisable....

...I know what the manuals say, but have heard that actually the opposite is the best way to break in an engine....that is, slam that thing hard asap, seat those rings....(you only get one shot at it!!)...change the oil after a few hundred miles and a hard break-in....

....You guys got enough on your mind as is, and hopefully I'm all wrong about this sort of thing (won't be the first time...lol)....but good luck to all of you....I hope none are disappointed at all with the engines performance and durability from day one....

Sorry for digressing....just after seeing brt3 gonna do a long, interstate type drive...well, I hope all is well...

Normally to set the rings you run the engine hard, even on aircraft engines. The reason is the cylinder head pressure will push the rings to the wall to wear them in. But GM wants us to run them low RPMs. Break in oil is not used in our engines that I know of. By the way I have 120 miles on my car and no oil in CC.

[brt3]

First thing this morning I took the car to Moorespeed, in Austin, to get the Trofeos pulled and street tires installed. I couldn't get what I wanted in time, so I went with the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Positions. This made a massive difference on the street, as the thing now tracks straight and true with none of the nervousness, hunting, and noise that I was getting from the Trofeo Rs. What a surprise; a street tire works better on the street than a track tire!

Price Cobb is a partner in Moorespeed. It was extremely cool to have him walk over and start raving about the little details on my car. When you show people the Flowtie and give them the story, it's great to see their response.

One word of caution -- the installer guessed that the wheel lugs were only torqued to 75 ft-lbs or so -- instead of the 110 in the manual.

QUESTION: some other threads specify 140 ft-lbs for Camaro wheel torque. The ONLY wheel torque spec I find in the Owner's Manual (pdf) states 110 ft-lbs. However, there is NO separate spec for the Z/28.

Can someone please confirm the correct wheel lug torque numbers for the Z/28?

[90503]

...Nothing official, but you probably won't get the same answer from two different sources....

Stock SS wheels are 140....Same wheel, but with a "red" thread coating I've heard are 120....

I have a set of 19" F-14s....literature that came with the wheel says use stock torque spec...(140)....Spoke to wheel guy, he said no more than 110lbs....What I'm getting at is everyone I've asked says 140 is too high, that in fact the factory doesn't even go that high....(Even though that's what the manual says)...

My wheel alignment guy says to use 75lbs on my F-14s....The best I have discovered is that a lower number is ok as long as you tighten the lugs evenly and in the proper pattern....

For my aftermarket wheels, I use 110, always use star-pattern, have tracked it several times, and it works out fine, never been loose....Too much may be "bad"????....

(I think the 140 from GM is over-kill, and probably just in case you don't do it evenly)....

Good luck....don't stress....pick a number and stick with it....You'll be fine....

[LehmanZ06]

I would torque them to a minimum of 110lbs especially if somewhere in the manual it states 110 and doesn't give another number.

My old c5Z06 was 100 lbs
No way in hell would I only do 75

[backtotintops]

The nice fella at Costco spent almost half an hour trying to get a straight answer and never got one. Some say 110 and some say 140...we went 110 let me know what you find???

ps as for noise...I finally just now ran the a/c and had the windows up...very pleasant and not too loud...is it possible one of your butterfly valves are stuck open and you are getting the louder level all the time? Do your inner exhaust tips have soot and the outer ones are much cleaner? I'm getting old and I know my hearing is diminished a bit...thanks to The Clash at Pier 84.

[Moreno1]

So how's the stereo system? is the A/C nice and cold??

[backtotintops]

AC is fine but the viper had a "ball cooler" and this does not. Stereo is best on FM and XM...when I feed in from my phone the level is lower and not as good for the aux.

[brt3]

I'm alive! Nearly 2,000 miles in two days, and it's time to sleep for a good long while. Car was great, and after hitting 1,500 I have to say that acceleration is ferocious. The street tires made a huge difference, but the car is still wicked loud (inside) above 70 mph. Let's just say the latest BOSE in-ear noise canceling headphones were an absolute godsend -- and work incredibly well. The first time you're in the car at speed, and you flip the switch -- MAGIC!!! More to come, including an issue with an electrical glitch. Mostly good stuff, though...

[Zfatuated]

Good to hear, looking forward to the comments :-)

[brt3]

After a great night's sleep, I'm ready to report on my "test drive". I did nearly 2,000 miles; Austin to Flagstaff the first day, and Flagstaff to NorCal (close to Sears Point) on the second.

First, the noise. The car is seriously loud above 60 mph, especially with the OEM tires. Switching to Bridgestone S-04s helped this quite a bit, and got rid of the Z/28's tendency to wander and hunt on anything less than perfect pavement.

However, the removal of sound deadening should be taken seriously for anyone who spends time in the car. Maybe I'm more sensitive than other folks -- I can't really say, but I do think people should be aware of this. PSA: only YOU can prevent hearing loss!

In thinking about how I was going to handle this problem -- which bothered me on the after delivery drive from DFW to Austin -- I realized that spending nearly 30 hours with this was going to be an issue. So, I did what any good techie would do in this situation -- and began Googling.

What I found fits Arthur Clarke's Third Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -- behold the latest magic from Bose, the QuietComfort 20i noise-cancelling in-ear headphones:CHECK IT OUT HERE.

TEST ONE: I got the headphones ready, and just rested them lightly in each ear -- so that I could easily hear everything clearly -- and left them turned off. Once I got to the freeway and hit 70 mph or so, I switched them on. MAGIC! Seriously incredible, these things made all the background drone disappear. I could still hear enough of the engine to help gauge revs by listening.

Now lets get back to the car. I'm not bitching about the removal of sound insulation; this car is a track car that's just barely tolerable on the street, IMHO (and that's the way it should be). In California, in particular, the ride is absolutely brutal and a kidney belt might not be a bad idea. North of Bakersfield I got onto Interstate 5, and proceeded to get pummeled. The slow lane pavement quality was intolerable in the Z/28, and things were just as bad when I got closer to the Bay Area and hit I-505. I think California's new slogan should be, "California: just one step away from the Third World!".

I can compare that to Texas, where the roads are generally pretty good. Someone might get away with a Z/28 as a daily driver, but it will have to be somewhere like Texas or North Carolina, where the roads are great. I have no idea how the group of folks who drove these around Michigan for months made this work. I wonder if they switched out shocks as well as tires? Tough folks, those guys...

So, ride quality -- not great on the street and who cares? Like I said, I bought this for the track, and the street is just a way to get there. I can say that the suspension and grip levels are going to be fantastic on-track; this thing is glued to the road in a way that few street cars are. Absolutely zero roll, and the thing simply devours freeway on-ramps and spits them out.

I did the best I could to vary my speeds and throttle settings, and was pretty careful to not shift down aggressively or brake hard. Finally the ODO read 1,500 miles, and I started to bring things up. I stopped at a rest stop that had a very long and fairly straight back to the freeway and... HOLY JEEBUS! I wasn't yet flat out, but this engine really likes to rev and sounds like Godzilla gargling Listerine -- it's incredible, the sound.

Once home, my wife asked me if I had a nickname for the car. I had been thinking, awhile back, that I blew the personalized tags I got by not going for "CroMag". This thing, despite it's sophisticated chassis and brakes, is a blunt weapon of the car. However, when she asked the question I was dog-tired and my subconscious mind was close to the surface. I blurted out, "Thor -- it's name is THOR!". Good-looking, muscular -- and packs a big frigging hammer...

More to come...

[Mikebrinda]

Great read!