TEGGSRB18C1's 2013 2SS/RS 6MT life long build

[TEGGSRB18C1]

So, I took my own advice from my previous post and saw that Race Proven Motorsports put up a post about their remote tuning service and I talked with Fran about my setup this past weekend.

Purchased their HP Tuners RTD unit along with some credits. Unfortunately, this will be stored away as I still do not have the SLP intake elbow and tbh, don't have the down time to rip the car apart right now.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Finally got a hold of the missing elbow. I had two of these slip through my fingers over the past few months. I found this in Quebec Canada and had it shipped here. It's used but mint.

I'm ready to go, I need nothing else other than time. The only thing I want is a catch can. Probably going with an Elite Engineering E2 single port, we'll see.

[morepowerjoe]

Originally Posted by TEGGSRB18C1

Finally got a hold of the missing elbow. I had two of these slip through my fingers over the past few months. I found this in Quebec Canada and had it shipped here. It's used but mint.

I'm ready to go, I need nothing else other than time. The only thing I want is a catch can. Probably going with an Elite Engineering E2 single port, we'll see.

I have the mishimoto catch can and really like it.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

I'm excited to see that you actually found the pieces you needed to complete that kit. These cars aren't that old and some of the parts are already incredibly hard to find.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

I have the mishimoto catch can and really like it.

I like the "over the radiator" style catch cans too. I actually bought this NOS Apex Motorsports setup over the summer and the guy never shipped it. So I've been at square one ever since.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by The_bald_eagle_machine

I'm excited to see that you actually found the pieces you needed to complete that kit. These cars aren't that old and some of the parts are already incredibly hard to find.

Thanks man. I felt kinda bad about that tube because I had to break up the guys whole intake kit like mine just for the throttle body tube.

And yes, to me/us, these cars are still newer. The aftermarket and GM disagree.

[morepowerjoe]

Wow. I really like that one too.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

Wow. I really like that one too.

Yeah, really upsetting I didn't get it. Saw another one on the FB 5th gen Camaro group but someone got to it before me. Elite makes an over the radiator kit as well, specifically for ZL1's.

Unrelated but I got the yearly oil change done today. Exciting stuff!

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Preliminary stages of real work. Step one was cleaning up the engine bay. I'll admit, this area has been overlooked compared to the rest of the car.

The hood, inner fenders and core support facia I cleaned with car shampoo, the engine, lines and hoses were doused with diluted Simple Green, agitated then hosed down. No pressure washer.

This was just a overall cleaning, as I start to disassemble, I'll detail parts and the bay more thoroughly.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

It's time. Got the two daily drivers in the garage and prepped for the next few months to allow myself as much down time with the car as possible. I work slow, enjoying the process.

Here you can see I stripped away a lot of bolt on stuff including the evap system in hopes Fran would tell me he could tune it out but he recommended I keep it. I'm going to relocate the solenoid to the back of the passenger side head and run custom lines.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Here was my first project within a project, starter protection. Dropped it down and cleaned it up (I want everything to go back on the car cleaner than when it came off).

Wrapped it with the DEI blanket and got creative with those stainless zip ties. I'd never used them before and I had no tool for them. A little trial and error later, came out looking mint, also cut the hole for the heat shield. While I'm pretty proud of this, I question how much the connections will fight going back on with 2" of blanket hanging off the solenoid. We'll see...

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Project #2, now that the driver side exhaust manifold is off, I have ample room to work my driver side ground cable. I found some good posts and pics on here regarding this.

First, I made a new ground cable, just like my battery version. Picked up some M10 x 1.5 bolts that thread into the cylinder head by the sensor, then routed the cable to the OE ground on the frame rail. Turned out great, unfortunately my work will be hidden by the SLP coil covers and washer tank.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Setbacks and successes. This is where I'm at after a few days of tinkering here and there. The driver side header is in along with the spark plugs. I tucked the fuel injector harness down in the valley as per instructions of the SLP coil covers. I also pulled down the fender liner down and removed the washer bottle assembly in prep for the intake.

I ran into problems along the way. First, was extracting the O2 sensors from the manifold and cat. Complete failure. The upstream broke free with a good grunt and spun free for about 1 rotation, then got tight again...then it rounded. Not horribly but bad enough that I didn't want to use it on my freshly coated header.

Picked up a Denso OE replacement and installed it into the header, then wrapped the entire piece in shipping wrap before guiding it up from the bottom. Cut away the wrap after tightening the ARP's, not a scratch. I do have to cut the steering shaft boot. It's way too close.

The harness tuck went flawlessly on the driver side. The passenger side not so much. I must've pulled on the white harness adapter too hard and broke the retainer clip that holds it on the coil bracket. This is a stupid problem. I can't see where you can buy replacements but the saving grace is that it appears every LS variant uses the same clip for every coil bracket. This Saturday I'm headed to the local u-pull-it to scavenge one.

[The_bald_eagle_machine]

I ended up removing my steering shaft boot entirely because my TSP 2 inch primary headers were rubbing it constantly. And i figure it spins when you spin the steering shaft, so it will rub and burn off if I don't just cut it off. Looking good!