The Birth of Brandi's Twins [COTW 8/8/11]

[SSE 4 2SS]

This is the story of Brandi, my 2010 2SS/RS Camaro.

Brandi is Red Jewell Tint, with Grey Leather Interior

My Beautiful Wife Debbie, supports with a sense of humor, my pursuit of this amazing car; she has equally enjoyed the time spent with the multitude of new friends we have met via the Camaro.

Thank You and I Love You Deb

All MAJOR modifications have been managed by Corey Henderson and Co. at Henderson Performance Technologies, New Braunfels Texas
Corey,
Narc,
Alan,
Conada,
Brent,
Monte,
Patrick
Justin,

Some people that had a hand in it that are not a part of HPT,

Joe, Racer778
Chris, Atti2de
Glen, Planet Pickup, San Antonio
Mike,
and numerous other members of the San Antonio Camaro Club.

Amazing Vendors that have contributed in knowledge and expertise...

George at Rockland Standard Gear for a simply amazing race built and prepped Transmission
Thomas at Hendrix Engineering for the best clutch money can buy. Street Slayer Carbon Triple Disc
George at the Drive Shaft Shop
Rick at RKT56 Transmissions for his collaboration and assistance and direction when we were having so much trouble with our factory transmission.
Matt @ formerly of East Coast Supercharging Now at RX Performance for answering my e-mail request about selling me wheels when no one else would even respond... I love my Weld RT-S wheels.
Brent ... Thrash Drive Shaft Specialists
Rob, RPS Performance Clutches

My Heart Felt Thanks To All of You

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Pictures and Significant events:

Post # 1 Brandi and Satchmo in the driveway
Post # 2 Brandi arriving at the dealership
Post # 3 Brandi and Booger
Post # 14 Engine Cover modification Brandi in the Tx Hill Country, Brandi at Home
Post # 17 MGW Shifter No Pics
Post # 18 Pink Pig Engine Cover with Lights, White Sands Trip
Post # 19 My Wife Debbie
Post # 25 Forced Induction Intro No Pics
Post # 45 Brandi the night before going to the hospital
Post # 54 Brandi's Baseline Dyno Video
Post # 83 Pics in New Mexico
Post # 85 Time to make the donuts
Post # 90 Baseline Dyno Graph Thanks MisterCamaro69
Post # 147 DaHoses Booger invades my thread
Post # 148 Tags Arse...
Post # 150 Tags Arse again
Post # 159 Short Block Description and Pics (representative pics)
Post # 192 My dream performance driving instructor
Post # 200 More Short Block Pics (representative pics)
Post # 201 Brandi arriving at the hospital (shop)
Post # 209 Drag Radial Pic (representative pic)
Post # 210 Forgestar F14's in Piano Black (Representative pic)
Post # 224 Eibach Sway Bars Arrive
Post # 231 A really nice set of twins...
Post # 239 Da Hoses Booger with the flu... Yecch
Post # 261 Work begins in earnest, removing the rear cradle and suspension
Post # 263 One of the heads waiting for a short block to mate with
Post # 265 Brandi on the lift and an assortement of parts box's.
Post # 266 DSS axles 1400 HP rated
Post # 267 Shop directions for Corey's facility, I laughed at these
Post # 282 Rear suspension pics Rear Axle Installed
Post # 283 "Camshaft Specs, GT-9 Lingenfelter Grind from Comp Cams
Post # 285 One side Turbo
Post # 287 An Axle from DSS
Post # 296 Brandi minus her undercarriage on the lift
Post # 299 Rear suspension going back in
Post # 302 Test fitting the GMPP Blade Spoiler prior to paint
Post # 305 Pulling the front clip with the engine and transmission Corey and Brent
Post # 348 Mindz Imagery
Post # 344 Gauge selection no pics AutoMeter Cobalt Gauges
Post # 349 My short block arrives
Post # 352 Trials and tribulations, it's the wrong block
Post # 370 Motor decision about the wrong block being sent
Post # 413 My Drag wheels and tires Thanks Joe for getting them mounted and delivered
Post # 419 Attention to detail, heat wrapping everything...
Post # 420 Oil Feed lines
Post # 421 More heat shielding around the turbos
Post # 422 ACT Twin Disc Clutch with SFI rated tag
Post # 425 Stuff going back together
Post # 426 Heat Shielded Boost Pipes
Post # 450 Mindz Quotes
Post # 489 Installing the delrin Diff bushings
Post # 490 Drive Shaft Safety Loop
Post # 491 New Magna Flow 3" Exhaust
Post # 495 Intercooler and Intake Feed Tubing
Post # 498 Downtubes and Oil return system
Post # 508 V-band recommendation
Post # 523 Exhaust Sound Video
Post # 534 Tag's announcement, It's Alive
Post # 564 Line Lock Switch
Post # 635 Last 3 Standing at Fest 1 PQ, Mike and Kyle
Post # 641 Bonnie and George Dickel Fest 1
Post # 707 First night at the track with Brandi
Post # 751 Fuel pumps New suspension pic Front Clip Hood Plate Corey and Brent New Motor New Heads going on New Clutch
Post # 758 Two Step Directions
Post # 776, 777, 780, 781 Tags Comments on his ride in Brandi
Post # 826 Tranny Video, EMCO sequential
Post # 837, 838, 839, 840, PQ's Ride Impressions of Brandi
Post # 846 Atti2de's Brandi Ride Impressions
Post # 925 Brain Bucket for the Texas Mile Run Thanks Chris
Post # 951 MisterCamaro69 Poop Pics
Post # 962 Scott Settlemire Signing Brandi at the Fest II
Post # 963 Changing Turbos at the Fest II
Post # 964 Austin Photo Shoot Brandi and Company The Gang
Post # 981 Exhaust Video
Post # 1032 Rig Pics... My place of Work Freedom Bird The Stack
Post # 1034 Rig Stack Moonpool Pump Repair Project Pump II
Post # 1041 New Blower Blower II
Post # 1050 Tag's Poop Ettiquette
Post # 1061 Clutch Pics Pic II PicIII Pic IV Pic V Pic VI
Post # 1070 Clutch Pic
Post # 1080 Pump Pics at Work Pump II Pump III Pump IV {Pump V
Post # 1085 Boats off the rig in rough weather Boats II BoatsIII Boats IV Boats V Boats VI Boats VII
Post # 1086 Moon Pool Rough Weather Pics Pic II Pic III Pic IV Pic VI
Post # 1145 200 MPH Camaro Video, Not Brandi
Post # 1153 Brandi at the Beach Pic II Pic III
Post # 1175 Heat Pics 125 Degrees F
Post # 1197 Tag on the way home from the Fest wearing his helmet...
Post # 1245 Cage Box delivered
Post # 1255 Cage Pics Pic II
Post # 1265 Not Brandi
Post # 1495 Petes Pedders USA Camaro at Optima Street
Post # 1499 Cage Install Starts
Post # 1510 Cage Install Continued
Post # 1522 Cage install continued
Post # 1522 More Cage install
Post # 1522 Side Panel Cut Out during cage install
Post # 1541 Pete's Texan joke
Post # 1549 More Cage Install
Post # 1567 Mike checking out the cage work
Post # 1654 Bryan's Canadian Bullet
Post # 1742 Comment to Point and Shoot Drivers
Post # 1752 Miller Light Skirt Commercial
Post # 1801 Diff Pic
Post # 1821 AMS 1000 Boost Controller
Post # 1851 Russ Got Me... Bad...
Post # 1883 Camaro5 Mods arriving at the Fest III
Post # 1926 Good Friends at the Fest III
Post # 1932 New Diff
Post # 1932 New 9310 Output Shaft
Post # 1951Doors, People are Strange
Post # 2074 My Work Rant with video, sorry
Post # 2171 Turbo's with the hot side covers off
Post # 2203 Racers Prayer, Thanks Kyle
Post # 2239 Under-pinning Plate part numbers
Post # 2248 Diff Going in the rear subframe
Post # 2274 Diff Installed Pics
Post # 2293 Drive shaft loop customized
Post # 2331 Diff Catch Can
Post # 2332 Remote Oil Cooler
Post # 2348 OMG Transmission, not mine
Post # 2354 Taking Brandi out to test the new diff
Post # 2388 New Garage Floor Finish and Brandi
Post # 2417 PQ's Panda Wheels
Post # 2425 Five Point Harness
Post # 2477 Brandi's Brother
Post # 2478 More of Brandi's Brother
Post # 2653 Pink Pig looking out in the rain
Post # 2672 New Drag wheels
Post # 2681 Garc's 3rd Gen
Post # 2687 My new Trans and SFI bell housing
Post # 2721 LCA discussions
Post # 2728 Carbon's Camaro
Post # 2733 Drag tires
Post # 2785 Ring and Pinion for PQ
Post # 2854 Pics from Kyle in Mich
Post # 2920 Drag race tires in the shop
Post # 3014 Motor Mounts
Post # 3015 Trans Input shaft
Post # 3018 AMS 1000 Boost controller
Post # 3025 Trans Yoke
Post # 3101 My Weld Wheels
Post # 3118 Slayer Triple disc Carbon clutch
Post # 3130 More Clutch
Post # 3140 Garcmol comments on the clutch
Post # 3141 Clutch installation issues
Post # 3141 Pressure plate bushing build
Post # 3141 Bushing build cont.
Post # 3141 Bushing test fit on the clutch alignment tool
Post # 3143 Installation of the clutch begins
Post # 3143 Installation continues
Post # 3143 The clutch alignment tool with the homemade fit bushing
Post # 3147 The spun steel SFI bellhousing, with the output tailshaft
Post # 3148 Bellhousing installation
Post # 3148 Continued
Post # 3148 And completed, it's bright
Post # 3159 Trans tunnel adjustments
Post # 3159 Trans tunnel after clearance cutting
Post # 3159 Fit of the trans tunnel seal
Post # 3159 Input shaft prior to installation
Post # 3159 Throwout bearing prior to installation
Post # 3159 Preparing the trans for installation
Post # 3159 Trans as installed
Post # 3159 Tailshaft installed
Post # 3159 Preparing for install of the crossmember
Post # 3159 Crossmember installed
Post # 3191 Trans mount adapter
Post # 3191 Trans mount adapter installed
Post # 3207 Trans mount and crossmember mods
Post # 3208 4" driveshaft installation
Post # 3208 Installed view from the back
Post # 3208 Installed shaft at the trans output
Post # 3208 Installed shaft clearance view, it's tight
Post # 3209 New Seats, from Corbeau

Post # 3


Modifications to Date:

Performance:

ProEFI 128 bit engine management system, Traction control, boost management etc...
ERL Built LS 417 Fully Forged Short Block 10.5 compression,
AllPro Heads LSW12-X
Custom in house large plenum short runner intake manifold
Custom in house built turbo manifolds ceramic coated
Setrab Engine Oil Cooler
Bill Dailey 7 stage dry sump with Peterson reservoir.
Jesel Valve train,
ARP Head and Main Journal Studs
Precision Turbo's, 76/75's...Custom modified by Precision and by my builder Corey at Henderson Performance Tech..
Custom Intercooler by Henderson Performance Tech, Thanks Corey and Justin
Dragon Slayer (RPS) Quad Disc Carbon Clutch Thx Thomas, Hendrix Engineering
Custom built Trans , 9310 gears, 300M shafts.
SFI Rated Steel Bell Housing and mid plate, custom tail housing with internal shifter. Vehicle Specific gear ratio.Thanks George, Rockland Standard Gear
DSS Nine Inch Kit with 3.07 Gears, Strange Center Section and a Wave Trac 33 Spline Diff. Thanks George at Drive Shaft Shop
4" One Piece Aluminum Drive Shaft, Thx Brent ... Thrash Drive Shaft Specialists, San Antonio Texas
Custom built Differential Catch Can, Corey
Drive Shaft Safety Loop, custom fit for the new drive shaft.Corey
SJM Manufacturing Line Lock / Roll Stop, Thx Steve
Toe Rods Thx ApexChase
Trailing Arms Thx ApexChase
Delrin rear diff mount diff bushing, custom made by Corey of Henderson Performance Tech...
Pedders Suspension, Xa Supercars, Sways, Bushings, etc... Thanks Pete
Eibach Sway Bars
3.5" Magna-Flow Mufflers
3.5 X 4 inch custom stainless exhaust tips, No Corners Cut Fabrication, Thanks Justin
3.5 inch dual exhaust from front to rear, Corey @ Henderson
Shift Light
Weld Wheels RT-S 17" wheels for racing... 17 x 10 rears and 17 x 5 fronts... Thank You Matt, Matt@ECS
BMR Adjustable Lower Control Arms for the rear... Thanks Apex-Chase
8-XX lbs max variable Boost
Hex Vents, Thanks Steve
True Forged Wheels, Thanks Mike and Steve... 20 x 11, rears, and 20 x 9.5's for the front... 19 x 11 for land speed racing, True Forged Formula Wheels Polished finish with Custom Graphic Center Caps
Custom powder coated brake calipers with Graphics. Thanks Mike @thepowdercoater.com


Safety:
Simpson X Bandit full skirt Helmet
Simpson Racing Suit, including Balaclava, Jacket, Pants, Shoes, gloves, CarbonX undergarments
Simpson five point harness (Platinum) with rotary cam lock,
Drag Chute, 14" Cross Form, SW racecars
SFI Rated Steel Bell Housing
Full containment seat
10 lb foam fire extinguisher system.
Custom 10 point roll cage. Window net
Hans Device
Remote Battery cut off.

Communications:
Samson Race Radio with custom molded in ear pieces, helmet mounted boom mike.


Cosmetic:

Engine cover custom paint trim and lights, removed due to heat retention with the turbos...
Roto-Fab Radiator Cover custom painted Red Jewel Tint, Removed, in shop
GMPP Dovetail Spoiler
Window Tinting, Thanks Big Dave
Brandi got a new brother, Brodey, as named by my wife... Brodie 2015 GMS Denali 4X4 Dually. He will be used to tow Brandi to racing dates across the country... In comfort and style I might add...
Brandi's Chariot is a 20' Challenger Trailer with a racer box. Overall length is 28'.
My new TrueForged Formula Wheels... Shod with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 tires, 305 rears, 285 fronts...

Future Upgrades:




Our Goal for the near future is to have 2,000 + RWHP

[SSE 4 2SS]

I've decided after reading lots of other build threads, It's time to document Brandi.

Brandi is my 2010 2SS/RS RJT Camaro.

Several years ago, my wife was offering to buy me pretty much any truck I wanted. Her dad has a 3/4 Chevy Turbo Diesel and she was kind of partial to the oversized pickup. i was leaning towards a King Ranch Edition but....

I was browsing the internet one evening and I saw a a blurb about the Phoenix of the Camaro... I followed some links and ended up at a site that had a few pictures of the concept car... uh oh.....

I found a thousand reasons I wasn't ready to buy a truck yet.... kept sneaking around, looking peeking, and anything else I could to find out more information... I had it bad....

A way to introduce the idea to her came upon me entirely by chance. There was this movie, and lo-and-behold, there it is... Bumblebee....

I was blown away by the look, the sound, the raw power... After the movie, I waited a short time and found the perfect picture, and saved it to my desktop. I was looking at it one evening, and she walked up behind me... and asked what it was....I told her and then asked her what she thought about that as opposed to a truck. Her response was "it's your vehicle."

So, that parts over... and yes, I Love and Appreciate my wife... So, I keep watching, and then GM announces pre-orders to be taken in Oct or Nov of '08... Forgive me but I don't remember exactly which month it was... So, I start trolling the dealerships looking for one that will fit my needs.

About two weeks prior to the pre-order date, I had some job changes, and so in the interest of not wanting to end up in a bind, I put the order on hold. I ddn't loose my job, but I transferred to the department I wanted to work in. I am a SubSea Engineer with Diamond Offshore Dilling. It's a brutal but very rewarding job...

In March of 09, I was again ready to place an order and my wife suffers some health issues. Certainly no fault of hers, and she is way more important to me than any car, so I put off ordering it again. I want to make sure she has whatever she needs medically to end up on the mend.

In July of 09, my wife told me to go find a dealership and place my order. I had one earlier, but they were still wanting huge premiums for the car, and several dealerships were starting to back off the high demands. I found one dealership in Austin that would sell me the car at MSRP. I placed the order, and included several items from GMPP that were not officially released yet... My sales rep was awesome, but the sales manager turned out to be a turd... He tried to jack me on a number of items, and then when the car was due to arrive in November, he tried to jack some premium add on, and I blew a gasket, right in the middle of the dealership floor, and fortunately for me, the owner of the place overheard us and called the sales manager, my sales rep, and I into his office. He listened to me first, then verified what I said with the sales rep and then asked us to leave. My parting words were that I didn't want him involved with me in any form or fashion again.

A long story shortened, I ended up getting the GMPP Offroad Exhaust free including installation, and I didn't have to deal with the turd anymore.

The finance guy, well..... thats another story. I had a buyers check from my credit union, so I didn't really need anything other places to sign from him... (He drives a really hot Vette) and thats what I got from him... He told me basically, you don't want or need any of this other crap, initial here, here, and here, and sign here and let me have your check...Wow, very pleasant, very nice to deal with... He did ask me if I wanted anythin and I think the look answered his questions.

So, my car goes through PDI, has the exhaust installed, and then my sales rep showed me a few things...

More to Follow... If you read all this, thanks for stopping by....


__________________

[SSE 4 2SS]

Here are a few pictures of Brandi taken by a professional photographer. There were as you will see two cars, the second one being Booger belonging to Da Hose. I wish to thank Kyle Gilmour for arranging the photographer.

[Da Hose]

Can't wait to see her!!!!! U know Kellie will want this set up then too!!!

[WadeWilson]

Great color choice and a beautiful dog!

Subscribed.

[PQ]

I HATED dealing with the finance guy at my dealership. He just coulnd't take no for an answer. He eventually had to, but they knew how bad I wanted that car and so they tried to hold it hostage a bit. lol

[Dr Jkel]

Great Story, Glad that everything worked out, hopefully your wife is ok now and all is well.

[Mr Twisty]

You forgot to explain who these "twins" are

... This is gonna be another good one to watch.

[speedster]

Awesome R !

Glad you finally broke down and decided to do a build thread. But one request - no PINK parts under the hood...but you may have a certain mod on here add some...lol

Can't wait to see the car as the 'twins' progress on Brandi

Post 'em as yo get 'em.

[Dr Jkel]

OK now I got to know the deal with the " Twins"

[hamr56]

Good on you, nice looking car. Boerboel Mastiff?

[73camarolt]

Good looking car. When you going to post up the mods you have done to it? Interested to see what you have done to it. Dad needs some ideas lol

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by Da Hose

Can't wait to see her!!!!! U know Kellie will want this set up then too!!!

Kellie has already asked for one of my grandkids. Said something about I wouldn't miss one....

Originally Posted by Shardik2SS

Great color choice and a beautiful dog!

Subscribed.

Thanks, meet Satchmo, after Louis Armstrong, they of the big black cheeks...

Originally Posted by PQ

I HATED dealing with the finance guy at my dealership. He just coulnd't take no for an answer. He eventually had to, but they knew how bad I wanted that car and so they tried to hold it hostage a bit. lol

I pulled the buyers check out and was starting to walk out when the owner stepped in... the finance guy was awesome...

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

Great Story, Glad that everything worked out, hopefully your wife is ok now and all is well.

She is doing great... It was stress related. She is th Athletic Director of all sports, mens and womens at a Div II NCAA University. Proper care and some good help, and she is fit as a fiddle...

Originally Posted by MisterCamaro69

You forgot to explain who these "twins" are

... This is gonna be another good one to watch.

My grandkids... more later...

Originally Posted by speedster

Awesome R !

Glad you finally broke down and decided to do a build thread. But one request - no PINK parts under the hood...but you may have a certain mod on here add some...lol

Can't wait to see the car as the 'twins' progress on Brandi

Post 'em as yo get 'em.

He can try, but..... I still hold certain parts ransom, though that will no longer hold true in less than a week if all goes well...I'll deliver his CAI housing this Friday, and the engine cover next week....

Originally Posted by Dr Jkel

OK now I got to know the deal with the " Twins"

Patience...... my friend...

Originally Posted by hamr56

Good on you, nice looking car. Boerboel Mastiff?

English Mastiff... 200 lbs of the best natured dog I've ever been around...

Originally Posted by 73camarolt

Good looking car. When you going to post up the mods you have done to it? Interested to see what you have done to it. Dad needs some ideas lol

Chapter II starts in a few minutes...I may have something to start your dad out with if he doesn't have a CAI yet... I'll have one available, for a great (phenominal) price... PM me on that if you interested... What color is your dads car...

Thanks for checking in guys, I've been wanting to start the mods for a while, but had to wait until the right time and situation.... I am going to manage this with the help of my wife without having to get any loans or breaking the bank...

[SSE 4 2SS]

As mentioned before, the first mod, other than me putting my butt prints in the seat and leaving some rubber on the street in front of the dealership was the installation of the GMPP Offroad axle back exhaust by the dealer during the PDI.

They sound great, but my wife is a little tired of the drone from 1750 to 2000 RPM. Outside of that RPM range, they are awesome....They have a little popping on deceleration, and sound great when I'm in hammer mode...

I didn't want to spend much on any exhaust upgrades, as I still wasn't sure where I was going down the road, and didn't want to have to pull off high end aftermarket parts.

I decided that some cosmetic mods were first in line. I saw a thread somewhere where someone had cut out the top of the engine cover and put in screen material. I liked it... and thought, I can do that... so. I mapped out the cuts, several times to make sure that I had them even, and then broke out the dremel. It took several tries to determine the best blade to use, but I got there. I cut it all out, short of the lines, and then used a hand file to close in on the lines. Off to hme depot for some screen material, and walahhhh, I had a custom engine cover... hmmm, don't care much for the color... so, off to AutoZone for some paint...

This created a problem, but not much of one. AutoZone carried a line of paints known as duplicolor.... but they didn't have anything to duplicolor RJT... so.. time for the scientific method of paint color selection... don't try this at home....

I asked the girl if she could unlock the paint cage and let me try several cans... Fortunately, it was a partly cloudy day, so the light wasn't to harsh, nor too soft... I got about nine cans of sray paint that were close to the proper color, and carried them out to my car...

This step is important... I got a detailing rag out of the trunk and cleaned the dust off the tops of all the cans, (which I'm sure the girl inside appreciated) and then held the cans up to the front of my car, nope, nope, hmmm close, nope, close, nope, hell no, really close, and maybe...

Then I took the possible candidates around to the side and then the back of my car, comparing it to different levesl and angles of light... and settled on one that I could not tell the difference on at any area of my car... I returned the others and bought every can they had of my selection...

I went home, taped everything as best as I could, (I'm not a painter) and started sanding the silver parts of the engine cover. I cut the screens back out and when all was ready, I sprayed the almost RJT paint on the sanded areas. Hmmmm, not bad, but... wait, it's lacquer, so, I wet sanded the painted areas with 2000 and then 3000 grit sandpaper, and then got out the dewalt... I had a buffing pad and some polishing compound.. wow, what a difference...I went back to home depot and got some number 8 stainless screws and washers and used them to accent the engine cover a little. There is also a pic of a trip my wife and took in the Hill Country right after Christmas 2009. It was really cold,and this pic was taken during the only time the whole three days there wasn't a drizzly rain...I managed to clean it at a little car wash and made it to this spot for the pics...