Aliso Bob's 2015 2SS Camaro Journal

[morepowerjoe]

Nice ride sir. Look forward to seeing your future endeavors.

[Eddymel1998]

Originally Posted by AlisoBob

I skipped the trans service, as my dipstick has not arrived yet, so we'll move onto the rear axle.

I have a pretty good mechanical ear for things, and this axle just didn't sound right. It was fairly quite on acceleration and deceleration.... but that in between "float" or "coasting"... sounded bad. So I wasn't too shocked when I drained it. Hardly any oil came out, and what did looked terrible. (Car has 55k miles) And just look at the magnets!! Crap. So I filled the whole axle with diesel..... and flushed it out. Then I filled it with Mobil 1 75w/140 and drove it around for 15 minutes, came back and dumped it again, and refilled it again. Is it quieter? I think so, but once you hear something like this, you can't "unhear it". I'l take it over to a buddies house this weekend for a 2nd opinion on the sound of it. I'll service it again in 10k miles, and see how it's doing.

Had an issue with rear diff when I bought mine as well, for me it was an axle seal leak and low oil as well but not as bad as yours, after all the fluid changes I went to test it and wanted to trigger the LSD and check if that works, long story short I almost ended up in a ditch, would've been a real buzz kill with a brand new to me Camaro at the time, I blame the stability control.

[AlisoBob]

Today I added a Air Filter Service Indicator. Some folks don't understand these things.... ans claim "Those things never work, nothing but junk...."

I come form a dirt moving background, and you better believe they work!!!

If you changed a $400 air filter in a CAT dozer every time it looked dirty...thats all you would do!!

These things measure restriction in the intake tract. As debris starts to plug the filter, the restriction goes up. Guess what? As the air filter gets seasoned.... efficiency goes up too! About the worst then you could do to a engine would be to replace the air filter, everyday. You NEED this seasoning to catch the smaller debris. If you changed it every day, this "seasoning" never gets built up.

Based on experience with other cars..... I'm guessing the Camaro will go about 80k miles before triggering the restriction gauge. Once it starts measuring a restriction, things start moving pretty fast as the restriction grows exponentially. Installation is simple. Drill a hole, pop in the gromment.....Done!!!!

[AlisoBob]

I was super disappointed with the factory HID lighting...... it was practically useless. $200 later with some Osram Night Breaker bulbs..... it's totally kick ass...... so bright, with a super crisp cut off line. I get what the fuss is all about with these bulbs.....

[chevy pilot]

Originally Posted by AlisoBob

Osram Night Breaker bulbs..... it's totally kick ass...... so bright, with a super crisp cut off line. I get what the fuss is all about with these bulbs.....

[AlisoBob]

New floor mats went in today, from a company called 3D. They are a weird molded rubber / vinyl mix that looks a little like carbon fiber. I have them in several Silverado's, the Traverse, the Kia and the Fiat. They fit perfectly in every application I've seen. I love these things.....

[DRC69]

Very nice car. I do like silver a lot.

[chevy pilot]

Nice floor mats.

[AlisoBob]

So, I think I'm getting pretty close to being done with getting the car to where I want it.... from front to back....
1. Delete front license plate mount and plug mounting holes.
2. New "Brembo" decals on all calipers
3. Add H/O HID bulbs ( Huge increase in lighting)
4. Change engine oil and filter, twice. (0w/40 Mobil 1)
5. Service Auto Trans twice with Blue Label Mobil 1 and add drain plug to pan. New fluid
greatly improved trans shift feel and strategy.
6. Replaced Windshield ( lots of pits)
7. Retint all windows.
8. Add floor mats
9. Add Carbon interior trim pieces to door pulls
10. Add DOD blocker module Runs great!! ( Lost 2mpg)
11. Condition all leather
12. Clay, Polish and Ceramic coat exterior.
13. Add Black Bowtie wheel center caps
14. Sand , Blend, and Repaint minor wheel "curb rash"
15. Add Catch Can. ( Was a present, had to. I'd never buy one)
16. New plugs and wires ( So easy, don't believe those who say it's a all day ordeal)
17. New Coolant
18. New Engine and Cabin airfilters
19. New lugnuts at all 4 corners
20. New Trunk struts
21.. Line whole truck and battery well with Killmat sound deadner.
( BIG difference on interior noise level)
22. Add aluminum blocks to pinch weld lift points
23. Polish up Rear View camera lens
24. Add Auto trans dipstick. ( Thing is very poorly made, I dont reccommend it. Rubs
the trans tunnel hard. So not worth it)
25. Lube all rubber chassis, exhaust, and suspension mounts and bushings
26. Replace MAF sensor
27. Drain and refill Rear Diff twice. Added very strong mag drain plug. The OEM one is
very weak. Increased rear diff oil viscosity to 75w/ 140 weight.
28. Rebalance wheels / tires. Vibration above 120mph is now gone.
29. I added one of those harness's to tie the Foglights into the DRL's.......

If anyone needs more into on any of these tasks.... just ask.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

Originally Posted by AlisoBob

So, I think I'm getting pretty close to being done with getting the car to where I want it.... from front to back....
1. Delete front license plate mount and plug mounting holes.
2. New "Brembo" decals on all calipers
3. Add H/O HID bulbs ( Huge increase in lighting)
4. Change engine oil and filter, twice. (0w/40 Mobil 1)
5. Service Auto Trans twice with Blue Label Mobil 1 and add drain plug to pan. New fluid
greatly improved trans shift feel and strategy.
6. Replaced Windshield ( lots of pits)
7. Retint all windows.
8. Add floor mats
9. Add Carbon interior trim pieces to door pulls
10. Add DOD blocker module Runs great!! ( Lost 2mpg)
11. Condition all leather
12. Clay, Polish and Ceramic coat exterior.
13. Add Black Bowtie wheel center caps
14. Sand , Blend, and Repaint minor wheel "curb rash"
15. Add Catch Can. ( Was a present, had to. I'd never buy one)
16. New plugs and wires ( So easy, don't believe those who say it's a all day ordeal)
17. New Coolant
18. New Engine and Cabin airfilters
19. New lugnuts at all 4 corners
20. New Trunk struts
21.. Line whole truck and battery well with Killmat sound deadner.
( BIG difference on interior noise level)
22. Add aluminum blocks to pinch weld lift points
23. Polish up Rear View camera lens
24. Add Auto trans dipstick. ( Thing is very poorly made, I dont reccommend it. Rubs
the trans tunnel hard. So not worth it)
25. Lube all rubber chassis, exhaust, and suspension mounts and bushings
26. Replace MAF sensor
27. Drain and refill Rear Diff twice. Added very strong mag drain plug. The OEM one is
very weak. Increased rear diff oil viscosity to 75w/ 140 weight.
28. Rebalance wheels / tires. Vibration above 120mph is now gone.
29. I added one of those harness's to tie the Foglights into the DRL's.......

If anyone needs more into on any of these tasks.... just ask.

Nah, I gotta tell you, with these cars you may think you are close to being done, but you aren't even close! lol. I've had mine for 12.5 years now and STILL find something I can improve on, even though you think it isn't possible. There is sooo much out there in the aftermarket to mod these Camaros with. You have a good list going on, and a fine loking ride. Mod on!!

[AlisoBob]

If the factory exhaust manifolds ever rot off, I'll put stainless headers on it.....

If the engine ever grenades, I'll swap in some kind of 7.0l Z06 motor.....

Thats all I have on the horizon.

[AlisoBob]

Oh...... and I might drop the front end 1", to give it some rake.

[AlisoBob]

I really dislike these stupid labels. Adam Corolla once did a 20 minute monolog about the $300k Aston Martin he bought.... with these stupid things.

So.................. POOF! They fell off.

[Yonds]

Nice ride i must say