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Old 02-02-2019, 03:41 PM   #2367
hammdo
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Pedders (Cont.)

Final ride height adjustments completed!

Set all 4 corners to 647MM -- looks nice -- all dampers set to 14:











Next will be the alignment then track prep!

-Don
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Old 02-03-2019, 08:59 PM   #2368
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Wing Prep! (Cont.)

Today, started removing the rally stripes using this:



Spray it on let it sit for 15 minutes:





Using some heat (heat gun) start pulling it up:



After removing the residue, clay barred the trunk lid, guess what I found 'under' the stripes:







Checked the paint and sure enough, pitted -- was a CRAP paint job @ the factory for sure. The stripes were put on with this bad paint...

So, looks like I'll need to have the top repainted -- went ahead and removed the bowtie. Tried using 2000 grit wet to sand a bit but its badly pitted.

I'll have it painted 'after' the wing is setup so I do it just once...

Figures I'd get a hidden 'crap' GM paint job -- but at least I have all the hardware already and it won't be a bad thing to have it fixed right...

-Don
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Last edited by hammdo; 07-29-2019 at 10:24 AM.
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Old 02-12-2019, 01:33 PM   #2369
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Alignment is done! Folks at 5th Gear did it. Had a hiccup but they took care of it — stand up group of folks there — good people for sure!

Now doing track prep for TMS! After TMS, going to GPI for trans rebuild...

Waiting on wing — gonna get the trunk lid painted fresh... should be sweet when the wing comes in...

Fun times ahead!

-Don
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Old 02-12-2019, 11:16 PM   #2370
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Coilovers — wow, what a difference... dialing in the ride comfort — wife loves them...

Track prep time...

-Don
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Old 02-25-2019, 12:12 AM   #2371
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Well, was not able to make my track date. On the way there, hit a pothole or maintenance dig that was filled with water (we had rain) and busted/bent the driver’s side coilover.

I’ll post pics soon but, I was able to get a set of Pedders from Summit and had it fixed on the same day — so stoked to have Summit in my back yard (so to speak)...

Anyway, GPI is upgrading my 6L80 — that will be awesome too!

-Don
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Old 03-01-2019, 09:37 AM   #2372
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OUCH!

Glad you got it sorted and the trans is gonna be AWESOME!
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Old 03-02-2019, 11:13 AM   #2373
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Well, since you said OUCH:

Last Saturday, on my way to TMS, I hit the mother of potholes or a dig that someone forgot to 'mark' with cones.

This was the carnage:









Yea, hit it REAL hard...

this was @ 6:00 AM with rain, a bit of fog, and a hole filled with water -- I was avoiding another car that 'lost' the road and well, sh** happens.

Anway, believe it or not, it was still drive-able so I was able to make it home.

Lucky for me, Summit is in our backyard, and they had these in stock! So, I basically replace this and was able to get it back by the end of the day:







I got everything close but, was still a bit off. Had to wait as GPI was rebuilding my transmission -- that's next...

-Don
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Old 03-02-2019, 11:21 AM   #2374
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Is gpi done with the tranny? I saw the facebook post but wasn't sure.
Did your rim get damaged from the hole?
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Old 03-02-2019, 11:44 AM   #2375
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Ouch on the Coilover... I saw the GPI post as well...
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Old 03-02-2019, 11:50 AM   #2376
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6L80 with 6L90 torque converter - GPI Rebuild

So, after the coil over episode, I was able to make it to GPI (4.5 hours away). I did test out the car before leaving ;o)

Dropped the car off Monday, On Tuesday, Mike @ GPI had her torn down:



The good news, 4-5-6 showed a bit of heat but NOTHING BROKEN! This 6L80 is a lot tougher than folks believe. 67k miles on her and still in great shape. Changing the oil often has helped for sure. Probably should have put the cooler on sooner but, lesson learned.

So with that, I went with the PATC rebuild kit (with the GPI upgrades), the PATC Billet upgrades, and a ZL1 6L90 torque converter with a TCI 399853 SFI 29.2 certified Flex Plate:





TCI:



About the Flex Plate -- I initially bought the one for the 6L80 (399757) with the multiple torque convert configurations but, did NOT fit the 6L90 torque converter!

GPI order what we 'thought' was the correct one but, it too didn't fit. A call to Circle-D -- they sent us the right one (Circle-D no longer does their billet flex plates so they sent us the TCI).

So that was a 2 day delay - which was my fault as I wanted all 6 bolts and not '3' for the torque converter. GPI worked though that and got it done for me!

So with the PATC/GPI/TCI upgrades, the ZL1 Torque Converter, Ryan set out to tune things up.

And boy, I can tell the difference.

Ryan had to 'test' the setup so while driving around, a nice GT 500 came up -- yea, Ryan said it didn't last long ;o). Ryan said everything just 'works' and is very tight -- really responsive.

Anyway, why the ZL1 Torque converter?

I road race -- not drag -- so stall converter was not in the plans.

The ZL1 Converter is Dual Disk, 300 mm and, stalls around 1800-2000 RPM vs the 6L80 which is 1300-1500 RPM. Now, torque produced moves this stall RPM around but, the ZL1 is built tougher, is a direct fit for the 6L80, was built for supercharged engines, cost effective and, built to race!

Not a bad upgrade and GPI gave me a 'smokin' deal on it!

So after a 300 + mile trip home, trans was so much more responsive, tighter/crisp shifts and just worked!

Considering all the trans work GPI does plus what they've learned from racing, this was an unbelievable upgrade!

I will say, the weather was a bit cold on the way back (high 30's). Trans temps max were 105° and when I got into Dallas, 96° -- I know but, I normally don't drive it when its below 40°.

I don't see any transmission 'heat' issues though when I race this mother! She's built tough!

As a side note, Mike checked the front end for me and found the driver's front-rear control arm bent -- thus why the little discrepancy on the alignment. I've ordered the Z/28 versions for both the driver/passenger's sides -- I replace in pairs as habit -- experience has taught me its best to do if you can.

Part numbers are:



Anyway, those are ordered and on the way from Rock Auto.

Can't wait to try this out -- when its not raining and cold ;o)

-Don
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Last edited by hammdo; 03-04-2019 at 12:09 AM.
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:02 PM   #2377
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ABADZL1 View Post
Is gpi done with the tranny? I saw the facebook post but wasn't sure.
Did your rim get damaged from the hole?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mlee View Post
Ouch on the Coilover... I saw the GPI post as well...
Trans is done!

Wheel has a small area and I believe it can be fix -- I couldn't believe it when I hit it -- no way to know it was even there -- I was shocked the tire was ok -- the coil over took all the force it appears -- which in the long run -- was a good thing.

No other damage except the control arm...

-Don
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:10 PM   #2378
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Glad the tranny is fixed. Any new dyno numbers since you have meth now?
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:26 PM   #2379
hammdo
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No, they were booked on the dyno and I couldn't get in. Ryan said the tune was excellent -- thank YOU BTW Mark ;o). I told Ryan you did a ton on it...

He just cleaned up the idle and low RPM area and -- saved it ;o)

It was late on Friday when Ryan took it out to 'street' tune it -- man, it drives fantastic with a more responsive transmission. You can't imagine the difference...

There was no time to get it on the dyno. If I didn't have a 2 day delay with the flex plate then yea, we probably would have done it.

Anyway, I'll send you the tune once I pull it down.

-Don
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:52 PM   #2380
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I was just thinking that with a ZL1 converter, the idle area mostly airflow changes would probably be in order. I bet it doesn't push thru the brakes so hard now. I really need to do that to Sarah's. Just when I thought I was done with hers. I just got the new powder coated brembos on. Look great.
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