Chris49066SS Build Thread GPI

[IWANTA(ss)]

Man that thing is moving, will the head work and bigger TB will help pick up some of your lost torque?

[Chris49066SS]

Well in GPIs recent intake manifold comparison, I saw that the Hi Ram picked up quite a bit of HP going from the 92mm to the 102mm. Unfortunately the LOD manifold wasn't tested with the 92mm TB, and it beat the Hi Ram on the top end but gave up some torque and had a different shape curve...so it will be interesting to see how the LOD likes the bigger TB instead of the 92mm in my setup.

As far as the heads, if I were to get some polished LS3 heads then I could get a bit better flow while I am still N/A but need to stay away from milling so my compression doesn't end up too high for the boost. So I could mill my L99 heads but that will affect clearances, and when throwing on the LS3 heads, it will all be subject to change. But the boost is so far down the road and I am a little impatient and would like some more power in the meantime. I just don't want to mill them and screw myself with too much compression. I am currently discussing it with GPI so that I can get it all right

[IWANTA(ss)]

Originally Posted by Chris49066SS

Well in GPIs recent intake manifold comparison, I saw that the Hi Ram picked up quite a bit of HP going from the 92mm to the 102mm. Unfortunately the LOD manifold wasn't tested with the 92mm TB, and it beat the Hi Ram on the top end but gave up some torque and had a different shape curve...so it will be interesting to see how the LOD likes the bigger TB instead of the 92mm in my setup.

As far as the heads, if I were to get some polished LS3 heads then I could get a bit better flow while I am still N/A but need to stay away from milling so my compression doesn't end up too high for the boost. So I could mill my L99 heads but that will affect clearances, and when throwing on the LS3 heads, it will all be subject to change. But the boost is so far down the road and I am a little impatient and would like some more power in the meantime. I just don't want to mill them and screw myself with too much compression. I am currently discussing it with GPI so that I can get it all right

I think what I’m going to end up doing is maxing out the Ls3 N/A for fun and just save my coins up for the 17 or 18 zl1

[Chris49066SS]

Originally Posted by IWANTA(ss)

I think what I’m going to end up doing is maxing out the Ls3 N/A for fun and just save my coins up for the 17 or 18 zl1

Theres an idea too! Those look pretty nice

[Chris49066SS]

Got my skinnies mounted! I cut the rollerskates off the front without having to remove the pads from the calipers, so I saved myself a bunch of work. I went with the Race Star 17x4.5 wheel and checked fitment, which fit great, then mounted some bias ply M&H 28.00x4.5/17 front runners and have the stick-on weights for balancing. I made sure to let my local shop know to put the weights on the inner part of the rim so that they would clear the calipers, and they fit perfectly. The weight difference from the stock corners was around 30 lbs on each. Race Stars are not light by any means, but they are a lot lighter than the stock 20's and bias plys are lighter than radials as well. Getting really excited to get this thing to the strip again!

Driving impressions- So with skinnies up front and no front swaybar, it is still streetable. Its a night and day difference in handling though, this thing can't corner worth a damn now! It rained today too, so the handling was straight garbage. I haven't done any hard braking, but its all fine. Just a matter of knowing what kind of setup I have now and its limitations/sacrifice of street manners and drivability in pursuit of better strip capabilities. Its acceptable and welcome losses for me. Hitting the track next month/soon so stay tuned!

[Tajefe Couple]

I really like the skinny look and bet you shave a little over .1 off your 1/4 times.
Curious what size you run out back?

[Chris49066SS]

Thanks! I am hoping for 11.1 with the current setup. Out back, I run a 305/45-17, so a 27.8" tall tire which gives me an effective gear ratio of 4.08..the fronts are a hair taller at 28"

[Chris49066SS]

driving Impressions update, so I have been dailying on this setup for a week and can safely say that my car now handles like a lumber wagon. I'm getting some more nvh particularly when turning. I don't really know what's going on there because there is absolutely no rubbing on the wheels. this is not me complaining at all, simply Sharing some observations, experiences, and updates.

[Chris49066SS]

Walking out to the parking lot today I noticed a delightful little surprise in my rear drivers side tire (Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 305/45R17). A nail! With the track day approaching in 4 days, I reacted quickly and used my best judgement and ordered a pair of new tires. I went with a Mickey Thompson ET Street R bias ply (28x11.5-17). I will post the pics when I get them mounted which will hopefully be before the track day.

[Tajefe Couple]

That sucks, at least you caught it before hitting the track

[Chris49066SS]

Originally Posted by Tajefe Couple

That sucks, at least you caught it before hitting the track

I had several thoughts, that I could possibly tear up the track with that nail but also that I didn't know how the tire would react when pushed to 120mph and heated up with a burnout. I just didn't want to take the chance

[Chris49066SS]

It began when I discovered a nail in my rear tire, one of my Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S drag radials, just 3 days before my track day. I took it to my local shop and they patched it. Then on an impulse, and with the guise of wanting to "play it safe" by not tracking a patched drag radial, I ordered 2 new tires and had them next day delivered; some Mickey Thompson ET Street R Bias-Plys!



I had the shop mount them onto my Race Stars. They looked great, and were super soft. I especially liked the way they looked compared to the radials, with their sidewalls bulging out!

Anyway heres where the heartache starts. I had just got them onto the car, and took it for a drive around the block, and pulled back into the garage and to my utter dismay, I had a puncture in one of them and could hear it rapidly losing air. There was a lot of yelling and I even punched the car at one point! I frantically dismounted the wheel and took it to the shop, and they could not patch it because the hole was too big. So then I had to go home and dismount the other wheel, and bring in my old S/S tires and bring it all back to them and say, ok then, please put these back on, I am going to the drag strip tomorrow and I NEED these back on so I can run my car. They came through for me, and I drove home.



Upon returning home, I found out that my 2 year old son had thrown an Xbox controller and busted the screen of my 80" TV. Needless to say, my stress level was elevated. I laughed and took a shot and grabbed a beer and went out to the garage to mount the old wheel/tire combo back up. I noticed that one of the lugs didn't go on very smoothly...but it tightened. I pulled the back seats and passenger seat out and everything out of the trunk, took off the exhaust and was ready to race at 3,775 lbs race weight.

[Chris49066SS]

It was a clear, crisp morning on November 9th, 2019. The temperature was a little below 50° and DA was good, apparently around -1,000 ft. Today was the day, I knew it. These were the conditions I had been waiting for. I made the hour and a half trip to Bowling Green, KY, to Beech Bend Raceway, and let the engine cool down while I dropped the tires to 23 psi. I took the air filter off, and my buddy Kyle showed up with his 2017 C7 Vette, so we raced, and here were the results



A new PB in the 1/4 for me, 11.079 @ 122.99 mph, as well as a new PB for 60' and 1/8! I was pleased, so I decided to launch even harder on my next pass. I botched up the launch though, and spun badly, and called no joy. I drove away with a new PB, but it was if the 10 second range was teasing me, I was so close!

[Jayjellyfish212]

Originally Posted by Chris49066SS

Got my skinnies mounted! I cut the rollerskates off the front without having to remove the pads from the calipers, so I saved myself a bunch of work. I went with the Race Star 17x4.5 wheel and checked fitment, which fit great, then mounted some bias ply M&H 28.00x4.5/17 front runners and have the stick-on weights for balancing. I made sure to let my local shop know to put the weights on the inner part of the rim so that they would clear the calipers, and they fit perfectly. The weight difference from the stock corners was around 30 lbs on each. Race Stars are not light by any means, but they are a lot lighter than the stock 20's and bias plys are lighter than radials as well. Getting really excited to get this thing to the strip again!

Driving impressions- So with skinnies up front and no front swaybar, it is still streetable. Its a night and day difference in handling though, this thing can't corner worth a damn now! It rained today too, so the handling was straight garbage. I haven't done any hard braking, but its all fine. Just a matter of knowing what kind of setup I have now and its limitations/sacrifice of street manners and drivability in pursuit of better strip capabilities. Its acceptable and welcome losses for me. Hitting the track next month/soon so stay tuned!

Get an alignment done now you got the skinnies. I have the same skinnies and after alignment the car drives the same as stockers. I just have to remind myself to be easy now in corners because I can’t feel any difference but know the skinnies aren’t good for fast corners lol. The alignment made a huge difference for me. I went with full drag alignment settings and my car drives great on the street still.