Going full build

[Buschman]

So let me start this off saying that I am very thankful that I am blessed enough to enjoy my hobbies.

I've made the decision to stop trying to build a street car and go full drag race car with my 2015 1LE.

Short version of the back story on the car. Started my Camaro life obsession back in 2013 with a Victory Red RS. Looking over the internet trying to find a few parts to make it mine, I stumbled across Camaro5.com. You could say that changed my life forever... I read and read and read, decided to do a few upgrades but keep it stockish enough that I could trade it in for a 1LE in the near future.

I joined a Camaro club, and was fortunate enough to befriend the infamous Becky D. Of course, in July 2015 she was able to get me exactly what I needed a 15 1SS 1LE with Recaros and NPP exhaust. At the time I thought the car was perfect. Track it, clean it and show it in the exact form it was intended. Well, the Camaro5 mod bug set in. Spring of 2016 brought some basic bolt-ons and a remote tune from a SCT tuner. Car ran okay, but it needed more. Fall of 2016 it went to a local shop for long tubes and new cam. During tear down they found that the sleeve in cylinder 1 was cracked. Still no exact answer of what caused it.

In goes a full forged custom built LS3 with a small shot of giggle juice. Small shot moves to medium shot which moves to big shot which moves to... Well lets just say nitrous is tricky stuff.

In goes a 376 LSX B-15 with a ProCharger F1-A. Now during the course of other changes the drive line, suspension, fuel system and everything else has been redone. The 1LE ends up as my toy car, Becky D finds me a 18 ZL1 A10 to use as the daily driver. Car looks GREAT, drives perfect and sounds amazing. My issue comes at the track. Launching this car is nothing short of an art form, and I have never been good at art. It's fast but inconsistent and frustrating. I've spent this year trying everything I can to figure it out. Best I have ran it is 11.07 @134.4. I know, the car is WAY faster than the driver. It's gotten to the point that every time I take it to the track I end up leaving frustrated screaming at my "stupid car" (I know, it's the driver), because of a day of bog or spin at the line. I have no want to continue spending my weekends that way.

I had a pulley and headers put on the ZL1 and consistently run 10.8 @ 130. Makes a guy happy, but enough to piss a guy off too. So what to do with the 1LE? Sell it? Nope, way too much into the car I would be lucky to get $35k for it. Leave it as is in the garage and drive it on weekend cruises? Nope, too much of a car not fair to it to let it sit. Gut it and build a full race car? Yes please.

Deposits are being paid. Putting in a 4L80E with a manual valve body, swapping out the current G-Force drive line for a full 9" kit, 15" rear conversion and having a 10 point cage welded in.

Still have decisions on what to do with the smaller parts and everything that comes with the build.

What I'm hoping is that guys that have gone this route can help guide my decisions on what else needs to be done. And/or what best bets they found along the way. First is, what to do with the air bags? I would also like to see what has been done around weight reduction while still keeping a stock-ish interior appearance. Ordered a COPO build book and plan to shamelessly steal ideas from there as well.

Any input is appreciated. I'll keep this thread updated as progress happens, parts are minimum 5-6 weeks out so it will be a slow start. Pictures, because why not we love pictures.

[Jayjellyfish212]

Looking forward to seeing your progress on the build

What drag pack are you planning on using ? If your only gonna track it you might want to consider swapping the stock wire harness and computer crap to a full stand alone system so tuning is more direct and all the stock computer crap is gone.

Definitely going to be a really fun drag strip car when your done.

[Jayjellyfish212]

Check out ttshovel’s build to on here. He did an amazing build with his car!

[Buschman]

Originally Posted by Jayjellyfish212

Looking forward to seeing your progress on the build

What drag pack are you planning on using ? If your only gonna track it you might want to consider swapping the stock wire harness and computer crap to a full stand alone system so tuning is more direct and all the stock computer crap is gone.

Definitely going to be a really fun drag strip car when your done.

Thanks! Most likely going with Weld's haven't got that far yet.

The end plan is to pull everything and go with the Holley system. That will probably end up in phase 2 or 3 of the build. I don't plan on this being a one and done job. That's one of the reasons for the thread, to try build in manageable steps and not have to re-do work.

End goal is to have the car deep into the 8's for Summer 2022.

[Buschman]

Finally making progress. Gforce 9" kit, Carlyle 15" conversion kit, BMR drag pack, Strange coilovers, and Coan T400 with M&M shifter are installed!

Driveshaft is on it's way, transbrake and 2 step being wired in. Waiting on a few bars for the cage but progress is progress.

[Bigdumogre]

Living the dream

[eLeSthree]

Nice build. Hey you might as well get some adjustable BMR toe rods while you're there.

[ttshovel]

Originally Posted by Jayjellyfish212

Check out ttshovel’s build to on here. He did an amazing build with his car!

Thank you buddy!

Digging the build! Will be following along

[Jayjellyfish212]

Originally Posted by ttshovel

Thank you buddy!

Digging the build! Will be following along

I been watching all the full builds like a hawk , I plan to keep my 1LE as a street-able car and soon build a true dedicated track drag only car from another bare gen5 using the threads, the COPO build book and all my years of experiences to do it. I am confident I will have no issues building one. Hopefully if all goes to plan I will get that build going in less than a year since I won't have support payments to make anymore

[Buschman]

Any ideas on exhaust? Headder dump, axle dump, or full cat back? It's a race car but will still be street driven here and there. What ever I do it will have to be custom made. Unless anyone knows of a cat back kit that fits with a T400 and 9" kit.


Looking like I may get some help from Frankenstein Engine Dynamics on the project, fingers crossed there will be a beautiful billet piece coming my way soon!

[Buschman]

Originally Posted by ttshovel

Thank you buddy!

Digging the build! Will be following along

Just trying to keep up with you LOL.

[ttshovel]

Originally Posted by Buschman

Any ideas on exhaust? Headder dump, axle dump, or full cat back? It's a race car but will still be street driven here and there. What ever I do it will have to be custom made. Unless anyone knows of a cat back kit that fits with a T400 and 9" kit.


Looking like I may get some help from Frankenstein Engine Dynamics on the project, fingers crossed there will be a beautiful billet piece coming my way soon!

I'd just run about 2 foot of pipe and turn em down/out to keep the sound/fumes out from under you

Originally Posted by Buschman

Just trying to keep up with you LOL.

[John_C]

Nice build!

I want to do the rear diff and axles next on my $$.

[Buschman]

Making some progress on the cage and seats are being test fitted.