2014 SIM 1SS/1LE Search & Build Thread

[cdb95z28]

[cdb95z28]

Some of the pics are upside down!

[cdb95z28]

The results are in on the new oil cooler!

In 77-80*F ambients, I ran full tilt for 20 minutes in sessions 2 & 3. Max oil temp was 217* with an engine coolant temp of 209*. And I ran a new PB lap too. Finally a no worries setup. The Improved Racing stuff is top notch high quality. I kinda wish I would have another 90*+ day jut to see how the setup works in those conditions.

[cdb95z28]

Here is my current personal best, 1:55.36

[cdb95z28]

9/2/20 TNiA

[cdb95z28]

Over the past few weeks my car started surging at part throttle. It kept getting worse without throwing any codes. I hooked up my HP Tuners and scanned it and then took a look at the info. Everything looked good, short and long term fuel trims were very minor and both banks were close to each other. Nothing looked abnormal. I did a little research and some were saying that the throttle body could be the problem. It will act this way but take a while till it would throw a code. So I ordered a new throttle body and installed it> The new throttle body fixed the issue.

[RyangAsh]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

I talked about a loss of power, but I just realized it last week.
When I purchased the Pfadt headers I sent them to Jet Hot for their 1300* polished coating. Within a few months the coating started to peel. At some point in the summer I noticed black specs of carbon showing up on my bumper and trunk lid. This would indicate a rich condition. I suspected my primary O2 sensors may have been corrupted from the oil cooler leak. They had been drenched from the outside with oil and that can cause them to lose their base calibration. I replaced them but the rich condition still existed.

This winter I removed the headers and sent them back to Jet Hot for a warranty recoat. As part of the header removal I pulled the spark plugs and found the AC Delco plugs that I had installed last winter had huge gaps. The iridium tip looked melted/eroded. The gaps opened up to almost .060" from the .040" spec. I believe this is the cause of the rich condition that would also reduce power.

Attachment 1014882


Attachment 1014883

I bought those plugs from Amazon. I checked the reviews recently and some people are having the same problem. Some are suspecting these plugs are counterfeit. I have now purchased a set of NGK Iridiums. From RockAuto!

Melted tip indicates too much heat, which would be lean condition. Also look at the lack of color on the electrode itself..it's almost completely white.

You don't have a wideband in this car? Are you tuning it?

As you probably already know running a car on a road course balls out for extended periods of time isn't easy on them.

The black stuff on the back happens to every sports car with soft compound tires I have ever seen. I would say it tire and road debris over anything.

Hope this helps.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RyangAsh

Melted tip indicates too much heat, which would be lean condition. Also look at the lack of color on the electrode itself..it's almost completely white.

You don't have a wideband in this car? Are you tuning it?

As you probably already know running a car on a road course balls out for extended periods of time isn't easy on them.

The black stuff on the back happens to every sports car with soft compound tires I have ever seen. I would say it tire and road debris over anything.

Hope this helps.

Thank you,
Yes, the car was tuned by Steve @ RDP at his shop in Ohio. It was the counterfeit plugs, no doubt. Others have had the same experience. The original AC plugs looked great after 3x more track time than those AC Delcos I put in that winter. The car is running great, even in the 90+* ambients we had in June/July. My MPH at the end of the front stretch of Pitt Race are the highest I've ever had. I suspect since there was incomplete combustion happening from the bad plugs, the O2 sensor was sensing a rich condition and it started to lean the car out.

It wasn't road debris on the back bumper, I've had this car since 2014 and have tracked this car so much I see what accumulates on the body. The black on the rear of the bumper was definitely soot from being rich and as described in the post, the spots were also oil spray from the leaking oil cooler.

I had none of the soot early last year soon after the tune then it slowly got worse. This year, I have none. I just did 2 full track days this weekend and the tail is clean except for some super light dust that can only be seen if you rub a finger across it. Yes, my brakes create lots of dirt, but the tires are so sticky that they create marbles.

[RyangAsh]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

Thank you,
Yes, the car was tuned by Steve @ RDP at his shop in Ohio. It was the counterfeit plugs, no doubt. Others have had the same experience. The original AC plugs looked great after 3x more track time than those AC Delcos I put in that winter. The car is running great, even in the 90+* ambients we had in June/July. My MPH at the end of the front stretch of Pitt Race are the highest I've ever had. I suspect since there was incomplete combustion happening from the bad plugs, the O2 sensor was sensing a rich condition and it started to lean the car out.

It wasn't road debris on the back bumper, I've had this car since 2014 and have tracked this car so much I see what accumulates on the body. The black on the rear of the bumper was definitely soot from being rich and as described in the post, the spots were also oil spray from the leaking oil cooler.

I had none of the soot early last year soon after the tune then it slowly got worse. This year, I have none. I just did 2 full track days this weekend and the tail is clean except for some super light dust that can only be seen if you rub a finger across it. Yes, my brakes create lots of dirt, but the tires are so sticky that they create marbles.

Glad you got the spark plugs figured out. I have never heard of a counterfeit spark plug!

My tune is pretty spot on and I for sure get the rubber/ dust on the back and sides, sorta bad. I also run super soft hooisers... 335/35/17

I must have missed the part about the oil cooler leak. Sorry, I read fast some times.

All in all, sounds like you're good to go now. Good luck man!

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RyangAsh

Glad you got the spark plugs figured out. I have never heard of a counterfeit spark plug!

My tune is pretty spot on and I for sure get the rubber/ dust on the back and sides, sorta bad. I also run super soft hooisers... 335/35/17

I must have missed the part about the oil cooler leak. Sorry, I read fast some times.

All in all, sounds like you're good to go now. Good luck man!

17” wheels, you are drag racing, correct? Damn! 335! That must look bad ass!
Probably a lot different rubber wear vs road racing.







In the side pic, the outline of my number (34) is lightly visible from the dust accumulation. At the rear, it’s pretty clean, a few dirt spots from the early morning dew, but no black soot. Steve nailed the tune, he knew I was road racing, plus the coolant temps tend to rise which helps the burn.

[RyangAsh]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

17” wheels, you are drag racing, correct? Damn! 335! That must look bad ass!
Probably a lot different rubber wear vs road racing. Attachment 1043718

Attachment 1043719

Attachment 1043720

Attachment 1043721

In the side pic, the outline of my number (34) is lightly visible from the dust accumulation. At the rear, it’s pretty clean, a few dirt spots from the early morning dew, but no black soot. Steve nailed the tune, he knew I was road racing, plus the coolant temps tend to rise which helps the burn.

Correct, drag racing.( we still turn a lot *Wink*)

Actually the 335/35/17 look kinda stupid, but they work awesome. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad, just stick out a little. 27 inch vs 28 inch on my car works far better. The 305/45/17 was much more attractive.

Wow to the inside of the wheels. The side of the car is for sure dirty, the back looks similar to mine, except that silver hides it better than the white on my car.

Your car sure looks fun to drive. I have contemplated getting some road course tires and wheels for the ZL1 and just going to play around at a track day.( and an alignment, clearly)

Yes the rubber wear from the street cruising kills the tires on the car currently. The et street R's held up well, still put a ton of tire dust everywhere.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RyangAsh

Correct, drag racing.( we still turn a lot *Wink*)

Actually the 335/35/17 look kinda stupid, but they work awesome. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad, just stick out a little. 27 inch vs 28 inch on my car works far better. The 305/45/17 was much more attractive.

Wow to the inside of the wheels. The side of the car is for sure dirty, the back looks similar to mine, except that silver hides it better than the white on my car.

Your car sure looks fun to drive. I have contemplated getting some road course tires and wheels for the ZL1 and just going to play around at a track day.( and an alignment, clearly)

Yes the rubber wear from the street cruising kills the tires on the car currently. The et street R's held up well, still put a ton of tire dust everywhere.

What times do you run? Any mods on you ZL1? That's probably a dumb question, lol! I did some drag racing in my '95 Z28 before going road racing. Good times hangin with buddies back in the day.

The road racing is alot more dynamic, accelerating, braking and corning, you kinda have more time to digest what the car is doing, just more track time I guess. 20 minute sessions vs 10, 11, 12 seconds. Hell yeah! Get a good alignment, doesn't have to be road racer pro aggressive, hell, my current specs are mild, and some good tires. Your OE F1s are actually very good road race tires. You'll either be scared to death after that first session or hooked big time!

[RyangAsh]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

What times do you run? Any mods on you ZL1? That's probably a dumb question, lol! I did some drag racing in my '95 Z28 before going road racing. Good times hangin with buddies back in the day.

The road racing is alot more dynamic, accelerating, braking and corning, you kinda have more time to digest what the car is doing, just more track time I guess. 20 minute sessions vs 10, 11, 12 seconds. Hell yeah! Get a good alignment, doesn't have to be road racer pro aggressive, hell, my current specs are mild, and some good tires. Your OE F1s are actually very good road race tires. You'll either be scared to death after that first session or hooked big time!

Some mods, makes north of 700whp. The car was stock last time it was in between lasers. Ran a 12.01 with a horrid 60 foot time.

I would guess its in the upper 10s maybe mids in good, cool fall weather. We usually 1/8th mile race on a prepped road.

I miss my 97 z28 :(

Oh I would be hooked for sure.I thought the f1's felt like plastic, took alot of heat to get them any good. They are long gone though.

I enjoy watching your videos, you actually drive that car. Very much my style. I will keep following this thread

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by RyangAsh

Some mods, makes north of 700whp. The car was stock last time it was in between lasers. Ran a 12.01 with a horrid 60 foot time.

I would guess its in the upper 10s maybe mids in good, cool fall weather. We usually 1/8th mile race on a prepped road.

I miss my 97 z28 :(

Oh I would be hooked for sure.I thought the f1's felt like plastic, took alot of heat to get them any good. They are long gone though.

I enjoy watching your videos, you actually drive that car. Very much my style. I will keep following this thread

Nice #! I drove a stock ZL1 was in awe of the power, haha, let lone 700+.

Was your '97 modded?

Glad you like the videos, If it helps or entertains, that's cool.