MagnumForceGB's "Money Pit" [COTW 1/11/16]

[MagnumForceGB]

After 4.5 years of ownership I decided to finally make a build thread after getting close to being finished modding my car. I call it the Money Pit because of how much I've spent on it, but it is fun being the underdog at the track.

Bought my 2010 Synergy Green Edition Camaro on April 2nd, 2010. Originally went to the dealership to buy a 2010 Cobalt to replace my 2007 Silverado but I couldn't resist the Green Camaro sitting on the pedestal. The dealership had just gotten it back from getting tint put on.

A few days after buying the car:



After that the mods began. This is the first time I had modded a car so it was a learning experience. But in the end the car is a great sleeper for drag racing. It took a lot of trial and error to see what worked on the LLT and what didn't.

Engine Mods:
IPF Vortech V3 Centrifugal Supercharger (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307174)
3.33" 6-rib pulley upgrade (stock is 3.80") (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364255)
Dual Elite Engineering Catch Cans (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338353)
Snow Performance Stage 2 Water/Methanol Injection
Custom 3" mandrel bent aluminum charge pipe to relocate IAT sensor
VMAX Ported Throttle Body
LFX Intake Manifold with Traverse LFX-to-LLT adaptor (self-ported) (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379666)
American Racing Headers 1-3/4" Tuned Length headers to 2.5" collector
ARK DT-S 2.5" full cat-back system
Self-Tuned with HP Tuners

Drivetrain Mods:
Circle D 5C Torque Converter
Driveshaft Shop 1-piece aluminum driveshaft for V6 Auto to V8 Differential
SS Differential with JRE Posi Mod, 1LE 3.91 gears, BMR Bushings
1LE Half-Shafts and Hubs
B&M Transmission Cooler (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=324487)

Suspension Mods:
BMR Tunnel Brace
BMR Sway Bars
BMR Toe Rods
BMR Trailing Arms and Bushing
BMR Subframe Bushings
BMR UCA Bushings
BMR Lowering Springs
SS 4-piston Brembo brakes all around

Exterior Mods:
Eagle Eye CCFL Halo headlights with custom wiring so the halos are my DRL
Switchback turn signal LED
Plasma Fog Lights
SS wheels with BF Goodrich Sport Comp 2's
HEX vents

Interior Mods:
PLX DM-6 Gauges on A-pillar
PLX DM-100 OBD2 on steering column
******** 5.1 total entertainment package

I'm still working on cleaning up the engine bay, like upgrading the nylon push fittings for the methanol injection to AN braided lines. When I was making all these changes I had to go to the track and see what worked and what didn't.






My gauges I use to see what is going on with my car. Huge help while I've been getting the most performance I can out of the car.



First started drag racing my Camaro in June 2012 in the middle of summer, DA was around 4000'. Wasn't getting the times I thought I should since I didn't know about correcting for DA so I bought a IPF Supercharger kit used from Texas. I sealed the deal by saying I would drive all 8 hours to pick it up, saving the seller money on shipping. Wife was awesome with this purchase, even drove down there with me. Installed the supercharger and went to the stripe and only ran a 14.1 @ 101, only 0.4 seconds faster then my best uncorrected time (corrected was actually 13.8 @ 103).

Spent the next few months trying to figure out why my car wasn't performing the way it should, with a dyno tech saying it looked like my car was pulling massive timing after 4000 RPM.




I had been using 91 octane 100% gas like IPF had suggested from Conoco, but it was obviously not working. Switched to HESS 91 octane with 10% ethanol in it and the gains were immediate, 13.4 @ 107 one week after going 14.1 @ 102. Over the next year I performed the first IPF pulley upgrade and went from 8 PSI to 12 PSI, but only got down to 13.0 @ 110. For some reason the car was performing terrible off the line like the transmission wasn't putting the power down. My transmission oil temp was 250 degrees just sitting in the staging lanes waiting to run, the intercooler blocked too much air for it. Installed the B&M trans cooler and went 12.5 @ 110, the new record for supercharged 5th gen V6. The next week I installed the 3.91 gears and now have to wait till spring before I get to see the results.

This picture was taken during the 2014 Rally in the Valley fundraiser event hosted by the Oklahoma Muscle Car Club. My little V6 almost pulled the upset that day in its class but lost to a cammed SS by 0.05 seconds.


On September 11th, 2015 I ran a 11.840 @ 116.27 after months of testing and tuning my setup. Previous best was 12.4, so it was a huge gain. Everybody at the track it said the car was just hauling, launched very hard with the torque converter.

UPDATE
On October 28, 2016 I ran a 11.268 @ 120.11 with a smaller pulley, higher transmission pressure, and direct port methanol injection. Belt was slipping though since on the street I was running over 16 PSI, but at the track it was 14 PSI.

About 2 years after we bought my Camaro, we bought my wife a 2012 Mustang V6. She is the one that dragged me to the track to race her when her car was stock and I was modded. When our cars had the same mods the races were intense:

[Lombardi]

very nice! As you've figured I've been following your ipf kit and trying to model mine closely to yours. everything you've gone through already has helped me greatly. no I just need to find a good diagram on how to setup my catch cans and hopefully it'll perform as good as yours.

- "Lifes to short to drive a boring car"

[Camaro_krazee]

Glad to see your build thread! You've done a terrific job! You are putting ideas in my head of going to TV in the spring! lol!

[JantzenOKC]

Very cool, can't wait to see your results this spring!

[MagnumForceGB]

Originally Posted by Camaro_krazee

Glad to see your build thread! You've done a terrific job! You are putting ideas in my head of going to TV in the spring! lol!

Thanks, you should go out there, it is fun.

[Brods911]

Woa summarizing 4 years of mods in one post, never seen that Nice job.

[MagnumForceGB]

Originally Posted by Brods911

Woa summarizing 4 years of mods in one post, never seen that Nice job.

Thanks. I have other build threads but they focus on an individual component, like the pulley upgrade and catch cans. Mostly the threads are us discussing the mod and the results, trying to get the most power. We have discovered a lot, the 6L50 transmission hates heat, 10% ethanol is actually good for performance, and more.

I'll post the links to the threads later, shows more pictures of the build going on.

[raizuleho]

good car,i like it very much,thanks for your sharing

[kjkjr27]

Sweet car man. Didn't realize exactly how much you had put into it haha. Quick question, where did you end up getting the 1-piece shaft? Also any idea if it weighed less than the stock haha.

[MagnumForceGB]

Originally Posted by kjkjr27

Sweet car man. Didn't realize exactly how much you had put into it haha. Quick question, where did you end up getting the 1-piece shaft? Also any idea if it weighed less than the stock haha.

Thanks

Bought the driveshaft from CFM Performance, bought my wife's driveshaft from them and they have treated me well. It felt like it weighed a little less, but the main thing was the removal of all the U-joints, car goes when you hit the pedal.

[kjkjr27]

Nice, trying to get an idea of where I can get one. It keeps getting pushed back on my list of things to do.

[MagnumForceGB]

An update since I posted a new best time of 11.840 @ 116.27. I installed a Circle D 5C Torque Converter and started running with 18" Nitto NT05R Drag Radials. First time at the track with that setup I only ran 12.5, just could not get out of the hole. Spent the next few months retuning the car (self-tuned) and went back to the track on September 11th and ran the fastest time a LLT Camaro has ever run.

[hammdo]

Damn impressive!

-Don

[stand-al0ne]

Great Build! Awesome!
So this is an LLT motor? Did you put the LTX intake manifold on top? Was that hard to swap over to?
Also, have you run new dyno numbers since you retuned the car? I'd imagine there is more than 324 whp to be running high 11's.
Last , how did you overcome the limitations of the fuel delivery of the Direct Injection of the LLT?

Again, awesome build! Congrats