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Old 01-03-2012, 08:47 PM   #1
Falundir

 
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The Nameless - 2SS 45th Vert NA LS3 Build Thread

I'm not huge on build threads, however this has been a very fun ride from picking the car up to the point it has become today. I'm hoping that by creating this thread I might be able to help others who are considering doing a similar build.

Backstory:
I moved from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area in July. Living in the city we didn't have a need for 2 cars, not to mention any daily driver in Chicago would take a ton of abuse (that and parking spots started at $35k...). So when we got here I needed a car for myself, but mid Janurary thru November I travel 95% so I wanted something fun to enjoy the weekends when I'm home. Enter my 2SS 45th M6 Convertible on August 26th 2011. I won't lie, I didn't care that it was a 45th, it was all for the Carbon Flash paint~

Name:
"The Nameless" is simply a result of me being unable to come up with a good name... Maybe I'll do a poll one day~

Research:
After spending too much time absorbing all of the information on this site I went to visit all of the shops in the Bay Area. Ultimately I settled on Luke at Blu808 for his shop's sterling reputation and great service. I explained what I wanted to do and he steered me in the right direction for my budget. With a quick call to Anthony at LG Motorsports, Luke and Anthony began working on a solid package to begin the transformation of my car.

Goals:
The initial goal was to bring the car to the performance levels just before requiring a full cage on the strip/track. This equates to 11.5 ET on the strip, and so far all track events I have seen only require a roll bar. I also wanted to keep the car as reliable as possible as I want a car to have a blast in street and track. The end goal has become a strong balance of street and track so that the car can perform well in all scenarios

Stock Impressions:

From the dealer the car was a ton of fun, however acceleration was not anywhere close to what I was expecting from an advertised 426hp beast, and you could REALLY feel the weight of the car compared to a coupe on turns. The suspension is tighter than a coupe thanks to the additional reinforcement on the 2012 model (Undercarrage cross bracing, improved subframe bushings, strut brace), however still more of a Buick than a sports car.

Since I'm a 'have your cake and eat it too' kinda guy I knew mods were in the works for this vert~

Step by Step Impressions:

1 - CAI

A CAI is the first obvious step for this car. The honest truth is you will feel a difference, but the weight of the car hinders the butt dyno compared to the coupe. So all in all it is obviously a cost efficient mod, but just the start.

2 - VMAX

Most people I have talked to in coupes swear they noticed throttle response. I honestly noticed no improvement at all. My personal opinion is this was a waste of money and do not advise.

3 - Borla S-Type Catback

Wow the car sounded awesome after this swap, however I did pick up some drone, but manageable. If I gained any power it was negligible since I still had the stock pipes on it. The largest benefit I gained was shaving off a ton of weight ditching the stock exhaust.

4 - LG G6X3 Cam Package, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, ADM Race Scoop, LG Super Pro LTs, Tune

What I picked up from Blu808 was NOT the same car I left them. Shedding even more weight and picking up a ton of power completely changed the car. Before I would tell you the car doesn't 'pull', it accelerates. Now when you go WoT you are thrown back in your seat, the exhaust roars to life, and it feels like you are on a rocket. Even handling was improved due to the weight loss.

One of the things I enjoy the most is that the non cam power is sufficient enough to propel the car through the lower rpms so you get to the cam's power band quicker. I was considering a gear change prior to this, but it's solid as it is now with the stock gears.

5 - Suspension

This is my first car where I have modified the suspension, or even had a good one for that matter. So you can imagine how impressed I am at such a small investment in suspension changed the car. Before on hard turns I would feel heavy body roll and the rear step out even at lower speeds. Now I am taking hard turns at high speeds and it is firmly planted. Steering is pinpoint accurate and solid. I cannot wait to see the change once I get my Pedders coilovers!

Mods:

Power Adders - 7/9 Complete
LG G6X3 Cam Package - Installed 12/2/2011
-G6X3 Cam
-Katech Chain
-Comp Pushrods
-Cam Gear and Tensioner
-GM Water Pump Gasket Kit
-Comp Cams Valve Spring kit with Titanium Retainers
-Spring Seats/Seals
-NGK TR6 Plugs
ASP Underdrive Pulley - Installed 1/2/2012
LG Super Pro Long Tube Headers - Installed 12/2/2011
Borla S-Type Catback - Installed 11/26/2011
C.A.I. Cold Air Intake - Installed 10/21/2011
ADM Race Scoop - Installed 12/2/2011
Solo High Flow Cats - Installed 12/2/2011
LG CNC Ported LS3 Heads - Pending
OZMO Engineering Carbon Fiber Intake Manifold - Pending

Suspension - 5/6 Complete
LG 35mm Front and Rear Sways with Endlinks - Installed 1/2/2012
Pedders Front Radius Bushing Inserts - Installed 1/2/2012
Pedders Subframe Bushing Inserts - Installed 1/2/2012
Pedders xA Street Coilovers - Pending
Granatelli Adjustable Toe Rods - Installed 1/2/2012
Granatelli Trailing Arms - Installed 1/2/2012

Wheels & Tires - 0/2 Complete
19x9.5 Front - 19x11 Rear Wheels - Brand TBA - Pending
275/30-19 Front - 305/30-19 Rear - Bridgestone Potenza RE-11Pending

Misc Functional - 3/3 Complete
Hurst Short Throw Shifter - Installed 12/2/2011
Washer Bottle Relocate Kit - Installed 12/2/2011
VMAX Ported Throttle Body - Installed 10/31/2011

Misc Cosmetic - 0/2 Complete
AAC Halos w/Foglight Halos (Color TBA) - Pending
AAC Side Markers - Pending

Photos:
Mix of shots from when she was brought home, and my first detailing.






Love the paint.


Videos:
Casual Start of Mines Rd After Cam Install


Stock Dyno


Dyno as of 1/21/2011


The "Dublin Wake Up Call" - I live in an apartment complex with a concrete parking structure. Cold starts can be loud...


Inside displaying "cold" start volume and choppy idle


Warmed Up Idle and Rev

Last edited by Falundir; 01-21-2012 at 05:15 PM.
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Old 01-03-2012, 08:48 PM   #2
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Main Post Change Log
01/03/2012 18:47PST - Thread created
01/03/2012 20:54PST - Pictures added. Mines Rd video added
01/03/2012 21:57PST - Near stock dyno video added
01/03/2012 22:06PST - Mod list updated
01/03/2012 22:17PST - Mod list updated (keep forgetting things...)
01/05/2012 17:16PST - Step by step impressions added
01/13/2012 19:39PST - Added two videos showing volume and rough idle for a cold start
01/19/2012 18:35PST - Added info about tires and wheel sizes/selection.

Last edited by Falundir; 01-19-2012 at 09:35 PM.
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Old 01-03-2012, 08:48 PM   #3
Falundir

 
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Borla S-Type prior to install - Installed by local muffler shop.



C.A.I. Cold Air Intakes - Self Install



Sitting in line for my first pass on a drag strip with only the CAI, Catback, and VMAX installed.




Best time @ 377hp / 383tq
13.1ET

Last edited by Falundir; 01-04-2012 at 12:04 AM.
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Old 01-03-2012, 08:49 PM   #4
Falundir

 
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Now begins the real build by Blu808.

Unfortunately we were not documenting the progress when the cam, long tubes, scoop, washer bottle, and Hurst shifter installs were done, so we do not have any pictures. So here is a picture of a bunny with a pancake on it's head stolen from some random website...



After the fact pictures!

LG Super Pro Long Tubes from below



Solo High Flow Cats



Washer Bottle Relocate



ADM Race Scoop




How the scoop was sent to us from Apex. Wonder how much HP the spider's cocoon gave us...



Random picture of why I love canyon carving in NorCal


Last edited by Falundir; 01-04-2012 at 12:16 AM.
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Old 01-04-2012, 12:37 AM   #5
Falundir

 
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Suspension and UD Pulley installs by Blu808

From this point forward I was on site 'assisting' the installs. Truth be told the shop is a great bunch of guys who are happy to have you hang around and talk shop. I have been learning modifications and the more complex parts of how all the parts fit together, so they have been a great help in educating me in what I need to know.

Huge shout out to Marcus at Blu808 for putting up with me for the time it took to do these installs, and Josh for the sandwich .

Pedders Subframe Bushing Inserts -
One thing to note is that the Pedders inserts do not fit into the 2012 vert without very minor modification. You just need to cut the ears off and then they fit perfectly.





Granatelli Adjustable Toe Rods - Check out the difference between these and stock!




Granatelli Trailing Arms vs Stock



LG 35mm Rear Sway Bar

Stock vs LG



Installed



Inserts, Trailing Arms, Toe Rods, and Rear Sway Installed






LG 35mm Front Sway w/ Endlinks

Stock vs LG, minor difference here...



The LG was so large Marcus had to raise the engine by an inch to snake it in!

Endlinks and Sway installed





ASP Underdrive Pulley (25%)

Just a wee bit smaller than stock, and built solid.




Installed sans belts

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Old 01-04-2012, 12:39 AM   #6
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Luke has the weights listed for what we took out stock and what went in aftermarket. I'll let him post those when he can find them.

I will say that the stock pulley was 3 lbs heavier than the underdrive.

Huge shout out to JusticePete at Pedders for working with me over a flurry of PMs to help me take advantage of the Pedders Christmas sale and pick up those inserts. Definitely great bang for the buck!
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:03 AM   #7
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Great start to your build thread.

I will find the weigh sheet for the parts.

Maybe you should post up about how the car felt before and after the cam and suspension work.


Luke
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:16 AM   #8
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look like luke and the team did a great job one your car and i would see if you could get the ghost sidemarkers from aac. i want but dont have the money right now. but are you trying to save weight by going with 18's?
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:21 AM   #9
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:33 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberLS View Post
look like luke and the team did a great job one your car and i would see if you could get the ghost sidemarkers from aac. i want but dont have the money right now. but are you trying to save weight by going with 18's?
The ghost side markers are what I am looking at since I have a dark car. However, cosmetics are at the bottom of my list unless I get impatient saving for wheels.

I'm going 18 for a number of performance reasons. Better handling, acceleration, huge weight savings, tire cost. The difference with my build setup would be like adding another 80-100hp. Also keep in mind you effectively change your gear ratio when you go up or down in tire sizes.
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:35 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blu808 View Post
Great start to your build thread.

I will find the weigh sheet for the parts.

Maybe you should post up about how the car felt before and after the cam and suspension work.


Luke
I'm going to work on a before and after detail tomorrow. Took a while to get all of that up and time to crash.

Still loving the spiral interchanges at 80mph
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Old 01-04-2012, 01:45 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Falundir View Post
The ghost side markers are what I am looking at since I have a dark car. However, cosmetics are at the bottom of my list unless I get impatient saving for wheels.

I'm going 18 for a number of performance reasons. Better handling, acceleration, huge weight savings, tire cost. The difference with my build setup would be like adding another 80-100hp. Also keep in mind you effectively change your gear ratio when you go up or down in tire sizes.
yup i know what you mean when i went up in wheel size the car felt so heavy and slow i hate it but keep them for looks since i dont drive or track yet
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Old 01-04-2012, 10:39 AM   #13
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You have a great build going. I am now subscribed!
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Old 01-04-2012, 10:58 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Falundir View Post
The ghost side markers are what I am looking at since I have a dark car. However, cosmetics are at the bottom of my list unless I get impatient saving for wheels.



I'm going 18 for a number of performance reasons. Better handling, acceleration, huge weight savings, tire cost. The difference with my build setup would be like adding another 80-100hp. Also keep in mind you effectively change your gear ratio when you go up or down in tire sizes.
Congratz on starting a build thread chris! looks like you've done a lot already! time for Autocrossing in March and the occasional track day?

Forgeline? Cant wait to get mine. Any ideas on what rim you want yet?

Is that OZMO intake pending sale?!?!?
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