STS LS2 Build on 1998 Z28 Camaro

[fstr n u]

This has been a long time coming. I started off purchasing a 1998 Chev Camaro Z28 that was purchased from an auction out of Tampa Bay, Florida. It was imported to SK, where the inspection wasn't done properly. I faced a 2 year battle sorting out many gremlins with this car, but ultimately got the "mod bug" from a group of local enthusiasts. My car was purchased with 58,000 miles on the original LS1 motor, it had a 3 inch suspension drop, ADR wheels (with no center caps), hollowed out catalytic converters and steel threads coming thru the rear rubber. I installed stock springs back on the ride as well as a KYB suspension...before i knew anything about modifying cars. Anyways, i did the whole Heads/Cam/Intake setup and dyno'd 413hp at the wheels with a 12 bolt Moser rear end..putting my ride at just shy of 480 crank hp. I decided i wanted something different and thought i would go the Forced Induction route...and after 2 years of looking decided on the STS setup. After having a local company install the STS system...i had 6 separate drives (none of them good ones), as they were all problematic...finally ending up with cylinder #7 saying BAH-BYE!

[fstr n u]

I think i've broken and bent every stock piece on this demon spawn of a car.

I swapped out the ADR wheels for some Z06 replica's which will be replaced down the road when money is more plentiful.

When my LS1 was botched after a 12 psi run on the stock internals, i decided to have a motor built by Canadian Performance out of Toronto, who built me a 402ci LS2 motor with AFR heads and a proper turbo cam.

[fstr n u]

I decided on this rebuild that the STS Oil return line not be fed through the Oil Fill Cap (as mine was not sealing)...and with the oil pan off, i had a local company tap the oil pan on the passenger side (adjacent to the engine mount on the k member)



Here's a pic of the 402ci LS2 mated to my rebuilt tranny, scattershield and Hurst shifter:



A pic of the stock exhaust components i have yet to install:



And not in order, but a pic (temp) of the oil return line connected to the new bung installed on the oil pan, coming through the motor mount area of the passenger side k member area

[fstr n u]

I still have yet to sort these things out:

1. a few electrical connections from the stock setup and then sort out the remainder of the STS wiring stuff (oil alarms, etc)
2. buying some bolts to connect up the intermediate exhaust pipes that connect to the manifolds and then to the y-pipe
3. replacing the turbo housing with the bigger housing (.96 vs .81 AR)
4. installing the transmission shifting unit
5. installing the rear brakes and pads
6. bleeding the brakes
7. installing the battery and all of the wonderful connections there (the fuse box included)
8. driveshaft install
9. steering arm/knucke
10. radiator coolant hoses and the serpentine belt
11. all the STS turbo piping underneath the vehicle
12. removing the old manual boost controller and installing the electronic one i now have
13. installing the wide band (i'll have to get Midas to weld in a bung once the car is running)
14. install the O2 sensors
15. sort out the rear coolant to front coolant line connections (this will take some fabrication)
16. and the PCV system

[transamtom]

Looks good.

GL with the rest of your build.

[fstr n u]

Thanks. I've done the head/cam/intake/long tube headers and it was fun...and noisy.

I have always wanted a turbocharged ride...and with the options out there, this one seemed like a good option. It's unfortunately not as straight forward as the manufacturer suggests this setup to be, but perhaps all the forced induction and nitrous setups have their "bugs" that have to be worked out.

I'm sure once it's done it will be good.

My old HCI setup dynoed 413hp at the wheels and helped me to run 12.5 at 116mph...i'm sure a more competent drag racer could've knocked a few tenths off that time, but i typicallhy only ran my car down the strip 4-8 times per year for 3 years...and now it's been broken for the last 3 years.

I'm following ZL1Killa's thread and am interested to know what his would do down the strip when everything is sorted out.

My goal with this is around 620-660hp at the wheels....so we'll see how close i get.

[NW-99SS]

Looking forward to seeing the finished outcome! Hopefully I finish my H/C/I build this year and maybe get mine to Saskatoon to meet up with the crew!

[MY99TAWS6]

Mine is going to be running first!

[fstr n u]

I hope your car is running first. I have to get my house renovations done first, but am trying to fit in a few hours every month doing little things.

This is probably going to be a more diverse forum for you and the type of car you're building.

[MY99TAWS6]

It might be running today actually its that close now. You can look in my other 427 thread on here in forced induction ,you should post your build in that section too.

Yes this board is great. No personal stuff at all on this board and moderators don't allow it the way it should be. And great information as well. You should realize FASTRNU that most of the stuff I say on the local little board is simply to get the young bucks going ..and it sure works ! LOL

Who knows the car runs good may still have time to dyno,tune and run it at SIR or Swift this year but only 30 days left before leave and no promises. But hey they have 1/8 mile 40km out of Kelowna and Mission 1/4 mile one of best tracks in Canada is only 4 hours drive.

Best of luck on your build. Should go great once you are done. Taking the extra time is a good thing to make sure you improve on the original kits. Aps and sts are both good with some tweaking here and there.

[fstr n u]

For sure..my only goal for My STS build is to see the car start and move to my next house by Oct/Nov.

I'll do the tuning and tinkering next year in between doing the landscaping of our new house.

I'm not too sure how large the Fbody community is in Kelowna...i haven't seen much in my visits out there (i have family in Kelowna and the Okanagan). Hopefully you find some resources to get this new build sorted out.

You could always start with the GM/Chev Dealership, talk with the Parts/Service Dept and see if there are people who do tuning or work on the fbody cars and go from there (in terms of making contacts).

Have a safe move, and hopefully all works out well with the safetying of your rides.

[MY99TAWS6]

Kelowna has only think mustang dyno. Which of course is good for tuning. But Vancouver is only 4 and half hours away and of course Van has everything. Or Calgary is 8 hours back and Edmonton 11 or so. So lots of choices there. Base tune is easy to do. Fine tuning takes dyno for sure. Would take forever to try to tune part throttle on the street.And of course going wot on the street is also not the best idea.

Don't think Kelowna has much f body community at all. No one on this forum has responded back to my questions about the place. Can't even find out altitude of Thunder Mountain track their website don't say altitude. Mission is sea level and can hit negative density air some days! It don't get better than that.

Kelowna is not air care crap like lower mainland which might be gone anyway end of this year think it expires and most don't want it back. So hopefully just be putting some cats on the car ,kooks make stainless bolt on ypipe that has cats that would fit on no problem.Or it could be sold ,several guys ready to see it when its running which could be this weekend!
Working on base tune now.
91 talon race car don't go thru anything it don't get plated,track only car. Z06 is stock and has 12k on it.
Already went thru BC safety six months before I got it . Not even sure it has to go again but likely big rip off should be canada wide. Van not worried 08. Sold truck.Get new one when get there. 97 talon might again need cats ,not sure what else or it might be sold. Everything is new on it pretty much.
Looking at viper in BC actually now but it of course is BC car ,no safety required.

[fstr n u]

Finally had time to start working on the Camaro again, got the old turbo removed and installed a .96 AR vs the original .81 AR turbo housing:



I have a "small" gap in the stock y-pipe to the old 3 inch exhaust running to the rear of the car...which will get sorted out soon...smaller diameter is better fo sho!



Sorted out the rear and front coolant crossover:



This is a pic of my engine bay from a few days ago:

[fstr n u]

I am going to sort out the rest of the PCV system and breathers in a few hours, and then slowly take care of the rest of the electrical connections (O2 sensors, wiring harnesses, etc), and then install the battery.

Next step will be to add all the needed fluids (coolant, oil, brake fluid, etc), and then ask a friend of mine and tuner to install an initial tune on the car, and see if everything looks alright.

If all goes well, i am going to finish off the tuning next spring summer, and then see how well this car does. My goal is around the 750hp crank mark...and i think with 8lbs of boost or so, i should be pretty darn close.

[MY99TAWS6]

Good to see your car so close to up and running. Should really rip with the upgraded snail and engine.

[ryanzcastro]

Subscribed. cant wait to see the finished product

[Orange Juice]

Good luck with the build, haven't been to Kelowna in many many years.

[MY99TAWS6]

Originally Posted by Orange Juice

Good luck with the build, haven't been to Kelowna in many many years.

Fastrnu lives in Sask. I used to live there until few weeks ago.
Just to clear that up.

[fstr n u]

Thanks, and ya, i live in good ol Saskatchewan! I do have family in Kelowna and love it out there...if that matters

Got the car fired up the other night...but shut it down after 2 seconds as the car was literally engulfed in smoke. Between the copper anti-seize, and oils, break-in lubricants...I thought my car had gone up in fire!

Anyways, 3 starts later, the last of the initial smokiness is gone

I am hoping if all goes well to license the Camaro in 12-16 hours and get it on the road. The 1st tune was installed thanks to a friend and local tuner. I wont' get into the boost yet as i still have to get some exhaust work done...but i want to start breaking in the motor and working out any kinks that may surface sooner than later.

I'll post pics and vids once i can get them. I am back doing a 12 shift stretch, so not much will get done past tomorrow for a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of numbers this thing will put out, and i will post the dyno graph once i get a chance to do so (although it will be next year).

[MY99TAWS6]

You should post an update here.
I sent you email with some tips on things like your PO300 code.Did you get it?
Yesterday was a good example of why I love it in Kelowna. Was out cruising it was a great day, sunny and near 70 degrees and first was running around beside a red r8 and then a bit later a red newer vert viper. Viper guy was very friendly and nice we gave each other the thumbs up.And then on way to supper a nice Ford GT40 came flashing by.Those things look so amazing.
I was in z06 though 99TT is still out in Sask guess pick it up next spring.