Keith's '99 Corvette Build Thread
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From: Huntsville, AL
Homecoming parade and game went great Friday. Made some good memories with my Daughter.
Saturday morning Bama99z came over and we prepped the engine for the new heads and cam. After installing the Torquer V2 cam and new LS7 lifters we setup the new Patriot cylinder head with some light weight checker springs to measure piston-to-valve clearance. Exhaust valve showed a good 0.140" clearance but the intake valve was very close to the piston with only ~0.024" clearance. While this is a little setback for time, it's not a problem that I can't fix. I had a similar clearance problem with my FRC when I installed the Torquer V2 cam with milled 59cc heads. Back then I purchased a piston cutter to notch the piston for more intake valve clearance. I'll get started on that this evening.
Meanwhile, here is a shot of Bama99z getting all up in the Corvette cam install:
Saturday morning Bama99z came over and we prepped the engine for the new heads and cam. After installing the Torquer V2 cam and new LS7 lifters we setup the new Patriot cylinder head with some light weight checker springs to measure piston-to-valve clearance. Exhaust valve showed a good 0.140" clearance but the intake valve was very close to the piston with only ~0.024" clearance. While this is a little setback for time, it's not a problem that I can't fix. I had a similar clearance problem with my FRC when I installed the Torquer V2 cam with milled 59cc heads. Back then I purchased a piston cutter to notch the piston for more intake valve clearance. I'll get started on that this evening.
Meanwhile, here is a shot of Bama99z getting all up in the Corvette cam install:
Mr. C You didn't get my good side 
. However as it doesn't look like we made much progress we did. The older factory graphite gasket's are a bear to clean up 
. This was my very first head and cam endevor, spending the day with Chevy406 I learned that just as I expected setting up these LS engine's valvetrain is much different from the old style chevy smallblock. Dont fret it though it is in good trustworthy hands.
Oh Keith the car looks very nice, and is going to be a blast to drive once it is completed.
Wish I lived closer to chevy406, I would be there every evening working with him and learning all that I could. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive between us.
. However as it doesn't look like we made much progress we did. The older factory graphite gasket's are a bear to clean up . This was my very first head and cam endevor, spending the day with Chevy406 I learned that just as I expected setting up these LS engine's valvetrain is much different from the old style chevy smallblock. Dont fret it though it is in good trustworthy hands. Oh Keith the car looks very nice, and is going to be a blast to drive once it is completed.
Wish I lived closer to chevy406, I would be there every evening working with him and learning all that I could. It's about a 1 1/2 hour drive between us.
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I spent the time to degree in the cam before cutting intake valve clearance into the pistons. Just one of those "measure twice, cut once" moments. I found the cam intake opening to be within 1° of advertised and the intake closing to be spot on advertised. My measurement of intake lobe centerline was within a degree. Similar readings for exhaust. So after that exercise I now feel ready to move on with notching the pistons tomorrow evening.
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Sorry to leave you hanging for several days Keith. I got way sidetracked starting Thursday night with daughter's statistics homework (went on until 1:00 am), Friday night working concession stand at football game, and then Saturday morning I flew to Daytona to pick up a car that I bought for her on Ebay. Anyway, this week its back to finishing up the engine and then the clutch. I'll try to get a picture of the notched pistons tonight.
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Got the pistons notched for intake valve clearance completed earlier this week, and then started disconnecting the front engine cradle and engine block to drop out for the clutch swap.
Got the Monster Clutch installed and the engine/cradle assembly back in the car tonight:
Now the thrash will be on this weekend to get it all back together for the tuning process. I will pick up the coolant plugs for the rear head ports tomorrow.
Got the Monster Clutch installed and the engine/cradle assembly back in the car tonight:
Now the thrash will be on this weekend to get it all back together for the tuning process. I will pick up the coolant plugs for the rear head ports tomorrow.
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I have already put together a baseline "startup" tune. Once I get it running I'll do a street tune using my LM-1 wideband O2 sensor. It will be close to max HP by the time I finish the street tune, just a little soft to keep it out of detonation.
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Front suspension is all back together, timing cover & harmonic balancer back on, both heads torqued down, & rocker arms back on. Got a little side tracked Saturday afternoon going to the dragstrip. Fortunately didn't hurt anything on my Nova so I can keep focusing on finishing up this week.
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Made 4 passes in the 5s last Saturday night, with the quickest being 5.744 at 122 mph. Drove it 150 miles to/from the track and it's still running fine so I can keep focusing on finishing up your Corvette.
Last night I installed the steering, alternator, water pump, radiator, fans, shroud, & front sway bar. Basically all that is left is intake manifold and exhaust. I'm not sure how the exhaust is going to work out. I'm not having luck finding a local shop that will modify the stock pipes to connect to the Kooks headers because that involves cutting off the cats. We might have to see if a Kooks x-pipe is available in the classifieds. Then it would just be a bolt-up connection. Should have it about ready to fire up late tonight...
Last night I installed the steering, alternator, water pump, radiator, fans, shroud, & front sway bar. Basically all that is left is intake manifold and exhaust. I'm not sure how the exhaust is going to work out. I'm not having luck finding a local shop that will modify the stock pipes to connect to the Kooks headers because that involves cutting off the cats. We might have to see if a Kooks x-pipe is available in the classifieds. Then it would just be a bolt-up connection. Should have it about ready to fire up late tonight...
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At the minimum an x-pipe that has the Kooks flanges. That could be then welded to your original pipes. If you find a good deal on the full pipe from the Kooks headers to the cat-back flange that would be the simplest bolt-in solution.
Muffler shops have to be very careful to not get caught removing emissions equipment from vehicles. There are stiff fines if they do get caught even though we don't have inspections here in AL.
Muffler shops have to be very careful to not get caught removing emissions equipment from vehicles. There are stiff fines if they do get caught even though we don't have inspections here in AL.
Teching In
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From: Hampton, Va
Hey Clyde my search for used X-pipe in the classifieds is not going smoothly, so I'm most likely just order a new one if I can't find a used one today. Did you get the car fired up today?
I'm looking at this set at Marylandspeed:
http://marylandspeed.com/kooks-high-...07s-p-990.html
I'm looking at this set at Marylandspeed:
http://marylandspeed.com/kooks-high-...07s-p-990.html
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That Kooks pipe you listed will bolt right in and will really enhance your exhaust flow with the new heads & cam and especially when you hit the nitrous. I'll PM you my street address if you want to have it shipped directly to me.
I haven't fired it up just yet. I needed the Z06 style coolant plugs for the rear ports of the heads. The FAST intake doesn't fit with the stock LS1 coolant crossover tubing. So tonight I will install the intake, change the oil, add coolant, and upload the new tune. I'll have to hold off on the first startup when it isn't so late though. I will be sure to link a video for you - probably will be on Saturday. Sorry I'm slacking on pictures - next one tonight should be a completely assembled engine.
I haven't fired it up just yet. I needed the Z06 style coolant plugs for the rear ports of the heads. The FAST intake doesn't fit with the stock LS1 coolant crossover tubing. So tonight I will install the intake, change the oil, add coolant, and upload the new tune. I'll have to hold off on the first startup when it isn't so late though. I will be sure to link a video for you - probably will be on Saturday. Sorry I'm slacking on pictures - next one tonight should be a completely assembled engine.
I spent the time to degree in the cam before cutting intake valve clearance into the pistons. Just one of those "measure twice, cut once" moments. I found the cam intake opening to be within 1° of advertised and the intake closing to be spot on advertised. My measurement of intake lobe centerline was within a degree. Similar readings for exhaust. So after that exercise I now feel ready to move on with notching the pistons tomorrow evening.
Ron
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Hampton, Va
That Kooks pipe you listed will bolt right in and will really enhance your exhaust flow with the new heads & cam and especially when you hit the nitrous. I'll PM you my street address if you want to have it shipped directly to me.
I haven't fired it up just yet. I needed the Z06 style coolant plugs for the rear ports of the heads. The FAST intake doesn't fit with the stock LS1 coolant crossover tubing. So tonight I will install the intake, change the oil, add coolant, and upload the new tune. I'll have to hold off on the first startup when it isn't so late though. I will be sure to link a video for you - probably will be on Saturday. Sorry I'm slacking on pictures - next one tonight should be a completely assembled engine.
I haven't fired it up just yet. I needed the Z06 style coolant plugs for the rear ports of the heads. The FAST intake doesn't fit with the stock LS1 coolant crossover tubing. So tonight I will install the intake, change the oil, add coolant, and upload the new tune. I'll have to hold off on the first startup when it isn't so late though. I will be sure to link a video for you - probably will be on Saturday. Sorry I'm slacking on pictures - next one tonight should be a completely assembled engine.
