Tonight we finally got a few kinks worked out of my combination, and we flogged my newly-rebuilt LS1 at low boost while logging, to see how things went.

I can't believe the car is running like this at 5 psi. I broke the tires loose from a 35 mph roll several times. With all of the work we did on the motor, it is running quite a bit different than before. It seems like it winds up much more quickly. Probably a combination of the cam, springs, head porting, possibly balancing the new forged assembly.

On the way back to the shop, I happened upon a guy in a Honda with the coffee-can muffler...you know the guy. As I started to pass him, he looked over and nudged forward a bit. When I nailed it and the wastegate opened, he flinched like he had been shot at.

The car sounds a lot different with this cam in it than stock. I didn't expect it to be this much louder. The LS6 cam isn't especially high duration, but did add quite a bit of lift. The other overall show-stealer was the TCI super street fighter (3500 stall) we added while the motor was out. I expected it to be looser in street driving, but it's fine. It's better than fine - I have no idea how I'm going to hook this thing up at the track Sunday. Stalls up to about 2200 with the footbrake, about 3000 with e-brake, if I wanted to do an e-brake launch. Probably not going to happen with the Nitto 555's on 17 inch wheels.

Tomorrow, after a few final checks on the meth system, we're going to try 8 psi, then watch the scanner for knock/high IAT's and maybe try 10 psi or so. I have the base T60, and am not sure what the point of diminishing return on this is...(have heard 10-11 psi)

I have some pics of a few of the changes we made, and the sneaky way my meth system/switch is mounted I can post tomorrow, after we've tested everything.

Some of you guys with more experience with this kit could help me understand the meth/IAT equation. What are the IAT's at 8psi with meth, and at 10 psi with meth on your setup? How do you know? The IAT sensor is before the meth spray...are you just subtracting a conservative number the meth will reduce the charge by?

At what IAT's will the PCM start pulling timing, regardless of knock?

Based on seat of my pants, this is going to be huge fun...

 

Congrats on getting it up and running again so soon.

I can't wait to see what you run. Please for the love of god run on slicks! Don't even attempt this on drag radials or you're gonna be sorry if you leave on any decent amount of boost. I trust you have seen what 8psi did for my truck at launch?

As for IATs after the meth. I have no clue what mine are. I was going to rig up a second IAT after the meth shot but never got around to it yet. I know Turboberserker is setting one up on his SS truck so you might wanna send him a PM. I think he has it all figured out now.

I will tell you though that at 13-14psi I was running 230deg IATs before the meth!!! I added the FMIC and temps dropped to about 107deg before the meth. This was on 78deg then 68deg temps respectively.

 

I hear you on the tires. There are a couple of kind souls who have volunteered their slicks for a small donation. We tried to fit some of the new M/T drag radials on 15" wheels, and had some problems clearing my brake rotors. Has anyone run on these?

With this stall, I can build decent boost while braking. Only problem then is my stock 10-bolt....

Was any timing being pulled with 230 degree IAT's?

I know a few guys have done FMIC's on F-bodies with STS. After traction and probably a 12-bolt, the FMIC/GT-67 upgrade would probably be the next steps. Last night, we had a 4-inch core intercooler from an 87 Grand National in the bay next to mine up on the front end checking clearances.

With a 3-inch core, we discussed raising my hood cowl a bit and mounting one somewhat as a top-mount, using the hood's ram air. Wouldn't be as big of an intercooler, but the bends and additional piping would be very minimal. This would look kind of like the Subaru WRX/STi setup. Maybe it's a crazy idea, but I had a guy with a lot more turbo experience than me kicking the idea around.

 

Sounds like a great set up. Keep us posted on any numbers and track times.

 

The meth is pretty effective. I haven't done any full boost runs while logging yet (still burning in the FLP L5) but have done some tests with the IAT downstream of the meth injector. With about 5 seconds of meth, I can drop below ambient at idle. With meth and 12 psi the truck actually runs more timing than no meth and 7 psi... Me likey

 

Eric, I knew you would love it. I am glad you are finally getting to drive it. With your set up, you may run out of turbo before you get to 10 psi because of the horsepower you will be making. Once you get close to 500, the 60-1 is about done. With all of the mods you ended up doing, you should be close at 6 or 7 psi.

 

The stock 10-bolt with an auto should be fine. I only added a girdle and made sure gear mesh was good and i had countless 1.5 60's on my stock rear with an auto.

 

Billy - Thanks so much for your help. I wanted to make sure I'm out of the woods and know everything is working before giving all of my props to people who have helped. The STS kit is a relatively easy install, but complete R&R of an LS1 in an F-body is not easy or simple. We did so much to the car that I wanted to be sure everything is ok before thanking everyone who has helped.

My plans have changed for this Sunday, and I don't know that I'll make it to the track. Unfortunately, there may not be many more Sundays in Kansas City where the weather is good enough to run. I would like to get a few solid passes with good traction to tune and show what this can do. MPH will be a good indicator, but I want to show how this can launch. I'm making decent boost while breaking with this stall. Once I get in it, the torque never seems to fall off. It's like an on/off switch or something.

Later this week, I'll get some drag radials and work on the traction issues. If my 10-bolt doesn't make it, I'll have to call ls1speed and have a 12-bolt sent. One less thing to break later...

 

I dont have an auto but I will tell you my gt70 w/fmic and 14 psi on a built motor scared me first time out, and a d1 pushing 630 was on it before. Made it feel like a kids toy

 

I've been having some fun at 5 psi, but haven't done any logging yet at 8-10psi + meth. On my way home, I stopped at my usual flat, open drag strip, did a burnout, and set my Gtech up for a run. I just picked the car up today, so haven't had time to get anything dialed in, including shift points.

According to my Gtech, I ran a 12.158 quarter, spinning through first gear, and hitting the rev limiter on the shift to 2. Top end in the quarter was just shy of 118 mph. My 60' time was crap at just over 2.

Like I said, this is on low boost, no tweaking of anything, and stock SS 17" wheels with Nitto 555's. I think I can shave a good half second off the ET with some decent tires. It will be fun to get a few more times, get my shift points and launch right, switch to higher boost, and hit the track before it gets too cold.

I don't think low 11's will be out of reach even without much suspension tuning, we'll see what kind of timeslips I can bring home.

 

That is great Eric. I cant wait to see how you do at 8psi. I cant remember, did you leave the cats on? Send me a pic when you can.

 

 

Billy,

I left the cats on for the time being. Missouri isn't as strict as some places, and the shop I'm getting my work done at is an inspection station.

I have heard about the Missouri Highway Patrol doing sniffer tests in the St. Louis area, but I'm in KC.

I still can't believe how loud this thing is once it gets under boost. I ought to post a few sound files or short videos. It's not very loud at idle or in normal driving, but I have scared people half to death who are anywhere near me when I open it up. The cam made a huge difference, I think.

I need to work on getting out of 1st gear sooner...between tire spin and the way this thing winds up, I'm hitting my rev limiter even when hooking up. I probably should have asked Allen to set it a bit lower...7000 rpm isn't really necessary with this setup. It never stops pulling and sounds cool as hell though....but won't be so cool if I break something.

FYI - I gave a couple of guys a ride yesterday at the shop who were contemplating an STS kit for a Formula Firehawk, but wanted to see how well it worked. I think they got they got the picture...