That car is in action beginning Wednesday in Valdosta GA, Radial vs. World.

Phil Schuler's car piloted by Stevie Jackson

Car has been 3.81 @ 194

 

That's sick!!!

 

lol at "piloted". Seems fitting

 

Awesome thread Jake

 

thank you sir!

 

Time for an update. I had forced the driveshaft on so I could at least break in the rear. Up on stands, did five heat cycles, and then drove it some. Gave it hell a couple times just to feel it from a roll. Nasty *** vibration over 65. I mean horrendous. So, I went back through the pinion angles and got them right, and it still had that noise and vibration. It felt like a loose transmission mount, but it wasn't loose.

So, on a hunch, I went ahead and ordered a new T56 from RPM transmission. Turned out my hunch was dead on. After removing the DS, I started the motor, and you could see the shaft wobbling as it rotated for lack of a better word. Then, I started removing all the bolt-ons from the transmission to put them on the new transmission. Found this:



Here is what the new transmission looks like all nice and fresh with no fingerprints, etc. I went with the level 5 build, because I wanted the polished gears. RPM turned it around in two weeks from order date. Also bought the replacement DS through them (found out the DS was twisted also, so the ends were out of phase). Went with a carbon fiber to counter NVH:

 

Looks awesome man! Perfect upgrade to match everything else. No weak points now. Going to the track or dyno soon?

 

Hope so! I want to take some time on a back road and practice launching. I'll dyno before I go to the track. I'm curious ont he dyno, because so much has changed due to necessity.

On the plus side, I've got the solid roller cam, the micropolished transmission, the carbon DS, and I'll have lighter wheels before I hit the dyno, all of which should make more power on a dynojet.

On the negative side, I've got a slightly heavier rear end, a less efficient rear, and 4.11 gears, which should all show less power on the dyno.

So, it might end up that I'm at the same "peak power" as I was before - or even less - but the car is definitely faster. You can see it and feel it. That said, its still a DD, so the track numbers are less important to me than it just being fun to drive.

 

Whoa, this is awesome! Congrats on a ride that keeps getting better

 

Finally got her rolling again! The car is so much more pleasant to drive now! If I ever build another F-body, I'll do all the chassis stuff first. It's really nice to have no fear while driving. I'd been babying it along for a while, because I knew the rear was on borrowed time, and it is almost liberating to drive it hard and not worry!

The new rear is nice and quiet. Hats off to Burkhart Chassis for a fabbed nine inch rear and double adjustable tunnel mount torque arm package that is very strong and bolted right in! Weight-wise, it was about the same as the ten bolt that it replaced. I also went from 3.42 gears to 4.11, which has been a great decision, as it has made it easier to drive at lower speeds. Just in case someone asks, I used Lucas synthetic 75W90 rear fluid.

The transmission from RPM Transmissions is really good. I got their level 5, because I wanted the polished gears. I had to adjust the master cylinder a bit compared to the old tranny, but it shifts very nice, and it's very quiet. If anyone cares, I used Royal Purple syncromax per RPM paperwork.

I also ordered a carbon fiber driveshaft through RPM, which they had built by the driveshaft shop. I did get the strange engineering yoke as well. I noticed a big reduction in NVH with the carbon driveshaft. I really surprised me how much quieter the inside of the car got. I'm not sure why this would be true, but I'm very sure that the CF DS also helps absorb some of the cam surge. I have no scientific basis for that, but It does feel like it somehow smoothed out the driveline's reactions to the cam surge at lower RPMs.

I get a kick out of taking friends for a ride and punching it in first from a 30-roll and watching them get pinned back and reaching forward clawing for the dashboard like their life depended on it. Only thing I still need to do is lighter wheels and better tires. Then, I'll get it to a dyno and at least run it down the track to see what it traps. After that, it's just a really fun street machine.

Also, I want to put a shout out to Kip Fabre and Martin Smallwood. I hope nobody else learns about your LLSR cam package, because it's a competitive advantage . In all seriousness, you have made solid roller camshafts into a DD configuration without adjustable rockers.

Lastly, and certainly not least, Tony Mamo. I originally set out on this car wanting a daily driver at or near 500-hp. I've now got over 10,000 miles on your top end, and no sign of any issues. So, anyone who is looking for a high performance engine that they can trust to drive every day, look no further than MamoMotorsports.

 

Nice work Darth, it should be a really cool car to drive now, it will be very interesting to see your results.

I can also vouch for Tony Mamo (I call him Count Mamo as he keeps vampire hours), he has been very cool and reliable to deal with from over here in Aus thousands of miles away.

Jason.

 

What's the plug with filings on it? I sure wish I could get mine on a dyno. My 220 heads and cam feel like a lot but for now it's only feelings.

 

Good to hear! Excited to hear the car rolling again. Really curious on dyno numbers just for fun. Drivability is the main thing. And the butt dyno of course

And yes Tony is the man! Your combo is amazing. Tony's customer service is just awesome too. I always hear back from him in a few hours. The count, that's funny, I don't think he sleeps lol. Just a great guy overall that loves cars. Great doing business with him.

We need a pic of the car when the wheels come too!

 

I think it's the vehicle speed sensor. Hard to tell from all the shavings lol

 

His output shaft bushing probably died. They don't like vibration.

So on your HUNCH(lol$$$) why not go for a T56 magnum?

 

Yeah, it's the VSS.

I'm sure it did. It was visibly off center when I was struggling to get the driveshaft in. I considered a magnum, but I figured at ~500, I probably don't need it. It looked heavier (although a friend later showed me they are within a few pounds of each other) and a good $2000 more.

I'll definitely post up pics with the new wheels! And the dyno numbers. And I'm thinking with the new wheels, I'll finally be able to say "It's finished".

And not to belabor the point, but it's been 16 months since I bought all the stuff through Tony, and we still keep in touch. He certainly has no obligation to continue to talk and offer advice, but that's the kind of guy he is.

Really, every vendor I've dealt with on this build has been tremendous.

 

I think she's actually FINISHED!!! Here are some shots of the new wheels, mounted, not mounted, etc... Working on dyno appointment soon followed by hopefully a track run or two. The new wheels really made it fun to drive all over again. Hooks up great, and no more fear of breaking parts. If I had it to do all over again, I'd do it all over again. There isn't really much I would change from this build.

 

Car looks amazing Darth! Love those wheels on there. Looks like it should've came that way lol. Good luck with dyno buddy. Keep us posted

 

Nice wheels. Time for the track now. Got any kind of et and mph figures in mind as a rough?

 

Nice drag pack! I like the wheels. In 4 results.