remember when....
09-16-2006, 10:12 AM
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Staging Lane
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remember when.... you picked up your last muscle car, your first muscle car, maybe your only muscle car?
I'm a car guy so I remember everyone of those days and I've been blessed to add another new memory.
I am coming back to muscle car memory lane from a different direction this time and it is all good. A little less than 2 years ago I picked up a new 04 Cobra that has since become a lift queen, hopping from shop to shop getting everything from soup to nuts done to it in my quest for a 10 Ohh stick car. It is street legal by definition only, but it is no longer any fun to drive on the street. I don't regret it, I just made a decision to make it a safe, legal and quick<< track car and really to do it right. No car will do both the street and track without tradeoffs, and I refused to make those tradeoffs so the 04snake is my raceday sled.
All summer I had no car to have fun with in-between driving my beatup pic'mUp to the shop to work on my money pit. The DD is a WRX, nice commuter car, but.... well my driving boredom had to be corrected and we all know the best things usually happen willed by fate. Without any search on my part, this practically stock, low mile 99 SS, with brand new P-Zeros landed in my lap. Junior thought he had an air box, but it looks like the guy who worked on it just slipped a K&N filter in there, no biggie. I am determined to keep this one fun and practical to drive on the street.
First I had to scrap together a little cheddar, took me a couple weeks so no bank:
Finally I got to see all the SS Stickers and another cool manual for my collection. Not sure why but all that crap that comes with a car new, always floats my boat? Doesn't matter if it is 40 years old or brandy new.
I drove this car home in heavy rain on the new Pirelli's, no drama, the setup was OK for a high HP heavy car, not bad. Then ran it around town the next day, still in the driving rain, between two shops I am involved with to get it inspected and do a baseline pull on a load bearing Dynojet:
Bone stock, with a crappy Flowmaster cat back, my little mudfish has a flat as a foundation TQ Curve (what curve) over 300 and a very impressive 294HP uncorrected (to me anyway!). We stuck the sniffer in to see what the factory A/F looked like at WOT on the last pull and to my surprise it was a nice and safely fat 11.6-11.7 so it looks like I can make a few passes at the track before I even get my HP Tuners software. The MAF should keep the A/F in about the same place even with an air-box that will let it breath better but it has room to get a little leaner. The stock Ford tune was up around 12.5, too lean for a blown car and on the edge for N/A, so I thought I would see what this one was and it really puts my mind at ease. It can stay nice and chunky until I trim it a little leaner with a couple more degrees of timing nice and slow. We made 3 pulls back to back practically and each one was bumping the power numbers up so it looks like there is some more clearing of the carbon to do but proves to me the car was not driven hard, confirming what the young fellow said about the car. Being outside the car, during WOT let me listen to the lump in a way driving with the windows down, will not allow and everything sounded tight, no ticks at startup cold/warm or idling right after a WOT punch. I have a fresh, basically broken in motor. While under it I noticed some minor leakage out of the tail shaft, but from what I understand the jello trani mount and not too balanced drive shaft will do that to the rear seal, but that looks like the only leak anywhere.
finally I got it back to the garage last night and need to set about detailing it out today, I know it is filthy, but what do you think about the kid flames?
I'm not big on them, if it was track only car maybe, but I think it will draw all the wrong attention to the car so it looks like they are going to be removed. There was another ribbon of vinyl fire up near the top of the doors but I already took the heat gun to them. Not sure about the rocker panels though, what do you think?
Under the hood was untouched. Jr. didn't do the show thing so I could see that the car really wasn't driven during the winter, a big deal where I'm from, couple dirt roads maybe but that is fine.
now help me out here, I know I must of seen a couple of F-body's at cruise-ins last year, but I am a noob, simple as that. Is that the stock SS air box or what? The filter looks like a K&N but the opening is tiny and baffled. I know a box is a box, but if you could afford any one out there which one would buy for perfect fitment?
I haven't slept too good since I shook hands on this deal 2 weeks ago, last night I slept like a baby!
remember a nice is car, is just a nice car... is a nice car, right?
.......so don't hate
I'm a car guy so I remember everyone of those days and I've been blessed to add another new memory.
I am coming back to muscle car memory lane from a different direction this time and it is all good. A little less than 2 years ago I picked up a new 04 Cobra that has since become a lift queen, hopping from shop to shop getting everything from soup to nuts done to it in my quest for a 10 Ohh stick car. It is street legal by definition only, but it is no longer any fun to drive on the street. I don't regret it, I just made a decision to make it a safe, legal and quick<< track car and really to do it right. No car will do both the street and track without tradeoffs, and I refused to make those tradeoffs so the 04snake is my raceday sled.
All summer I had no car to have fun with in-between driving my beatup pic'mUp to the shop to work on my money pit. The DD is a WRX, nice commuter car, but.... well my driving boredom had to be corrected and we all know the best things usually happen willed by fate. Without any search on my part, this practically stock, low mile 99 SS, with brand new P-Zeros landed in my lap. Junior thought he had an air box, but it looks like the guy who worked on it just slipped a K&N filter in there, no biggie. I am determined to keep this one fun and practical to drive on the street.
First I had to scrap together a little cheddar, took me a couple weeks so no bank:
Finally I got to see all the SS Stickers and another cool manual for my collection. Not sure why but all that crap that comes with a car new, always floats my boat? Doesn't matter if it is 40 years old or brandy new.
I drove this car home in heavy rain on the new Pirelli's, no drama, the setup was OK for a high HP heavy car, not bad. Then ran it around town the next day, still in the driving rain, between two shops I am involved with to get it inspected and do a baseline pull on a load bearing Dynojet:
Bone stock, with a crappy Flowmaster cat back, my little mudfish has a flat as a foundation TQ Curve (what curve) over 300 and a very impressive 294HP uncorrected (to me anyway!). We stuck the sniffer in to see what the factory A/F looked like at WOT on the last pull and to my surprise it was a nice and safely fat 11.6-11.7 so it looks like I can make a few passes at the track before I even get my HP Tuners software. The MAF should keep the A/F in about the same place even with an air-box that will let it breath better but it has room to get a little leaner. The stock Ford tune was up around 12.5, too lean for a blown car and on the edge for N/A, so I thought I would see what this one was and it really puts my mind at ease. It can stay nice and chunky until I trim it a little leaner with a couple more degrees of timing nice and slow. We made 3 pulls back to back practically and each one was bumping the power numbers up so it looks like there is some more clearing of the carbon to do but proves to me the car was not driven hard, confirming what the young fellow said about the car. Being outside the car, during WOT let me listen to the lump in a way driving with the windows down, will not allow and everything sounded tight, no ticks at startup cold/warm or idling right after a WOT punch. I have a fresh, basically broken in motor. While under it I noticed some minor leakage out of the tail shaft, but from what I understand the jello trani mount and not too balanced drive shaft will do that to the rear seal, but that looks like the only leak anywhere.
finally I got it back to the garage last night and need to set about detailing it out today, I know it is filthy, but what do you think about the kid flames?
I'm not big on them, if it was track only car maybe, but I think it will draw all the wrong attention to the car so it looks like they are going to be removed. There was another ribbon of vinyl fire up near the top of the doors but I already took the heat gun to them. Not sure about the rocker panels though, what do you think?
Under the hood was untouched. Jr. didn't do the show thing so I could see that the car really wasn't driven during the winter, a big deal where I'm from, couple dirt roads maybe but that is fine.
now help me out here, I know I must of seen a couple of F-body's at cruise-ins last year, but I am a noob, simple as that. Is that the stock SS air box or what? The filter looks like a K&N but the opening is tiny and baffled. I know a box is a box, but if you could afford any one out there which one would buy for perfect fitment?
I haven't slept too good since I shook hands on this deal 2 weeks ago, last night I slept like a baby!
remember a nice is car, is just a nice car... is a nice car, right?
.......so don't hate
09-16-2006, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by HeapaShifter
The flames look gay and that is a stock airbox. 
yeah cleaning it up didn't make the "graphic" any more appealing ( or less
), why the friek do kids do that anyway? It is not my generation doing that, our flames are painted and don't look like that! Oh well they might have to say there until I get board one winter weekend, I have a new can of pre-cleano but I'll probably use most of that and be stoned from the fumes. It can wait for now, I need to cruise tonight with the T-tops off, I have been waiting all F'n summer! LOL!
time to roll
Last edited by 04snake; 09-16-2006 at 05:46 PM.
09-17-2006, 07:57 PM
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T-tops are cool! Man the T-tops seals look super sweet, no leaks anywhere while in the touchless high pressure wash (tested with a hose first). Seems like it wasn't waxed in quite a while (ever?), well the red turned wet looking with minimal effort with the quick wax.
Drove it to Vermont to walk thru a car show over there, back roads, mountains, circling around lakes. Still 13 miles short of 20K. Mmmmm no replacement for Detroit muscle, it is an itch that some cars just can't scratch. I drove the first gen GTO with the LS1 in it and liked that one too, but I didn't like it as much as the Cobra or this one either. Poly going to the track Weds, if not then Saturday. Going to order a couple things tonight so hopefully I will be driving onto the trailer after a couple passes and not getting winched.
This mudpuppy will do fine, I can feel it, she is a runner. Some suspension and drivetrain hardening is all I'll need to do to have a freakin blast. I'm very happy I got this thing, screw the crap stuck to the doors, I'll clean that off just like I'll clean off the rubber from burnouts.
the priority is getting to the track, I'll let everybody else worry about the stupid graphics.
Drove it to Vermont to walk thru a car show over there, back roads, mountains, circling around lakes. Still 13 miles short of 20K. Mmmmm no replacement for Detroit muscle, it is an itch that some cars just can't scratch. I drove the first gen GTO with the LS1 in it and liked that one too, but I didn't like it as much as the Cobra or this one either. Poly going to the track Weds, if not then Saturday. Going to order a couple things tonight so hopefully I will be driving onto the trailer after a couple passes and not getting winched.
This mudpuppy will do fine, I can feel it, she is a runner. Some suspension and drivetrain hardening is all I'll need to do to have a freakin blast. I'm very happy I got this thing, screw the crap stuck to the doors, I'll clean that off just like I'll clean off the rubber from burnouts.
the priority is getting to the track, I'll let everybody else worry about the stupid graphics.
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09-18-2006, 03:59 PM
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nice car. definatly get a new air box. from what i hear they're all pretty much the same. i'm torn on the flames. i really don't think they look too bad and they definatly set it apart from other camaros. if it were me i would probably remove them but get somthing in place of them like the manta stipe (i think that's what it's called) or some hockey stripes.
09-18-2006, 04:11 PM
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haha..mudpuppy, never heard that one before. Anyways youve got a very clean *** SS there. Im guessing its a M6? That grill is interesting, looks like a custom mesh grill but thats not a bad thing, just depends on if you like it or not. Glad to hear the Tops dont leak, wish i could say the same...oh well body prolly is twisted already so guess ill stick to hand washing.
09-18-2006, 04:14 PM
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DITCH THE FLAMES!! Or you will be flamed, haha.
Car looks great besides those. And I don't know about that grill, is it mesh? For whoever asked if it was stock, hell no its not stock! I think the stock would look better than that one, but get the slp ss grill, that would look great.
Car looks great besides those. And I don't know about that grill, is it mesh? For whoever asked if it was stock, hell no its not stock! I think the stock would look better than that one, but get the slp ss grill, that would look great.
09-18-2006, 04:35 PM
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Lose the flames and the grille mesh. That's a stock airbox. Get one from SLP, looks nicer and flows better. For aftermarkets, a lid is a lid, they're all the same apart from looks. MTI makes a clear one, if that floats your boat. Hockey stick stripes wouldnt be bad, in black of course. Question.....what the hell is a mudpuppy, and why are you referring to a beautiful red Camaro SS as such?!?! 
09-18-2006, 07:41 PM
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First let me say this again, the flames suck and I need to remove them before they two tone the paint. I doubt if I could show up at the track with them on OK, don't worry no more pictures of them.
Mudpuppy is another name for Bullhead or Catfish, I mean it as a term of endearment. I got needled a bit from some of my Stang buddies, I don't care what they call it, it looks fine to me. I screened the expensive H/E on my cobra so the bug catcher will actually be put to use running at night at the track, very buggy, so it stays just to strain the bugs out.
I ordered a couple of things today so I can go play, most from Thunder racing but a good bit from Jegs with a racer discount and that is worth $$. The SLP 98-99 lid and bellows I had to get from Summit. I also ordered the HPTuners package, can't wait to tweak and test. I'm broke now, so the clutch, driveshaft, front QA1s, headers and Y-pipe will have to wait for Xmas. 12bolt well, not for a while if I can nurse the 10bolt.
SLP Lid & Bellows
Nitto 315/35/R17's
OEM concepts ZR1 chrome (thick lip) 17x11" 50mm
Jegs 7.5" 10bolt series 3 4.10 Gear set
T/A 10bolt cover and all the extra hardware + Redline juice
Royal Purple Manual Syncromesh for T-56
Red line oil/ K&N filter
SPOHN Cromoly Subframe connectors
SPOHN adjustable Cromoly Panhard with bushings
SPOHN adjustable Cromoly LCA with bushings
SPOHN Cromoly T/A for Longtubes with front loop
Prothane trani mount
Hypertech 160 Tstat & HPtuners package
Welding in the subframes in at the same time the gear set is switched before I go to the track. Most of those things I bought would have some of their bolts removed anyway, so a good time to get the string out and see how centered the rear is and give me the option repositioning it if one side rubs a bit with the track meats. I asked for AirLift bags too, but they got left off the order this time. No big deal, no hero launches until I have a proper clutch, just a little bog-n-Roll for now, you be surprised how quick you can be without smoking tires, just drive like you stole after that.
I also bought a winch, I was pricing them and messing around since the spring, pulled the trigger on a 3000lb Superwinch so if the best layed plans take a turn, I can reel that mudpuppy back on deck.
I think that is a decent start for now
You guys all had fun with your cars already, well you should have if you haven't and I'm a setting out to catch me up a tad!
Mudpuppy is another name for Bullhead or Catfish, I mean it as a term of endearment. I got needled a bit from some of my Stang buddies, I don't care what they call it, it looks fine to me. I screened the expensive H/E on my cobra so the bug catcher will actually be put to use running at night at the track, very buggy, so it stays just to strain the bugs out.
I ordered a couple of things today so I can go play, most from Thunder racing but a good bit from Jegs with a racer discount and that is worth $$. The SLP 98-99 lid and bellows I had to get from Summit. I also ordered the HPTuners package, can't wait to tweak and test. I'm broke now, so the clutch, driveshaft, front QA1s, headers and Y-pipe will have to wait for Xmas. 12bolt well, not for a while if I can nurse the 10bolt.
SLP Lid & Bellows
Nitto 315/35/R17's
OEM concepts ZR1 chrome (thick lip) 17x11" 50mm
Jegs 7.5" 10bolt series 3 4.10 Gear set
T/A 10bolt cover and all the extra hardware + Redline juice
Royal Purple Manual Syncromesh for T-56
Red line oil/ K&N filter
SPOHN Cromoly Subframe connectors
SPOHN adjustable Cromoly Panhard with bushings
SPOHN adjustable Cromoly LCA with bushings
SPOHN Cromoly T/A for Longtubes with front loop
Prothane trani mount
Hypertech 160 Tstat & HPtuners package
Welding in the subframes in at the same time the gear set is switched before I go to the track. Most of those things I bought would have some of their bolts removed anyway, so a good time to get the string out and see how centered the rear is and give me the option repositioning it if one side rubs a bit with the track meats. I asked for AirLift bags too, but they got left off the order this time. No big deal, no hero launches until I have a proper clutch, just a little bog-n-Roll for now, you be surprised how quick you can be without smoking tires, just drive like you stole after that.
I also bought a winch, I was pricing them and messing around since the spring, pulled the trigger on a 3000lb Superwinch so if the best layed plans take a turn, I can reel that mudpuppy back on deck.
I think that is a decent start for now
You guys all had fun with your cars already, well you should have if you haven't and I'm a setting out to catch me up a tad!
Last edited by 04snake; 09-18-2006 at 07:46 PM.
