Wow we have similar tastes!
Here's mine:

Mine is an 08 the 1st year for the 2nd gen CTS and the DI 3.6 engine. Had it since it came off a 2 yr lease.
Slightly wider than the ATS and the same chassis/driveline as the later '10 Camaro.
210k miles.
One of 424 built with a manual six speed trans. No V that year. This one has the FE3 suspension, basically the V suspension without the feel-less electronic shocks. 13.6" brakes, posi, etc. Handling tuned in Germany on the 'ring. Best ride/handling compromise I have ever driven, including M3s, C6s or even CTS-Vs.

Here's what I strongly suggest on the 3.6 DOHC:
Monitor oil consumption religiously. Get aggressive if it drops below 2000 miles/qt.
Do not ever let it get below 1 qt low, it will lose pressure to the chain tensioners first, and kill the 6ft chains in a week. BTDT.
Change the oil at 50% of idiot light recommendations. 8K is too long for oil ring longevity. 4k.
Use an oil flush product most oil changes. It did help mine a little. I was already 150k in but it doubled it to 600 mi/qt.
Monitor the PCV hose for wet oil vapors and run a catch can if necessary.
If you catch the oil ring deposits early enough, before they harden, you should be able to keep them at bay.
Don't wait too long like I did.
Mine won't pass inspection, code won't clear, and cats are oil clogged now.
But I still can't find anything else with a stick that rides & handles even close to this, so it's a keeper.
Even the Vs don't measure up in handling. I could not stand the electronic shocks, zero feel. I would probably rip that expensive *** out.

 

Thanks for all that. I maintain mine conscientiously. Its a 14 with 104 k miles. I've had it since it had 9k miles. No oil consumption so far on the 3.6 direct injection, VVT engine. Mine is a Premium with head up display and headlights that turn based on steering wheel input. FE3 suspension. Auto trans however. Funny that you mention the PVC. Last week I got a check engine light. Code said lean condition on banks 1 and 2. I took a look and noticed the pcv hose had disconnected from an elbow fitting at the back of the engine. All good now.

 

I hope you can keep yours drinking zero oil.
Mine must have been abused when it was young. New chains, new trans, and 1200 miles/qt even at 30k miles when I got it.

But back to Corvette comments.
I have had to turn my Corvette into a shelf to make my cramped garage workspace work for me.
Both the body dolly and the main frame now have a 4x4 shelf for engine parts.
Seems a little "wrong" but I have little other choice.
Two cars apart at the same time in a 2 car garage. Sigh.
I have to be careful so I do not slip-up and put the 454 in the Caddy! LOL

 

Just because the corvette has been crammed aside for other projects for a couple months, does not mean I have forgotten about it.
My Christmas Present to my C3 arrived yesterday.

This was a set of used, scratched, dirty Hedman BB Headers that I bought cheap.
Hedman's factory coating was not holding up and had rusty spots.
I bought them that way because I wanted to try JetHot's high-tech heat resistant coating to keep the Big Blocks temps down under the hood and in the cabin.
They looked so gorgeous when I unboxed them I don't even want to unwrap or scratch them!
Almost like chrome.

I am a science guy so this is the graph that sold me:

700 Degree inside and out temperatures on all except the JetHot, only 194 degrees outside. A 500 degree DECREASE.


Video here:

You Tube

I inspected mine to see how well coated they were on the inside. Because that is the key. Reflect the heat before it ever touches the steel surface. That's why I did not want to go with other coatings, or only external coatings, these are the guys practically created the coatings industry and have the experience. I do know the Turbo race guys love this stuff.

So they stripped my old headers, inside and out. I saw a pic of a vibratory tumbler in use in the factory. Big enough to just throw them in. Then they coated them inside and out. The inside being the important part for me for heat rejection. And then polished the outside so they look great.
So inquiring minds want to know,
HOW WELL DID THEY COAT THE INSIDE?

Very well coated inside.


Coated ALL the way thru the header tubes. This pic is with my borescope, 2 feet inside a tube, at the tightest bend. Terrible color exposure in the pic though, the color really looks just like the prior pic.

I AM VERY HAPPY!
I just hope they work as good as they look!

 

Very nice.
If you don’t mind me asking, what did they charge you?
What was their turn around time?
I have seriously thought about sending my new Herman’s to them which are already factory coated.

 

Cost me 433 for the coating, and 50 to strip the old coating.
I was not sure of the quality of any of the other coatings, or whether any of them did the inside.
That was key for me for the best heat rejection.

BTW My Hedmans were only lightly used, and they were already beginning to rust around the bottom corners.
(I wouldn't think a header mfgr would spend a lot on a good coating).

Turnaround, I shipped them just before the Christmas Holidays, so that had an impact.
Without that, maybe 2-3 weeks.

 

That’s not a bad price!
I guess I’ll need to check into it.

 

If it helps the cabin heat half as much as they claim, I feel it's worth it.
I'll be doing some cabin insulation also.

 

My new Hedman’s are ceramic coated on the outside, so I wonder how much additional heat barrier there is coating the inside of the headers?

 

Corvette update:
Got my Updated Original Radio back today!
Looks the same but...
Went with the latest technology in new internal Digital electronics for much improved input/output flexibility:


I ordered this from Retro Radio in Elizabethtown, PA. Met him at Corvettes @ Carlisle.
He installed all modern upgrades using Aurora Design components.
I went for all the options.
It has:

• Modern digital tuner
• 45W per channel into 4 modern 4 ohm high quality speakers
• Seek/Scan
• Bluetooth Audio for streaming music from my phone
• Bluetooth for hands free phone, mic included - although I seriously doubt the phone will ever be useable with a BB.
• Aux 1/8" mini plug input
• USB Input - will probably hide in cigarette lighter - can use large USB for H.D. style music storage FAT32 format for up to 65k files
• USB can also be used for 2A charging
• Digital FM HD Radio - as some stations are now broadcasting 3 different sub-channels
• 3 zone equalizer, with loudness, subwoofer and crossover frequency controls
• Pre-amp line-outs for possible external amplifiers, fr & rr
• Subwoofer line-out
• Voice assistance as well as voice commands

The original 1972 Radio remains externally untouched.
The AM/FM selector and flip dial still work as normal
Several circuit boards were added internally.
Much more input/output flexibility

I couldn't be happier!
It will take me a while to figure out how to test it tho.

Original Flip dial cleaned up. Still functional. Pushbuttons still functional. Stereo Indicator is now a multi colored LED indicator. I see a second LED, still not sure what that is for.


USB input from cigarette lighter socket? Front & Rear pre-amp outputs, subwoofer output, aux line in. Mic input on rear. 4 Speakers can also be connected to miniplug using internal 4x45W amplifier.

My long term plan is a cross country trip. And this should help keep me occupied!
My current plan is for 4 good speakers in the dash and the ankle high kick panels. Polk, Infinity components, etc.
And a possible mini-sub under the jack door, everything invisible.

Any speaker suggestions?

 

you could try Polk, Bose, Alpine..

 

Big block, headers, hp = no radio.

 

LOL
I knew someone would say that!
But I could not stand a long trip without some tunes!

 

I love to drive long hours when we are on road trips.
Kristine will have her ear pods in listening to music, podcasts and other things.
I enjoy thinking with the peace and quiet, or with the window down and the wind blowing through.

 

Any updates on the project?

 

Nothing since the radio. Sidelined with other projects.
My CTS is in "heart & lung surgery" mode.

 

Here is an update on my "corvette distraction" engine project.
GM 3.6L V6, 24 valves, 4 cams, 3 timing chains, 6 chain tensioners.
And a royal headache to "set the timing" LOL !


It made me think about how come GM never put DOHC heads on the SBC, this 335HP 231 cube V6 would be a 510HP 350 cube V8! Sweet!
It does really work. But oh my...the complexity!! A SB or even an LS is so much simpler.

Then I remembered that a DOHC 455 BB almost happened in 1970.....

https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/...-valve-455-v8/
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/news...hat-never-was/


My best friend built another rare GM one back in the early 70s, a Ram Air V. Around 500HP.
It embarrassed the local Mopar Hemi when nobody else could.
And that's always a good thing right?

 

I remember an old hotrod or motor trend story about experimental ford (maybe) DOHC engine when I was a kid that had the engineer standing on the timing belt and stretching it over his head. The motor looked like yours but all that was controlled with one belt...hard to find anything that old on the google machine...its all new stories that aren't related at all...

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/90-d...hc-427-cammer/
heres a related story of a production motor that went with a 6 foot timing chain until it went to gears

 

Just catching up on your progress Leigh… Looking good!

That radio is really intriguing. I’ve been debating whether to deviate from stock in this area for my 1970 restoration. You’ll have to post your comments on its performance once you have it up and running.

Regards,

Stan Falenski