After what was going to be a simple cam swap from my solid flat tappet to a solid roller cam as usual snowballed into a lot more. As some of you know I had a fairly healthy fuel injected 385 ci with a TKO 500 in my car. It ran quite well and I was pleased. So I thought. Well the O2 sensors did not like the big overlap in the cam so at a cruise it would miss a little. The computer trying to lean it out. OK so I need a cam with a little less overlap. I don't want to lose power so a solid roller is up. Buy the cam and remove the motor and trans. Well now that the motor is out a new set of heads would really compliment the new cam. On with AFR 210s. With my new found torque the low TKO 500 1st gear would be real short. So I'm on the hunt for a TKO 600. Just about to pull the trigger and my brother in law offers me a deal on a 06 GTO T56 that is just a steal. Can't pass up a good deal! Well that opens up a whole new can of worms. Longer, wider way heavier and to really do it right a hydraulic TO bearing setup is the way to go. Oh and the T56 uses an electrical impulse for the speedo. A converter is 300+ dollars. Why not put in an electronic speedo. Why not just replace all the gauges with electronics and get rid of that useless clock? As you can see this snowballed to a lot of work. Meanwhile I have Davids (AllC34me) red 77 that I am putting in a crate motor and 5 speed and rebuilding the entire car. My winter was busy. Without going into detail on all the work, I took it for its maiden voyage today. At first it was a little lazy and was breaking up at 5500 rpm under throttle. Fill up with gas and return home. Check everything out all looks good until I hook up the timing light. On the FI system you need to set the base timing to 14 BTDC. I was at 2 ATDC. Quick adjustment and I'm out again. Now it feels good. I immediatly notice a difference. Lay into in 2nd gear and it pulls like never before. 1st 2nd and most of 3rd are just spinning the tires. It is moving the car quite well though. So all the work was well worth it. I was giggling the whole way home. The T56 has a real useable 5th gear and 6th is just going to be a highway gear. Shifting is very smooth. Gotta love all those gears. There was a tremendous amount of mods and problems needed to overcome but in the end the dash looks great and it drives like I wanted it to. Still some more work on the console but now I have motivation.

 

Awesome! Congrats!

 

It all started with a cam swap, and then with a big list of mods, a monster T56 tranny, and ended with a big. Congrats.

 

Sounds like a damn sweet ride. Congrats!

 

Here is the new dash gauges. Still have some console work. The shifter is in a different location but fits my hand placement perfectly. I'll be making up a new shifter plate and boot. The threaded shifter rod is a little tough on the hand while shifting. Also installed a new stereo with 4 new speakers. Hopefully I'll be able to hear it.

 

Way to go....... Sounds like your ready for the spring/summer cruising...

 

Congrats Commish......now lets get the 3 cars together for a little cruise. I hope I will be able to keep with you and Jack. See ya soon.

AC is 4 weeks away.

Steve

 

Awesome Gordon, now we need a video.

 

congrats! Are you going to dyno it with new combo? Your old combo made awesome power so I wonder how much power it will put down now. I really like the new gauges too Car should be good for longer cruises on highway with the 6 speed.

 

Gauges look great. Give us the specs/size make of those gauges, look like autometer.
Any customizing for the center cluster or direct fit? I have always been curious if they are just plug n play or require all new wiring and sensors..

 

This might be a silly question but why not do a write-up of the T-56 install?

 

I'm happy for you- ain't it nice when all your hard work pays off? Those gauges look very clean and legible. It sounds like new tires- lots of them- are in your future!

 

Great job G! Now what are you going to do with everything done!!! OH no! Idle hands!!!

 

Going to try and dyno it sometime soon.

Yes they are Auto meters. The big 5 inch ones are a custom fit and require a made up plate for the mounting. The smaller 2 1/16 gauges are pretty much a direct fit. I had one hole for some reason tha twas a little oversize. What I did was put a rubber Oring around the gauge for a tighter fit. I used a lot of the original wiring but had to run some new sender wires. I did rewire and neaten up the wiring some. I labeled every wire in case someone else ever has to go in there or just for me so when it comes apart it is easy to put back on.

Yes I should do it. It takes a little work to get it to fit and wire it up and use the hyd TO bearing when mating it to a Gen1 SB. I'll work on that.

Someday!

 

Still have Davids 71 motor to assemble. I have 73jst4fun motor in my garage we are swapping out his motor for a new roller cammed motor for him. He has a dual mount spring and Steeroids he wants on his car. Also a set of double offset trailing arms for him I still have some work on mine also. It is never done.

 

What a great combination, sounds like a blast, congrats!!

I'd guess at least for a while it won't matter how the new sound system sounds, you'll just be listening to the engine and grinn'n...

 

Happy to read that all the effort paid off, Gordon.

The gauge package looks awesome and sounds like you ironed out the initial bugs ok. Look forward to reading about more adventures on your side of the continent. Your job list sounds like Corvette mania.

Congrats!

 

Dang Gordon, you do more in one winter than some folks do in a decade. How do you and Josh find time to work on your own Vette and your buddies. Working too much on my car and I neglect the others, including the wife's van. I tell the guys all the time, I have a lift, bring it over and we can do that. Only one Mazda owner has ever taken me up. Jake from the C5 forum. I thought I had accomplished something this winter with my hydraulic roller lifter/cam/ and RPM intake upgrade. So did your brother in law give you a good deal on a GTO, or just the tranny?
Bee Jay

 

It was just the tranny. He pretty much bought the drivetrain and interior out of a rolled over 06 GTO. He tried to sell me the motor and trans and I was tempted but I have to much in this motor and the GTO motor has less power. I know it is an easy mod to get more power out of the LS2 but I weighed all the costs for the way I wanted to do it and it was just to much. I may look back on it and kick myself but I already have a fuel injected motor that runs hard. He sold the motor to someone doing a resto mod on a 69 Camaro and an automatic trans. That is how I got the trans.

 

Your face must really hurt from all that grinning your doing, I know if I were
in your position I wouldn't stop grinning until next winter after the car is stored
for the winter, if even then.

Your setup sounds incredible, this has to be one fun ride every time you go
for a cruise.

Would love to see some updated photo's of your setup under the hood, I bet it
looks awesome.

Thanks for sharing and making me jealous,

Riggs.