Winter mod summary (dial-up warning)
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
Winter mod summary (dial-up warning)
I've posted most of this before, but now that everything is wrapped up, thought it's be a good idea to put one post together
This is where I started last fall, the car was pretty much as it left Germany the previous winter. It burned a little bit of oil, leaked coolant, had all kinds of squeaks/groans/clicks coming from the suspension along with just generally feeling the results of 5 years of hard use.
That's where the oil was going. A catch-can will take care of that.
The coolant lines were in pretty bad shape and had to be destroyed to get them off the water pump, so I swapped them out for silicon hoses from LGM
the source of the coolant leak was a bad gasket, so I just kept the same water pump cleaned everything up and swapped the gaskets out. Also took the opportunity to install a new thermostat and new belts.
...no more leaks or burning oil
now that the worst problems were taken care of, it's on to some visual changes compliments of VetteStripes.com
...and some factory Z06 screens painted black
Now it's time for the big stuff. After a few dozen e-mails and phone calls to LG Motorsports, I had a garage full of parts, but for the install, I needed to enlist the help of someone much more qualified than myself, so after a little research, I took my car over to Ed Hutchings at the The HP Factory
They installed Pfadt poly bushings, LG Coil-overs, GMPP T-1 Sway-bars, Hardbar Camber/Stud kit, and some heavy duty adjustable tie-rod ends, new wheel bearing/hub assemblies w/ ARP wheel studs
I had also stumbled on a good deal for a used accusump system on forum and since it was on my to-do list, i jumped on it. The accusump was mounted under the left fender...
...with a gauge next to the windshield washer reservoir...
...and a switch in place of the ashtray...
...in the future, I’ll use that space for switches for the transmission & differential coolers and probably add a trans temp gauge in place of the cigarette lighter. You can also see the Hurst T-handle shifter in that shot
Here she is all done and back home
Still need to make a few adjustments to the ride height and alignment, put the Sparco seats back in and go over the car myself, but the car feels great. The ride is more firm than before, but it's not bad unless you have Jeremy Clarkson's weak back. It's also a lot more stable than before. Bumps that would kick the car to the side don't upset the suspension at all. When the rear tires break lose, there’s no wheel hop. On street tires, there is virtually no body roll, just tons of grip. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to really push it on track tires. I have a feeling that this car is really going to come alive under those conditions.
The squeaking that I was expecting from the the poly bushings isn't there, just a little clatter from the adjustable end-links at low speed on bumpy roads, but there are actually less random noises than before, so nothing to worry about there.
I’ll have to get used to 9-qt. oil changes, but that’s worth the extra layer of protection for the engine.
Overall, money and time well spent and this will lead nicely into the next set of modifications.
=================================
Seats installed. Sparco Evo driver's seat & Sparco Evo L passenger seat with Scroth made Sparco 6-point harnesses.
This is where I started last fall, the car was pretty much as it left Germany the previous winter. It burned a little bit of oil, leaked coolant, had all kinds of squeaks/groans/clicks coming from the suspension along with just generally feeling the results of 5 years of hard use.
That's where the oil was going. A catch-can will take care of that.
The coolant lines were in pretty bad shape and had to be destroyed to get them off the water pump, so I swapped them out for silicon hoses from LGM
the source of the coolant leak was a bad gasket, so I just kept the same water pump cleaned everything up and swapped the gaskets out. Also took the opportunity to install a new thermostat and new belts.
...no more leaks or burning oil
now that the worst problems were taken care of, it's on to some visual changes compliments of VetteStripes.com
...and some factory Z06 screens painted black
Now it's time for the big stuff. After a few dozen e-mails and phone calls to LG Motorsports, I had a garage full of parts, but for the install, I needed to enlist the help of someone much more qualified than myself, so after a little research, I took my car over to Ed Hutchings at the The HP Factory
They installed Pfadt poly bushings, LG Coil-overs, GMPP T-1 Sway-bars, Hardbar Camber/Stud kit, and some heavy duty adjustable tie-rod ends, new wheel bearing/hub assemblies w/ ARP wheel studs
I had also stumbled on a good deal for a used accusump system on forum and since it was on my to-do list, i jumped on it. The accusump was mounted under the left fender...
...with a gauge next to the windshield washer reservoir...
...and a switch in place of the ashtray...
...in the future, I’ll use that space for switches for the transmission & differential coolers and probably add a trans temp gauge in place of the cigarette lighter. You can also see the Hurst T-handle shifter in that shot
Here she is all done and back home
Still need to make a few adjustments to the ride height and alignment, put the Sparco seats back in and go over the car myself, but the car feels great. The ride is more firm than before, but it's not bad unless you have Jeremy Clarkson's weak back. It's also a lot more stable than before. Bumps that would kick the car to the side don't upset the suspension at all. When the rear tires break lose, there’s no wheel hop. On street tires, there is virtually no body roll, just tons of grip. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to really push it on track tires. I have a feeling that this car is really going to come alive under those conditions.
The squeaking that I was expecting from the the poly bushings isn't there, just a little clatter from the adjustable end-links at low speed on bumpy roads, but there are actually less random noises than before, so nothing to worry about there.
I’ll have to get used to 9-qt. oil changes, but that’s worth the extra layer of protection for the engine.
Overall, money and time well spent and this will lead nicely into the next set of modifications.
=================================
Seats installed. Sparco Evo driver's seat & Sparco Evo L passenger seat with Scroth made Sparco 6-point harnesses.
Last edited by Lancer033; May 26, 2008 at 12:21 AM.
