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The shortblock is here!

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Old Feb 1, 2026 | 07:48 PM
  #21  
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You might consider changing your handle to Top End. 👍
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Old Feb 1, 2026 | 10:56 PM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by vette4fl
You might consider changing your handle to Top End. 👍
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Old Feb 4, 2026 | 12:27 AM
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Coming along...
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Old Feb 4, 2026 | 01:50 AM
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😎 good to see progress
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Old Feb 4, 2026 | 11:09 PM
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Looks awesome 😎🍻
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 12:43 AM
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And... she's back.


So I've I've met all of my goals. The rev-speed is very fast, it looks stock, and pretty much sounds stock at idle.
I need to behave myself for a few hundred miles while the engine and clutch break-in.
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 05:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Lowend
And... she's back.

https://youtube.com/shorts/dJMmaJDar...i67763VJ_5kuJS

So I've I've met all of my goals. The rev-speed is very fast, it looks stock, and pretty much sounds stock at idle.
I need to behave myself for a few hundred miles while the engine and clutch break-in.
sounds good. What exhaust is that?
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 09:51 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Lowend
I need to behave myself for a few hundred miles while the engine break-in.
Whatever you do, don't completely baby that engine. It's not good for it.
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 11:25 AM
  #29  
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Nice work, and she’s a beauty, great self control making it mild vs wild, hopefully years of spirited driving fun 😎🍻
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by DanielW
sounds good. What exhaust is that?
its factory Ti with bypass tubes
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Old Feb 21, 2026 | 02:45 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by Lowend
its factory Ti with bypass tubes
crazy how good that sounds. But I'm sure the engine has something to do with it. 😎😂
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Old Feb 27, 2026 | 03:38 PM
  #32  
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Duuude, that sounds amazing at idle and no one could tell that's not completely stock. I'm a little envious of your build, it sounds like the kind of build I've been thinking about for years but haven't pulled the trigger on at all. Nicely done man!
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Old May 8, 2026 | 02:37 PM
  #33  
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UPDATE -
Got chassis dyno'd yesterday and the results are no. No real surprises here
The SAE numbers are about 8WHP lower. In general this dyno tends to read a little more conservative but the curves are accurate.
The engine looks and sounds stock and passes all CA Smog.
C5 transaxles are ~ 13% drivetrain loss, so this is right about 450 FWHP, as expected

Peak HP is about 900 RPM lower than I expected, but I'm happy with the results.
This torque curve is very "me" ie there's power everywhere.

For those following along at home, this is on Factory 2002 Z06 fuel injectors, they peaked out at 89% during the tuning. A little more than I'd like in a perfect world, but still safe.




LS6 chassis dyno
Would more power be nice... always. But with the goal of a smog legal car that's bullet proof, I'm saying mission accomplished. In a perfect world I would have run a little more cam. I really couldn't have gone with any more duration and still had the factory programming get me through smog (damn you CARB)

The car drives great, smoother than a new one and just goes.
I a couple years it may get an A&A supercharger kit, but for now great canyon carver.

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Old May 8, 2026 | 03:26 PM
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Awesome! Seems like a solid result overall for your goal. Thanks for sharing with us.

Hope you don't mind some questions/comments:
  • Have you gotten enough "normal" miles on it to get a feel for fuel consumption? I'm curious how it compares to stock.
  • Sounds like you're running a stock tune to pass smog. Was this dyno on the stock tune, or have you gotten it tuned and you just flash stock tune for smog purposes?
  • Not sure how closely you're following the upcoming governor race, but the republican candidates (who seem to be doing well in the race so far) are touting abolishment of CARB. Will be very interesting to see how all that plays out. I've also been hearing things about the Trump admin/EPA pushing on CARB and some effects that may be having. All of this has really been pertinent to me as a CA resident car-guy subjected to the same restrictions you are.
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Old May 8, 2026 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by MetalMan2
Awesome! Seems like a solid result overall for your goal. Thanks for sharing with us.

Hope you don't mind some questions/comments:
  1. Have you gotten enough "normal" miles on it to get a feel for fuel consumption? I'm curious how it compares to stock.
  2. Sounds like you're running a stock tune to pass smog. Was this dyno on the stock tune, or have you gotten it tuned and you just flash stock tune for smog purposes?
  3. Not sure how closely you're following the upcoming governor race, but the republican candidates (who seem to be doing well in the race so far) are touting abolishment of CARB. Will be very interesting to see how all that plays out. I've also been hearing things about the Trump admin/EPA pushing on CARB and some effects that may be having. All of this has really been pertinent to me as a CA resident car-guy subjected to the same restrictions you are.
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1. I don't pay attention at all - I'd have to know what the fuel mileage was before.

2. This is on a custom tune, which I am told is compliant with the smog check regulations. I had the car running for several weeks on a OEM tune. Ran fine, just not a smooth. I will likely flash back to factory tune for the actual smog inspection for an added measure of confidence.

3. CARB was created and can only be dissolved by the California legislature. Abolishing CARB is quite simply not within the power of the office of the Governor. I don't want to bring politics here, this is pure legal fact.
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