Decided it was time to finish the engine in my 'vette. Started as a 402 LS2 11.0:1 compression, LS6 heads, LS1 intake/throttle body, LG G5X3 cam. Was disappointed with the result, the engine couldn't breath and was in desperate need of heads and an intake/throttle body:



It will now be getting GMPP CNC LS3 heads with Comp 921 springs, LS3 intake, LS2 throttle body, Nitrous Outlet 2 stage 90mm plate, compression being raised from 11.0:1 - 11.5:1, and possibly a larger cam. I will be running meth on 1 side of the nitrous plate at WOT above 2500 RPM and eventually will run nitrous/fuel on the other side. I will be upgrading the fuel system by adding a KB Boost-A-Pump, converting to a return style fuel system, adding a Aeromotive FPR, and Holley billet rails.

Almost have everything I need to get going, here are my parts so far:





I will also be putting in a new transmission and differential since I broke them both the last time at the track. The carnage from that:







I will be putting in a MN12 and a new diff from a C5 Z06. I will be putting the ECS trans/diff brace on it to help prevent it from grenading again.

Once I finish it, Mayhem Motorsports will be picking it up and tuning it.

With the cam that I currently have I am shooting for 525-550 rwhp on motor + meth, if I decide to swap the cam I will be shooting for 575 rwhp on motor + meth. When I finish the nitrous system, probably this fall, I will start with a 100hp shot and see where I am at and go from there. I an shooting for 10.5 on motor and 9.8 on the bottle. The best I was able to do on street tires was 12.49 @ 119 with a 2.2 60' and picking up about 20mph on the back half. I now have MT ET Streets and skinnies to help with the traction issues I was having. I hope to have it back on the road in the next month or so....

My progress so far....







test fit for the nitrous bottle


I was going to have the engine out and torn apart today along with running wiring to the rear of the car for the nitrous, running the nitrous feed line, and the fuel return line....but that didn't happen lol

 

More goodies arrived a few days ago.

fuel pressure gauge (top go on the regulator)
-6AN fuel line
NOS mini 2 stage nitrous controller
4 circuit fuse panel with relay
-AN cap and plug kit
-AN pressure test kit
-AN flush kit
adjustable push rod length checker
valve spring height micrometer
braided stainless hose cutter
T56 endplay tool




I still need to order the timing box to retard timing under spray, gaskets, nitrous switch panel, nitrous solenoids, nitrous line from solenoids to plate, and some assorted -AN fittings. Plan to have the engine out and apart this weekend so I can get the heads/pistons to the machine shop to get the heads milled and pistons flycut.

 

Lots of work done lately. Kenne Belle Boost-A-Pump installed, most of the wiring for the nitrous run, nitrous feed line run, NOS Dual Stage Mini Progressive Controller wired, and timing retard box installed. Everything is installed to look as close to stock as possible with all wires run in factory wire looms when ever possible.



















I still need to build my nitrous gauge/switch plate that will mount where the ashtray/cig lighter are. Don't need them since I don't smoke lol. Also need to make the bottle mount then wire in the fuse block/relays for the bottle opener/heater/gauges. Also need to run a few more misc wires for the nitrous system. I need to run the return fuel line also, going to use hard line and run it next to the factory fuel lines in the available space. The heads are back from the machine shop and now have either 62cc or 64cc chambers- can't remember which at the moment. Once I am done with all the wiring I will assemble the heads, rebuild the trans, then put the engine back together once my new cam gets here.

 

Spent a good portion of yesterday fabricating my nitrous bottle mounting plate and mounting the fuse panel. Still need to finalize the wiring, paint everything, and make it look pretty. Eventually I will fabricate a new mounting plate when I get my new bottle mount, but for now this one will do- especially since the plate was free from our scrap metal bin.

 

Ordered a custom cam today from Martin @ Tick....gonna sound naaasty...doesn't have the most lift, but look at that duration, especially on the exhaust side. With as much as GMPP CNC LS3 heads flow....

235/250 .621/.595 115+4

 

It was like Christmas in April today....



The nitrous stuff:

Nitrous Outlet 2x .187 Fuel Solenoid
Nitrous Outlet 2x .125 Nitrous Solenoid
Nitrous Outlet 1x Purge Solenoid
Nitrous Outlet 2x billet rails
a bunch of lines for a direct port set up

triple pillar gauge pod
Auto Meter Ultra Lite II Nitrous Pressure Gauge
Auto Meter Ultra Lite II Fuel Pressure Gauge
Auto meter Ultra Lite II Wide Band Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge
Custom Comp Cam courtesy of Martin @ Tick Performance 235/250 .621/.595 115+4
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Glad to see you got everything, looking good.

I have the NOS-mini progressive on my car, it's a great controller.

 

Mounted the fuel pressure regulator and modified the washer fluid tank











I need to sand it some, degrease it again, then respray it....stupid fish eyes. It also isn't the best job and looks a little ******. Going to get another used washer tank and give it another shot. I think with a little better work it would look damn good. Now I will just need to paint the entire engine compartment lol.

Also finished the nitrous bottle mount







the LS7 MAF with Spectre housing - cost all of $60 total!



Temporary custom switch panel. I am going to make a new 1 using either an aluminum or carbon fiber base with billet aluminum switches. Has a master power, purge, and bottle opener switches. The bottle heater will automatically turn on when you turn the nitrous master power on.

 

Sweet!

 

Finally made some progress today. Got the return line plumbed, got the short block ready to drop in, and pulled what was left of the pilot bushing....The engine will be in this weekend and I should have the rest of the drive train in as well, assuming some parts I ordered come in tomorrow or Saturday....

 

Also mounted the nitrous bottle mount

 

Finally seems like I am making progress. I got both heads on, most of the engine accessories (need to get a new power steering pulley installer), set the intake on to start work on the fuel rails. Ran into a little problem. The overall height of the intake/injector/rail combo did not clear the cowl on the driver's side due to the offset of the fuel rails. After going thru my options of shimming the cradle, shorter engine mounts, LS3 injectors, cutting the cowl, or a combination of them, I decided to cut the cowl. I would have needed to drop the overall height at least 1" which would mandate new LS3 injectors. That would have cost me $400 that I just don't have now. After cutting the cowl I was able to get 1 fuel line made before I had to go to work.





I am going to glass in the back of that so it looks better and is sealed. Overall it isn't going to really be noticeable.



First fuel supply line made. The fuel lines going to the fuel pressure regulator will come off the back of the rail.

Tomorrow I will get the other supply line made then start working on the lines for the nitrous system. I am waiting on a few fittings to get here for the lines going from the rails to the regulator. I am still going to have to order a few misc fittings for the nitrous lines once I finalize how I am going to mount them.

By the end of the weekend I fully expect to be 99% finished, with only having a few fuel/nitrous lines to make, pushrods to install, and fluids to put in. BIG picture upload will be coming in over the weekend.

Got the last of the fuel lines fabbed up and loose installed. Still need to plumb the rest of the nitrous system when the fittings and lines get here tomorrow or friday. All the lines were pressure tested to 100 psi and flushed before being installed.

Finished installing my gauges, put the body panels back on, installed the pushrods, and put the valve covers on.

I also had to modify my passenger side valve cover. The baffles for the PCV system (that I am not using) did not clear the offset intake rockers on the LS3 heads. So I had to remove them.

I still need to massage the hole in the cowl to fit the fuel rails, but not much. Then I am going to glass it in so it looks all nice and pretty.

 

Finished mocking up the nitrous kit today. I need to pick up a female-female -6 AN union in the morning, wire up the solenoids and figure out how I am going to do the purge kit. Tomorrow I will put the torque tube back together and get the torque tube/trans/diff/rear suspension back in after I power up the car and verify no leaks/wiring issues.







All I can say is **** you Mr. Monster snap ring holding my torque tube together...you made me go and buy a monster Snap-On snap ring plier set to remove/install you....Bought the PR7 and PR8 for $120 shipped....







I have sent out the solenoids to get rebuilt even though they are supposedly new. Pressurized the fuel system and the fuel system was dumping gas out of the solenoids. Having them and the nitrous solenoids rebuilt as a precaution. Great customer service from Nitrous Outlet as expected.

 

I also need to shorten 2 of the lines, but that can be done once the car is done and driveable lol.

 

Good progress today. Installed the torque tube, trans, diff, rear cradle, rear suspension, and the rear brakes. Tomorrow I will do fluids, exhaust, plugs, wires, coils and hopefully crank it. I don't have a lot of time tomorrow morning to work before I have to go to work because I have to pick up a coolant plug for the passenger head. I will probably have from 0900-1400 to knock out as much of my list for tomorrow as I can.

Going with the old plugs for now as I just don't have the funds for new plugs right now. Doesn't really matter yet because I don't have the nitrous solenoids back from Nitrous Outlet where they are getting rebuilt.

 

It's aliiive.....aliiiiiive!

 

 

Turns out I have a charging system fault I gotta figure out. Also have brought it to operating temp a few times and the idle sound has gotten a LOT better, will upload another video later today

 

Charging system fault fixed, fluids topped off, brakes bled (I hope, it was far too quick and easy lol). Tomorrow it comes off the jackstands....still needs the hood to get put on and the air intake needs some silicone couplers. Tune is on 9 June.

It has been brought to operating temp a few times



Running a little lean

Running just a touch rich lol

 

Just need to put the hood on it, see if it will drive, then get it tuned....