I picked my car up yesterday from The Vette Doctor’s. Without sounding too “cheerleaderish” I will state that this is a topnotch, 5 star, professional operation. The shop is clean and everyone I dealt with was standup. If there were any anxieties on my end about getting less than the best customer service from them because it was a little old cam/headers install (eg. Small buck$$$ vs. H/C or stroker, etc..) well it was clear those fears were unfounded. We went to lunch, which after a 5-6 hour drive was right up my alley plus I got to get an idea of how Carmen and Dennis are. Another personal treat was checking out their stable of cars and try not to drool on them. Surely some of them were forum rides. Sick, sick stuff there, lucky bastages!! :D

They base lined my car on the dyno prior to the installation of a camshaft, TPIS headers, and LS1 edit. This is the link to the special I took them up on http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=382653 . Being that I am not the most mechanically inclined, I can’t tell you what the cam specs are because to be honest it doesn’t mean anything to me and I had no interest in getting the specs. I told them how I drive the car, what I do want and what I don’t want. From that information they stuffed the appropriate cam in there. As someone says in their sig, “dyno #’s don’t win races” but below you see what I gained.
Base line dyno (Blackwing, Corsa Indy’s) – 320rwhp (I thought that was pretty good)

Cam/headers installed – 372rwhp, 347 rwtq

Looks like the HP increase starts to at about 3400rpm over base line and then climbs and climbs.

I took it to the track today. The rain cut the day short but 2 ¼mile runs were had. Clearly I need to practice on my all around driving. Best run was 13.1 @ 110mph(2.4-60ft), but that was shifting at 5800. It was my first chance to rip through the gears with my Hurst shifter. No problem into the 12’s in the future. My times might detract from the Vette Doctor’s work :rolleyes: but it is all on me. My best run before was 13.4. Anyways, I can work on that later. No doubt there is SOTP difference.

No hesitation whatsoever about recommending The Vette Doctor’s to anyone. Their treatment of me went above and beyond, assuring them of getting my business in the future. Isn’t that what it is all about? :yesnod:

FYI- Just a notification to any of those doing what I did from out of town. I drove my car 320 miles down, rented a car from Hertz in Massapequa (sp?) very close to the Vette Doctors to get me back up here. Of course I did the same thing to get the car, rent from Hertz in Syracuse, drive to Massapequa, drop off scheduled for 2pm yesterday. Guess what??? Carmen and I get to the rental place to find it was all blocked off and sure enough it closed at noon!!!! You think Hertz told me this? I was :mad Pouring rain, both of us jerking around for a good half hour with no help or alternative suggestions from Hertz’s 800 number, we squeezed the car in between the metal posts that are designed to keep cars out. With an inch clearance on each sides, mirrors tucked in, threw a key in between the business door (no drop box) locked the others in the car and we were gone. Beware of the 12pm close on Saturdays. Needless to say I raised a big stink when I got home and Hertz came through with apologies, a discount and they will eat the cheesy $50 charge the location advertised for drop offs other than during store hours.



[Modified by thegypsie, 8:15 PM 10/13/2002]

 

congrats on the new setup and great #s......:cheers:

 

Congrats on the new #'s!
The Vette Doctors have always done the right thing by me. :cheers:

 

Congrats on the new setup. I drive up to the Vette Doctors from Princeton, NJ and I also use the Hertz rental in Massapequa.

Good luck,

Dave

 

Congrats on the new package.. Great job again Guys.. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Nice to see you at the track Lance, hopefully we'll be able to get some better times with more practice and experience. :cheers: :cool:

 

You said it! We need to learn how to get down that track faster ;) . You have a nice running car and it is a definite 12 second'r if you (and I) can get our 60ft times under control. A 13.1 at over 110mph is good in my book and better than my first outing. Hey they even called your name over the loud speaker:crazy:.!! Maybe the NE section will be unlocked someday because I am up for that test and tune on a Saturday if the weather permits. I think being able to get 5 or 6 runs in a row especially in the environment (back to back type) that it was explained to me in would be perfect. It would just be nice to say you got int o the 12's :cheers: .

 

MeanGreen, Face, Dave-T, ChrisNJ ;) :cheers:

 

Congrats on the new set-up. I was there Sat morn ,Carmen showed me your car and he was a bit upset :cry at the weather (because you were comming from Syracuse) my car is there (mag red 01 convertable) already has a 382 stroker, it is gettin a new hotter cam and 02 Z06 clutch, maybe you saw the car!! We are looking for 470-480 RWHP. I hope so. These guys are the best I have been with them since 1995 when they were at a Chevy Dealer. NO ONE ELSE WOULD TOUCH MY VETTE! :) :) :)

 

Chris! Your car is sick! I know the one and it is a beauty. Carmen can tell you firsthand the B.S. (rental car thing/rain,etc..) I went through yet he hung with me like I knew him for years. Anyway, you are well aware of this obviously :cheers: .

You guys are killing me with them strokers :D .

 

:cool: :cheers: I see mid 12s in the near future once you get used to the car again :yesnod:

 

Hey no fair Lance I had to sit out this weekend cause of the rain. Are you running on street tires cause the 60' indicates some serious spin.

Glad you like the car and the package.

 

Gypsie,

Congrats on your new found power! I spotted your ride Friday when I dropped off kwikfix's red C4. You rcar is very sharp!

I took a quick clance at your numbers and think you are going to be real happy once you get hooked up with some drag radials. running a 13.1 with a 2.4 60 give you a potential of 12.2 with just a 1.8 60 foot! Throw in shifting at a higher RPM and power shifting, 11's are not out of the question in good air.

You quickly picked up on the one thing that keeps me comming back to Carmen, Dennis and Joey, customer service! It's number one at The Vette Doctors (the performance is just a bonus :D).

 

Gypsie, glad you like it cause you are going to love it once you get some drag radials and some track time/practice. My experience with the Vette Doctors is as postive as yours, with customer service leading the way. The results of their work speaks for itself, I still haven't driven my car to the potential they have provided me. Good luck and have fun...
Joe :smash: :cheers: :smash:

 

NJVetteGuy, boweryboy, C54FUN and REDGAR Thanks for the words :cheers:

I was hoping the Vette Doctors sprinkled an antidote into the car so I could drive it better at the track :crazy: . Ah well.....I guess that is on me.

Practice will make "better". Total runs for me are 8 the 2 times I have been to the track, so I will keep everyone posted. Next year, myself and hopefully others from the area will be down there for a weekend of racing and whatever else goes on :D .


[Modified by thegypsie, 12:38 AM 10/15/2002]

 

Congrats on the new power and numbers, I am looking to do the something very similar shortly.

Sent you an IM

 

Carmen and Dennis at The Vette Doctors provide customer service that is second to none. I will not let anyone else so much as change the oil! I plan on giving my deposit for some modifications (Cam, headers, Balancer, Tuning, Z06 intake) as soon as I get back from my honeymoon. These guys stand behind their work until the customer is 100% satisfied, whether the job is big or small. Enjoy the new found power!!!

Adam



[Modified by spdnman, 8:33 AM 10/15/2002]

 

sounds like another happy customer :smash:
you know i love you guys :blueangel: