And the CloneMonster transformation is under way, despite the 100 degree shop temperature......




The guys got to see me in my best form today, as everything got off to a great start by finding out our supplier sent me some incorrect parts, and we'll be waiting patiently for the replacements....well, they are waiting patiently....that's me below


Yes....Spin has a whole new appreciation for my Sicilian blood today...Thanks for putting up with me buddy...more info, pics etc by the end of the week.

 

lol.....hang in there bud. We are all awaiting the resuts. This stuff happens. Joe G and I were talking about you the other day. We are kind of holding out for your results so he can get a better direction on what he wants to do.

Dougie

 

Ha. If you're not Sicilian you wouldn't understand. Most are blessed never to have witnessed my "outbursts". Those who have are always scratching their heads and asking how a 160lb guinea can cause so much damage. Luckily mma and the gym give me a good release of aggression.

Anyway, congrats on starting the new project. Try not to get too worked up about the setbacks. I'm sure there will be more, there always is. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Just a quick update....we're moving along nicely...despite me losing 5 lbs due to the heat in the shop over the last few days.

I have to say, I have earned a new level of respect for all the tuners out there who actually turn the wrenches on your cars. I've done most of the grunt work while Spin has been tackling the tedious and technical. I've spent over 20 hours already....there are so many little things to watch, replace keep track of and many, many bolts to torque. If you get your car back in perfect shape and running well, be especially nice to the guy with the wrench, he broke his tail for you, believe me. At one point, your beautiful engine bay went from this:



to looking like this (sorry for the bad pic, it's from my phone, better pics will follow):



As of today, cam in, heads on, most everything back together. Tomorrow I need to put on the intake and TB, headers, fill fluids, heat cycle it and let Spin do his magic on the tune.

Pics, details and ground shaking to follow.

 

Looks great!
Good luck!
Mike

 

Oh, I thought that was Spin actually.
Damn, you two are spending so much time together that you're starting to look alike LOL, he's not quite as green though.

 

Just another quick update - Project is done, and it is awesome. Spin's calcs and combo is unreal. After the build car started like it always does, here is a teaser clip of the initial start up...full details to follow in a few days but so far we have:

1) 11.4 compression
2) Amazing low end torque and response
3) 32 MPG highway cruising home
4) Zero drivabilty issues...no surging, bucking and the power is off the hook.

 

Sounds Nasty!

 

It pisses me off that the changes to Craig's package were all to be in the next series of upgrades for my car and they made it into his first. While you cant tell peak HP from a street drive, his car embarrasses mine in the midband. Cam advanced two degrees, 1/2 point bump in compression, and a ported exhaust runner=a faster car. His cam is the exact grind I have but advanced 2 degrees. In the end, I am just trying to illustrate how small changes are so drastic a difference in performance. The cam and compression were to make the DCR come up and yet it still runs fine on 93.

I dont want to let the thunder out of the upcomming post but I wont be surprised to see his car making 25rwtq more than mine at 4k and any minor driveability quirks that you had to nit-pick about on my car are gone with Craig's. Compression imporves gas mileage, low end power, and smooths out all driveability issues. My gears (Z51 with 4.10's vs his base trans with 4.10's) hides the differences but once moving, I can tell his car is faster at least in the midband. All these changes will be included in my next H/C swap on my own car when I get back from a head swap in Boston this week with RacerX. Its kind of cool that I get the latest and greatest H/C changes whenever I want them and its all free.

Thanks Craig for letting me do some R&D on your car to make mine faster.

OK no more info until the install/tech thread. All cams specs, dyno results, fly-cutting specs, and head porting/milling parameters will be posted....no secrets. It uses stainless one piece valves with huge spring pressure for total confidence while revving the sucker out. I cant get over the pull of the dayum thing and I have nitrous on mine.

Special thanks to Kevin at S&K machine shop for the VIP treatment you and your family have given to my family over the years. While you have made far more money from my bro because he blows more things up, I'm a close second. There are few people I trust to do certain things and you're one of them.

 

sounds fast compression makes a car sound nice.

 

Craig, I'm sure it must have been extremely frustrating when you had the parts snafu but the bottom line is it all turned out well in the end and you wound up with an amazing car. Looking forward to hearing about the specs on the power train combo...

 

Cool stuff

 

Guy, thank you seems so insignificant....it was a long week, and even with the sanfus (some part problems...anyone doing this themselves, check EVERYTHING carefully!! Even if the package has a part number, check the contents! We had to overnight exchange some parts twice as incorrect parts were in SEALED GM bags!) and the long process of tearing down and rebuilding (yes, I did the grunt work, and it's a learning experience standing on your feet for 12 hours without a break trying to remember everything you're doing, being careful, and thorough in 100+ degree heat)...even when I was ready to meltdown, you extended me the calm reassurance of a brother, not just a friend...and I can't thank you enough. But I'll save my finaly comments for the upcoming tech thread....give us a few days, Guy is going to put the final SpinMonster brand on RacerX's already killer beast, and I need to get on a dyno for you guys.

It's fast Dennis, real fast...scary fast.... ask Cameron, he drove it last night...It's beyond a Z06 killer. We need to meet up at the track, I need you to make a few passes to see what it can really do...based on what we are seeing power-wise, I think it'll best your time by a few tenths with a good driver.

 

no way will it beat my time with me driving unless i owned it you got to come to the track. next time we meet Craig let me give you a 2minute lesson, and you will be driving it in the 10s

 

You got it, Dennis...and this time a REAL dinner is on me!

 

Hey dennis, it is fast, launching it with slicks or drag radials is the only way to beat those 10 second times. With tires it should be in the 10.7 to 10.8 range. It is sooooooo smoooth...And I couldn't get enough of that NPP WOT sound, .

 

You got me thinking again craig, Sounds awesome and the numbers just blow me away. Being there and watching you during the install in the 100 degree heat you deserve every bit of the extra HP.
Can't wait to hear it in person this weekend !!!!!

 

Hey Craig, have you stopped grinin' yet. Car sounds wicked, I'll have to get to L.I. when Spin's done with his Magic, do the Captree thing and hang for a day. Glad you're HAPPY, I get my smile soon courtesy of 'da Spinmonster.

 

no way the last one was on you. i know with tires your in the 10s easy and you do have the good clutch

 

So SPIN, when are we going to get the full tech thread?!?!