Enginerd's Build Thread (Pic Heavy!)
 

I figured, as I go into the 3rd phase of my Z06 build, I would start compiling my stuff in a single thread for anyone who's interested and for me to keep track of and refer to... I'll post this in separate posts and try to do the past items chronologically, so here goes!!!

Since the first time I saw the 06 Z06, I was very interested in getting one myself one day. I was a college student and could not fathom being able to have one, let along build it, so this is something I'm really spending a lot of time on and really enjoying the ride as I customize it.

Picked up my 2008 Jetstream Blue Z06 from a local GMC dealer as a 1-owner CPO car with 9500, what looked to be, babied miles. No drilled front tag either!! It literally had no cosmetic issues and looked brand new inside and out! The only issue was that the previous owner had coated the inner wheel barrels the same color as the car, so I figured that was an easy fix once I got the car.

Here is what she looked like the day I brought her home in July of 2013:
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CPO provided coverage of the car for 1-year/12,000 miles from the purchase date in July of 2013, so as I went into the winter of 2013, I continued researching things like the valve issues, how well these platforms response to a cam and headers and began to compile a list of things to make the car more powerful.

One that that really irked me is how horrible the original (5 year old) Eagle F1 Supercar EMT tires were. I swapped them out for Nitto tires. 285/35R18 Nitto NT05 in the front and 345/30R19 in the rear.

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Not only did the car ride better due to the change in sidewall stiffness coming from the run-flats, but it stuck HARD in 1st and 1st-2nd shifts. "So this is what ALL of the stock power feels like?!"... Much better! Now if only it sounded a little better.

I went back and forth on Corsa, Bullets, all over the place... Until I met a guy with a 2011 Carbon Edition Z06 at a car show and heard the difference in the ZR1/11+ Z06 exhaust. What a beefy sound from the non-perforated pipes... So I began looking and picked up a 1900 mile setup from a new ZR1 at Carlise for $150!!!! What a steal and it made a huge difference! The car came with a Mild 2 Wild so I was good there...

As I approached winter, I decided that I was mechanically-inclined enough begin the tear-down in my garage. The plan was to do headers, fairly aggressive cam, C5R timing chain, intake, RX catch can and all the supporting new gaskets and seals. Ended up going with MAST 305 heads, Race Proven Motorsports B3 cam, Halltech CF112 intake and American Racing 2" primary headers w/ cats... In the process, I had the stock LS7 manifold ported out for the bigger heads and my factory throttle body ported as well.

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Along with the build parts I planned for, I ended up with a DeWitt's radiator and an MGW shifter. Both have made great compliments to the other mods.

As spring 2014 came up, Rob Metzger at Gallant's Automotive helped me get the car put back together and Mike Bruce from B&B Corvettes did some road tuning with us remotely via HP Tuners. After the start up tune was loaded, here was the very first start!


And when it settled in after warming up


Then started the remote road tuning. Mike worked magic and worked with rob to get it in very drivable condition. Drove it around every once in a while for a month until Mike flew in and tuned it on a nearby dynapack that we rented. The car made 639hp and 538tq... As we all know that dynapacks require the wheels to be removed and calculate things differently, I'd estimate it's a 600-610hp car accounting for some inflation. The car sounded beastly on the dyno :rock:

yes! eye candy.

keep em coming!

Now that the tune is done and the car has been running great for almost a year, it seemed like a good time to finish up the bolt-ons... Got a FAST 102, FAST billet rails, ZR1 injectors, and Nick Williams throttle body. To hold the power and help throttle response, I also picked up a Mantic 9000 thanks to Geoff (Mantic Rep) and Rick from RKT.

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Along with the bolt-ons, I have some C7 Carbon extended side skirts, 5mm wheels spacers and C7 Carbon ZR1 front lip coming. Will post pictures as soon as the parts show up.

Looks good. Bring her by the shop in the spring. I'm doing H/C setup now. Amongst other customer projects!

I will be up there to dyno it sooner or later I'm sure.

Some pictures of the current exterior state from last fall... Should have my Carbon Fiber side skirts and front ZR1 splitter on soon!

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Mantic clutches come in aluminum cases? That's taking packaging to a new level....

I was thinking the same thing.. Kinda of like a "if you have to ask how much it is you can't afford it.." level.. :lol:

Beautiful car!
Those Aussies know how to impress. Just pack the clutch in an alum briefcase!
Does your Mantic clutch have the outer portions of the pressure plate and discs machined to reduce the moment of inertia?
Did you use the organic or ceramic discs?

I think it has machines plates but I can take pics when I open it next time I'm at the shop or when it goes in next weekend. It's setup with cerametallic discs.

Great post and story - car looks and sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Regarding your decision for exhaust: what was needed to install the '11+ exhaust system - was it a bolt-on or some fabrication needed? Are the '11+ exhausts between the ZR1/Z06 and Z06 carbon all the same for the exhaust sounds difference? And did you replace mufflers only, cat back or manifolds back?

I like your direction and have heard different info related to installing on an '08Z


Thanks.

The exhaust was a direct fit, but I also put the X-pipe from the ZR1/11+ Z06 on at the same time. it bolted right up to the stock manifolds. After that, I swapped out the headers for the ARH 2" primary setup and that X-pipe bolted right up to the slip-on connection of the axle back from the ZR1/11+ Z06. I think they are all very similar, although I have seen some with perforated holes inside the the inner and outter tips, and some only perforated on one or the other. The important part is that the inner pipes are solid when you look down in them with a flashlight, vs. completely perforated like the 08 Z06 is stock. That is what makes it louder and better flowing.

Hope this helps!

Headed up to get the car out this weekend... Starting the Mantic 9000 clutch install with remote bleeder and fitting the new Proform valve covers. I'll need to measure for some customer Taylor wires to fit the relocation bracket. Pics to come!

I've the same valve covers. Katech's wires fit.

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What heads do you have and did you have to clearance the alternator fins or bracket? The MAST heads seem to be slightly taller so the normal wires used on a car with headers were JUST too short so I had to get an inch or so longer. Hence my concern about clearances with the alternator for the valve covers.

I'm running PRC265s and the alternator required clearancing. Don't know about the Masts...

How much clearancing did you need? Got any pictures of the before and after of the alternator?