The CAM-Z: autocrossing a Z28

You left out screech and vroom.

In reply to AClockworkGarage:

This is why they have loud stereos and exhausts. To cover up the rattles.

Took her for another longer drive today. Took her out and filled the tank with premium. Not sure if it's necessary but I think the first couple tanks will be hi-octane. Figure it'll dilute whatever crap gas is in there.

Learned a few things.

I have a TH-350 with a manual valve body. I have to shift it.

It didn't seem all that fast because I was in third the whole time.

It'll do a burnout all the way down the street.

Either I don't have the locker rear the seller said I did or it's not working correctly.

I gave the car it's first real road test today. 20 miles and a big long hill.

She got "hot" around 190. She cooled down while I was moving but didn't like sitting. I've got to get that fan controller wired up, should solve that problem.

Picked up some incidentals. Plugs, wiper blades, stuff like that. trying to get all the little things sorted out.

I found her top speed today. a little over 60 mph. That can't be right. I started to worry that the PO may have swapped in a taller rear gear. they I got home and did some math.

TH-350 has a 3rd gear of 1:1, I have 25.7 inch tires, and a 3.73 FDR. To top out a 60, I would need a 9.39 FDR.

My maths did show that my first gear of 2:52 would run out at 60.

Things are suddenly making sense. I only have 1st. It feels like it's shifting because of an RPM drop when I hit the upshift, but I think that's just the trans trying to shift, failing, then hitting 1st again.

I think the problem is either the vacuume modulator (probably not) or the Governor (most likely.)

I'm trying to source a new one in case that turns out to be the problem. hopefully I'll get a chance to play with it this weekend.

3 weeks to race 1...

I've ordered a replacement governor. It should be here thursday next. I hope I don't need it but it's nice to know that if I do it's already on it's way.

In reply to AClockworkGarage:

If not, at least 80mph should be plenty for autox.

I'm digging this build. I've got a soft spot for third gen Camaros and a lot of admiration for someone who tackles a build project in an apartment parking lot. By the way, I worked on those things when they were new and with some work you should be able to quiet those rattles down so that they're just really annoying squeaks.

What club do you run with? Im thinking of dragging the mr2 out shortly...

java230 wrote: What club do you run with? Im thinking of dragging the mr2 out shortly...

I run with the NWR SCCA

The first event is April 9th in Bremmerton. We also run in Packwood. We run all SCCA classes including CAM and EV. We also have Time Only, Novice, and Intermediate Street Tire classes.

Make sure you pre-register as there is a discount to the entry fee.

A few quick questions:

1: what were you starting out with for shocks and springs?

2: with your cage what is the weight?

3: considering bars or other away control?

In reply to QuasiMofo:

Short answers: Whatever is on there. I don't know. And not right now.

The class is very young in my club and it is very likely I'll be the only full time car in this class. My trophy will be a participation trophy. Last season I spent about $1500 revamping the suspension on the GP, then ran on all seasons. It was not the brightest way to do it.

So this year I spent most of the budget on wheels, tires, and getting the thing roadworthy (still in process) the suspension was simply not a consideration. This season will be run 100% stock.

I'm a big fan of "while in in there" that's why my projects spiral out of control. Over the course of this season I will be buying components to build a complete suspension system and install it all at the same time.

As for weight, I have no idea. I know it's more than 3000lbs which makes it CAM legal. and that's all I care about.

In reply to AClockworkGarage:

Cool I am thinking of doing the one at emerald downs. Don't remember the exact date, but April.

My dad runs a red BRZ and formerly a red crx.

I haven't run any of those, but that place is like 15 minutes from my place.

Good stuff!! Glad to see it's running!

It's getting there but it's not there yet.

I played with her a bit today. Replaced the spark plus. Well 5 of 8. can't get to 3 driver's side ones with the headers in place. Gonna try a pass through socket to get some more clearance, but might have to pull the header.

I also replaced the old chrome t-stat housing with my new odd shaped housing.

1000 worthless internet points to anyone who can spot the other big underhood change today.

With the new housing in place I am able to start wiring up the fan. On the downside I now have an aftermarket t-stat housing and an aftermarket radiator. The factory hose just doesn't fit. it kinks too much.

I rolled down to the autoparts place and started looking at their hoses, selecting two good candidates.

One was perfect in shape, but was about 3 inches too short. the second was ok, but much too long. i did some quick fitting and cut it shorter with a hose cutter.

I cut it too short. Now it's worthless and I cannot return it. I guess it'll wind up in next year's gift exchange box...

The weather is supposed to be awesome tomorrow. I hope to sort out this hose thing early so that I can get the car up on ramps to check out that trans.

Watching your progress with intrest. Always good to see another 3rd gen in the house!

Got the hose sorted out first thing this morning. Looked over all the hoses they had left and wound up buying one of these.

I don't much care for them, but it seemed the only way I was gonna make this work.

There we go. we're rolling again.

I drove the car up onto the ramps and crawled underneath. I got back to where the governer is and noticed that the spring clip that holds the cap on is missing. the cap is only held on with RTV.

I held off on pulling the cap until I have a new one, since I won't be able to get it back on once I take it off. Gonna see if I can order a new spring.

This is either really inspiring or giving me lots of bad ideas, I'll decide which later.

New spring clip, cap and O-ring are on order.

I wasn't about to waste a day like today so I tore out my tails.

They were faded and cracked and just looked a bit crummy.

Took them upstairs, washed them down with soap and water, then a degreaser. Carefully masked them.

and hit them with a couple coats of niteshade

Had these lights been in better shape I may have done this more carefully, with longer cure times between coats, wet sanding, and a final coat of clear, but these are crap light so they just got the basic treatment.

They sat for a few hours to cure to the touch and got peeled. I love unmasking things I've painted... It's better than christmas.

Oh, that picture is too dark. you can barely see them.

Yeah... that's better.

Looking good!

AClockworkGarage wrote: 1000 worthless internet points to anyone who can spot the other big underhood change today.

AC removal? I see open lines and an empty strap on the passenger side

Well, the AC was always gone, but the dryer is newly gone...

1000 worthless points to you.

I got the car all propped up on it's death stilts first thing this morning.

The governor cap came of with very little persuasion. and the governor came out just as easily. Less than 30 minutes under the car.

This is going great! I just need to stick the new cap on and we'll be done.

thunk.

That's as far on as I could get it. No room to get at it with a deadblow. I spent the next three hours fighting with the cap. I dropped the crossmember and gained 2 inches of space, but it wasn't helpful.

After a few hours and being chased inside repeatedly by rain I wrapped a wide ratchet strap around the whole trans and cranked the bastid in. Done and berking done.

While I was down there I noticed that the vacuum line leading to the modulator was improperly installed. This was likely the problem to begin with. I replaced it, took the car off it's death stilts and took it for a drive.

I have at the very least, a 1-2 shift, i didn't really get fast enough for a 2-3. But it's an improvement.

The last big thing left is wiring up the fan. I need to find a wire that is only hot when the ignition is on. Except every wire is hot all the time... I hate wiring.

Soft deadline is cars-n-coffee in 1 week. Hard deadline is the Camaro 50th anniversary show 2 weeks out. Race 1 is the day afterwards.

Wish us luck.

W00T!

Today was a good day.

The weather was nice today so I figured I'd tackle the fan controller today.

I picked a spot on the radiator support and mounted the relay.

Then I routed the wires away from everything and wrapped them with brand new loom.

I tied the power into the ignition at the coil. With the weather still being brilliant I yanked the T-tops off, stored them in the trunk...

Yep...

I found an original Storage bag...

So I threw the tops in the back and took a long drive. She performed beautifully. The fan turned on and off when it was supposed to. The car never got above 180.

Saturday I will be taking the car down to Groit's for Caffeine and Gasoline. and the race next week. I think we're gonna make it.