I finally had some free time to take the Corvette out - and beat on it.

2 weeks ago - the local 1/4 mile drag strip was open. Zmax is never open for Test and Tune - but they where open one night for the Nascar shops - so I went racing with them.

I got 3 runs in - and managed not to break the car.

My times where:
13.1 @ 111
13.7 @ 115
13.5 @ 121

I didn't launch the car hard off the line - I barely have 1k miles on the clutch. I rolled into the throttle and screwed up the 1-2 shift twice.

My video of the runs:




Last weekend I was able to go autocrossing finally.

I autocrossed with the local CCR-SCCA chapter - and went autocrossing in the big parking lot at Zmax Dragway.

I was in the first run group - and on my first run - it was only 54* outside. On the last turn of my run - I gassed it to hard and ended up kicking the rear end out and I slid right into the timing box.

This ended up cracking my side splitter in 3 spots - but luckily the door and rest of the car where fine. There is a small scratch in the clear coat on the door - that will probably buff out.

My times for the day where:

Run 1: 95.752
Run 2: 90.086
Run 3: 90.022
Run 4: 86.403

I managed to drop time each run - I just wish we had one or 2 more runs and I might have been able to drop more time.

Video of the runs:

Tons of potential left for AutoX. Video looked like a nice Sunday cruise. When you get everything broken in and some more track time, car should be killer!

Not my Region, not my issue to worry about. But... Those timing lights are way too close to the course for a finish line that close to the final turn.

Long time no update!

A few weeks back I took the Corvette out on Charlotte Motor Speedway for their charity laps. I drove for one session - and rode along in my buddies new Z06 for the second session.

I ran into a lot of traffic on the session that I drove - here is some footage from my laps:



SS Update:

I have had the V wheels on the SS for well over a year now - and I have never really been happy with the center caps that I put on there. I had a set of ACE Wheel center caps leftover from the Zr1 replicas that I had on my C6. I had plastidipped them and put them on.

They looked alright - but I wanted something new. I happened to find out the 6th Gen Camaro center caps are the same as the C6/C7/V - and so I ordered a new set of "SS" center caps for the new Camaro. I got them in a few days and really like them.

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Heres an overview of the centercap install:

I just finished updating the front end of the truck.

I had installed the 2014+ 1500 rear bumper on my truck - but I always felt that I need to do something about the front.

So I looked at my setup - chrome 2500 grill, billet bro truck grill, and the red GMC logo.

I already blacked out the billet grill as I posted earlier - but I wanted to change the front end of the truck.

I wanted my 2500 to look like the midnight/black series that the current trucks are doing.

So I picked up a 1500 GMC work truck grill and decided to paint it body color.

I rattle canned the rear bumper and that turned out really well - so I decided to use Duplicolor on the front grill.

I had some paint supplies left over from the bumper project - so I only had to pick up a few cans of paint to paint grill.

I sanded the grill - primed/base/clear coated it - and then wet sanded and buffed it. I think it turned out great!

While I was in there I decided to install the new fog lights that my girlfriend had gotten me like 2 years ago.

After I installed the grill and the fogs - I had to raise the front bumper approximately 2" to fill the gap between the grill and bumper.

I cut the 2500 brackets to clear the frame - and then I added washers/spacers to raise up the mounting points for the bumper and bolted everything together.

Here are some pics of all of the projects - I also removed the GMC logo and plastidipped it black. I think the final product turned out pretty kick ass:

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I also filmed these mods - if you are interested I added all 4 videos to my Youtube channel below:

Corvette Updates:

Awhile back I posted where I crashed the Corvette and tore up the side skirt.

I got the side skirt after a few weeks - and finally had time to install it!

Here is the old skirt vs new - the install went pretty smoothly with no issue.

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Here is an overview of the install:



I also decided to clean up the Elite Engineering Catch Can. The catch can came with some nickel finished fittings that I never liked. I ordered some black 1/4" NPT to 3/8" Hose barbs from Fragola - and Vibrant performance. I installed the new fittings with no major issue - I really think it cleaned up the catch can installation.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/421/32...ce541a51_b.jpg




SS Updates:
The next mods where to finish removing more of the old man chrome on the exterior.

I did a group buy here in the Carolinas and ordered 3 upper black trim - and 3 lower black trim pieces to go around the windows.

Lower Trim Install:


Upper Trim Install:

SS Update time!

Back on Black Friday - I saw that a KZ Coatings was offering 25% off powder coating for a set of Brembos calipers.

So I placed an order to get a set of Brembo cores powdercoated red for the SS.

While I was waiting for the brakes to come in - I happened to see that the new C7 Z06 Corvettes (Non CCB) are the same front brake calipers as the 09-13 CTS-V and the first gen ZL1's. What makes the C7Z different from the V/ZL1 are the pistons within the caliper themselves. The calipers on the Z are vented - vs your traditional brake piston. These vents supposedly drop brake temperatures by 90* F.

I figured since the brakes are torn apart - I might as well do the upgrade since I'm in there. I worked with KZ coatings - and ordered the upgraded pistons from RockAuto and had them shipped there.

The Part Numbers are:
C7 Z06 Vented Stainless Caliper Pistons: 23242510

KZ assembled the calipers with the new vented Z pistons - and shipped them my way. The install went pretty quick as I had already done this upgrade once - everything bolted on.

After bleeding the brakes and going for a test drive - I packaged up my silver brembos and sent them back to KZ and got my core refund back.

Some pics:
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Overview of the install:

All vehicles looking good!

To start the build of my SS - I picked up a set of Kooks 1 7/8" Long Tube Headers.

I picked these up on Cyber Monday 2 years ago - and spent less then $600 for the long tubes.

I've had these sitting for awhile because I was busy with the E-Force install on the Corvette.

That has been finished up - and its time to start this winters project.

These headers are stainless steel - and a vast improvement over the stock restrictive exhaust manifolds.

The install was pretty straight forward - remove the stock air intake, remove the coil packs/spark plugs/spark plug wires - and you will have plenty of room to get the stock parts out.

Remove the exhaust manifolds by starting at the bottom - remove the factory catback pipes.

Remove the O2 sensors - and then go back to the top of the car.

Remove the exhaust manifold bolts and let the exhaust manifold rest on the frame/motor mounts.

Get back under the car - and pull the stock manifolds out.

While still under the car slide up the Kooks headers from the bottom - let them rest on the frame/engine mounts.

Go back to the top of the car - grab the headers and put in one bolt to allow you to mock them into place.

After you get the headers in place - install the gaskets - install the rest of the bolts and you will be done.

Install the O2 sensors - and whatever catback you go with - and you will be good to go!

Now for some pics:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/593/33...e2e3b586_b.jpg
For my full review/install please watch my video here:
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https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3740/3...188daa17_b.jpg

For my full review/install please watch my video here:

After I installed a set of Kooks Long Tube headers on the SS - I needed a way to connect my headers to the Corsa Catback. To accomplish this, I welded in a set of High Flow Cats to my Kooks/Corsa connection pipes.

I used a set of Offroad J-pipes from Kooks for a Pontiac G8.

When used on the SS - they are 3" short so I needed to added in 3" of pipe.

To make up the difference I cut a few inches out of each J pipe - and added in the high flow cats.

I cut the J pipes in 2 - removed a few inches - and then added in the cats. I then took these assemblies to the car - and tacked everything together after I tightened down the front and rear hardware.

After getting everything mocked up - I removed the pipes/cats - fully welded them on the table - and then cleaned up the welds.

I installed the finished pipes, installed the O2 sensors - and the project was finished.

Parts Used:
Kooks Corsa J Pipe: 24203150 - http://amzn.to/2qXBjXh
Kooks Long Tube 1 7/8" Stainless Headers for Chevy SS - http://amzn.to/2rWD4Hr

Now for some pics:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3831/3...f6b34ba9_b.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/724/33...65c8d190_b.jpg

For my full review/install please watch my video here: