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Updating the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro for 2011 - Getting Down to Business
Well it’s time to start getting the OPTIMA Batteries OneLapCamaro up to speed for this years Tire Rack One Lap of America which promises to make last years adventure look like a bit of walk in the park. This year we’re doing the same mileage as last year (around 3,600) but we have one less day to do it – that makes for a couple of 500 plus mile days and one awful looking 700 mile transit stage (yech). Fortunately the OLC Team is coming back stronger this year and now we actually have a clue what’s in front of us.
For 2011 Fast Mary Pozzi is joining me as co-driver for race and OPTIMA Batteries is once again sponsoring our efforts. We also have support coming from Hellwig Products and FM3 Performance Marketing who helped us last year as well as new sponsors Baer Brakes and RideTech who are letting us torture test some of their cool new products. This year we’ll also benefit from have a second car running as part of Team OPTIMA – Jimi Day and Steve Kepler will be running the race with us in Steve’s tried and true Z06. Steve has beat on this car as much as I have seen anyone beat on anything so I am sure that he and Jimi will have a blast in the uber-competitive “big bore” class. For the most part the OLC held up pretty well in last years race – we killed a set of brake pads, cracked some rotors, destroyed some axle seals and obliterated a clutch on the last day of the race but came away in pretty decent shape. Nonetheless, we saw the need for some improvements to defend our title and set about scoping some new bits that should make us a bit more consistent and hopefully more competitive. We’re working with RideTech to evaluate and dial in their new TA3 Triple Adjustable shocks. RideTech has really stepped up to the plate over the last two years and is making some top-notch Pro-Touring pieces in addition to their Air Ride systems. Last year they released their non-adjustable and single adjustable coil over shocks and at SEMA they debuted their Triple Adjustable offerings. For this year’s One Lap of America we’ll be heading out with one of the first sets of TA3’s and putting them through their paces. At SEMA last fall Baer Brakes rolled out their new Baer Tracker Full Floating Axle Conversion kit and we were immediately sold. Designed to eliminate axle deflection the Baer Tracker is a huge step in eliminating pad knock back and providing a more stabile, predictable brake response. In addition to the Baer Tracker we’re stepping up to a new set of 6R Monoblock Competition Calipers, which should give us an absolutely incredible brake setup. We’ve been working with Blake and the guys at SpeedTech for a while now and last month they came up with a solution to adapt the new SKF ZR1 hubs to the ATS spindles so we’ve got a pair of those on the way now. The stock hubs are great but one of our stops this year are the high banks of Daytona and a bit of overkill won’t hurt up front. We’re also working with Rick’s Stainless on one of their VaporWorx tanks. This will be a huge confidence booster for us since we saw more than one competitor fail last year due to fuel issues. It will also help in the Silver State where fuel consumption is less than optimal. For reference, in the One Lap of America last year we averaged something like 28 mpg on the highway and 2.8 mpg on the track – knowing that you’ve got a bulletproof setup will be a huge improvement for us. In addition to that we’ve got some more tricks up our sleeves that we’ll share over the next couple of months. New wheels are in the works, necessitated by our tire choice for this year’s event and we’re hoping to have some new aero tricks at our disposal (time permitting) that look like a huge step forward over where we are today. We also need to figure out something for a stereo (to avoid the whole “humming thing” this year) – hopefully we can find someone we trust to do what should be a pretty basic install. |
We’ll update things as they come but to start things off we got the ball rolling with RideTech just before Christmas, sending them our old shocks for dynoing and looking for a base line with their shocks.
I’ll try to post all the graphs but here you can see a comparison of the old shocks and the new RideTechs and the range between full stiff and full soft. We had been running at the very soft end and had no more adjustment. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...-Ridetech3.jpg You can see that the RideTech shocks are quite a bit softer than the old shocks so a spring change is in order. We’re increasing the coil rates by 100 pounds up front and that should give us something that is not too far out from where we were. One of our goals was soften things up so we’re well on our way. |
We decided to start with some testing of the softer shocks – firmer springs using RideTechs single adjustable coilovers to make sure that we are in the ball park of what we need before committing to the valving on the triple adjustables.
Here is one of the mono-tube single adjustables right out of the box. Besides the one-piece impact forged body (which is cool as heck) you’ve got the upper and lower spring perches and all necessary hardware to do the installation. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...0the%20box.jpg What you can’t see (obviously) are the guts of the shock – Teflon seals and wipers, deflecting disk valving, and internal extension and compression bump stops – these are high quality, high performance pieces and should be perfect on the OneLapCamaro. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...adjustable.jpg Top and bottom you have Teflon and Kevlar injected spherical bearings. At the top you’ve got the single adjuster and the coil mount that is held in place by a simple snap ring. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...ring%20top.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...r%20detail.jpg What you can see at the bottom of the shock is the forged aluminum pinch clamp that is (IMHO) a really creative alternative to the conventional setscrew style. Not only will it get away from damaging the aluminum threads and stripping the set screw but I can actually see the clamp and won’t be searching around with an Allen wrench in my hand wondering which hole has the set screw and which is just a blind hole. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...ng%20perch.jpg Here is where the RideTech Mono-Bore is a bit different than most – you can see that body is a single piece… very cool. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/RideTech%20body.jpg |
Fully assembled with the Hyperco springs we’re hopefully ready to go.
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...0Assembled.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...20adjuster.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...ch%20clamp.jpg Another nice feature out of the box is that RideTech includes these aluminum spacers/inserts that allows you to use either 1/2” or 5/8” hardware. We had been using 1/2” bolts so the inserts ensured that we would have a hassle free installation. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...%20Spacers.jpg |
At least in theory…
Nothing on the OneLapCamaro is ever that easy and the first issue that we found was with the lower control arm mounts. Since we wanted to be able to do back to back testing with different shocks we wanted to keep the old mounting points to allow for a simple change. Unfortunately differences in the shock bodies themselves led to a clearance issue with the SpeedTech LCA. As you can see the first issue is with the actual mounting points for the shocks – the old setup was too close together to use the aluminum sleeves. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/RT%20fitment.jpg The second issue is that the shock wouldn’t reach the mounting point anyways. The old shocks had a 1” longer head on the shock and now we were hitting the LCA before we got close to the Chicane lower mount. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...%20fitment.jpg Before going any further I think that’s it’s important to say a couple of things – because this is going to look like a real pain in the butt… 1. This is not a problem with either the SpeedTech Lower Control Arm or the RideTech Coil-Over Shocks. The Chicane shock mounts were designed specifically for either a Bilstein or Penske shock – that’s it. Because I wanted to be able to run any shock we needed a slightly more complicated solution. 2. There is an easy solution that could have solved this problem in about 30 seconds… we could have simply kept the existing mount “as is” with no changes and used a stock style T-bar mount in the stock holes. Going this way allows the RideTech shocks to work with the SpeedTech LCA with absolutely no modifications. 3. David and I went the direction we did because we wanted to. This isn’t necessary for 9 out of 10 installations but we wanted to run the longest possible shock and by going this route we gained some much desired shock travel – probably more than we need. It also allows us to run the same shock front and rear which makes replacement and spares and all that jazz much simpler – again, not important to 9 out of 10 people but for the One Lap of America space it at a premium and the ability to have a single spare is a great benefit to us. (that sounds like a great justification now but at the time we didn’t know that – lol). |
Anyways…
We pulled the front LCA’s off http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...A%20before.jpg Fired up the mill and opened up the base of the LCA to clear the shock body… http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...0clearance.jpg Cut the shock mounts off and moved them out about an inch. http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...%20Welding.jpg And just like that we were done. |
We installed the fronts
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...R%20pocket.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...20FR%20top.jpg and the rears http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...0Installed.jpg and got ready to set ride height… which is when we realized that we needed longer front shocks. We quickly figured out that one of the rears would work so a quick call to RideTech had a pair of longer shocks on the way. David got the fronts in yesterday so we’ll be doing some testing soon – we’ll keep you posted. |
Thanks for chronicling the upgrades for this year. You guys are a real wealth of knowledge and it's great to see the thought process going on behind all of these changes.
I'm curious about these new Ridetech shocks, are they priced similar to Penskes? I've been starting to shop shocks for my next project and hadn't heard about these until you mentioned them. They sound like a good product that is engineered with solid performance and low maintenance in mind. I guess you're good advertising for Ridetech lol. Matt |
As always, thanks a million for documenting and sharing all of your upgrades and changes. It's REALLY appreciated. The OLC is one helluva machine and it just keeps getting better. I look forward to seeing it and you at RTTC. Kick some ass and have some fun during that One Lap of America event also. :thumbsup:
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Great posts. Just saw your car and new shocks at the Pozzi shop last weekend. Very nice looking stuff all around.
Love that you beat the hell out of that car! |
Very nice James. Thanks for the detailed info and pics.
Keep us posted. |
Jame's,Once again Good Luck!,You and Mary be safe.Look forward to seeing update's once you get rolling.:thumbsup: Scott
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Thanks everybody- change is good (I hope) and we're feeling the pressure this year so we want to put our best foot forward. We're trying to find somewhere to do some testing now and should have some feedback soon.
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Nice lookin shock ! :thumbsup:
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The longer front shocks are on and David scaled the car yesterday before doing a quick alignment check last night. One of the things that David found with the longer fronts was that at full droop the springs would unseat from the upper spring retainer so try stop that from happening (only an issue when on jack stands or in a really bad couple of seconds after a really big bump) he added droop stops.
Here are the corner weights "before" http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/scale%20start.jpg and after adjustment http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/scale%20done.jpg So - total weight is 3511 pounds (I know) and as it sits it's 53.6% front and 46.4% rear; stick my fat butt in the seat and it's just about 51.5% front 48.5%. Should be test driving today... |
More progress in our One Lap of America preparations…
With the new wrap design settled on… http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/OneLapFinal1000.jpg Mary undertook the slightly unnerving job of stripping the old wrap off the car… http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/unwrap%201.jpg No major problems and the car is ready to head out to get its new wrap on Monday. |
With that out of the way Carl Casanova paid the Pozzis a visit to help install the new Rick’s Stainless fuel tank with Carl’s own VaporWorx modifications. Everyone who was able to attend the RTTC deal at the beginning of the months was able to see a couple of Carl’s new designs – both my tank and his new ‘retro fit’ for stock tanks were on display. The basic mechanics of Carl’s design is that a 5th Gen Camaro or Cadillac CTS-V surge pump can be installed in the tank with dual corner pickups providing OEM reliability and eliminating fuel slosh issues:
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...orx%20tank.jpg Where Carl’s design really shines however is in the electronics behind the design. Carl has eliminated the mechanical fuel pressure regulator and gone with a voltage controller coupled with a pressure sensor – essentially sensing output pressure and controlling the voltage sent to the pump to maintain the desired pressure for a given load requirement. This should result in a pump that runs cooler and lasts longer. The first step was removing the old fuel system: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/old%20tank.jpg I have always used a Rick’s Stainless tank and the original one had a Kinsler spec Bosch pump which lead to an Aeromotive filter and to an Aeromotive regulator with a return line to the tank and the main fuel line to the rails. The new tank has a 5th Gen pump, which includes the filter, and the regulator is controlled as described above so none of the old stuff was being carried over. But the OneLapCamaro got its nickname of Tweak for a reason so it was only a matter of time until the discovery that the new tank needed a slight modification to clear the exhaust: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...k%20before.jpg A quick trim: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...tank%20cut.jpg Followed by some stainless TIG practice for David: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...welded%202.jpg And we were ready to go: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...k%20welded.jpg |
nce the new tank was in (I’ll post a pic as soon as I get one from Mary), the exhaust clearance was double checked and given the Pozzi seal of approval
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep/tank%20special.jpg and with new Teflon lined steel braided line run up to the rails it was time for Carl to hook up the pressure sensor that feeds his controller: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...20tank%203.jpg The other black line is for the vent – I run the vent at the rear of the tank to a bung we welded in the filler neck and use the factory style vented cap. With the pressure sensor in place Carl sets the fuel pressure electronically: http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...20pressure.jpg And we’re ready for the test drive… Carl monitored both pressure and pump voltage during the test drive: At idle the pump is drawing 5.1 to 5.2 volts Cruising at 50 mph the pump is drawing 5.9 volts At WOT (and on the rev limiter I’m told) the pump is drawing 12 volts Given that there is nearly 14 volts available to the pump (and it will draw as much at is needs) there is a decent safety factor at the top end so we should be good to go! |
During the test drive though David did also have to fight with a new issue – unwanted cruise control thanks to a rapidly shredding throttle cable…
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...le%20cable.jpg The throttle cable issue cropped up just after RTTC while Mary was testing at Willow Springs with the crew from Hotchkis so the timing couldn’t have been better. Today it’s time to address the header gaskets (and for Rupp’s sake, the header bolts), which have seen better days… http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...%20gasket.jpeg The car goes in for the wrap on Monday then we will be changing the single adjustables out to RideTechs new Triple Adjustable shocks and have some testing lined up to get everything settled in so it should be an interesting couple of weeks before Del Mar! |
You always make me feel better about my hot rod. :D Thanks for sharing all the tweaks and hurdles. :thumbsup:
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Some more pictures from Carl...
Here is the Voltage Controller and Signal Conditioner mounted on a handy little plate that David "whipped up" http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...on%20bench.jpg and installed in the car as close to the battery as possible http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...0installed.jpg |
The complete Ricks Stainless tank with the VaporWorx conversion and electronics
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...orx%20Tank.jpg The tank before http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...%20Cutting.jpg after http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...%20Welding.jpg and installed http://www.onelapcamaro.com/2010prep...0installed.jpg |
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James -- How many flutes on that end mill? Looks like TWO... but I can't tell. If it's a two it's for ALUMINUM and a 4 flute mill is for steel... Since I can't tell - I'm not making a "judgement"... and a two will cut the material... so doesn't really make any difference. Great looking work and a great looking solution! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: |
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I thought you were using Speed tech high clearance arms, and that they were only were available in a coilover configuration. The arms in the pictures have a normal looking spring cup. Are you only using upper high clearance arms? Do they only make upper high clearance arms? A few more pictures of your setup with a wheel installed and the tight clearance spots shown would be greatly appreciated. |
We'll have some more pictures later this week but in the mean time, Muscle Car John was over at the Pozzi's and snapped some pictures while the new Baer 6R brakes were being installed.
http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%201.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%202.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%203.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%204.jpg http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%205.jpg |
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And the new HRE Comp 93 wheels... 18x9 in the front and 19x12 in the back
Flat black centers http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%2012.jpg Brushed hoops http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/MCJ%2013.jpg |
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :D
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Forgot one...
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Whats the spec on that rear tire?
325 or 345 width? |
They are 325/30-19s on the back.
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Yep... Z06 spec Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2 run flats.
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I heard that's good for at least 3/10 @ Spring Mountain...could be just bench racing, tho :thumbsup:
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Ah cool - I'll be running the same tires on my Vette - since I was stranded 700 miles from home with an awesome flat!
Car is looking great! |
RIP clutch "Died in the Line of Duty" 2011 Del Mar, CA Editor's Challenge Autocross Carnage pics... The outer disk looked bad... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/outer%20disk.jpg but the floater disk had some pretty colors... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/floater%20plate.jpg but was not as flat as it once had been... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...warped%201.jpg warped just a little bit... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/...warped%202.jpg which took it's toll on the inner disk... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/inner%20disk.jpg but now its on it's way back together... http://www.onelapcamaro.com/OLC2011/new%20clutch.JPG |
James --
At least it died a honorable death in the line of duty! :rofl: |
Question for you James - I just happened to see the year old Camaro Performers article of your car and noticed you were running the RST. With the power you're making and the way you flog the beast, was there any thought to going with the RXT this time around? It's supposed to be a little beefier...
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im interested to see how well you like it. ive heard nothing but good reviews. |
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