Camaro XV

[KPC67]

look like some seriously good quality pieces right there.

[Rybar]

Originally Posted by kwhizz

x 2

[HMA]

Awesome build once again, I am going to have to take a look at reinforcing my quadralink panhard mount like that too.

[CarlC]

Originally Posted by mikels

First Thomson 427SC engine was built and run way back in 2008. This was for his Pontiac Solstice and utilized LSX block, LS7 heads and Harrop 2300SC. Engine made 990+ crank HP with an aggressive cam, and dropped to 850 crank HP with milder cam as installed in car. After over 100 dyno pulls and 5000+ miles installed in car, engine was disassembled and all parts blueprinted / inspected for wear. All looked great. Keep in mind this was never used for road-race or extended high duty cycle use, so powertrain cooling was never an issue.

At same time this was ongoing, Thomson was developing a twin-turbo LSX generating 2000+ HP. Original engine was 440 CID and dyno testing reveled that after few pulls, crank bearings were distressed, and had they not been coated bearings, a bearing failure would have been likely. Issue was traced to crank deflection under load, so stroke was shortened (increased overlap of throws and mains) to increase strength. Engine then completed 150 full power pulls on dyno (2058 HP average) and subsequently disassembled. All bearings looked like new.

Fast-forward to today:

Based on these and countless other engine builds, testing and further development, Thomson 427SC engines have proven themselves robust even under extreme racing type usage (Mark's cars being one of the most aggressive test beds used). We continually refine and improve package based on knowledge gained over each build and test data. This includes not only hardware selection, but assembly clearances, powertrain cooling requirements and calibration refinement.

Mark has said on many occasions that not only are the Thomson 427SC engines the most powerful he has ever utilized in his builds, they have also been the most reliable and driveable as well. And hard to dispute the results.

Not sure if this directly answers your question as we lack the technology to measure oil film thickness, but empirical data based on many, many engines supports where we are today (with headroom to grow ).

It does Mike, thank you. I dabble in heavy industrial applications but usually dealing with the rolling element vs. babbit side. The proper selection of the lubricant type, delivery systems, cooling, filtering, structure rigidity, etc. are all very similar.

In the end, the rubber meeting the road will flesh out the weaknesses. Thanks for sharing.

[Rick D]

Lookin great Mark! Question do you plan to have this one out emailer this year then Mayem last year?? Or will it be another one test & tune and off to Vegas?

[Stielow]

Originally Posted by Rick D

Lookin great Mark! Question do you plan to have this one out emailer this year then Mayem last year?? Or will it be another one test & tune and off to Vegas?

Not sure yet. I'm still tired from SEMA this year. I'm toying with the idea of getting this car out early this season less paint. Might make is easier to tune and change things that need to be modified. Flat black and raw carbon could look cool for a few events.

Someone asked tire size on the front. I’m not sure yet. I need to evaluate some of new tires due to my ability to run a bigger tires in the front and back. Tires are “black magic” bigger is not always faster. “It is not the size of the dog in the fight it is the fight in the dog”. Due to the changes in this car over Mayhem and Red Devil we will need to rebalance the car once we settle in on tires. If all goes to plan this car should be faster than the other cars.

Brian Thomson is scheming on making even more power. We have some new parts to test that may make a bit more power. I’m not sure we need more power but it can’t hurt…

I really enjoy the events I can get to and I don’t want to add too much change into this car so I can’t get it done by the middle of summer.

[WSSix]

Man those CF pieces look great. When you do paint it, I'd find a way to show off that the panels are CF. Maybe make it part of an accent stripe or something. In the meantime, going flat black and CF for a few events sounds badass also. Gives it that hardcore test mule/race car in development look.

[Spiffav8]

Looks like you are going for super light weight. Maybe no paint or the bare minimum is the way to go. It'll be wicked no matter how the exterior looks.

[214Chevy]

Go black Mark! Don't know if you've ever done a black car. I've seen grey with Mule, red with Red Witch and Red Devil, silver with Mayhem. I know you've done many cars. Since this car is Camaro XV. Kind of an ode to Camaro X with a Roman numeral name so to speak, but totally opposite in terms of power, weight, etc, then it should be opposite in looks too. So, I know "X" was white, make "XV" black. Then the carbon fiber would just pop with a black body.

[Stielow]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Go black Mark! Don't know if you've ever done a black car. I've seen grey with Mule, red with Red Witch and Red Devil, silver with Mayhem. I know you've done many cars. Since this car is Camaro XV. Kind of an ode to Camaro X with a Roman numeral name so to speak, but totally opposite in terms of power, weight, etc, then it should be opposite in looks too. So, I know "X" was white, make "XV" black. Then the carbon fiber would just pop with a black body.

Thanks for the input. But I'll NEVER have a black car. They look great when someone elso owns them and cleans them. If I had a black car it will be matt black. Talk to Joe and Paul. I'd ruin a black car rock chips and swirl marks all over it... LOL

Mark