'05 Vette build thread

[bonecrrusher]

Its been a crazy couple of weeks here.

I've traveled to Chicago, I just got back from the Hot Rod Power Tour - and life/work has been crazy.

A few weeks back I started on an upgrade project on the Vette - and boy did that snowball.

Every time I get into the Vette - it really pissed me off that I didn't have steering wheel controls - I have them on the G8 - and I use them daily.

So I've been shopping around for steering wheels for awhile now, and found a user selling a 2008 C6 Z06 steering wheel for $100 shipped - so I bought it.

Next I was looking around for the proper airbag- and I have seen some sell on ebay for like 400 plus - I refused to pay that. I found one of the vendors selling new airbags from GM for $180 shipped - so I bought one of those.

Now the airbag and 2007+ steering wheel bolt right to my 05, just I needed to swap out the steering wheel clock spring - and the steering column harness with units out of a newer Corvette.

I again shopped around - and bought both the clock spring and the harness from GM for the best price I found them.

Everything is plug and play with this swap - except for the radio control signals themselves. I pulled the 3 wires out of the steering column to firewall connector and put in a new connector so the steering column harness can still be removed like stock. I chose a weatherpack connector for this, so I had to buy a crimper and wire kit - I actually found a good deal on ebay. Then I ran some 18 gauge wire through the dashboard and over into the radio bay.

2 of the connectors go into the back of the radio, and the other line goes to a dash indicator line - I tied into the hazard switch which is right above the radio - so the steering wheel controls glow at night.

I put everything back together and went for a test drive - and you'd think I'd be done at this point - but no.

The steering wheels controlled the radio just fine, and even light up... the problem was that I was hearing a binding/grinding noise when I turned the wheel.

At this point I think its the clock spring - so I tore everything apart (again) and find the clock spring is sitting just fine - I position it a bit differently and put everything back together, go for a test drive - and still binding!

So I tear it apart again - to discover that the plastic shroud that goes between the steering wheel and the dash board - it surrounds the turn signal stalk and what not, was not perfectly circular - it was kind of oval shaped. I end up hitting it a few times with angry fists, put the wheel back on, and everything else back together - and what do you know, it works!

So I take it for a test drive and everything is fine and dandy - then I notice that the Nav system is not getting a GPS signal, I'm like WTF. I am out in the middle of the road - no trees/tall buildings/mountain valleys to block the signal.

So I tear the center console, the arm rest, and then the radio out - and find out I didn't push the GPS connector in the back of radio all the way in - damnit!

I put it all back together and everything works - luckily I got everything fixed up and working the weekend before I left on the HRPT.

Here are some pics - I didn't take many as I was diagnosing the stupid grinding noise. I have wayyy too many hours into this project then I want to admit that I have in it...








As I mentioned that I was on the HRPT - I did not long haul this one. There is no way in hell I am driving back from Texas to NC - and then go back to work on Monday. So I did the Detroit, Muskegon, and Champaign IL stops. Since I was only 3 hrs from my parents house - I drove up to Chicago and spent the night and saw the family.

Here is my video from the Milford Road Course where they tested out the ZL1 - sorry there is no sound GoPro didn't record any (damnit):



A select few pics below:






Here are my ALL of pics from the HRPT.

http://s305.photobucket.com/albums/n...20Tour%202012/

Last but not least: Time for a G8 update...

The front brakes have been squeaking on the G8 for awhile now - and I know the pads are shot, and the front rotors are bedded in pretty deeply.

I have been mulling over what to do about these for a few weeks - I priced out upgrading the pads, and getting some DBA rotors - vs getting some upgraded GM rotors.

The pads are about the same cost - but the GM rotors are cheaper.

Now this is where this brake job cost jumps:



This is a Brembo 2009+ CTS-V 6 piston front brake caliper.

I already have the V-wheels on the car so I know that they will fit. I said to hell with it - I found everything on line and saved myself $400 over what I had priced out earlier this year.

So I'll be upgrading the G8 to these:
2009+ CTS-V Brembo 6 piston calipers
2009+ CTS-V dual cast 15" front rotors
Hawk HPS pads

So I got that project to finish up in a few weeks.