Project "Payback"

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Dude, you were made for TV.

Can't ya slam those gears any harder? Actually that looks and sounds pretty sweet. You must be itchin to get in there and not fiddledick around with shifting anymore.

^ Ha, totally agree!

So I'm standing around @ RTTC2, Todd, Dave and Dr. Renner shooting the breeze before the cold start of the road course and the conversation went like this:

Todd: So how's your car coming (Todd smirk)
Me: Uh, ya know...still in paint jail (red face)
Me: Did you decide what you're gonna do about that tranny?
Todd: Prob pull it after the season and send it to Liberty. I just want to drive it for now.
Me: I don't blame you. Dude, why don't you just pull it and put the parts in yourself?
Todd: I would, but nah, there's a bunch of tight tollerances in there and I think it's a job better left for the pros.
Me: It's just a tranny. I think you can do it.
Todd: We'll see...

....Props Todd... I dig that you stepped up your game. You are in the pro ranks!

[Track Junky]

Great job Todd!! I think your ready for Hot Rod TV, just need a better camera man, lol.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Track Junky

Great job Todd!! I think your ready for Hot Rod TV, just need a better camera man, lol.

As much as I hate to admit it, I'd rather watch Todd on TV than Stacy David.

[Vegas69]

Wayne, the end play checked out at .0005 so I'm good to go.

Ron, I'm cheap what can I say. I just couldn't stomach the shipping and investment into this transmission. I'm not thrilled to have stuck another $750 into it but it's the most economical solution. You'll be loving me when you start rowing gears with that 56.

Guys, got my hair cut today but I'll start working on my mullet pronto.

[Vegas69]

Trans is back in and I did take it for a 20 minute rip today even though it was 4000 degrees outside. Everything fought me from getting the trans to slide in, pedal return spring, exhaust. Just one of those deals. I ended up taking half my jack rod and wedging the clutch pedal down and it slid right in! Haven't had that problem with the real input shaft clutch alignment tool in the past.

As usual, I can't leave anything alone. I decided to swap to an aluminum flywheel. I had Jason Pettis balance it before sending it my way. He always recommends balancing anything from a manufacturer.(Clutch pack, flywheel) He has better equipment and always finds them to be out of balance to some degree. The old steel flywheel was 30 lbs. The new McLeod aluminum comes out to 14 lbs.


The trans feels sharper and the shifter has really shortened the throws. 3/2 & 2/1 downshifts are definitely better. 3rd seems to find home easier while 4th/5th feel about the same. The work definitely netted me an noticable improvement. Buttonwillow next month will test out the repeated high rpm shifting. My 1-2 shift still isn't perfect. It's still the notchiest gear but it has improved. I'm going to adjust the clutch a hair tighter for more disc disengagement. I'm happier with the trans and that was my goal.

I regards to the aluminum flywheel. I love it!!! This engine isn't radical and it eats up that aluminum flywheel with NO problem. I can still take off with very little throttle. It's really changed the whole feel of the car. It revs so much faster and has really upt the anty in terms of a performance feel. The car even seems to take off better. It's crisp and more fun to drive! RPM matching is easier. Man, I wish I would've done this a long time ago. High reving big block torque and aluminum flywheels should sleep together every chance they get! It just doesn't feel like 489 cubic inches..... I can't wait to drive it again.

[sik68]

Aluminum flywheel Now it's a a real race car!

Indeed it does change the whole car, for the better The revs just seem to be more connected to your right foot. The only downside I've found on the track is that when downshifting, the revs fall to idle so quickly with the clutch in...requiring a quick efficient heel-toe technique. I've almost had the rear end come around a few times when I let the clutch out with too little revs.

You will never want to drive a car with a heavy flywheel again.

Not that you have a problem with rolling burnouts, but you can probably add 10mph to your burnout speed now . Looking forward to seeing you at BW.

-Steven

[Track Junky]

You always said if you ever pulled the tranny you'ld be throwing in an aluminum flywheel. Hell the damn things out why wait right? Your clutch disk will last you a ton longer.

You wont be using 1st to 2nd much on the road course, I'm figuring mostly 3rd and 4rth.

I could never figure out why those trannies are so much notchier in the shifting but i guess its just the nature of the beast.

Anyhow, looks like it's time to take that thing out for a few good rides, get everything to mesh, and make friends with its new components.

My car is pretty much ready now. All fluids changed except for brake, alignment redone last Friday. Lowered the front another inch and had to do the old baseball bat roll to the front fender lips again, lol. Looks like **** but oh well, it aint no show car. I'm 22 1/2" from floor to fender lip now.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

As usual, I can't leave anything alone. I decided to swap to an aluminum flywheel.

Knew it was only a matter of time after you were revvin my motor in Dougie's garage..

So how bad out of balance was your new flywheel before Pettis fixed it up?

[Vegas69]

With the stock synchros and the 30 lb flywheel, it was a real bitch downshifting without upsetting the car. I haven't started working on heel/toe and it really wasn't an option until these changes. Now that I have the brake pad knockback sorted, I can work on the pedals one of these days. The gas pedal is splined so all I'll really need to do is fab up a pedal stop and bolt it to the floor. Looking forward to Buttonwillow. I may hit up a local SCCA autocross the weekend before as well.

I definitely didn't need to tear the bellhousing off to update the trans. Glad I did, I found that a few of my pressure plate studs had actually lifted the center disc ring slightly. I switched out the hardware. Evidentally the lock washer were missing in the kit and when I torqued the nuts, the studs moved.

I still need to bleed out my brakes. I've got the Wilwood 600 fluid this time around. I cooked my front fluid in Fontana last month. If I have time, I'm also going to put the car on the scales and lower it a little out back. I've got 3/16" to spare according to my O-rings. Gaetano, your car is waaaaaay lower than mine.

I didn't ask how far the flywheel was out to be honest. I can see where he drilled on it along with my pressure plate. Jason's Mom said most manufacturers spin them on somehing similar to a tire balancer. Jason can spin it at high rpm. If he recommends I do something, I listen.

I've got some new rubber that's going on this week as well. My rears are heat cycled out really bad. They are noticably harder than the fronts and I've noticed a really loss of lateral and forward bite lately. They are just plain wore out. Fronts aren't far behind so I decided to replace all four at once. Picked up a good deal on the rear thanks to our resident liberal Ronnie..

[Sieg]

Todd,

Is the Wilwood fluid 5.5?

What gas pedal are you using? The Camaro brake/gas pedal relationship is far from optimal IMO. I'm trying to get a setup that allows me to use the left and right sides of my foot vs heal and toe. I can heal and toe it now but its too extreme to trust.

I'm guessing my pedal needs to come up 1" and over .5"-.75" and maybe take the rubber pad of the brake and use a thin abrasive material.