The Cormaro......

[Jim Nilsen]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

When you have the intake manifold off - make sure you do a forensic tear down -- look at the gasket area for any signs of a leak... pulling oil or oil vapors into the intake can reek havoc on the O2 sensor...

Also - make sure you're valve spring rates match your cam... overlook this at your own peril (or the cams peril...)

I assume you're using a dual sync distributor? Ingition timing controlled by the ECM...

If you're using Accel Gen 7 ECM - have you tried using the VE table estimator function? Also - if your motor is "similar" to many motors built these days - there are tables / tunes - already loaded with the software - have you looked at any of them - and tried any? They're a good way to get a "base" tune - as far as AF ratio and timing etc and then just tweak the VE's where they may be needed.

I am checking my spring pressures to be sure but believe I should be ok, the cam lift is within .020.

yes I am using a dual sync and am still not 100% sure it is working like it should but it is reving to 6k vs 3k the first time out of the box. Do your cam and crank sensor lights come on and stay on in you diagnostics page when you rev it up or do they go white? Mine flash but not in any kind of firing sequence.

The VE estimator was so far off it was a joke. I am using the autocal button and it seems to want to change its mind like a woman in a shoe store. It likes one setting on the way up from idle and another on the way down each done right after the timing stabilizes. The cam and lifters are varying that much.

I am really hoping the swap will go straight forward like it should and if I need to get new springs I will.

Thanks

[Jim Nilsen]

WOW what a difference.

Everything is up and running and it is responding to the heart surgery really well. It idles now and it has twice as much vacuum. I modified the program I got from Rob at FFI to go with the cam specs I have and it started up and ran quickly and seemes to be pretty good to start. I had to fatten up the bottom end but it was easy enough to do after all I have learned. The changes are subtle and make a difference so I will be able to work with it now.

Tommorow I will change the oil and put the hood back on and go for a drive.

I am suspecting there will be some black marks on the pavement somewhere

[GregWeld]

What was the heart surgery all about??

Glad to hear you're happier!

[waynieZ]

Glad to hear it Jim.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Alright JIM!.. way to go!

[Jim Nilsen]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

What was the heart surgery all about??

Glad to hear you're happier!

The cam is the heart of the engine from where I come from, it even drives the oil pump for it's blood.

The new cam is AWESOME

I am having no issues with the ECU or the dual sync so far. I even hit the rev limiter because it was set too low for the shift light setting to be able to see it in time for me to react ,but it did.

I have been using my program learning from the other cam and it is really responding well to everything . I just got done cleaning up the VE table and added some timing. I also had to really fatten up the accelerator program but it is liking it and getting better as I tune.

It can run with the pack now with no problem. 35mph in 1st comes up really quick and 2nd is to 65mph in no time. I am going to have to look into the racepak and log it, something to learn still. I could put in the G Tech Pro and see what it says.


Tommorow will be another good day to tune a bit more and drive if the weather goes as planned.

The tires are not up to the challenge but do hook ok. Some wider and stickier tires would really help acceleration but I can live with the stress relief they give everything else.

I will put up a youtube video next week.

Happy Easter

[Jim Nilsen]

The car has been up and running for over a week now and it is awesome. The new cam is everything it is supposed to be and the EFI is working like it should, I can actually tune it and get results. Each time I do more tuning it gets better so I know I am on the right track of how to tune.

I learned a whole lot trying to tune bad parts but it did pay off in education.

I am actually having fun with it and everyone who goes for a ride now thinks it is really good. There are a few little qwirky things to get sorted but nothing most anyone would notice but me and those who know cars.

I am ready for the track now and finishing up the interior and the engine bay.

Finally I can say it runs good

[Jim Nilsen]

I am back from Road America licking my wounds. I wasn't totally prepared like I hoped to be. The weak link was the fuel pickup, I would run out of fuel pressure in or after the hard rights and it wouldn't really let you know by stumbling it would hust keep going. The gauge would let you know with no problem. I kept pulling my foot out of it when it went down and it was surviving all day saturday. On sunday I let the instructor drive to show me his lines and how much more speed the car could handle.
The more aggresive driving and the fuel problem led to going lean and cracking a piston. It didn't seem bad and the thought that I could limp home seemed feasable. It didn't make it, 1/2 way was no problem but it didn't make it past that. I have pulled it apart and the cam and lifters look good and the heads are coming off today to seee how they look.

Greg, you were right about the washing of the cylinders when I was tuning it seems as it was letting some blowby of oil. The back of the car was wearing Shaeffer oil but it was livable.

I learned a lot and got to experince my first blown engine. I wasn't taking it too well at first, kind of like losing your first girlfriend you thought you loved,lol. I am getting over it as I get the parts off and see what is still good.

I have an L82 short block that I can put in to replace it to get going but I am also getting some quotes for a new beefy lower end. I am not sure about the heads and may use the ones from the stockcar engine if they are good still. It will save time and money if I can use them.

The pan needs some welding repair but I did get lucky and the damage is not in the area of the baffles and doors, it is up front on the 1 and 2 cylinders.

I think I can get it back together in time to go back up the 1st and see how it goes. I have to fix the fuel problem at the pickup and have some ideas that I can try and see how it goes. If I can't get it to work I will not go out and push it again unti it is ready.

The car handled like a dream and hooked up very well. The power was more than I thought and when the instructor was driving it was keeping up with the C5's with no problem in both areas. The predictability of the handling was better than expected with no rear bar. The car pushes and the rear sticks right behind. Everyone was impressed with it and the crowd of people that it attracted was more than I could have ever believed. The comments were all positive and some were amazed at the fab work and a few finally got to see what they had been dreaming about doing to their cars and weren't sure how to do it.

The most repeated thing was: "The Corvette wheels look really good" and then I would tell them it has the Corvette factory wheel adapters and then they would look a bit further and see the suspension, it was fun to see the look on their faces when they saw the polished Vette suspension pieces.

All in all it was a good weekend and a tough learning experience but that is what happens, right.

So much to do now and I was going to use this time to finish the interior and the engine bay along with the fuel issue but now it is the engine and fuel system as priorities.

I am trying to kick butt and get it back together.

Wish me luck because I am needing it !!

[Bow Tie 67]

Good news on the cam Jim. Dont rush, I'm still addressing issues after 3 seasons, and still no real interior. Shoot for Motorstate its a more forgiving track, better time of year, and you can make sure everything is up to snuff.

[GregWeld]

Sorry to hear Jim!

Most of 'us' have been there - done that... at some point.

Love to remind my brother in law (blown small block) "Lean for a day... rich for life".

That statement, of course, is not totally accurate is it. Rich can kill a motor just as fast as a lean one. The difference might be lean breaks parts - rich just kills the cylinder walls and rings... either way - not good!

I've killed a couple of motors tuning them.... and I've had a couple of motors killed by tuners. Either way - not good!