Some recent updates on TOW...
After my little incident at the Fort Worth Good Guys autocross, I decided I was replacing the factory valve covers with an aftermarket piece which wouldn't require the spacers. There were 2 problems with this plan. First, I needed something which would clear the rockers for certain. And second, I needed a coil mounting arrangement which would clear the shaker. I didn't want to deal with remote mounting them elsewhere in the engine compartment...
I've always liked the Katech valve covers, but I was concerned about both issues above. I didn't find anyone who used them with the Crower shaft rockers, and they looked like they would be tight over the valve springs. Additionally, with the coil relo kit they have, the coils were going to be right up against my shaker base, meaning it was going to be a tight fit as well.
I decided to bite the bullet anyway and purchased a set of them as-cast since they didn't have any which were already powder coated in stock. Eric got them coated for me, then it took me a couple of weeks to have time to install them. I figured I could resell them if I had to as they are a popular option in the C6 world.
So off with the old, on with the new. Everything went smoothly until I installed the coils. I knew this was going to be tight, and sure enough 7 out of 8 fit great. Just that one last one........
It's hard to see, but the plug socket on the coil is under the shaker, and it was just hitting (like 1/8" hitting). Here is the same location on the passenger side:
That one clears since the coils are reversed, and the mounting bolt has more space.
I debated a few options, and went turned to Google. I was running a 1/2" aluminum carb spacer to raise up the shaker when I changed the seal a few weeks ago. After looking it over, I convinced myself that I could add another 1/4" to the spacer and everything would still work while giving me clearance. The trick was finding a 3/4" spacer. There aren't a lot of those around. I did find one though, and it's a wooden one which is a benefit for me (my throttle body tends to heat soak, and just enough to cause movement of the very sensitive blade set screw affecting idle). So I ordered it up, and waited for its arrival to finish up the install....
A few days later, spacer in hand, I finished putting it all together. And as if it was meant to be this way all along, it fit perfectly.
So here are some shots of the final assembly:
The aesthetics are an added benefit (really cleaned up the engine), but I have a well sealed top-end of the engine again. No more oil worries for me!
With that out of the way, the next thing I've been wanting to do was to re-dyno the car after the summer cam swap. I expected to be making more power, but I was really curious how the curves may have changed, and I also needed to do some tuning work as my vacuum levels changed a lot.
Yesterday I drove to (coincidentally) Bryan, Tx to the same dyno I was at after the engine rebuild earlier this year. We has almost identical weather conditions, so it was a good comparison opportunity. The drive there was easy, no problems, but getting on the dyno was another story. It seems that my reason suspension balancing must have ended up with lowering the rear suspension, just enough that one of the exhaust flanges was touching the dyno roller. Hmm...
Thanx to some creative engineering work (ie: block of wood), we were able to prop up the exhaust enough after strapping the car down to be able to make runs. Disaster averted!
We did about 8 or 9 runs in total, and here are the results:
We actually hit 578.9 / 505.6 on one run, but somehow didn't include that one in the printout. For comparison, here is my run from earlier this year:
+39 rwhp from a cam/lifter/rocker/spring swap isn't too shaby.
It's strange to me that the torque peak was almost identical, but as expected, I did lose some down low. This setup carries the power nicely in the upper RPM though, and that will help on those 1st gear GG autocross runs (as it did this past October).
After the dyno session, we went for a drive to make sure everything was good in the typical driving ranges. The car felt great, and it was again a smooth drive home.
So she's all buttoned up just in time for the winter. :\ That gives me time to think about more projects though.
I'm trying to determine if it would be possible for me to fit a 315 tire on the front without any major work. I've added a 1/4" spacer to my front wheels and have been driving with no issues. I have a set of 1/2" spacers arriving this week that I will try next. If I can run with those, the next step is to find a way to either modify or rebuild the LCA's on my front suspension to add clearance, as that is the first point of contact. I could easily raise the car 1/4" or so and realign to gain a little clearance if needed. I think this would be worthwhile, but of course I need to consult Guru Sutton to confirm.
I have a few other small ideas in the works as well, and one or two not so small ones.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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