Great day on the dyno

[69hugger]

I pulled the motor on the Camaro to put in a new cam and freshen the rings/ bearings/ gaskets. The old cam/ heads/ FI setup was just not a happy combo. To the point, my 534 CI was making 366 RWHP, and that was after a competent FI tuner was done.
My engine builder is my friend & neighbor, has been building race motors for over 40 years (out of his garage), and is well respected as someone who can design an engine with impressive power. He has done well in the Engine Masters several times.
The old cam was a mystery, it had some markings, but nothing we could put with a manufacturer. After measuring it, my builder figured it must be some type of nitrous cam. Way wrong for my street motor.
We also decided to ditch the Dart Pro 1 CNC heads (too big for the street), and opted for AFR 305 heads. I was able to sell the Darts' for the price of the new AFRs to boot!!
The old setup was supposed to be 10.2:1 CR, but measured out to about 9.75. With the old cam, it only cranked about 170 PSI.
New cam/ new heads/ a quick hone & fresh rings & bearings. Now it has 11.5 CR, and cranks 220-225 PSI. Big difference.
Went to the dyno on Thursday. Running with an older GM computer that was not up to supplying my big CI motor with enough fuel, it still managed 696 hp at 5900 rpm. Made over 615 TQ all the way from 3400 to 5900...the max was 686.4 @ 4600. On 92 octane. And that was running almost 14:1 A/F. Can't wait to dyno it in the car with my computer & injectors. At 12-12.5 A/F it should be something.
Should be a bit more fun to drive, I'm thinkin'.
And only another 2 months or so of winter....

Sorry if I'm boasting, but needless to say, I am pumped!

[GregWeld]

Oh hell yeah!!! What a nice improvement that is going to turn out to be! Don't hurt yourself!! LOL



I've posted about this many times before -- motors are ALL about the proper combination of parts -- they are not about just throwing the biggest baddest parts a guy can find in the catalog. You're now living proof of that!! And I'm going to bet the car is WAY more fun to drive down at low "street" speeds and RPMS.

[camcojb]

Oh hell yeah!!! What a nice improvement that is going to turn out to be! Don't hurt yourself!! LOL



I've posted about this many times before -- motors are ALL about the proper combination of parts -- they are not about just throwing the biggest baddest parts a guy can find in the catalog. You're now living proof of that!! And I'm going to bet the car is WAY more fun to drive down at low "street" speeds and RPMS.
X2. :thumbsup:

[69hugger]

It is ALL about the combo. Parts is parts, but when they work together, it is magic.
This motor is actually pretty docile sounding. I kinda wish it had a bit more bark. At one point, it was idling below 600 rpm on the dyno.

The old motor sounded mean, but was very sluggish, and didn't like to run below about 3 grand. Wouldn't idle below 1000. Not good at all with a T-56 & 3.55 gears. 5th gear was tough, and 6th was all but useless. I was thinking of deeper gears, but now think they're perfect. We will tune it for 70 mph efficiency once in the car.
Dave (my builder) designs the cam events along with Comp Cams custom grind dept. It was $380 for the cam, but the best money I have ever spent.

But I doubt it'll MPG like an LS.....

[GregWeld]

My version is - if you're driving for MPG -- You're not driving the car correctly. LOL



My buddy Pierre had a 496 built - and I kept telling him the cam was going to be too docile -- he kept telling the builder he didn't want the car to "shake" -- I'd argue with him and tell him that every time we're somewhere and a car drives in that shakes the ground he lights up and watches the car.... You can have a cam that SOUNDS bad ass without the resulting issues with "too large of a cam" -- but he wouldn't let me help him. Got the motor built was was disappointed that it DID EXACTLY what he asked for.

Good thing he has a LS 525Hp in his '57 because he giggles like a schoolgirl when he fires it off!!

[69hugger]

The only reason I have MPG on the mind at all is because my last car...a C-6 Z06 got 27 mpg on the trip home from Chicago. It was fun to brag about.
I've always thought about the Power Tour. It starts in Wisconsin this year. I may be tempted to at least do part of it. And when I hear about the LS crowd talking mid-20's with 600+ power, I think that's pretty cool.
But this many cubes probably would be doing great to get 15 or so.

I really couldn't care less about MPG normally. Hell, at a couple thousand miles a year, who cares? That is NOT what this car is about.

[GregWeld]

Bill -- I was just giving you crap. LOL

[Vegas69]

Congrats, I put many miles on a car with similar power. It will be a blast.

Big Block and gas mileage go together about as well as fire and ice. HA

[Shmoov69]

Im just scratching my head on how mis built a 534 would have to be to only pull 366!! WoW!:shakehead:

Congrats on the new power plant tho! It'll surely be fun!

[69hugger]

Im just scratching my head on how mis built a 534 would have to be to only pull 366!! WoW!:shakehead:

Congrats on the new power plant tho! It'll surely be fun!

Thank you much, Jimmy!!
I think it was a case of too many cooks. Not completely sure of the chain of events as I bought the car at auction, but from what I pieced together, the motor did 675 hp with a carb. The 2nd owner had the F.I. added, then several shops tuned it. Somewhere along the line, the cam was changed.
Funny thing, that cam made for such poor dynamic compression, all the power (heat) went out the pipes. The ceramic coating on the headers was completely blistered. Never seen that before. Hell, the urethane on the drivers motor mount had melted out from the header heat. It had dripped all over the frame & p.s. hoses! Never seen that for sure!

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4752.jpg

The old rings had good seal, the cylinders were perfectly straight & round, and the bearings were good. We replaced the rod bearings because they had lost crush (they fell out of the rods when we disassembled them), but we left the old mains as-is. The crank spun very freely, and the bearings looked new. The short block was basically fine. Just needed different breathing.
Cam timing is SO critical to making power. The dynamic compression went from 170 to 220+. The motor HP over doubled!
Glad we were able to wake it up.
The car was fun with 400 hp. Can't wait to unleash 700.
Of course, I'm confident without Dave, (my builder), this would not have had quite so good an outcome. The man rocks.

Bill

[69hugger]

Bill -- I was just giving you crap. LOL

No problem. I can take it. From what Charlie says, you have plenty to go around. :rolleyes:
By the way, was Charlie a Proctologist at one time? His signature "wave" seems to suggest that...


Bill

[69hugger]

Congrats, I put many miles on a car with similar power. It will be a blast.

Big Block and gas mileage go together about as well as fire and ice. HA

Thanks Todd! It probably still won't measure up to your new build! I'll be watching...

Copy that. Didn't buy it for MPG. I have loved big block cars for 40+ years. But this is about 100 inches bigger than anything I've had before.
I can handle the fuel, especially at $2.xx per gallon.

Now tires...those 335's ain't cheap. And my current ones are 10 years old & like hockey pucks. Think a new set of Rivals are in order. Hope I can get them sooner than later. Think I better start looking soon.


Bill

[Vegas69]

I think you are confusing me with Vega$69.

[GregWeld]

I think you are confusing me with Vega$69.


Personally I don't think that name should have been allowed to be used. It's kind of like a copy right infringement. It's just not right.

[69x22]

It ought to run like a scalded dog. I bet the torque will be unbelievable too..:cheers:
Is that broken paint on your upper control room mount?

[69hugger]

I think you are confusing me with Vega$69.

Well I'll be... I never noticed the diff. If those were personalized plates in my state, the 2nd one would not be issued. Of course, we don't have $ signs here.
I'll have to be more careful.
Now I'm wondering if you two live in Las Vegas, or both love Vegas (the car). If you both live in Vegas...are you buddies?

[69hugger]

It ought to run like a scalded dog. I bet the torque will be unbelievable too..:cheers:
Is that broken paint on your upper control room mount?

The torque will be the best part. We built it for a wide, flat torque curve. I also went for an aluminum flywheel, dropping 18# of rotating weight. It should rev quickly to say the least.

No, that is a broken control arm mount. As in a collapsed front suspension. This should be it's own thread. But since you asked...
There were some cracks in the bondo that I only noticed after I got the car home from the auction. I thought (hoped) they were only cosmetic, but not so.
The first time I drove the car, the front mounts broke from the subframe.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4742.jpg

Luckily, the mount bolts tilted into the headers and stopped the movement, saving any sheet metal/ wheel/ or tire damage.
Off to a fab shop to remove the front end, cut out the mounts, re-weld them, and make new support brackets.

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4775.jpg

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4777.jpg

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4784.jpg

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4786.jpg

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k513/bsternz06/DSCN4803.jpg

Don't ask what that cost me to have repaired. But it was fixed in less than 2 weeks & is way better than new. Only 1 side let go, but both had cracks, so both were repaired the same way. It is now strong enough to jump like the General Lee.

But all is good now. I am getting this thing dialed in & with a few more upgrades, it will be done! HAAA HAAAHAHAHA. Shhh, my wife is listening. She thinks these cars have an ending. She should know. We've been married for 27 years.

Thanks for noticing!

Bill

[69hugger]

Personally I don't think that name should have been allowed to be used. It's kind of like a copy right infringement. It's just not right.

Luckily (for you), the wheel guy isn't here to bring that up to you! :lol:

[Vegas69]

Personally I don't think that name should have been allowed to be used. It's kind of like a copy right infringement. It's just not right.

He's got a bunch of $$$$$ to blow and a good chunk of ozone to catch up with the original. The baton is gladly passed. :lol:

[tones2SS]

That is awesome.
I can see the smiles already.

[69x22]

Man I'm glad you got that frontend problem worked out. Whoever did the repair, did a nice job.

[GregWeld]

Luckily (for you), the wheel guy isn't here to bring that up to you! :lol:



I was BORN with my name.... so I take no responsibility!! LOL

[GregWeld]

Man I'm glad you got that frontend problem worked out. Whoever did the repair, did a nice job.




What he said!!!



BTW --- I'm NEVER buying a car from Ebay or at an Auction again...

[69hugger]

What he said!!!



BTW --- I'm NEVER buying a car from Ebay or at an Auction again...

10-4.... but in a funny way, it's for the better. It has made me get to know every inch of the car. It feels like it is more my car now. I felt like I had just gone to the store & bought someone else car. Felt a bit strange...like you don't have the "right" to claim it as yours. Not any more. There are very few parts of the car I have not personally disassembled, made some minor (or major) changes, detailed, and reassembled.
The car feels like it is mine now. I am much more confident there will be fewer & fewer surprises.
...And as someone PROLIFIC says on here, "That's Hot Rodding!" :D
Truer words were never spoken!


Bill

[69hugger]

Man I'm glad you got that frontend problem worked out. Whoever did the repair, did a nice job.

A fab shop a bit north of Minneapolis, Tin Man Fabrications. They were awesome. Brought the car to them the day after Memorial Day (during the busiest part of the season up here), and got it back the following Friday. 9 work days. You can clearly see the quality of their work. Completely removed the front end sheet metal, and re-installed it without leaving a mark. And, it was gapped better than when when they got it!
While they were at it, they cut off the header collector flanges and welded on band-clamps, then had them re- ceramic coated. They even sprayed the repairs with 2 part epoxy paint!
If you didn't know there was a problem, you'd never be able to tell. The car drives so well, I didn't even have it aligned (yet).

Bill

[69hugger]

That is awesome.
I can see the smiles already.

Think I ain't wanting an early spring? At least I have at least a month to bolt it all back together. If it were nice out, I'd be wanting to drive it this weekend. Now, no hurry. Hopefully, that will equate to fewer chips & scratches on the freshened goodies.
Dropped the headers off to have re-coated (at least the 3rd time) while we leave for Florida for a week.
Next week, the re-assembly begins!