Quest for 200 MPH - 2018 Camaro SS 1LE

My tuner offered an enlarged PVC hose kit...provides a bit more breathing for the entire system.  Apparently, this is helpful on a higher HP car...this one isn't, but it is to run near redline for several miles at a time.  Not too mention, we did have an issue with the catch can filling up.  We'll see if this helps:

OEM:

Bigger elbow modification - a pain due to the metal insert and plastic surround:

Biggest tap I now own:

Bit of an increase in size:

Installed with only one screwdriver stabbing and one metal shard up the finger nail (ouch!):

Just waiting for the supercharger belt replacement (old was soaked in oil).

And today it arrived after a month enroute!

Late in the season, but give it a shot...fresh Motul oil, tires pumped to 40 psi, weather calm and cool, not a holiday Sunday...off we go at 0600 to the test area.  River-bottom flat and straight concrete...

The result the blower belt broke on the first time WOT in 4th gear!  I didn't even exceed 100 mph:

Close up:

Quite fortunate I had a belt guard on the plastic thermostat as by the marks, took a hit.  I car ran fine otherwise...pointed it back toward Stuttgart.

Installed my old 'oiled' belt and back in business.  Unsure what would cause it to fail - my first experience...

Unsure if I will get another chance...shorter days means the runs needs to be around 0700...and traffic definitely picks up.  Previously, I would shoot for minimum of 0600 to minimize other vehicles. 

Ordered new OEM blower belt idler pulleys and tensioner as a precaution...

Rock Auto's lightning fast shipping is quite welcome!  Parts arrived and installed without any fanfare - very easy remove and replace:

Road tested with a couple of road trips and 150 mph blast...no issues.  ;-)

Have you checked out the 1967 Big Red Camaro videos on-line?  They have run numerous speed events at around 250 MPH.  That is fast for a old brick.

Mustang50:  Big fan of that car...even recall its first mention in Hot Rod Magazine...dominating all the historic cars and asked not to return!  Next was the Silver State event where it went 220 mph with Hot Rod editor...great story!

Ours is just a street car with a desire to hit 200 mph before returning to the states...thanks for posting!

In reply to TimM :

Thanks, keep us posted I like these type of threads!

Two trips to the Nurburgring last couple of weeks resulted in one 40 degree, wet lap of the Ring (no thanks!) and 15 min session on the F1 track today - that was cut short due to a cut catch can line (my fault)...Both times, car worked like a champ.  Amazing road trip car with easy 170+ mph top end blasts to get past pesky autobahn traffic on the way home - always puts a smile on my face!

My road course skills have certainly attritted since other than the Ring, it has been several years.  Need a few more than 6 laps next time to be comfortable...but hear that engine/blower/exhaust note - incredibly intoxicating and the acceleration was a bit startling for myself...love it when the car scares you!

The failure:

Well, the chilly temps and salty roads have arrived so the Camaro goes down for the winter.  I was unable to get another run in so 196 mph stands for the year.  We'll try again next spring...

Engine is healthy and covered 9,170 miles since first start - pretty proud of that and a testament to Texas Speed's kits and quality Callies, K1, Wiseco parts.  No oil consumption of significance on track or after a ~25-hour road trip to UK.  Rev limit of 7100 rpm was set by the tuner and due to my poor skills, run into it more than a few times - sounds good up there!

This winter we've considered inspecting our work as well as improving the efficiency of the LT4 blower setup with a few minor upgrades.  Realizing the blower and OEM exhaust  manifolds/cat are limiting factors to the combination:

- X-port LT4 blower (Kong / OEM pulleys)
- CNC ported LT1 heads (Katech)
- Porting the OEM exhaust manifolds (SoCal Porting)

We'd plan to replace the valve springs as well along with a retune.  May also look to modifying the driver's side cat pipe section to increase the throat size as has been done by others.  Seems comically small to support ~350 CHP.

Moving the power higher in the rpm range with typical loss at low-end, would be preferred.

Nice way to end a season. Looking forward to your updates in the spring. 

The fun has begun...

Off with the blower:

Love those machining lines:

Boxed and shipped to Kong for the X port:

Can't believe this car is available with one of these from the factory - adding ~200 CHP.  Amazing times, we live in.

The Kong box arrived - think that was the 5th time I've used it - good investment with no damage yet!

The plate:

The internals:

Supposedly a good HP increase, but will let the dyno and autobahn decide.  Even if the power curve is moved to the right, it will be a success for my application.

Working on removing the exhaust manifolds for rework...

Incredibly satisfying to see an American muscle car running around Europe! And this thread is a great lesson in the challenges involved with running a high HP car. 
i just got a V6 6th gen Camaro and it's so cool to see the same chassis with over double the horsepower.

bigmack101:  Camaro is great fun in Europe.  Wonderful road car and just works so well on the track.  Very impressed with the chassis...thanks for posting!

Received my OEM exhaust manifolds back from SoCal Porting...nice work!:

and the outlets grew in size a smidge:

Not much material to grind away...now we need to match the cat pipes to the same diameter...visit to the hardware store is in order!

While the car was down, I elected to check the mechanical fuel pump lifter clearance...noting with an aftermarket camshaft different shims maybe required due to the reduced base circle of the fuel pump lobe.  I had been using a .060 shim (OEM Chevy for Ti valve tips!).  I had a slight tapping at low engine speed and wondered if I have excess clearance.  I attempted to remove the .060 shim, but ended up taking a portion of the fuel pump lifter with it.  

Luckily I had a spare...but, required pulling the center valley plate:

and of course all the fuel injection assembly.  Not preferred!

Now I wait for another shim from stateside Chevy...~$23 for the little thing!

Reinstalled the blower...quite heavy in an odd position:

Reworked the driver's side cat...quite a bit of obstruction - some intentional and some not, it appears:

Before:

The initial inlet is over 2.25, but it necks down with the sharp tubing ends at 2 inch.  So out came the Dremel.

After:

The end result is at least a smooth flow into the cat...can't open it up due to the tubing thickness.  Interestingly, the Dremel provided grinding tool didn't get far.  However, the Amazon grinders (for $20) did a much better job.  In either case, I have metal shards everywhere...including slivers in the hands...and I was fully covered!  Unfortunately, I did see more 'melting' of the driver's side cat than I was expecting...likely doesn't help the overall power numbers...

Car is back together and running (video below):

So far no issues, but still on jack stands though!  March will request another remote tune and hit the dyno if all goes well.

Roads were clear of salt so fired up the Camaro to drive to work - no issues!  Limited in work this winter, but always nice to have a project back together and mobile!

Now to schedule a tune and follow-on dyno visit!