The LT5 is alive!!!

[HAWAIIZR-1]

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/?action=view&current=MOV03295.mp4

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/?action=view&current=MOV03296.mp4

Well, after how many years my motor is running and all is well. Not very good videos and the sound sucks as it is very different live.

You can't really hear the Stage 1 SGC cams too good, but once it was warmed and the idle came down............I really love it; mild sounding, but you know it is not stock. I did find that I could hear some noise from the findanza single mass, aluminum flywheel. It will be driven in daylight tomorrow AM and all is well with no leaks of any kind. I have to get my safety check to be legal and then off to the alignment shop. The suspension is hell with full poly bushings and I need to get it settled in as it felt like my Z was falling apart with all the jarring on bumps.

I don't know if I will ever build another LT5 on my own, but it was a great experience with blood, sweat and tears.....literally. If I did a good job on this build it should last me my lifetime.

Basically a 500HP package plus the camshafts. I will need a new exhaust or some modications as there is no way this will pass the decibels test in Japan with the B&B Triflows, but I love it and will try to add the bullet cats first to see if that helps.

I'll have to do better videos and photos when I get it out of the garage.

Aloha!!!

Craig

[Pete]

Sounding good there Craig.

Congrats.

Pete

[IowaZR-1]

Awesume Craig!!!!! :cheers: I've done several engine builds and the feeling one gets as your turn the key the first time and it comes back to life is a feeling like non other....these cars bring out the best in us! Congrats!! PS. What is the speed limit in Japan? [-X

[Scrrem]

Sound great Craig. Hope I can do a build one day.
Rich

[ZZZZZR1]

Great news!!!!

Wow all your work really panned out!

Congrats!

David

[tomtom72]

:jawdrop: Awesome Craig. =D>

sweet sound even in the vid....ain't nothing like it when you turn the key the first time and she purrs! Another successful project from the The Skunk Works-Hawaiian Division. :mrgreen: <---- I'll bet you looked like this!

:cheers:
Tom

[VetteMed]

Congrats, Craig! Well done!

[Paul Workman]

Halaluyah, Craig!! Oh, she sounds so sweet. Another 500+ LT5 is born! Welcome to the club and you're going to love it!! Congratz! Now go eat some rice(ers)!:thumbsup:

Oh, and some daytime pictures would be nice too!

P.

[FU]

:cheers: Congrat's Craig !!

[RICKYRJ1]

CONGRATS Craig, You have joined the ranks of the imortals in bringing her back to life. Great Job! Now she runs as good as she looks :saluting:

[ScottZ95ZR1]

CONGRATS Craig!:thumbsup:

Great to hear it woke up with a roar. No doubt you will get many years of reward from that motor for all your hard work. You sure put alot into it.

Glad to see everything coming together for you before your move.:cheers:

[John Boothby]

That's got to be one of the best Z's around. With all the work you did on it and the sweet upgrades. As Tony the tiger would say, GRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEET!

[carter200]

Craig,
You are right and she does sound sweet now get some road miles on her. :saluting:

[Jagdpanzer]

Congratulations Craig, I was wondering where all that thunder I was hearing from the west was coming from. You've worked long and hard for this moment so enjoy the reward.

[todesengel]

Awesome Craig! I know this makes you happy after some of the setbacks you have encountered. Way to persevere :cheers:

[A1990]

All your hard work has paid off. Now enjoy it.:cheers:

[sammy]

craig congrats, now go take care of the ricers.hehe

[Kb7tif]

Great sounding revs!

[HAWAIIZR-1]

ZR-1 Brothers,

Thanks so much for all the comments and praises. I'll post more later and woke up later than I had wished so I can get an early start breaking it in. I have to break in the entire drivetrain.

Trust me when I say I did not get this far alone and although I did not post up during the build, you can believe I was calling folks throughout. Special thanks to guys like Pete (called at midnight too), Carter, Marc Haibeck, Aaron Scott, Jerry, Dynomite, John B, Kurt W, David J, Phil W, Robert (locobob), Kevin (polo1), Greg Van D and the list goes on and on. JamesLT1 is a local brother that I owe the most to that had the physical pain of helping R/R the motor and degree in cams, etc. and catching fresh fish along the way over the years.

Last year I started a blog in Japan for my brothers there as a way to keep them posted and practice some Japanese here and there. By special request of Dynomite, here is the link if anyone is interested in following my adventures.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/corvettezr14me

Well, I have jabbered enough here and have to get back to the Z and will post more later.

Aloha!!!

[A26B]

Outstanding Craig! You have done an outstanding job, overcoming adversity and problems along the way. Your attention to detail has served you well as the results of a fine build are now evident. Thanks to the sharing of you experiences, we have all learned something.
Best regards to you and a smooth transition to Japan.

[Polo-1]

GREAT NEWS =D&gt;

Glad to hear it running:dancing

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks again for the comments and there are also many folks to thank for their moral support during the build and some of the trials and tribulations I went through. You folks know who you are and too many to mention over the past few years. All I can say is I could not have done this without all of you on the Registry.

After driving it around for a few hours, all I can say is WOW!

This Z is a whole different car with all the new suspension and drivetrain. Everything is rock solid on the freeway and being careful to break in since the clutch and rear are new too, but what a blast.

The 4:10 gears are just awesome and put the Z in just the right spot for my type of driving........I can use 6th gear (yipee). The B&B triflos with the Stage 1 cams are a little obnoxious but I love it. I can't wait to open this sucker up to test out the secondaries and full power. So now I know what all the hype is about with the full porting and GVD's magic touch. Unfortunately I could not get my safety check after all the driving around on a Sat where most shops are too busy or my tint was too dark on the rear hatch. My friend could not even do it because Hawaii state law you have to have hard copy insurance cards and I did not think about that in advance and will have to wait a few days. The don't accept the download pdf print option.

Oh well, I'll have some time to clean up the garage and get rid of things to prep for my move. More to follow....................

[tomtom72]

Craig, I have a Q for you. Whose brand wheels are those that are on your Z in the picture on your Yahoo Homepage?

Sorry to be nosey but I like those! Do they come in ZR-1 offsets? :happy1:

[GrayZ]

Craig: http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/kmoudy/cartoons/wrench00.gif you are da man.


I'm proud of you bro, after all the http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/kmoudy/cartoons/bsflag.gif ... you still..." got r done ".

She sounds like a symphony :-({|=

Here's hoping you don't go missing a diaper and find one under the plenum or somethun.

Remember the speed limit is 55 mph in most area's. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/kmoudy/cartoons/drive.gif

Welcome to the 500 club

[GOLDCYLON]

Sounds great Craig. Congrats.

[sammy]

Craig, I have a Q for you. Whose brand wheels are those that are on your Z in the picture on your Yahoo Homepage?

Sorry to be nosey but I like those! Do they come in ZR-1 offsets? :happy1: i believe the wheels are fiske i forget the model .

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Congrats, Craig! Drive the hell out of it now!!!

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, I have a Q for you. Whose brand wheels are those that are on your Z in the picture on your Yahoo Homepage?

Sorry to be nosey but I like those! Do they come in ZR-1 offsets? :happy1:

Hi Tom,

It was mentioned, but those are Complete Custom Wheels (CCW) Classic 18"X10" and 18"X12". Yes, they do come in any offset you want and if you tell John at CCW, he will know. I bought those in 2003; back in those days the did not have the variety they have now.

Take care,

Craig

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks again guys for all the comments and wishes. I would have to say my only disappointment is the rattle in the trans from the fidanza flywheel. It sounds so good idling with the Stage 1s and if I push clutch in I get to enjoy it. It is still worth it with the way the motor revs up and I will just have to deal with it. I guess if I have the idle raised up it might help and I'll have to see if that is what I want to do.

I had Marc H do a 500 HP chip for me for mail order tune and he set the idle lower than what Aaron S did for me; but the car does not run well with Aaron's chip. I was going to send it back, but out of time and will send the extra chip to Marc H for an "emissions" tuned that will help me in Japan to pass their JCI "syaken" testing.

I tried to do another video but for some reason the sound just does not come out good and does not sound anything like it does in person. It just sounds like noise on the recording.

If anyone has ideas not to quiet down the car and return it easily back to B&B after testing I'm all ears. I will have to test ever 2 years and since the max for tour in Japan is 5, I will only have to test twice before moving. One thought is to just change out the mufflers for testing, but I'm not sure that will be enough since they are 3" pipes. I might have to consider just buying another quiet, stock system for testing but shipping to Hawaii or Japan is a killer for a spare system. I can't remember what the max decibels are for the test and at what RPM, but I know I won't pass the way it is. What is another aftermarket system that is quiet and reasonably priced?

I wish I could dyno if before leaving, but I don't think I will have enough time after breaking in and do you know how many times I have to drive around the island to do that? I'm sure I will find a dyno shop in Japan, but will also get "Lost in Translation" too.

I spent a few hours cleaning out my storage/tool room to prepare to move and boy to ZR-1 owners have a lot of stuff. I found things that I forgot about.

[tf95ZR1]

Congrats Craig!
This definiitely puts you on an elite list of LT-5 builders!

[WB9MCW]

Hey Craig

Great to see her all good to go now - so happy for you after this long LT-5 adventure.

So off for a 5y stint in Japan -- Now that will be an adventure for sure.

We will look forward to your posts and stories.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p110/HAMMERHATE/HiroZR1-2.jpg

Maybe you will run into this guy. LOL
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SKwkJRB3U0

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Congrats Craig!
This definiitely puts you on an elite list of LT-5 builders!

Thanks Ted for considering me a builder, but I would not consider myself in that category. If it holds together at 7K plus RPM then I will consider it a success. I appreciate your comment.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey Craig

Great to see her all good to go now - so happy for you after this long LT-5 adventure.

So off for a 5y stint in Japan -- Now that will be an adventure for sure.

We will look forward to your posts and stories.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p110/HAMMERHATE/HiroZR1-2.jpg

Maybe you will run into this guy. LOL
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SKwkJRB3U0

Thanks Big B, I'll look for that Z and easy to identify by the license plate and perfecture; my wife said the Z in the photo is from Tokyo area so very close to where I will be living. Yeah, that video is of a good friend of mine and he is the President of the largest Corvette club there. I just met with him in Yokohama in Jan and two other Zs drove there. These guys have fun with their Z for sure......

[ZR1Vette]

Bravo Craig!! Sounds sweet so next video is you doing nice burn outs? ;)

[Hammer]

Craig,

So glad to hear you got the car running finally. What an experience. I know what this is like, desparity, loss of all hope, thinking of selling everything, and then the perserverence to get the car together. As is normal, all that is a thing of the past and now it has all been worth it. Right?

Be sure to post lots of pics of the completed car so we can really appreciate it with you. Everything must really pop now that it's together and operational.

Good luck, you deserve it.

John

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks John and Michael,

I am going to try to get past this safety check deal later this week and get the car up to Punchbowl cemetery with my wife's high quality camera and not my cheap pocket digital. I'll test video on her camera too.

http://acresofhonor.com/vtours.html


It took motivation of moving to get this thing running and should have gotten off my arse way earlier instead of this last minute push. John, as you stated it sure was worth the aggrevation and I'm glad I did not give up on this project. I cannot even express how the car feels now over the stock configuration and I have to say, no regrets on the Stage 1 camshafts on the 350 either. I think it would have best complimented a 368 for the perfect package, but it sounds sweet and I'm going to drive it again now.

My time is so limited and I wish I had more than 30 days to do this overseas move. I want to put the CCWs on for the photo ops, but I have household pick up in a few weeks and shipping the vehicle too so it might have to wait until I get to the "Land of the Rising Sun".

Aloha,

Craig

[WB9MCW]

Thanks Big B, I'll look for that Z and easy to identify by the license plate and perfecture

I was told the "HIRO" ZR-1 was wrecked by Hiro and you will not find it. Too Bad it was so nice.

Now the white one in the vid may still be around since that is a pretty new vid I do believe.

And on the tranny rattle I just hold the clutch in and no rattle at the light but it is nasty when in N and when lugging in low rpm's.

But well worth it all for the quick to high rev's IMO and the better hole shot. My ceramic clutch really grips well so overall very happy with the combo.

[flyin ryan]

Congrats my friend.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks Big B, I'll look for that Z and easy to identify by the license plate and perfecture

I was told the "HIRO" ZR-1 was wrecked by Hiro and you will not find it. Too Bad it was so nice.

Now the white one in the vid may still be around since that is a pretty new vid I do believe.

And on the tranny rattle I just hold the clutch in and no rattle at the light but it is nasty when in N and when lugging in low rpm's.

But well worth it all for the quick to high rev's IMO and the better hole shot. My ceramic clutch really grips well so overall very happy with the combo.

Yes, the white one is "MADVETTE" and he is currently doing a motor swap from the race car I posted last year that was stripped.

As for the rattle, it only increases with the camshafts and the lopey idle; I'm going to have Marc H raise it to 900 RPM as I did some testing that helps a lot.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Congrats my friend.

Ryan,

By the way, I ran into someone that knows the "Hawaiian" and used to build motors for him; my supervisor's cousin is the guy that knows him well.

Thanks for the congrats.

Craig

[flyin ryan]

Ryan,

By the way, I ran into someone that knows the "Hawaiian" and used to build motors for him; my supervisor's cousin is the guy that knows him well.

Thanks for the congrats.

CraigCool. Roland's a great guy.

[Locobob]

:saluting: Great job Craig!!!

[FU]

Cool. Roland's a great guy.

Roland Leong .... that name brings back some fond memories.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Dudes,

I have to learn how to drive this Z all over. This thing is bad arse and I can only imagine how the big motors are pushing the 600 HP level.

I have been doing the break in thing trying to just drive mostly normal, but I got a little annoyed at some traffic and downshifted to second and gave some good throttle only to about 6000 RPM; the gforce and how it shot out even with the tires breaking loose a bit was just amazing. I do see how the c beam plates help me to track and control as I think I would have gone a little sideways if not.

Wow, this is how the Z should have come from the factory even though it is no slouch in stock form.

What are the thoughts about breaking in when motor, clutch and rear are all rebuilt? I see varying thoughts and information on the internet about breaking in rebuilt motors, but darn when you have the entire drivetrain rebuilt it is painful to not want to get on it when you have all the power and performance on tap. I have to say again that the SGC Stage 1 camshafts are music to my ears.............I don't need no stinkin' stereo.

[tomtom72]

Hey Craig, what's that on your face? No, not that side, it's on both sides....jez man I can see it all the way here in NY....you don't see it? Look in the mirror man....that looks bad, I think...I don't know what it is, but it's spreading across your face....holy chit man! Look out, I think your gonna swallow your ears man!

Oh, I know what that is now.......you have the worst case of PERMAGRIN that I've seen in a long time! :mrgreen:

That usually comes from building your own motor out in the cold by yourself and it turns out that you created an asphalt eater! Kudos man!

:cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey Craig, what's that on your face? No, not that side, it's on both sides....jez man I can see it all the way here in NY....you don't see it? Look in the mirror man....that looks bad, I think...I don't know what it is, but it's spreading across your face....holy chit man! Look out, I think your gonna swallow your ears man!

Oh, I know what that is now.......you have the worst case of PERMAGRIN that I've seen in a long time! :mrgreen:

That usually comes from building your own motor out in the cold by yourself and it turns out that you created an asphalt eater! Kudos man!

:cheers:

Tom,

You are right on target and I really don't have WORDS to describe the feeling. This Z has me reminising of my hot rod days when I was in high school with the rumpety rump of the camshafts. The grind on the camshafts say SGC Stage 1, but sounds and feels like more than that to me. Once I get a chance to dyno then I can give some opinions of them; right now it is just the sound and feel that makes a PERMAGRIN that hurts............

Yes, it is still hard to believe that I built this motor in my little garage on my own and that is some pride :flag2: that cannot be described. I just can't wait to get it to WOT and test out my shift light, the clutch and the 4:10s. I can't believe it took so long to find out truly what this LT5 is all about and building one has given me the deepest respect for the developers and engineers behind it. :handshak:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

:saluting: Great job Craig!!!

Thanks Robert; I could not have done it without you!!!!

[Coupe89]

I hope there are a few tracks in Japan to open her up. :cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

I hope there are a few tracks in Japan to open her up. :cheers:

There are quite a few I heard and some of the famous ones can be driven on for a fee like Fuji Speedway; my friend drove his 370Z (Fairlady Z in Japan) on Fuji Speedway, but I think it cost around $200 and worth it to me.

http://www.google.com/images?q=fuji+speedway+images&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qwpeTcH5E4K6sAO7tJTgDA&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=627

I'm more interested in the Race Queens to be honest:

http://www.google.com/images?q=japan+race+queens&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=pRheTdL9NIb2tgOo3YXICA&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1259&bih=627