I'm still just getting into boost 'a little' every now and then since I got it running right last week. Tonight, I had to go to the store and it was dusk when I was returning down the long straight black top on the way to the house. I saw an LS1 Formula pull in behind me when I passed a convenience store along the way. As we got up close to the area where passing is allowed, he got up on my bumper in the 45mph zone, obviously positioning himself to pass me. I downshifted to 3rd and decided to see what it felt like to go beyond the normal 4,500 RPM threshold to which I'd been relegating myself. I pressed the gas pedal, not stomping it. As it got into the 10psi and then beyond, I had to keep watching the road and steering. I'm still shaking but have a mile wide grin on my face. I mentioned on my website that I missed the "demented" power of the turbos. I've put up with a lot of ankle biting problems to get the engine and car set up right but DAYEM it was all worth it. I can't believe I have such a sleeper monster. Looking and listening to my car, you'd never think it had anything but a bone stock '96 LT1. Only the FMIC gives any indication. I want to thank everyone here that gave me tips and answered what had to appear as incessant questions about all things Turbo. Big thanks to Dr Turbo for the T76. Also thanks to RealQuick for the Log Manifolds, Bret Bauer for the Turbo Cam. I don't even have this thing fine tuned and it's a killer. I've gone 11.1 @ 121 mph with N2O and it was nothing compared to this. I've got to get the fine tuning done then get to the dyno. That will probably be the first weekend of August.

 

Congrates man! I love reading stories like this. I hope to one day have the same feeling. You now you love what you built when ur shaking after ...happens to me sometimes after a sweet kill on the street or taking my Gixxer to the limits :P

Jay

 

Glad to hear you got things sorted out with the car and you're finally able to put a liitle boost on the gauge. I'll be interested to hear about your dyno time and how your day goes at the track.

 

Thanks! I have to buy some M/T ET streets for my salad shooters but I'll have to tailor the driving so that once everything launches and feels right, I can make the one pass before they kick me off the track (no roll cage)

 

dave, glad your enjoying your car. Ive been enjoying mine as well. So much actually, that i am starting a new build to further enjoy it haha

 

Very nice.

Glad to see everything is sorted out and working correctly.

Vids?

 

Nice job whooping up on that LS1. I would be careful with that thing until you get it fine tuned. Turbos are really unforgiving on rings, pistons, and head gaskets.

Glad its producing for you now.

 

Sweet Dave!!!!!!!!!

 

____Last night, I went to a couple of car meets. The one in Sugarland/Stafford area has mostly late model street bruisers. Supercharged Mustangs, Supercharged Viper, Tiago's twin T76 Turbo tranny killer, Buick GN, Late model GTO's, STS 'Vettes, various H/C Fbodies and now my Turbo car. After about an hour and a half, I headed over to the other car meet ("Nifty Fifties") in Spring, TX. The name of the meet is misleading. There's EVERYTHING there. Model "T"'s, T-Buckets, 50's Roadsters, 60's musclecars, 70's Muscle cars, Shelby Cobras, The new Ford GT Sportscars, Fbodies of every vintage. Around 200 to 300 cars can be there every Saturday Night.

____On my drive between the two meets, I was on the beltway and what should appear in my rear view mirror? A pre-98 4th Gen with a huge cowl hood, fat's & skinnies. It was like he saw me the same time I saw him. I slowed down, he sped up. Lol... As he got up within two car lengths behind me in the most left hand (aka "fast") lane, I down shifted to 4th (about 50 mph). Then I saw him dart from behind me into the next lane then accelerate. I hit the gas pedal and wound it out the shifted to 5th. All I can say is, "Gaaaawd Dayeeeem!!!". It was just stunning how fast the car accelerates. I am beyond happy with this setup. I looked in the mirror and the guy was way back there and pulling off the freeway. To be honest, I don't know if the guy just darted away to race me, got discouraged when I flew away or if he merely forgot his exit. The beltway is about 5 lanes wide at that point. Irregardless, I can tell the car is running exactly as I'd dreamed it would. Idles smoothly, lots of bottom end torque when leaving stoplights, quiet, good gas mileage when not pushed, bone crushing performance when needed.

 

Do they still street race down on Westheimer in Houston? I spent one of my teenage years in Houston and that was the place to go.

 

Not any more. The ricers kind of invaded but, perhaps because of their younger average age, they were very reckless and bold. A lot of the public was screaming bloody murder at the police so they really cracked down. One such sweeping arrest made the national news. The police arrested 200+ people in one parking lot. It ended up costing the city millions because a lot of the people arrested sued the police. This was back in 2002 but it effectively killed the street racing thing we'd all come to know and love.
Here's one coverage of that nights arrests...
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/8/20/17504/9831

Perhaps as an outcome of that night, we have a new 1/8th mile track people can attend that's very close by. We still have the famous HRP (Houston Raceway Park) to the south of us and Sealy (recently converted to a 1/4mile) to the west of us. I'm going to the dyno next weekend. Then, after getting some good racing tires, I'll head off to one of the tracks. I've heard that Sealy is somewhat relaxed on street racing cars regarding cages, etc.

 

Very disheartening story. I used to take my 1984 corvette out there and reak havoc. Just don't go too far down Westheimer or you get into queerville. LOL

 

LOL.. Yes, "Montrose" area is where you don't want to bend over to pick up anything or you might get an unwanted "Visit".

 

Much like what my neighborhood is becoming...Soho

 

Awesome to hear Dave! I am glad you stuck with it and worked out the problems!