Shagwell

Definitely a stout looking set-up. That + putting the BMR arm back in will be very nice.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Actually it will be a S&W TA now. I am using the BMR crossmember to mount the TA front link, though.

The S&W TA is a few inches longer than the Trak Pak, which I think will actually be better. I was getting too much rear end lift, and with regular street shocks, it was unloading the tires. If that doesn't go away with these mods (I'm moving the LCA up one hole in the RB as well), then I'll get adjustable shocks for the rear, at least (that's all I need, something more to spend money on...). The LS1/4L60E car loves the full-length BMR TA and LCA's in the bottom RB hole, with the same shocks that are on the LS1/T56 car, but that's a different ballgame.

DIGGLER

iTrader: (1)

coulda saved you some bucks on the t/a. going to sell my s&w. its been a good one, i really like the setup.

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (2)

I have not seen that before, look solid. No worries with any of it hitting any other equipment/lines right?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

What was it someone said about me & my luck?

That's just the TA-only, though, right? I didn't see the mount-only on their website.

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

looks great! that should hold up just fine!

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

It feels really solid, that's for sure. Can't always judge by that, though. Sure hope this one holds up.

Interesting that there is more room between the pinion yoke and the mount than there was with the QP system (at least before the Jegster got tweaked). I really like the fact that from the mount on the housing in the back to the mount on the crossmember in the front is all in a straight line - keeps the forces predictable. And, can't say this enough, that side brace to keep it stable.

There was a magazine article a few months ago, Hot Rod I think, about a 4th gen LS1/T56 that was modified for strip duty without opening up the engine (stock intake, heads, cam) - CAI, exhaust, tuning, clutch, gears, weight reduction, etc.. He didn't even bother with the original 10-bolt. He eventually went to a S60 because he broke both a 12-bolt and 9-inch. Not sure how he broke the 9", or what he did for a TA, but that didn't instill a lot of confidence. I believe he was running 11.8's or something like that. Well, I'm over a second slower than that at this altitude and without significant upgrades, so maybe I'll survive this time.

brandoz28

iTrader: (1)

I talked to Doug at QP yesterday (owner). he said that they have a 3rd link kit for anyone having this issue. I'm going to be throwing one on my housing before I run it. I'll post up pictures after the install.

he also said that they've started putting solid heims on them instead of the spherical type. I'm not sure if this will fix all of the issue or not, but i'm not sure that it'll hurt.


I hope you have better luck with the S&W setup, it looks good. does it still look like it'll work with the BMR crossmember?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I haven't gotten that far yet. The BMR links will work with the S&W TA end, that much I know. Whether things will line up properly side-to-side remains to be seen. I'm hoping it misses my exhaust and the Jegster driveshaft loop.

Hopefully will know that tomorrow evening.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Well, nothing is allowed to be easy.

I got the Jegster saddle out, rolled the rear under the car, hooked up the LCAs, and jacked it close to being in position (pinion was pointing up a little, but close). Screwed the heims into the torque arm, slipped it into the bracket, and discovered the extra length hits the exhaust Y-pipe.

The side brace is awfully close to the exhaust pipe over the axle as well (would have been better if they took it to the left instead, I think). We'll see if that's a problem when I get everything lined up.

So, took the exhaust off from the collectors to the I-pipe, we'll see how it goes tomorrow.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

And, now the Jegster driveshaft loop gets in the way...

I set it up so the Trak Pak crossmember hooks up to the S&W torque arm. It's the front end of the S&W that doesn't play well with the loop. Not sure what I'm going to do about that - go to bed, I guess.

The next Stick Shift race is next Saturday. I don't have to have exhaust, except to drive the car to the track (should be able to borrow a trailer). I only have Sunday and Monday evenings to work on it, though, as I will be out of town Tuesday-Friday morning. Friday evening is a race series with the LS1/4L60E car. So, hopefully I can get far enough on it to at least be able to run it next Saturday. Exhaust will probably have to wait until after Memorial Day.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I managed some time to work on it today (and realized I have a meeting Monday evening, so won't have much time to work on it then, if at all).

It's back on its own suspension, albeit still on jack stands. I went to adjust the pinion angle and discovered it was 1 degree down with no further adjustment required - that was a good guess.

It's really hard to get a good photo of the installation:




The side link is mighty close to the exhaust, but there should be room to move the exhaust out of its way when I have the Y-pipe redone.




I was able to remount the drive shaft loop; not ideal, but should be okay. The BMR Trak Pak crossmember is forward about 3" from where it was before:




I guess I forgot to mention - when I removed the Jegster torque arm saddle, the floor pan looked fine. Had heard some talk about holes elongating.

Still left is to reinstall the axles, fill the rear with gear lube, install & bleed the brakes, attach the sway bar links, mount tires, and get it back on the ground. Oh, also have some turndowns to put on the header collectors until I can get it in for the Y-pipe.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I was out of town most of last week, so couldn't get back to it again until Friday. I managed to get it back together Friday afternoon before needing to head out to the track with the other Camaro. As it turns out, my son's S10 Blazer was out of commission, so he wanted to run my truck. And, the guy I was going to borrow the trailer from needed me to pick it up Friday morning, so we just trailered this car out to the track Friday afternoon. They have what they call "time only" runs on race Friday evenings, so I paid the fee and made a couple of passes to get the feel of it again. (Went a few rounds in the green Camaro as well).

Saturday was the stick shift race, so I entered that and a Saturday ET race since I was out there anyway. The track photographer got some shots.

This gives you an idea of its attitude with no load on the suspension:




And, a launch:




It seemed fairly happy with this arrangement.

In the stick shift class, first round I cut a -0.007 light - oops. Since I left first, I was out.

In the other class, things went a little better for 7 rounds:




So, after 14 passes, it seems to be holding up.

brandoz28

iTrader: (1)

glad to see you got the thing sorted out. it looks like that setup is working pretty well for you

mw66nova

iTrader: (13)

How'd it 60' compared to the other arms you've used?

DeltaElite121

I'm also curious to see how it performed in comparison.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I was getting about the same 60' as the "good" passes with the Jegster. But, I was leaving 500 RPMs lower (went from 4.11 to 4.56 gears), and it was a lot more consistent. In the past, I'd have 1.87-1.90 60', with 1.85 on a particularly good pass. Saturday, it was 1.87 on the "bad" passes, and 1.85 most of the time. I should also say, DA was in the 8400-9700' range on Saturday.

If I could get better at feathering the clutch, 60' would probably improve even more.

Shagwell

That's pretty reasonable results for what you wanted. - The consistency tells you everything is working better together & it's flexing around less.

mikebondi

57

congrats man. great job and keep it up. wish i would have stayed to see you win but it was pretty hot out.