🔧 BUILD LAME Turbo V6 Camaro

[v6buicks]

This full exhaust deal seems to have toppled a long trail of dominos. I didn't want to bother modifying a downpipe I didn't even like let alone one with some flaws. While I don't think the tight bend radii were necessarily restrictive (yet), there was plenty of space for wider bends. It looked really stupid IMO. I also had plenty of space to go 3.5" in instead of 3". Again, It's probably not necessary (yet), but it'll certainly look cooler! Besides, if I'm going to have a 4" outlet I might as well make the most of it. Finally, there is only one strut tower brace that's built to fit the V6. Sadly, it's a BMR piece so no black option. The old downpipe wouldn't have fit any of them anyway. Instead of building a downpipe, I first needed to scuff and paint a strut tower brace. What a wild turn of events!

Notice another problem yet? Here's a hint.

I never thought I would do an oil cap delete on anything, but I guess that's another reason to hate F-bodies. There's no way that I'm removing the downpipe to remove the oil cap. Luckily I don't have to. The much oversized -12AN catch can fitting is going to save my ass!

Speaking of which, the other valve cover does not have a fitting on it, so I'll be removing the entirely unnecessary second catch can. There's not going to be an easy way to drain it with the larger downpipe anyway. I ran out of shielding gas and all the local places have been out since October. I'll try the welding supply store by work tomorrow. I think my odds will be a lot better there.

I haven't gotten my LS hanger yet. Hopefully that comes soon.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Saw a buddy make 690 to the tire with a full 3" exhaust on a 67 with a 2jz. have worried a lot less about it since. That said, may as well get all the HPs.

 

[sktchy]

So, your oil fill is your catch can fitting now? You couldn't have just removed the filler neck and put the cap back on or? I like the strut tower brace tho

 

[v6buicks]

I know the 3" was plenty sizable. I'm just being a doofus and pushing my fab skills. If anything, I'm probably just making it a hair louder which I might not like. We'll see.

I was hoping to just put the cap directly on the valve cover, but the downpipe will still be directly on top of it. It'll still be easier to fill through the fitting.

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but these back ups suuuuck. I got lucky with the BMR piece being in stock, but I also have a UMI panhard bar and relocation kit ordered. Their site warned me at least 3 times that orders can 7-8 weeks to process. ?

 

[sktchy]

It took like three months for my umi stuff to get here and that's before everything was like it is now.

This backorder stuff is crazy. Tried to get a barrel of oil for work last week before the price increase and ended up with a bunch of boxes instead just to get by for now. No doubt it'll be like 08 and when stuff does come back in stock the price will be absolutely insane.

 

[v6buicks]

I've gotten way too patient with rust. What a friggen miracle.

Nice....

I had tot remove the shock to make the bolt clear the spring. Nice one, Chevy. I'm just glad I could remove this junk without cutting anything.

I could install my pretty UMI stuff now, but I'd rather take a little extra time to knock rust off and encapsulate the mounting points. I'll get some roloc pads on my way home from work.

It feels good to work on this thing again. The coffee table turned out awesome, but I'd much rather play with mechanical stuff than furniture.

 

[sktchy]

Holy crap that poor things ate up. On the plus side getting rid of the shitty stock pitman arm and trac bars made a HUGE difference in how my car drove and took a good bit of the twist off of it under hard accel. The rear end actually goes up and down somewhat evenly now instead of planting everything on the right rear. One of the best mods I've done I think you'll be thanking yourself soon

 

[v6buicks]

After a whole bunch of wire wheeling, trashing roloc pads, spraying rust encapsulator, and applying lots of lube/antiseize, we made it to this point.

As you can clearly see, I left the rear end mostly alone. I don't care about it at all, and it's ready to die. I just cleaned up the spot where the lower bar attaches so that I don't end up with rust impacted into the poly bushing.

I chose this life.

Now it's time to try fitting the exhaust again. I'll start tomorrow.

 

[GTPpower]

Looks much better!

 

[SleeperLS]

I will have nightmares tonight of rust. That looks a ton better. Gotta love fresh parts too.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

vintage patina

 

[v6buicks]

Crusty hangers

Cleaned up and encapsulated.

This exhaust really sucks to install nicely, but I'm happy with it.

This here is my least favorite part. The clamp on hanger is stupid and very difficult to position. Once I'm done with the down pipe, I'm going to modify it so that it's less adjustable. The tab is way too long. I'll then weld it to the top of pipe and cut the rest off because it's pretty unsightly.

It seems to tuck up nicely if you spend enough to do it right.

I started playing with the downpipe, but found that I got too wide of bends. I'm just going to cut up my 3" and run that instead.

 

[v6buicks]

First, a picture I forgot to take:

I took a gamble on a brand new Walker hanger for a third gen. The mounting holes needed to be slotted. Otherwise, it fits well. On with the show!

Oh, yes! Until now, I couldn't quite pinpoint how I needed to change the downpipe design for a more aggressive look. About an inch larger bend radius might have been ideal, but this ram horn looks a ton better IMO. ?

It's going to slide between the valve cover and tower brace nicely, and I've found a great spot to split it into two pieces. If I can remove a section between the turbo and firewall, I can change plugs without getting under the car. It's coming together even better than I imagined! However, I ran out of gas, so I couldn't tack on the next piece.

That left me to do some less fun stuff. I impulse bought a driveshaft loop a couple weeks ago. When it comes to safety stuff, I find it best to buy when I'm motivated to do so. Otherwise, I might put it off too long. There was an opened but unused Lakewood kit for $80 so I snagged it. The shitty part and the reason I've put it off is that I have nothing to mount it to. When I redid the floors, I cut these mounts out and never replaced them. I guess it's time to fix that. ?

I cleared the Rust-Oleum undercoating off and took measurements.

I still don't have a brake, but I still have a vise and a hammer.
?‍

It's ugly, but look at that fitment! Mwah! ?

That's enough for tonight!

 

[sktchy]

Well you certain shouldn't have a post turbo exhaust restriction lol. How's that big ol pipe gonna do when you get it glowing red hot tho? Or being that big will it stay cool enough to not cook everything around it?

 

[v6buicks]

I think it'll be so unrestricted that it won't be hot enough to do any damage. ?. I will be wrapping the over axle section though because it's very close to the gas tank. I'm using DEI this time instead of Summit junk.

I haven't decided if I'm wrapping the downpipe yet.

 

[sktchy]

I really wish I'd have got my pipes ceramic coated. I try and keep things as far away as possible to keep them from cooking lol

 

[v6buicks]

I keep saying that I'm going to do that too. I'd just take the car all apart to get powder and ceramic on everything in one visit, but I keep breaking commitments to piping and stuff. At some point I'll have to address the shoddy AF radiator mounting which probably means moving the intercooler and stuff. Idk, man. I can't even keep parts on my car long enough for paint to be worth the investment. ?

 

[sktchy]

I definitely feel that. I feel as if I've slacked alot over the winter but I guess I have thrown two motors in the thing. Seems like I get some done and then I get knocked back a step or three and I let it sit for a while before I can talk myself into messing with it again

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Gotta say that looks like some race car parts. Can't wait to be working on mine again.

 

[Euro]

Wow that's great work. Looks a ton better underneath after all that work.

 

[v6buicks]

Wow that's great work. Looks a ton better underneath after all that work.

Thanks! Of course the real test is always how long it lasts. This car doesn't really see winter duty anymore though, so it should be fine!

 

[v6buicks]

Gotta say that looks like some race car parts. Can't wait to be working on mine again.

Thanks! and I look forward to updates. Did you end up keeping the LeMans?

 

[Mr_Roboto]

It's in storage in Elkhorn, I am waiting for the weather here to get less than numbingly cold so I can clean on the garage and have a home for it.

 

[v6buicks]

My welds still suck, but I'm happy with the way things are going otherwise. I sort of wish I had my buddy TIG weld it for me. Oh well. It's not overshadowing the fact the the routing and ease of access is perfect! It's going to get wrapped again anyway. Here it is with the support welded on. This looks so much better now that it's only a couple inches vs 8-10. lol

This will be the easily removable section so that I can get to my spark plugs. I haven't gotten my V-band yet, so I couldn't finish it. I'm starting to think that I'll even be able to get the valve cover off by only removing this part which would be a big plus.

Here's a better ide of where the joint will be. I love it.

Shopping list:
-3" V-band
-4" to 3" reducer
-Another 3rd gen hanger
-Probably another 3" U-bend

Connecting the DP to the exhaust isn't going to be as simple as I hoped. There are going to be a couple sharpish bends and at least one hanger under the passenger floor. I think I'm going to use another 3rd gen hanger and bolt a custom adapter piece to where the heat shield used to mount. Then I'll just have to bend and weld a piece of flat stock to the pipe. Since there will be sharpish bends anyway, and I already have an open switch in my console, I might incorporate a cutout. I haven't decided on that yet though. There aren't any electric designs that are durable enough for my liking.

 

[Mr_Roboto]

Whoa. Fab work. Daddy likes.