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Project 'War Eagle" LS1 Trans Am build


Zeppelin

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No doubt. I'm real happy with the dropped look.

 

I searched allot of reviews on the tires before pulling the trigger. Found WAY more good reviews than bad. Biggest concern was winter driving, which this car hopefully will never see. ;)

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Took a few pics of the stance with the springs cut. Re-measured and both sides are the same after settling. I think I need to lower the front a little now though. Need to wait until I see if the new front brakes clear the rims without spacers first. If I have to space the rims out much, lowering it allot will lead to tire/fender contact on bumpy roads I am afraid. We'll see. The caliper adapter brackets finally shipped. Due here Friday, so I may get the brakes on this weekend. Ordered a set of Hellwig swaybars too. 35mm hollow front and 22mm hollow rear. Car currently has NO rear swaybar at all and the stock WS6 front bar.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims2.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims3.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims4.jpg

 

Also got some nice black lugnuts in from Jegs. They are Gorilla brand. Nice heavy coating. Wrench didn't scratch them a bit. I grabbed a set of matching locks also.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/stockbrakes.jpg

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Ya, I am going for a more well rounded car. After all, it will see more road time than track time. I enjoy blasting into on/off ramps as often as possible, and may try an autox event or two this year also. Probably get a set of matching 17s for the rear to put drag radials on, and a set of skinnies that will clear the new brakes, so I can switch them out quick for track days.

 

Pretty sure I got as much tire as I could. 19" 305s only come in 30s that I could find at a decent price, and the 295s are 35s. I think I could have gone to maybe 40s up front with a different tire, but then they didn't have 305s in 19s. I did allot of tire research, mainly on tire sizes available for 19s and 18s before settling on the Nitto Invos. That was actually a PITA.

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Thanks for the compliments. Looking at it today, I agree the stance is looking pretty good as is.

 

Just a few more pics I took today in the sun. Trackbracket caliper adapters came yesterday, so I should be able to get on the brakes as soon as it warms up a little. It is a very nice, heavy duty piece. I'll get some pics when I start the brake install.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims5.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims6.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_rims7.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Got the swaybars in yesterday. Very nice looking product from Hellwig. 35 mm hollow front(thing is huge) and 22 mm adjustable hollow rear.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/swaybars1.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/swaybars2.jpg

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If it was me I would lower the rear just alittle more. Man the TA looks awesome and I'm jealous. I need to lower mine as well. When I get some cash flow coming in, I will be modding the Bird as well.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp132/PGHSteelers/P1010005-2.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp132/PGHSteelers/Ames%20Performance%20Nationals%2009/P1010003.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...
How are you liking the Nitto Invos? I'm in the market for a set of tires for my Impala and I've been reading good things about them.

 

Thanks guys.

 

I've only driven it a couple times since the tires went on. Not the off the line grip of the drag radials, but I didn't expect it. Definitely a driving style adjustment though. ;) Overall, the ride is a ton better than the drag setup. I need to get the swaybars on before I really lean on it around corners though to see what the tires really do.

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With the nice weather, I thought I would get started on the brake swap. I took Sunday morning to dis-assemble the current brake system down to bare spindles. Off came the calipers, rotors, hubs, and the old brake lines. I then installed the new steel braided brake lines for the Z06 calipers.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/spindle1.jpg

 

Tonight I had to cut off the original caliper mounting ears to make room for the caliper adapter brackets.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/spindle2.jpg

 

Here is a pic of the caliper adapter bracket.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/caliper_adapter.jpg

 

I then test fitted everything prior to painting the spindle. Here is the caliper adapter bracket test fitted with the hub.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/caliper_adapter2.jpg

 

Test fitted the rotor and caliper while I was at it. :)

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_brakes1.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_brakes2.jpg

 

When the brake parts shipped initially, they didn't send the pads. I didn't realize that until I opened the small box Sunday that should have had the retainer clips and pads inside and only found the clips. Called them Monday and the pads shipped that day. Should have them in the next day or so. I hope to have the brakes done and the new front swaybar installed by Saturday.

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When I got the pads from the shop I got the brake setup from, they sent the wrong pads. They sent regular C6 corvette brake pads. My $85 pads suddenly went to $249 for the right ones. I checked Jegs and could get Hawk ceramics for a little less so I ordered from them. The brake pads came in at Jegs today. GM stock Z06 ceramic pads were $479.00 list!! The place I got the brake setup from had the GM ceramic units for $249. Got Hawk ceramics from Jegs for $198.00. Still a chunk o' change for brake pads for sure. Here's a pic of one side. There are individual pucks for each piston. 6 pucks per side.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/brake_pads.jpg

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Brakes are done......finally. Took it on a maiden voyage to Jegs a little bit ago to take a set of the spacers back. Stops on a dime for sure. ;) Here are a couple new pics.

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_brakes3.jpg

 

http://www.zeppelinsreef.com/images/war_eagle/new_brakes4.jpg

Edited by Zeppelin
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