BillY2KFRC

WOW... there is no need for a car like this. Just walking up to the car makes my heart race at the simple thought of taking it for a drive. I am still breaking it in for about 500 miles, then I will get an oil change and be able to get on it for real. But just shifting between 4&5k rpm, it's seriously fast, faster than an E60 M5 by quite a bit, don't ask how I know. And with all the torque available it's fun no matter what your gear or speed happens to be at the time you hit the throttle. It makes my old 471rwhp H/C setup feel like a 4-banger!

It can be driven at 55mph in 6th gear smooth as stock with no bucking or surging. Which is important since I drive this car every nice day, putting over 10k miles/year on it. Only slight negative would be that it seems to get about 4-5mpg less on the highway than my H/C 346ci... but such are the trade-off to commute to work in something like this. I'm seeing 22mpg on average for highway cruising.

And the sound... the sound is indescribable. Some have said Nascar, I think it's pretty damn close to an actual C5-R with the Db level dropped just a bit. I am loving the GHL catback, not only sounds better than Stingers, but actually has no drone. Even with the 427 and no partition in place, the cabin is a quiet place to listen to music or have a conversation at cruising speeds.

I also had ECS install a Dewitts radiator and oil cooler. Now I have 555rwhp and cooler oil temps than with my old motor.

Lastly, I cannot say enough about the work done by Chris, Doug, Mike, Tommy, Rob and everybody else at ECS. This was a very custom project, but does not look or drive like one. Under the hood (Aviaid dry sump tank) and in the trunk (custom battery box) you would simply assume it came this way from GM. Everything is neat and tidy and exactly how a perfectionist like myself would demand it be done. They have also been excellent with communication and advice during the 6 weeks this project has been taking place. And to be fair, 3 of those were waiting for dry sump parts (well worth the wait, thanks Aviaid). It's easy to be impatient while you are without your car, but considering the quality of work that was done, it is phenomenal they were able to turn this around as quickly as they did. Thanks again ECS for building me my dream car!



Project break-down:

Zero mile GM LS7 7.0L crate motor - stock internals - 24t reluctor wheel
Katech Torquer Cam
Katech CF Valve Covers
Milled heads .030
FAST 102mm intake ported by Tommy at ECS
Custom Dry Sump with Aviaid tank and ECS battery relocation kit
ARH 1 7/8" headers w/high flow cats
Dewitts Radiator
Oil Cooler
GHL Bullet Exhaust
Austin's Custom Fender Badges
ECS Street/Dyno Tune

Supporting mods already on the car:
RPS Carbon Twin Lite Clutch
Built MN12 trans w/brace
3.90 gears with hardened shafts
RSD Short Shifter
Pfadt Coilovers and T1 Swaybars
C6Z Brake Kit w/stainless lines

Detailed it and took some pics:











Carpet isn't purple, camera made it look like that...

MPM IV

Verry cool project. I had a similar motor and am currently in the process of adding a few of the same parts (Fast 102, CF covers, Dewitts). Seems you have good taste.

How are you liking the MN12 and 3.90's with the new power? I went with the MN6 and 3.73's and have been very happy.

Anyway, your car looks great and I'm sure just became a lot more fun. Congrats and enjoy it.

RIKKITIK

Beat me to it!
Too bad the torque "curve" is so lumpy. Good job all around!, all that torque +3.90's make you wonder, why even use first or second gear?

BillY2KFRC

Thanks for the kind words, I'm like little kids everytime I get the car, just WAY too much fun to drive.

I'm enjoying the 3.90s and MN12 so far, but haven't really tested them out since I'm still breaking in the motor. However, even in 2nd, just a quick 50% blip at 3k rpm INSTANTLY breaks 'em loose.

Yeah, I was really hoping for more torque. 1st and 2nd will likely be for show.

WKMCD

Congrats! 427's are just stupid fun...

cmb396

Congrats on the new setup!!

mariofromnewyork

Its awesome when a shop hits the nail on the head!

I hear nothing but goods things about ECS so i am not surprised that your car turned out perfect!

Congrats on your build!

Mario

MightyDuc

wow... absolutely beautiful car. i love those wheels too... question: what kind of products did you use in your detailing? i'm not sure if my clear is just too thin or what, but i can spend all day and get a shine like that, but it goes all hazy on me by the next day...

BillY2KFRC

Thank you, not bad for 50k miles I guess. I use Zaino products. This was just after a wash and a some Z8 spray detailer. I use Z2pro when I wax it. I have never had any issue with hazing in the 10+ years I've used Zaino.

Quick Silver Z

Congrats! I was going to comment on your hot set-up and ask how much $$$ is involved but now you got me dreaming about the joys of Zaino...

MightyDuc

thanks for the response... mine has a custom paintjob that obviously utilized a clear that is as hard as diamonds... its essentially impossible to polish out swirls with my 7424... thus, my frustration when i spend hours and hours and hours getting the surface prepped, then waxed, only to see a hazy residue all over the car the next day...

Z0SIX66

Nice plates ... IL wouldn't let me have those so I had to improvise! also great project, glad you drive it so much!

winters97gt

sick car, looks like a blast!

TakeAwayTheFear

your car is amazing!! congrats on the new setup!!

GeorgeZNJ

Congradulations on owning one bad N.A. ****. We roadrace with an ECS coupe with the same set up you have. His pull away speed is awesome. That dry sump is the way to go, now there are TWO cars that I don't want to mess with.

Gray Ghost GS

That looks like one awesome setup - enjoy the new power of this beast!

aldrichc5

That is a really nice setup you have.

Blackkaz04

Awesome. Just awesome.

legman

Awesome looking ride with the power to match....

I subscribed to your thread when you 1st announced your build and I'm curious too as how you'll like the 3.90's with your M12. Great hp and almost matching tq has to be a fun car to drive.

Thanks for sharing and posting....

BillY2KFRC

Very nice, I like the improvisation. I was a bit worried when I made the request, but the CT DMV came through!

Thanks George, I'll definitely have to make one of the ECS sponsored track days at NJMP. Gotta test how all this good stuff works on the track.

Thanks to everybody else for all the positive responses!