* * * * * I try to update this page as things happen. For more current info, scroll to the bottom. * * * * *

* * The next few pictures and times were taken before any engine work, just 3:73 gears and 2800 stall. * *

This is me at Irwindale, CA heating up my tires. I ended up running an 8.536 @ 80.5mph - 1/8 mile with a 60ft of 1.835 that night. That 1/8 to 1/4 mile conversion works to be about 13.3. (link to Car Calculators-scroll to the bottom) As you can see I wasn't wearing my helmet. I did get yelled at for it later that night.

Again here I am staging and heating my tires at Irwindale Speedway.

On the left I'm winning a race off the line .553 to .624. My best reaction time yet is .503, sooo close to perfect.
On the right is a time slip with an 8.506sec 1/8 mile. Pass made on 6-10-04 - I was car# 0247. I was racing a stock 1997 Corvette A4.

On 7-2-04 I made my best stock motor 1/8 mile pass at 8.494 @ 80.90mph with a 60ft of 1.856.

This is my former stock motor setup. LT1 with factory-SLP Ram air. Mine is one of the few 97's that I've seen with "Z28 SS" on the air box. Most say "Camaro SS." Now the entire top end has been replaced and converted to a LT4!!!

My car at home, up on ramps. I try to keep a close eye on it for leaking transmission fluid or oil.

Sound performance was my priority when I bought my car over 6 years ago (I was 19). First thing I changed was my head unit to an Alpine. Then I added the Infinity Kappa speakers all around. I also put Aura tweeters in the doors - custom mount just above the main speaker. In this picture you can see my open electric cutout light as well as the manual fan switch - green lights near lighter and pedals. Also, but you can't see too well, my computer cable for custom tuning with my laptop. It runs from the OBD2 connector to under the passenger seat.

My subs from the rear, custom box mounted flush to the back seat with matching carpet. They are 10" Kicker Comp VR's I put black tape over the lettering so the box is not noticeable with the back hatch closed.

My amps with a capacitor. The 600w drives the subs and a 440w runs the Mids and Tweeters. Both Zeus Hifonics. I mounted them on a board like that to leave the T-top compartment still useable.

The 96-97 SS standard, SLP Two On The Left (2OTL) rear view. The sound is outstanding! Then again, I guess it really doesn't matter what muffler you have with the cutout open! lol! I think it looks sweet like this. True duals are awesome, but I wanted to keep the factory look. I did have to chrome the pipes though.

Now that this car has been paid off for a few years I have decided to do some upgrades. So I recently got into the drag racing scene.

New things added before the engine work were 373 gears, a 2800 stall converter, shift kit, SLP brake line lock, Nitto 555R Extreme Drag tires - 275/40/17, electric cutout, OBD1 computer conversion by PCMforless (Thanks Bryan-great work) and practice at the track.

Now added:

Pictured above - in my living room on 7-5-04:
1. Kenny Brown Double Diamond Subframe connectors
2. Spohn adj. torque arm w/driveshaft safety loop
3. GMPP Extreme Duty Timing Chain set
4. Comp Cams chromoly pushrods
5. Ford Racing 30# fuel injectors
6. Comp Cams "R" lifters
7. CSI electric water pump
8. UMI LCA's & Heavy duty tubular panhard bar w/polyurethane bushings and relocation brackets
9. Mac shorty headers w/high flow cat's and y-pipe all coated by Jet-Hot
10.Comp Cams XE 230/236 112 LSA cam
11.Made For You over the valve cover wire looms w/side mount brackets
12.Polyurethane Transmission mount
13.NGK Iridium spark plugs
14.Taylor opti-spark kit
15.LT4 head and cam swap gaskets
16.Taylor 8mm Spiro Pro custom length wires
17.Polished aluminum valve covers w/chrome breathers and oil fill
18.GM Motive 4:11 ring and pinion (Will install later)
19.SLP Posi differential (in Brown box)
20.TA aluminum rear differential cover (in white box)
21.Gear and differential install kit (in small white box)

In on O7-24-04
1. Holley 58mm throttle body
2. Comp Cams 1.6 rocker arms
3. AFR Hydra-Rev kit
4. Ported LT4 heads and intake

I bought all this wonderful stuff from fellow camaroZ28.com members or directly from many racing shops. The LT4 heads were race ported by a shop in Texas - flowed to .650 lift at 282.2 intake / 201.2 exhaust. I bought these used, so I needed them inspected. Thankfully, I met some guys from Air Flow Research at the track who agreed to check them out for me. They went way beyond that. They hand ported and gasket-matched the Intake and heads. They also cleaned up the valve seats and re-set the springs. I really appreciate all their work and kindness! I'm also adding one of their Hydra-Rev Kits (which they invented). Thank you AFR!!!

On 8-2-04 I dropped off my car at Don Lee Auto in Rancho Cucamonga to get all the work done!
(Thank you Tim, Robert and Jim)

Talk about FAST awesome work! Here, two days later, my motor is nearly complete!

* * * * * * 8-6-04 And now, all is done! A few views from under the car and underneath the hood. * * * * * *

All this beautiful engine work hiding under the 97 SS signature ram air box.

Here are the before and after Dyno pulls:

I went from ~240rwhp/270rwtq to ~340rwhp/320rwtq (so over 400 from the engine) after a Dyno-tune by Bottlefed Racing of Redlands - Thanks Eric and Chuck. As you can see the car wants to continue making power but I didn't want to blow up the stock bottom end of my motor (I asked them to stop the pull at 6000 rpm). Of course with all this new power comes the demise of the stock 4L60E transmission. You can see the slip on the graph. It's costing me at least 25hp. The blue lines on the second Dyno is after a little tuning. Over all I am very pleased with my N/A A4.

* * * * * As of 9-27-04: * * * * *
I have gone to the track a few times and have not done as well as I should. With a bad transmission and almost no off the line traction, the best time I have been able to pull is an 8.322 @ 83.68mph with a 60ft of 1.910. At least I am now in the 12 sec club - barely (12.98 lol).

Lucky for me I have a few friends that I race with that have helped me out. I just had the transmission race built by Chino Hills Transmission - Thanks Rick and Greg. They also put in a 3500 stall and a tranny cooler. If you need trans work and live in So-Cal, give Rick a call (909) 591-0449 - It's very cool to find another honest mechanic to go along with Don Lee Auto.

I also just switched from my heavy 17" ZR1 wheels to Weld Pro-Stars. 15x3.5 fronts and 15x10 rears. For the rears I went with the new Mickey Thompson Drag Radials. No track runs with the 3500 stall yet but they hook like no street tire I've ever seen.

I'll update when I can!

* * * New best time on 9-30-04: 8.203 @ 82.83mph with a 1.790 60ft. 1/4 conv = 12.79* * *

* * 12-10-04 Just installed: Currie 9" with 4:10's and a Detroit Locker! * *

Here is the new look.

* * 01-14-05 New Best Time! 7.997 @ 84.80mph w/1.743 60 ft. 1/4 mile conversion is now 12.48! Woo-Hoo, getting there. Not bad, stock bottom, all motor. Next stop... 150 wet shot N20!!* *

* * 03-11-05 New Best Time! 11.487 @ 116.524mph w/1.583 60 ft. * *

150 N20 wet with a progressive controller. I also had just broken my Detroit Locker and switched to a Spool.

Finally made it to a 1/4 mile track! I went to LACR in Palmdale CA. It is a higher elevation track (2710'). The altitude corrected time for this run was 11.142 @ 120.02. LACR's Website <-Scroll to the bottom to see the altitude calculations for this track.

Here is my timeslip for that run. I couldn't believe it hooked so hard.

* * 03-31-05 New Best 1/8 mile Time! 7.083 @ 96.05mph w/1.507 60 ft. * * On line for an 11 second flat run. Amazing! I was able to lift the front wheels about 6 inches off the ground. Not bad for a full weight plus speaker/amp, laptop and extra full N20 bottle riding along. I launched with a 75 shot and ramped it over 6 seconds to 150. I can't wait to see how it will launch on the whole 150. Unfortunately I have to wait to get a roll cage, 5pt harness and fire suit before I can do this again or go any faster. Here is the slip:

It amazes me to know I have a solid low 11 second car that I can drive to work if I wanted. I really got to get that roll cage now. I just hate to get rid of my speaker setup. Oh well, less weight will only make me faster.

Here are pictures of me at my first ever bracket race. The Summit Series race at California Dragway on 03-06-05. I was not able to do a proper test run, so I guessed my dial in. I figured it would be safer to aim low so I could lift if needed. I dialed in an 11.80, but I ran way too fast. I cut a .012 light and was 7.295 1/8 mile, on my way to breaking out by far. I lost by .0086 in the first round after I jammed on the brakes and coasted across the finish with a 12.059 @ 98.61 mph. Oh well, it was a great first time experience.

Here I am on 05-29-05 at Irwindale Dragstrip chasing down a Roadrunner, getting my wheels up!

Here are a few of my friends I race with - well hang out with anyway, they would whoop me in a race ;)
I thank each of them for all of their advice and help:

On the left: Marvin in his big block Vega wheels up with a 10.10 dial in - in a VEGA!
On the right: Greg (Chino Hills Transmission) in his 9 sec Camaro.

On the left: Jerry's insane beast that was once a Camaro.
On the right: Jerry's wife Connie (Crazy Connie) showing us why wheelie bars were invented.

Seen here: Rick (Chino Hills Transmission) in his 1937 Fiat.

Another big thanks goes to my friend and our track photographer Ryan. Thanks for all the great pictures!

Here�s my license plate frame, so if you see me, wave!

Advice and input welcome. Thanks for look'n!