JLL's: The Golden Bullet

107870 Views 1202 Replies 30 Participants Last post by MP81, 12 d ago

JLL

Discussion Starter · Jan 12, 2021 (Edited)

Updated Modifications List (As of 04/17/2023):

APPEARANCE MODS:
Custom Emblem: The Golden Bullet
ANZO USA Projector Headlights
6000K HID Kit (for low beams)
5000K Osram 80W Halogen bulbs (for high beams)
ANZO USA Smoked Tailights
F1R F103 18x8.5 +38 Wheels
245/40R18 93W Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season Tires

SUSPENSION/BRAKE MODS:
Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs
KONI Adjustable Sport Struts & Shocks
Camber Bolts
Whiteline 27 mm Front Stabilizer Bar
Whiteline 22 mm Rear Stabilizer Bar

ENGINE and DRIVETRAIN MODIFICATIONS:
Custom Tuned by Vermont Tuning
Motion Raceworks Dual Channel Ethanol Sensor Mount
-10 AN PTFE Fuel Line
Custom Air Intake
ZZP Intercooler Package
650cc Deatschwerks Fuel Injectors
Radium Engineering Fuel Pulse Damper
Deatschwerks 110mm Dual Filtration Fuel Filter
MSD Ignition Coil
NGK V-Power BRK7E Spark Plugs Gap ~0.025"
Custom 3" 304 Stainless Magnaflow Exhaust
Diamond Racing Forged Pistons
Custom Pauter X Beam 4340 Billet Connecting Rods
ZZP Head Studs

NEW CLINDER HEAD INCLUDING:
ZZP Stage 1 Performance Intake Camshaft
ZZP 72 Lbs Valve Springs
ZZP Titanium Valve Spring Retainers
New OEM Intake Camshaft for Exhaust Side
New Lifters
New Rocker Arms
New Valves
New Valve Stem Seals
TTR Polyurethane Front Engine Mount
TTR Polyurethane Rear Transmission Mount

Garrett G25-550 .49AR Turbocharger
Custom T25 Exhaust Manifold
RacerX Intake Manifold
ZZP 65mm Throttle Body
RacerX Fuel Rail
GFB Hybrid BOV
AEM E85 Rated High Pressure Fuel Pump
Griffin Maxcool Radiator 31" x 19" x 3"
Russell 15" Finned Tank Style Trans Cooler
GM LUJ/LUV Big 3 Wiring Kit

INTERIOR MODS:
ZZP Guage Pod Pillar
Aeroforce Interceptor Scan Guage
Autometer Sport Comp II Boost Guage.

Engine Compartment April 2023:

Car Vehicle Grille Hood Automotive lighting

Original Post:

Today I thought I would get off the fence and start a build thread. I apologize, as I have never documented any of my mods previously so, I do not have many pictures. Before I get into my my current mods, I'd like to talk a little bit about my work space. I've heard a lot of people on this forum let a lack of space or a "shop" area detour them from performing moderate/significant modifications to their vehicles. I live in the second story of a duplex home in the city. For those in a similar environment, I wanted to let you know that it can be done. My workspace a concrete pad where a garage once sat.

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JLL

Discussion Starter · #181 · May 11, 2021

MP81 said:
Jegs, but they're drop-shipping from Global West. GW's site does say they're experiencing delays, which is understandable, but I'd think by now I should have at least an update. I'll probably email Jegs here to see if they're heard anything, or can prod GW for an update. I ordered the GW solid body bushings as well, albeit from Summit Racing, and those were in stock and I had them within a week.

I've never ordered from Jeg's. Summit Racing is awesome though.

Mr_Pat

· #182 · May 11, 2021

Curious as to why you we t with springs instead of coil over?

JLL

Discussion Starter · #183 · May 11, 2021

Mr_Pat said:
Curious as to why you we t with springs instead of coil over?

I'm more confident with the shock/strut/spring combination. I've never dealt with coilovers before.
In my mind, a shock/strut/spring combination seems more robust than coilovers.

Mr_Pat

· #184 · May 11, 2021

Ahh.. to me they are essentially the same. Coil over just has a smaller outside diameter spring but typically similar rate. And the perch the spring rides on is adjustable for height. . I was just curious. I do like eibachs springs they actually mad the springs for the coil over setup that on my conquest.

JLL

Discussion Starter · #185 · May 11, 2021

Mr_Pat said:
Ahh.. to me they are essentially the same. Coil over just has a smaller outside diameter spring but typically similar rate. And the perch the spring rides on is adjustable for height. . I was just curious. I do like eibachs springs they actually mad the springs for the coil over setup that on my conquest.

That interesting to know.

Blasirl

· #186 · May 11, 2021

MP81 said:
Hot ****. That might still be better timing than I'm seeing for my subframe connectors. I ordered them about a month ago and still have no update on when they might actually ship.

For the Camaro?

MP81

· #187 · May 11, 2021

JLL said:
I've never ordered from Jeg's. Summit Racing is awesome though.

Jegs is good too, similar shipping times and pricing.

Blasirl said:
For the Camaro?

Yup! Mainly because I need to replace the body bushings, and the GW subframe connectors come with the rear two. They (GW) then sell a kit of just the remaining four bushings instead of buying all six. I might as well just do SFCs at the same time.

Reactions: 1

JLL

Discussion Starter · #188 · May 12, 2021

2

UPDATE: Thanks to the expediency of ZZPerformance, I received my lowering springs yesterday afternoon. Too bad they'll be sitting in a box for 3-4 weeks until the other parts get here.

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Blasirl

· #189 · May 12, 2021

Welcome to the lowered life - soon anyways.

Thebigzeus

· #190 · May 12, 2021

V nice, gonna be scraping all often the place lol

JLL

Discussion Starter · #191 · May 12, 2021

Thebigzeus said:
V nice, gonna be scraping all often the place lol

I don't scrap but if I put it in the alley behind the house somebody will take it.

JLL

Discussion Starter · #192 · May 12, 2021

Blasirl said:
Welcome to the lowered life - soon anyways.

Hopefully by June. I've noticed as the car has gotten more spirited, the lack of handing has become more apparent.

MP81

· #193 · May 12, 2021

JLL said:
I'm more confident with the shock/strut/spring combination. I've never dealt with coilovers before.
In my mind, a shock/strut/spring combination seems more robust than coilovers.

FWIW, my brother made the same decision for a similar reason on his Mustang. Yes coilovers are better, but single-adjustable Koni Yellows and the H&R Race springs is also a very good combination. He doesn't need all the adjustability - with the very real potential to screw the settings up (and it would have been even more work for me anyway). That all said, we might very well go with coilovers on his Buick, but who knows - given it gets driven in winter, that may not be ideal...

I think he's at the point now where he can probably bring the Konis up off full soft - been almost a year and good few hundred miles now, so he should be good and broken in.

JLL

Discussion Starter · #194 · May 12, 2021

MP81 said:
FWIW, my brother made the same decision for a similar reason on his Mustang. Yes coilovers are better, but single-adjustable Koni Yellows and the H&R Race springs is also a very good combination. He doesn't need all the adjustability - with the very real potential to screw the settings up (and it would have been even more work for me anyway). That all said, we might very well go with coilovers on his Buick, but who knows - given it gets driven in winter, that may not be ideal...

I think he's at the point now where he can probably bring the Konis up off full soft - been almost a year and good few hundred miles now, so he should be good and broken in.

Yeah. I don't really like to have to adjust things more than once or twice. I like to get it dialed in and leave it there FOREVER.

On my Cobalt, I adjusted the dampening settings twice. Although I only had the KONI's on it for 8 months. They were the insert style dampners in front and it seemed like they never held alignment because there was always a little movement between the insert and the strut housing.

Thankfully the KONI's for the Cruze are struts and not inserts.

MP81

· #195 · May 12, 2021

JLL said:
Yeah. I don't really like to have to adjust things more than once or twice. I like to get it dialed in and leave it there FOREVER.

On my Cobalt, I adjusted the dampening settings twice. Although I only had the KONI's on it for 8 months. They were the insert style dampners in front and it seemed like they never held alignment because there was always a little movement between the insert and the strut housing.

Thankfully the KONI's for the Cruze are struts and not inserts.

That's specifically why I didn't go with the yellows on my Cobalt.

JLL

Discussion Starter · #196 · May 12, 2021

MP81 said:
That's specifically why I didn't go with the yellows on my Cobalt.

Good choice.

MP81

· #197 · May 12, 2021

JLL said:
Good choice.

I think so. The FE5 struts/shocks have held up plenty well for the past 11 years (and the struts were used when I bought them).

JLL

Discussion Starter · #198 · May 12, 2021

MP81 said:
I think so. The FE5 struts/shocks have held up plenty well for the past 11 years (and the struts were used when I bought them).

That's what I switched to as well as the springs. The lasted for 7 years until the car was totaled.

Reactions: 1

JLL

Discussion Starter · #199 · May 14, 2021

UPDATE: To complete my handling upgrade I purchased a Front Stabilizer Bar, Rear Stabilizer Bar, and Stabilizer Links from Whiteline Performance today. The front bar and links were in stock. The rear bar was a "Pre-order" item, expected to ship next week.

Thebigzeus

· #200 · May 14, 2021

JLL said:
UPDATE: To complete my handling upgrade I purchased a Front Stabilizer Bar, Rear Stabilizer Bar, and Stabilizer Links from Whiteline Performance today. The front bar and links were in stock. The rear bar was a "Pre-order" item, expected to ship next week.

Were you able to get the bar for between the struts? I have been trying to for a year and cannot find it in stock anywhere.

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