Canuck Caprice

Tell us about your new PPV, show us some pictures, let us know how you did what you did!
Forum rules
One thread per car per member in this section. No thread hijacking in this section please, if it's strictly a tech discussion please move it to the appropriate sub-forum - moderators can assist if needed or requested.
JUNKYARD_JACK
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 10:13 am

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by JUNKYARD_JACK »

Killer build, I love how this car has progressed.
User avatar
Mooseman
Posts: 1075
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:35 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Contact:

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by Mooseman »

Thanks. A bit stalled right now. The next thing would be the Brembo brakes. Got everything, just have to do it.
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
User avatar
Mooseman
Posts: 1075
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:35 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Contact:

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by Mooseman »

Several things done over the past couple of weeks. Did the front Brembos. Only issue I had there was that the spokes on the wheels hit the calipers. I was at a rental garage so had to put washers to get me home until I got some proper spacers, which I installed today. Then on Monday, did the rears. Only issue there was the bolts that were too long so I cut them down to proper size. And as known from others, cut the dust shields to clear the rotors. I now find the brakes much more firm and the pads completely clear the rotors when not applied.

Today, had it aligned as another shop completely botched it. Apart from the front that was totally out to lunch, the rear was also off a bit on the toe. She now tracks straight as an arrow.

Put some strap style exhaust clamps as the cheap ones that came with the exhaust system were leaking a bit and causing a rich condition in bank 1 (+20 LTFT). After resetting the trims, she's running normal again.

Now I just have an issue with the TCC not engaging properly and sometimes fluctuating RPMs. I can engage it solidly using my Tech 2 however leaving it to the TCM, it doesn't apply enough pressure. I'll have to check the tune compared to the stock tune to see if it's been botched or something.
PXL_20210920_172832863_resized1379935122515376256.jpg
PXL_20210920_172832863_resized1379935122515376256.jpg (338.89 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
PXL_20210920_212622360_resized1304151096614642923-2.jpg
PXL_20210920_212622360_resized1304151096614642923-2.jpg (537.46 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
PXL_20210920_171119360_resized3014292355077675246.jpg
PXL_20210920_171119360_resized3014292355077675246.jpg (496.17 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
PXL_20210920_170632997_resized5069878902179479941[768].jpg
PXL_20210920_170632997_resized5069878902179479941[768].jpg (498.75 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
PXL_20210920_165819746_resized2930896750416954714[769].jpg
PXL_20210920_165819746_resized2930896750416954714[769].jpg (536.2 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
PXL_20210904_214252759_resized2935390219607524693-1.jpg
PXL_20210904_214252759_resized2935390219607524693-1.jpg (352.35 KiB) Viewed 3375 times
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
JUNKYARD_JACK
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 10:13 am

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by JUNKYARD_JACK »

Are these the 4 piston units off the front of the 16+ camaro?

Just kidding I wet back through and saw where you bought these brakes, are these 4 pots front and rear? do they feel better?
User avatar
Mooseman
Posts: 1075
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:35 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Contact:

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by Mooseman »

JUNKYARD_JACK wrote: Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:39 am Are these the 4 piston units off the front of the 16+ camaro?

Just kidding I wet back through and saw where you bought these brakes, are these 4 pots front and rear? do they feel better?
Yep, 4 pistons front and rear. For feel, I think they are firmer and what I like that I noticed on the fronts is that the pads do not rub at all when not applied. I did it more for the looks than actual braking performance.
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
JUNKYARD_JACK
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 10:13 am

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by JUNKYARD_JACK »

Well I can 100% appreciate that, If I upgrade my calipers I want to it mostly for looks as well. I'd love to get them powder coated and have some nice red Brembos behind the wheels on my caprice.
User avatar
Mooseman
Posts: 1075
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:35 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Contact:

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by Mooseman »

This story started Tue. Went to start the Caprice to go to work and click. Changed venue to another vehicle in my fleet. Back home after work, diagnosed as a dead starter after trying to boost it and jumping the relay. Next day, ordered a brand new ACDelco from work (I am currently working in a GM dealership). With my discount, price was $228 instead of almost $400. A rebuilt would have been cheaper but would be a week or more out. Talk about excessive packaging though.
Packaging
Packaging
IMG_20230511_172632_resized4471927504463489313.jpg (452.31 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
New starter
New starter
IMG_20230511_172645_resized8435957484910320096.jpg (297.62 KiB) Viewed 1088 times

Yesterday was swap day. Since it has headers, removing the cat as indicated by SI is not required. Still tight because of the engine mount, which is why it uses a smaller gear reduction starter, common only to the Caprice and Camaro. The bolts were pretty seized. One eventually came out but the other gave me grief. Having only a 13mm head, it stripped trying to use the impact and breaker bar. Broke out the bolt extractor and it eventually came out but only using the breaker bar almost the whole way, fighting me the whole time. I was sure it was gonna break. It has a heat shield attached that restricted fore and aft movement but eventually was able to pry it out.
Old starter
Old starter
IMG_20230513_151405_resized226275721239237377.jpg (316.12 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
Damaged bolt
Damaged bolt
IMG_20230513_163833_resized8678918966502466180.jpg (176.74 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
Added some stick on heat shield onto the new starter just to help protect it (Camaro owners are in a lawsuit against GM for hot start issues). Decided to install the heat shield after the starter is in place. Made the install easier however, installing the tiny heat shield bolts was more difficult. Wound up installing two of three of them as the headers were in the way. Luckily I found a spare starter bolt however was a 15mm head instead of the original 13mm. Added lots on antiseize. Cleaned up the battery cable, attached it however GM were too cheap to include a new nut so had to clean and reuse the old one.
New starter with extra shielding
New starter with extra shielding
IMG_20230513_163752_resized3421475235408397562.jpg (477.1 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
New starter in place
New starter in place
IMG_20230513_173152_resized6241832770468322532.jpg (371.2 KiB) Viewed 1088 times
Anyway, took almost 4 hours. She cranks even faster than it ever has. You might notice on the bottom of the old one that there is some corrosion on the aluminum. That actually broke right off and left an open space into the starter. This car was previously driven in winter so anyone with a rust belt car can expect similar issues.
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
User avatar
Mooseman
Posts: 1075
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:35 pm
Location: Ottawa, ON Canada
Contact:

Re: Canuck Caprice

Post by Mooseman »

Hadn't taken it out to the track since the exhaust and tune. Did that yesterday and was quite pleased. When it was completely stock, it did mid-14's. She's now in the 13.8 with a best of 13.6 in the 1/4. Nice improvement however my problem now is traction. Need bigger tires! :D
1000001688_resized987736628562740394.jpg
1000001688_resized987736628562740394.jpg (267.91 KiB) Viewed 817 times
2011 Caprice PPV, former RCMP test vehicle, never put into service
Build Thread: http://www.newcaprice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2419
Post Reply