[Junior1]

As some of you guys know, I've been bouncing around the idea of converting the V into a dedicated track car.
Main use will be to run NASA's ST2 class with the possibility of running in other SCCA classes as well.
Today, I'm happy to report that the first step in the build process has begun.
I hope to provide a step by step process that will detail all of the changes from start to finish...

Vehicle as it stands today road ready is:

2005 CTS-V
Light Platinum w/ Black interior
LS6/6 speed tremec
11,771 miles

Current Mods:

Magnaflow Cat-Back exhaust
Diablo Predator tune
Ron Davis Racing radiator
FG2 Shocks
UUC Poly motor mounts, tranny mount, and diff bushing
UUC short shifter
Spectre Werkes delrin cradle bushings
Rear Strut tower brace
UUC Braided brake lines
GM Performance/Brembo cross drilled rotors
Motul 600 fluid
Michelin Pilot SuperSport Tires

12/4/11: Conversion

All Fab work for the rollcage as well as complete gut of the interior and removal of all non-necessary parts is being done by Phoenix Performance*
Last year at the V Performance Lab @ MMC, I met John Heinricy who recommended I get in touch with the owner, Joe Aquilante, who happens to build and maintain some of the Vettes that HeinRocket has had much success with running in the SCCA ranks. It also didn't hurt that Phoenix had built the V that John Buttermore has had his success in T2 so I know they have experience working with V's

First order of business is to completely remove the interior and begin fabrication on the SCCA/NASA legal rollcage, as well as remove all of the non-essential parts such as the air conditioning and other heavyweight items.
(BTW, please contact me if you should need any stock interior parts)

Pictures to follow soon...


*About Phoenix Performance: Phoenix Performance, LLC owned by Joe Aquilante, is based in a 32,000 sq ft race shop in Phoenixville, PA. Since 1999, Phoenix Performance-prepared cars have won 21 SCCA National Championship Runoffs in Touring and Showroom Stock classes, 2 professional series Driver and Manufacturer Championships, and the GM Motorsports Winner's Circle Award

 

[Junior1]

Go for it Chris. :thumbsup:

Dropped it off at the shop yesterday...

Let me know if you need any black interior parts

 

[Junior1]

Are they going to be using a jig for the fabrication of the full cage - i.e., is it going to be something they can reproduce for other Vs or is it going to be just a custom job?

Pretty certain IIRC they still had the prints for the cage since they built quite a few back in the day. Of course they were also able to add/subtract custom options I wanted

Absolutely Fantastic! Will you be using the offset front upper control arms?:bouncy:

Joe mentioned that they documented the ones they sold recently and his fab guy is able to replicate them if I wanted them

 

[Junior1]

Do you have a race weight in mind? dry or full of liquids

Nothing set in stone as of yet other than to try and shave off as much as I can in increments.
2 piece rotors, TD wheels, carbon fiber race seats, carbon Fiber body panels, Lexan windows, etc.

What I do have is a ratio. That ratio is equal to or greater than 8.70:1.
NASA uses this "adjusted" weight to horsepower ratio to classify the vehicle. Which basically opens up the door to unlimited performance/body/chassis and aero modifications. Certain items such as a dog ring gear box carry a penalty of -0.2 and other things such as it being a four door allow +0.4.
I can go greater than that ratio (less competitive), but under that ratio bumps me into a faster class (in this case it would be ST1 with a ratio of 5.50:1)
My plan is to trim as much as I can and get as close as possible to that 8.70 ratio.

 

[Junior1]

im sure you've seen the thread but theres another nasa build on here that talks about his + and - points for his mods, ill see if i can dig it up.

Cant wait to see some more progress.

Yep similar idea, that was for Time Trial IIRC, + or - points.

These get added or subtracted from the overall ratio

 

[Junior1]

are you parting with the panels between the rear windshield and rear windows? would love to replace my "broken ones" thanx

Sorry about that Donny. I got your PM the other day but I was just waiting back for an email. I'm pretty certain you are talking about the "sail panels" and unfortunately both of mine have the same plastic tab thats snapped that allows them to pop out erery so often.
You can get in touch with Luke from Lindsay, I think he had them in stock and they were not too expensive IIRC.

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 12/15/2011

Moved into the Roll Cage shop

Removed all of the interior, the windshield and the back glass and everything else inside that would be in the way of the roll cage assembly.

Today, they will start prepping the mounting points for the roll cage and bending bars !!!

 

[Junior1]

I know in the end it's gonna be BADASS. But in those pictures, I just think; poor cadillac. haha

LOL wifey said the same thing...I said "look someone stole the whole interior"

 

[Junior1]

LOL,

I just sent Joe an e-mail about a possible cage for my car, before I even bothered to do a search over here.

Junior, Can you PM me your e-mail, I'd like to talk if possible.

-Chris

PM sent...

 

[Junior1]

Didn't want to be the one to say it but :yeah:

Could have sold this one and bought a high milaege car and been further ahead IMHO. Oh well a little late for that!

I like to build off strong foundations. I've owned the car since 3,400 miles. All the quirks are worked out, all reliability mods were done and everything that needed replacement was done while still under warranty.
I'm yet to come across any competitive race team that didn't either start with a body-in-white or somewhat completely new vehicle. Yes, it may cost a little more in the end, but I can rest assured I'm not dealing with a headache. Not to mention I can readily sell any part I don't need off the car since it is in such great condition...

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 12/30/2011

Removed caulk and seam sealer from the interior.

Put on the lift and prepped anchor points from below.

Race seat came in, Recaro Pro Racer HANS XL, along with aluminum mounting brackets

More pics to follow over the weekend...

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 1/4/2012

As promised, some updated pics after I went to the shop to drop off the seat and brackets...

Caulking, seam sealer, and sound proofing removed. Mounting points being prepped

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 1/20/2012

Few more pictures to add...

Making some progress on the cage...Main hoop, Halo, Door Bars, A Pillars and Rear Mounts
And removal of some unnecessary items and A/C equipment underhood.

 

[Junior1]

* UPDATE * 1/25/2012

Lexan windows got delivered today. Windshield, Back glass and Rear Door glass with Makrolon coating.
All 4 pieces plus the shipping materials and box were not even 50 lbs.

 

[Junior1]

* UPDATE * 1/29/2012

Few more pics of the cage

 

[Junior1]

Do you have a handle on how much weight the cage is adding ?

Not exact numbers but with the removal of the stock seats and all interior trim they figured it to be pretty close to even.
With the addition of the lexan though we're pretty confident we are well under now.

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 2/24/2012

The cage is all complete and welded up. Car is in the paint shop being prepped for paint...

 

[Junior1]

You're missing a rear strut tower brace there . Could it be integrated into the roll hoop ? Would that even make sense ?

Its actually integrated into the cage, you can kind of see it in the 4th picture.
The pictures were taken by the shop at certain angles on purpose, to not give away too much info...
Plus my original brace will still bolt in on top if needed.

 

[Junior1]

* UPDATE * 3/5/2012

Interior and cage just painted.
Coming out of the booth to get unmasked and re-assembly to begin this week...

 

[Junior1]

*UPDATE* 3/29/2012

Reassembly coming along nicely.
Wiring is being put in place and the dash is back in. Provisions for the lexan windows are done.
The Momo steering wheel arrived as well as other misc parts.
Trans Cooler, Rear Diff Cooler and Oil Cooler being routed. Headers and test pipes (thanks to yooper) arrived and are installed. Fire system and control arms are going in as well. Just contemplating doing the clutch, etc while its still apart.
Sorry no pics yet...