My "Buy a LNF they said..." Problem/Build Thread.
11-24-2014, 09:38 AM
#1
My "Buy a LNF they said..." Problem/Build Thread.
I bought this Imperial Blue 2009 LNF with 57k on it in November 2014. Car came from a forum member and had a few things done to it. Price was right so we made a deal.
OEM Options:
Bluetooth/USB/AUX
On Star
RPD
G85 (LSD)
High rise
Black/black interior
Aftermarket Parts:
G5 Carbon Dash Kit
BPS STS
BPS Cable clamp
BPS Shifter bushings
Kenwood sub/amp/box (single 10")
Eibach Sportlines
Injen charge pipe
Hahn CAI
Spoiler delete/shaved trunk
Sleepy eyes
KY Stage 3 Clutch
ZZP Oversized intercooler
25.5 PSI "PANDA" HPT tune
The car had squishy brakes and a stubborn clutch, but I was assured that the car had been looked at, diagnosed with a bad master, and given a brand new OEM master to install to fix the problem. This was just the tip.....
OEM Options:
Bluetooth/USB/AUX
On Star
RPD
G85 (LSD)
High rise
Black/black interior
Aftermarket Parts:
G5 Carbon Dash Kit
BPS STS
BPS Cable clamp
BPS Shifter bushings
Kenwood sub/amp/box (single 10")
Eibach Sportlines
Injen charge pipe
Hahn CAI
Spoiler delete/shaved trunk
Sleepy eyes
KY Stage 3 Clutch
ZZP Oversized intercooler
25.5 PSI "PANDA" HPT tune
The car had squishy brakes and a stubborn clutch, but I was assured that the car had been looked at, diagnosed with a bad master, and given a brand new OEM master to install to fix the problem. This was just the tip.....
11-24-2014, 09:57 AM
#5
Upon test driving the car I logged the tune file with HPT, posted screen shots, and was told that the tune was bad. When I bought it, Terminator2 graciously took a look at the file and, well, changes were made. Lots. In the mean time I swapped out the master and worked on getting the clutch and brakes to feel right. Vacuum bleeding, standard, gravity, and nothing worked. Clutch still felt like ****, brakes still had air. After a couple tune revisions the car pulled harder than ever and the clutch finally said "**** you." So I called up my good buddy Supacharged06 and we got to work.
Upon tearing into it we found some lovely backyard mechanic mistakes that could have cost me my life had the clutch not blow out in 5 days.
Keep in mind the owner told me the clutch was done about 6 months ago. I called KY and they are going to hook me up with a rebuild on my clutch, a brand new slave bearing, and a new disc. Awesome customer service.
Cracked and chipped friction material on the pucks
Everything that is black is caked on fluid and friction debris
Scores all over the pressure plate
Currently the car sits on jack stands with no transmission since I am going to Ohio for the holiday. When I get back it will be getting some work and clean up.
First order of business is to take a torque wrench to every single bolt I feel may have been touched by whoever owned this car before me. Aside from that I am awaiting some fun stuff:
-Forge VTA
-ZZP lower charge pipe
-MAF relocate w/ ZZP harness
-Moog Sway bar endlinks
-Rotors and pads
-Camaro SS emblems on the doors only
The charge pipes and intake are going to be painted matte gold. I am repainting the brembos red with gold lettering. I am going to spray the ZZP logo on the IC in black paint. The sleep eyes are getting removed. I am adding my Hella Supertones from my LSJ into the grille.
With the awesome mechanic skills the former owner or his shop had, I am also replacing the control arms and the right side knuckle. They installed the ball joint into the hub with a sledge hammer and them impacted the bolt on. It is impossible to separate because the aluminum has been crushed together. This was on the same side that the wheel bearing has 1/4" of play between the backing and the hub because the bolts were installed with only fingers.
I am adding them and collecting my scattered posts about it.
Yea it does. Blowing the clutch possibly saved my life though.
Upon tearing into it we found some lovely backyard mechanic mistakes that could have cost me my life had the clutch not blow out in 5 days.
And fail!
Upon pulling the trans we discovered the person that put this clutch in has no business working on cars.
Of 7 transmission to engine bolts, 4 were hand right.
Of 4 subframe bolts, 3 were hand tight and 1 was two threads lose.
Of 3 wheel bearing bolts not one single bolt was tight; not even hand tight! 1/4" play from lose bolts.
What. The. ****.
I am lucky I didn't die in the couple days I drove this car. Seriously shitty.
In other news; that TOB blew from too much air in it. Guess why!!!
If you guessed that the clutch pipe was never replaced or even tightened to the new TOB then you win!
Further more; new clutch my ass. PP is scored. Clutch pucks are pitted and cracked. PP is rusty as well.
Welcome to buying used cars. Smh.
Upon pulling the trans we discovered the person that put this clutch in has no business working on cars.
Of 7 transmission to engine bolts, 4 were hand right.
Of 4 subframe bolts, 3 were hand tight and 1 was two threads lose.
Of 3 wheel bearing bolts not one single bolt was tight; not even hand tight! 1/4" play from lose bolts.
What. The. ****.
I am lucky I didn't die in the couple days I drove this car. Seriously shitty.
In other news; that TOB blew from too much air in it. Guess why!!!
If you guessed that the clutch pipe was never replaced or even tightened to the new TOB then you win!
Further more; new clutch my ass. PP is scored. Clutch pucks are pitted and cracked. PP is rusty as well.
Welcome to buying used cars. Smh.
Cracked and chipped friction material on the pucks
Everything that is black is caked on fluid and friction debris
Scores all over the pressure plate
Currently the car sits on jack stands with no transmission since I am going to Ohio for the holiday. When I get back it will be getting some work and clean up.
First order of business is to take a torque wrench to every single bolt I feel may have been touched by whoever owned this car before me. Aside from that I am awaiting some fun stuff:
-Forge VTA
-ZZP lower charge pipe
-MAF relocate w/ ZZP harness
-Moog Sway bar endlinks
-Rotors and pads
-Camaro SS emblems on the doors only
The charge pipes and intake are going to be painted matte gold. I am repainting the brembos red with gold lettering. I am going to spray the ZZP logo on the IC in black paint. The sleep eyes are getting removed. I am adding my Hella Supertones from my LSJ into the grille.
With the awesome mechanic skills the former owner or his shop had, I am also replacing the control arms and the right side knuckle. They installed the ball joint into the hub with a sledge hammer and them impacted the bolt on. It is impossible to separate because the aluminum has been crushed together. This was on the same side that the wheel bearing has 1/4" of play between the backing and the hub because the bolts were installed with only fingers.
I am adding them and collecting my scattered posts about it.
Yea it does. Blowing the clutch possibly saved my life though.
Last edited by blueLNFftw; 11-24-2014 at 10:18 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
11-24-2014, 09:59 AM
#6
Lol. Supacharged06 (Colter) is doing just that after he turned #4 in pizza slices on a boost spike. We should have his done before christmas.
06 SS/SC w/ all options
built 2.1 stroker on a gen 3
s252et
ZZP supporting mods
BRFP Fueling
Alan's tuning.
11-24-2014, 10:02 AM
#7
And all in all, I am not mad. The body is clean. The interior is clean. It all could be way worse. It just seems like anything he touched has something about it being fucked so I am glad he did not touch too much. This sums up my feelings.
Had I been able to check all of these things though I would have offered him a solid $500-$800 less.
I am more annoyed that the previous owner talked about this being replaced and that being done like he took care of this car when he really didn't.
11-24-2014, 10:24 AM
#11
Kind of on the down time. I am really ready to off load my LSJ, but now I need to keep it for a few more weeks when I would rather have the cash to pay off my credit car and the small loan on the SS/TC.
Plus, baby on the way so less debt and more cash is always going to be a good thing haha.
11-24-2014, 11:44 AM
#13
Thanks.
I just want to get it looking pretty and driving correct.
I will be swapping on my SSC springs to get a little lower than the eibachs.
Alignment as well.
After all of this it should look really nice, pull hard, and give me a chance to get sick of it being slow and source a turbo upgrade.
I just want to get it looking pretty and driving correct.
I will be swapping on my SSC springs to get a little lower than the eibachs.
Alignment as well.
After all of this it should look really nice, pull hard, and give me a chance to get sick of it being slow and source a turbo upgrade.
11-25-2014, 09:28 AM
#14
She looks so sad in her current state.
Yesterday after work I took some steel wool and simple green to the transmission case and inside the bell housing to clean up the mess from the leaking TOB. I also cleaned the subframe up some and inside the engine bay. I tried seperating the knuckle and LCA one more time and it is just roached at this point. Mongo has a knuckle for me and 1panel2nv is hooking me up with a set of like new LCAs. I ordered MOOG CAB's for them, but I think I am going to talk to Josh about the OTTP LCA bushings instead; it would be a great time to install them now. I also ordered a Duplicolor kit to paint the Brembos and rear calipers. Going base/clear brilliant red and gold lettering on the Brembos. Picked up the paint for the charge pipes and intake as well. Using some Rustoleum gold shine that I will lay a high temp matte clear over. Should look great.
11-25-2014, 09:37 AM
#15
Im going to text you about the OTTP stuff.
as for the brake calipers ... i used G2 and it has been holding up great for 2 years now. (1 winter included going on winter #2)
also i painted mine white and they are still clean. G2 warranties they stuff for life. Against fade, chipping etc.
Also the stickers i got from house of grafx ... they worked great. I think 1panel2nv is the one who has his pic on their site.
I did 4 coats of G2, the more you do the better i would use up all the paint if you can. then after it dried i put on the brembo sticker, then did 3 coats of High Temp spray clear coat over top of it.
The more effort you put into the paint prep the better result you will have.
everything is looking good to this day.
as for the brake calipers ... i used G2 and it has been holding up great for 2 years now. (1 winter included going on winter #2)
also i painted mine white and they are still clean. G2 warranties they stuff for life. Against fade, chipping etc.
Also the stickers i got from house of grafx ... they worked great. I think 1panel2nv is the one who has his pic on their site.
I did 4 coats of G2, the more you do the better i would use up all the paint if you can. then after it dried i put on the brembo sticker, then did 3 coats of High Temp spray clear coat over top of it.
The more effort you put into the paint prep the better result you will have.
everything is looking good to this day.
11-25-2014, 09:42 AM
#16
Did you do them on the car or off?
I am thinking about just popping them off, plugging the line, and soaking the now dirty ones in brake parts cleaner before brushing them clean. Spray them with some adhesion promoter and then go to town on the paint.
I am thinking about just popping them off, plugging the line, and soaking the now dirty ones in brake parts cleaner before brushing them clean. Spray them with some adhesion promoter and then go to town on the paint.
11-25-2014, 10:01 AM
#17
i did them off the car... since i went from LSJ -> brembo's
i just did the painting and stuff during the winter and then put the brakes on in the spring. If you want a set of Stainless steel lines i can get you the hook-up too.
i cleaned mine with brake cleaner as well. and used a green scotch brite pad across the entire thing. I also sanded off the brembo logo that is on there so it would become flat.
but since the G2 is brush on its soooo much easier to apply off the car and you can do it inside.
i got mine from there ebay store for like $40 shipped.
i just did the painting and stuff during the winter and then put the brakes on in the spring. If you want a set of Stainless steel lines i can get you the hook-up too.
i cleaned mine with brake cleaner as well. and used a green scotch brite pad across the entire thing. I also sanded off the brembo logo that is on there so it would become flat.
but since the G2 is brush on its soooo much easier to apply off the car and you can do it inside.
i got mine from there ebay store for like $40 shipped.
11-25-2014, 10:37 AM
#20
My 2006 LSJ was used, but stock. I probably should have held out a little longer and bought a stock one, but they are harder and harder to come by. You should see some of the others out there. It is either stock or modded in terrible ways. This one is not TOO bad as the parts on the car are all brand name deals and the interior is super clean, so is the body. The car will be a beast once it is back together. I really just wish I would have known up front that I was going to to some TLC when I was more led to believe everything was great with it.
