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Congratulations, 1991vortech335! You are the July 2016 TGO COTM winner!
Such a close race too, between you and Chazman. I am glad that you two didn't tie, forcing me to cast the deciding vote.
This one must have just come down to personal preference because I can see no decline in quality of car or presentation from #1 thru #4.
That is one nasty little sleeper you have there. Way to represent what Third Gens can do. You make us proud.
It started as an all original SLP optioned car with every available option for the 91 year for the convertible. I wanted to do something that would leave most competitors (and exotics) in the dust while keeping it so very close to stock at the same time and saving all the stock pieces to put it back to numbers matching if I wanted to in the future. It started with the LB9 block being pulled and bored 60 thou over and "cleaned up" the stock bottom end was replaced with an internally balanced 400 crank and rods and topped off with some new Keith Black Pistons. The stock heads, which are still in use received a very "liberal" porting, polishing and angled valve job to greatly increase flow while being safe from any interference, as was the upgrade in cam, and new roller rockers. The intake base, runners and plenum all received a port and polish and the throttle body "grew" just a tad as well. The ignition and spark system has been greatly enhanced as has the feel system with duel high pressure electric Holley pumps and an adjustable regulator as well as the injectors going up to 50 lbs from the stock 19. Every stock piece has been carefully stored as well. The biggest boom comes from a Vortech supercharger that can deliver 4-20 pounds of boost. The whole package packs a whallop delivering 586 hp at the flywheel and that is fed to the tires through a rebuilt Trans Go 700R4 and 2800 stall, aluminum driveshaft and a Dana rear end with 3.42 gears. Again, all original parts were carefully stored. The engine breathes through heavily match ported manifolds to retain the air tubes and proper fit and a Magnaflow Y pipe, Magnaflow twin hi flow cats and Magnaflow 3" cat back. Spohn frame connectors were added to increase stiffness and all bushings changed to poly units along with larger sway bars front and back and Eibach lowering springs and dampers. The car sits only 1 inch lower then stock but is much "stiffer".
Overall from the outside with the hood closed there is no real indication what's lurking under the hood which is a lot of fun and from time to time has surprised the odd Porche, Ferrari ect but my most cherished addition to the car is the child seat for my little girl so we can enjoy a nice cruise to all the local car shows where we can walk around, enjoy looking at all the other nice cars.
Once again I would like to say thank you for being nominated alongside these fantastic rides! You're cars are gorgeous guys!
Congrats on the win, well deserved!!! I would love to turn my LB9 into a sleeper as nice as yours. Did you do all the work yourself or did you find a really nice shop to help out?
What an absolute honour!!! Thank you all so much!!!! I have to say all the cars considered this month are all winners! They are such beautiful rides and examples of pristine 3rd Gens. I have only ever seen 1 other convertible 3rd generation up my way and it goes to show just how rare these are today and it's absolutely amazing to see that we have 4 all equally gorgeous machines grouped together. Once again, thank you so very much and long live the 3rd Gens!!!
Originally Posted by Linson
LIAR
CHEATER
COTM WINNER
Congratulations, 1991vortech335! You are the July 2016 TGO COTM winner!
Such a close race too, between you and Chazman. I am glad that you two didn't tie, forcing me to cast the deciding vote.
This one must have just come down to personal preference because I can see no decline in quality of car or presentation from #1 thru #4.
That is one nasty little sleeper you have there. Way to represent what Third Gens can do. You make us proud.
Congratulations to EVERYONE in this running, as said, ALL incredible cars!!!!
And big CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CANADIAN WINNER ON THIS WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RED AND WHITE TAK'IN IT HOME!!!!!
There was something very familiar about those pictures...
I went to the Innisfil Beach Cruisers nights a bunch last year, the Wednesday Barrie meets almost every week, The Bradford meet a few times and the one near Vaughn, surprised I haven't seen your car!
Now out on the east coast where the scene is pretty lousy, Nothing like that part of Ontario with a meet every night of the week if you wanted to!
Oh wow! We have definitely crossed paths and not even known it! I could have very well been there in a 1975 Corvette too but gotta say my Camaro is my favourite. I'm a part of the Innisfil Beach Cruisers as well. The Innisfil show is still Thursday so if ever you're out this way again be sure to stop in, I'm there every Thursday I'm not on afternoon shift (2 weeks days, 2 weeks afternoons)
Nice car BTW!!
Originally Posted by WTR388
There was something very familiar about those pictures...
I went to the Innisfil Beach Cruisers nights a bunch last year, the Wednesday Barrie meets almost every week, The Bradford meet a few times and the one near Vaughn, surprised I haven't seen your car!
Now out on the east coast where the scene is pretty lousy, Nothing like that part of Ontario with a meet every night of the week if you wanted to!
Thank you so much and you have an amazing ride yourself!!! I did a lot of work myself but also had help too which I'm thankful for. All the block boring, decking and machining and balancing was done through a local engine builder who is well known for building stock car engines for our CASCAR series. He also took care of decking the heads, porting and polishing as well and all the machine work porting and polishing the intake, plenum, runners, intake and manifolds. Dropping it all back into the car was hands on TPIS took car of burning and programming a chip for me after I gave them ALL the detailed specs of the engine, tranny, rear end, gearing and all other performance parts such as cam specs, ignition, supercharger boost and running PSI but a "Boost Retard" dial helps the timing out too for larger to full amounts of boost.
It's a long build and expensive one! lol But it was so worth it and I enjoy it so much.
If you do go the 335 Stroker route make sure you get an internally balanced 400 crank, as it keeps things looking stock from the outside
I have a lot of people look under the hood and tell themselves and others that it's a supercharged 305, which is kinda true but nobody knows from looking at it which helps with the sleeper aspect a little bit more even though there's a shiny Vortech there! :P
Originally Posted by Thornburg
Congrats on the win, well deserved!!! I would love to turn my LB9 into a sleeper as nice as yours. Did you do all the work yourself or did you find a really nice shop to help out?
Oh wow! We have definitely crossed paths and not even known it! I could have very well been there in a 1975 Corvette too but gotta say my Camaro is my favourite. I'm a part of the Innisfil Beach Cruisers as well. The Innisfil show is still Thursday so if ever you're out this way again be sure to stop in, I'm there every Thursday I'm not on afternoon shift (2 weeks days, 2 weeks afternoons)
Nice car BTW!!
Thanks... I haven't driven her this year, found a kink in the front transverse brake line when I was doing the LS1 brakes and need to do a couple more things before the NB safety (which we do EVERY year out here).
Is that your 'vette about 5 cars back in my second pic? (next to the fiero/lambo) There was one that was gorgeous there with a cage and the body was different, I think it was some type of factory option body kit or something.
I was asked to become a member to the club, but I knew I was leaving. Good group of people and a great meet!
