Ah, the LLT, a 3.6L, Direct Injected, DOHC with VVT. A wonderful engine. Actually I have the utmost respect when it comes to engines. Every part has their part to play, and every part is developed through hours and hours of sweat and blood. Cheers to those hard workers. Click on the image to get the full scope of the engine... I just love it, and I think I would like to make that into a poster.
Anyway, lets take a moment to really appreciate all the nuts and bolts that make our V6 power machines.
Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day, and I just had to seize the moment... to work on my car. It's been a great 4000 miles now, and I haven't flushed out the Tranny Fluid, and I hadn't flushed out the Rear Differential Fluid either. It is recommended that you do these oil changes, including the engine, after breaking in the car. It's not the end of the world if you don't change these oils, but it can cause damage, and shorten the lifespan of your auto parts.
Well, as always, keeping you viewers in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to make a DIY tutorial on how to change your Rear Diff Oil. Let's get started.
Hope you've enjoyed the video. I think that pretty much sums it up. The following are just some more detailed steps, my personal experience, and tips.
Tools you will need: Rear Axle Fluid (Check your owner's manual for proper part numbers), Oil pan, Floor Jack, Axle Stands, Torque wrench with 3/8" drive, or adapter to 3/8" drive, Breaker bar or Socket wrench with 3/8" drive, Paper Towels and Towels.
The proper fluid for V6 Automatic Camaros without Limited Slip Differential. Need only 1 qt of oil (946 mL). One bottle is enough. Notice that this is a Synthetic Lubricant. No need to go Royal Purple or other brands. Infact, using GM specified fluids and oils is the only way to keep your warranty. Keep that in mind.
I chose to use a coffee filter, to see how much crap I can filter out on my first oil change. This is not needed, just for satisfying my curiosity. Use a regular Oil Pan in this case.
NOT mentioned in the video. But this should be a no brainer. ALWAYS block off the wheels incase the car rolls.
After the car is lifted, make your way to the Rear Differential housing. You will see two plugs on the Driver's side of the housing. The top one is the Fill Plug, and the lower one is the Drain Plug.
I put my axle stands on the ramps I have made for my engine oil change, to get maximum height. Make sure you know where to place your stands. I have made a post on stand positions, look for it if you need a guide.
Both plugs removed, and both cleaned off. The plug on the RIGHT is the Fill Plug. The plug on the LEFT is the Drain Plug. As you can see, your differential is trapped with tons of metal shavings, I was happy that I got all that crap out! As mentioned in the video, both plugs are magnetic plugs, keeping the larger metal shavings from moving around. Both plugs also have rubber O-rings, make sure that you do not lose those.
Look at the color of that oil! It is completely black and gray, full of metal shavings! The original fluid itself is somewhat 'Apple Juice' colored. Clear and a bit yellow.
If you do not own a fluid pump. Then you are in for a treat... NOT. This was the hardest part of the fluid change. You have to squeeze the bottle of oil into the fill hole. Remember, by this point, your Drain Plug should be screwed in, and torqued. You will have to find a good angle to work this oil into the fill hole. It's not impossible, just a lot of work. Fill to the brim, when the oil starts to drip out of the hole, you can stop. I had a bit of oil left in my bottle when I was finished, which I'll save for another day.
After you are done filling the oil. Place the Fill Plug back in, and torque to the right specs, 24 lb-ft.
Clean up and you are done. Last thing, always make note of the date and odometer reading of your service. Keep track of it so you know when to service it again in the future.
Okay guys, so this was a pretty easy thing to do. This took me a good 1.5 hours to complete. However, this being the first time doing it, plus taking pics and filming videos for you guys, I would say I could do it in 15-20 minutes the next time around. If this is your first time doing it, take your time, and follow the proper steps. Don't rush, it's not a race. Always work at your own pace. In summary though, I would say, do this as soon as you hit your break-in point. As you could see in the videos and pictures, the oil gets pretty filthy by 4000 miles. NEXT UP, TRANNY FLUSH!
Okay guys, so here is the full scoop on the Trifecta Tune for the 5th Gen V6 Camaro. Trifecta is currently the only tuning solution you can get on your V6. Purchasing is very easy, fill out a form, and pay. Vince from Trifecta is the tuner, and he pretty much custom tunes your car to your needs. For the automatic transmission cars, we get more goodies than the cars running manual. Vince can remove GM's torque management system from your vehicle to your liking. I currently have 10% removed on Drive, and 30% removed on Sport mode. Vince doesn't really recommend the user removing anymore, unless you want to shorten the life of your transmission, but he is still willing to remove more, only if you tell him to. Obviously he holds no responsibility for your actions, so don't go blaming him if something breaks!
There is pretty much a $400 charge for his tune and services, and you can choose to buy and own the tuning cable for an additional $200. This is referred to as the "Full Kit". I bought the full kit lol.
The image above is pretty much what you are paying for $200. Ridiculous as it sounds, that is actually worth it, in the long run. Especially if you are tuning your car non-stop, or plan on going forced induction in the future. Right, forgot to mention, Vince is currently the only one tuning the V6 Forced Induction cars. Another reason why I went with Vince ;)
Okay, so if you want my full review, as always, I am brutally honest, so here goes:
For what you are paying for, a total of $600, you had better have a whole lot to tune. The price isn't cheap at all. However, if you look at the cold hard facts, doing a dyno tune isn't always cheap either. Yes it could be cheaper than $600, but paying Vince, means a life-time support from Vince himself. Now, I haven't actually made sure if he charges extra later on for when you go Forced Induction, but as of now, he'll tune your car until you are satisfied. Keep in mind, this is remote tuning, and also the only option currently open to the V6 Camaros right now. To get your car running to its maximum potential, Vince's tuning software also allows the driver to datalog various input and output data from the car. You can then later e-mail him the files and he can fine tweak the tune, and e-mail it back to you. Basically, it's all really simple. You pay for the tune, he gives you instructions on how and where to download the tuning software. He then e-mails you the tune file, and you plug the laptop into your OBDII port via the Cable you purchased, or rented, and upload the tune! From here on, Vince can control a number of variables on your car, and make your car run to its full potential. Again, as I have said earlier, the automatic transmissions have more play time. Vince can also tune the car so it can have firmer shifts. This makes tap shifting a LOT of fun =D Basically having the firmer shifts makes it feel more like how a manual shifts the car. There is a split second right before the gears are changing, it will feel like the car is in Neutral, and then changes gears. At a more open throttle, these feelings are intensified... just saying, I've been losing some gas mileage these days lol. Summary of the product, it's good, just might be expensive for people who aren't really hardcore. Again, a tune is NOT necessary for your car, especially if you don't have any bolt-on mods. However, if you have bolt-ons and an Automatic, I really think a tune is well worth it.
Service wise, Trifecta is doing an excellent job. Trifecta isn't just tuning Camaros, there is a list of cars, and who knows how many customers Vince actually has. With all this in mind, Vince still finds time to e-mail you back ASAP. If you have any questions, he answers it right away. I believe he's been doing this for 10 years plus, and he has an excellent professional attitude. Many people say the same thing, no doubts here whatsoever. With the 5 star customer service, the amount you pay for the tune is fully justified.
This was a long post. The very last thing I want to show you guys, is just a small video I put together. Giving you an idea what tuning with Trifecta is like. Enjoy!
I've been doing business with Reggie from the Camaro Decal Store for a while now. Started with just purchasing stuff from him on eBay, and I realized that he was an excellent salesman. After doing more business with him, I realized, I really want to work with this guy. =D
So starting today, Camaro Decal Store is giving a brand new discount in the name of Spades V6. I've noticed an increasing number of people who frequently stop by, read, and comment on the blog. To show my appreciation for Reggie and your support, I have formed a solution that I think will sweeten the collective pot.
From now on, if you shop at Camaro Decal Store, enter the coupon code: spadesv6camaro for an awesome 12% discount on all items!
Don't say I've never done anything for you guys out of the kindness of my heart LOL. I get no commission for any of this. =)
Oh and by the way, please join the Spades V6 facebook page for instant updates on mods, reviews, videos, and anything else.
I haven't washed my car since my blog post about Adam's Polishes products. Needless to say, my car is filthy. Anyway, the weather here is completely crap. It's been cold, icey, and snowy, therefore the salt trucks have been super active, and my Camaro is a daily driver. Sigh.
Well, I had some free time this weekend, and I just decided to give the car a good wash. No detailing, or tire dressing, but I just had to get all that crap off of the car. Wanted to show you guys just HOW dirty my car was.
I wash my car with two different wash pads, one for the top half and the other for the bottom half. I use two buckets, with grit guards, and I change the water and soap for the top and bottom half of the car as well. The pictures above are just from the bottom half of the car. LOOK AT HOW FILTHY THAT IS! All of that dirt and grime washed off my Camaro.
Okay guys and gals, I just tuned the car. I need to work on the tune a bit more before I can give the full review. My first impressions though? I can feel the differences right away. Felt like my car lost 500 lbs off the line. Doesn't feel as heavy as it did stock, and that's a good thing.
The tune was also incredibly easy to load. Plug and play, 10 minutes, and your car is completely different. I'm not trying to up-sell the tune by exaggerating. Here's an example of what I mean. You know, there is always this stereotypical dirty/shaggy guy in highschool. Doesn't look like he showers, or shaves, or cuts his hair, or washes his clothes? Then, on prom night, he makes an effort: cuts and gels his hair, suits up, neat, clean, and sharp. Then you are like... "what the f*@K?". Then girls all start to notice him, etc. You see, he's the same guy, just presented differently... enough to 'wow' you.
Yeah, it's like that. But the Camaro was a handsome devil to start with, then it had that prom makeover... Can you see where I'm going with this?
Eitherway, no review today... just first impressions =D
Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting Spades 1.0.2. Click the above picture for the full size.
Now, I've been on the quest for gold for a couple of weeks now. It just looks good on a black or white car. Most importantly, I have yet to see a Camaro with gold wheels. I MAY BE the first, when I get them of course. These are TSW Nurburgrings, painted gold for the concept. I have contacted a vendor who also does powdercoats and paints the wheels he sells as a service. He said I could make them any color I want! =O
Honestly, these wheels are great looking, and probably one of the best bang for buck wheels out there. They are averaging around $350 per wheel out in the market, and they are FORGED! Another great aspect of these wheels: they are super lightweight. I believe the stock 20" Camaro wheels are around 30-33 lbs each, whereas these Nurburgrings are only 25 lbs each. Shedding a good 5 pounds per wheel is a lot, if you add it all up. I have decided the largest wheel size I'd go would be 19", so that should shed off another couple of pounds. =D Eitherway, if I made you guys excited, I'm sorry... these wheels won't be on this car for at least another year lol. Heck, I'm teasing MYSELF by making these awesome concept images =(.
In other news, my tune is here. Yes, the mods are piling up, but for now, that's it. All packages have been delivered to my door. I might tune my car this weekend though. So stay tuned for the full story and review!
Stock Camaro image from Tire Rack. Luckily, they are using the V6. Obviously, there are some differences compared to my stock car, but it works.
My ideal finished project car in my mind so far. I think gold wheels might be the way to go on this car. Can't really decide. Black, Gunmetal, Bronze, I just don't know.
Eitherway, I have most of the mods already done on this car. I have the Front Splitter, Logo Blackout, and Light Blackouts already applied. I have the Caliper Paints, Rotors, Grand Sport Stripes, in my house and ready to go. All I'm missing now is the Rear Spoiler, Window tints, Wheels, and Coilovers for lowering.
UPDATED: These are O.Z. Racing wheels, but sadly, they don't come with the right lug nut specs. I would prefer this style of wheel over the previous one though. Too bad =(
This mod is probably one of the cheapest mods out there, it is also one of the easiest DIY I can think of... I mean, it's easier than washing your car lol. Anyway, let's get right down to the good stuff first.
Okay, I know that video was a bit long, but I felt like I haven't posted a video in so long, so I wanted to make it a really fun editing project as well. Now if you ask my honest opinion, I don't think the red stitching is BETTER than the white, but it's a different flavor. For those of you who are bored, and want a cheap way to change the mood/look, you can consider this mod. However, keep in mind that this is permanent, so if you are going to do it, do it right, and do it well. Let's go through some details of the process now.
Pictures of the stock shifter and steering wheel. Boy, I might miss them later on. If you are at this point, this is your very last chance of turning back. I mean, the white doesn't look bad. However, white stitching has a HUGE flaw: over time, your hands will begin to turn the white stitching yellow! So before you do this, properly clean your steering wheel and shift knob with a damp cloth mixed with soap and water. After this step, it is advised that you also apply leather cleaner and protectant. This makes it easier to remove the dye off the leather.
You may see some other people dye stitch their leather seats, arm rests, and other various things, but let me tell you now, those are easy compared to the steering wheel and shift knob. For the shift knob, I had to start the car, and put it into S mode, in order to dye the stitching closest to engine. I could have taken off the shift knob, but I was lazy. The steering wheel is a pain as well if you don't take off the steering wheel. You have to really find weird angles to attack at it. I strongly advise you turn your steering wheel to fit your angles and needs. Needless to say, I had a sore back after I did this mod, but I think it was worth it.
Other than that, I think the results really speak for themselves. Also, make sure your fabric dye marker is permanent. Mine says permanent after 24 hours. If your car is a daily driver, make sure you do this on the weekends. I don't want you guys to mess up your work while driving with wet dye =/
Overall, it was a fun mod to do. As mentioned in a video, it took me about an hour to do all of it. I had to actually split it into two days of work, because I was called away halfway through this project. I had the car stereo on, playing some music while I was working. It really felt like a day of kindergarten, coloring, music, and fun.
Okay, I had to post this. This video has been shared non-stop around the Camaro forums. Frankly, I have to say, YOU ROCK SIR! I don't know WHO you are, or what you have running under that hood of yours, but if you see this, post a comment man!
Eitherway, this is a priceless video. I just wish the camera man was better at aiming the camera lol. The Challenger had no idea what he was up against. Anyway, to the driver, way to show what the V6 can do ;)
I think it's actually important to point out that the V6 Camaro has an almost 50/50 front and rear weight distribution. It's easy to find any specifications for any car if you search online, and unless your engine is mid mount or rear mounted, it's nearly impossible to find a car that has a 50/50 weight distribution. Now the Camaro is not the best car in the world, there is no way I am blind enough to make that assumption. However, as I have said time and time again, you can see GM making smarter decisions. The V6 has a weight 52/48 weight distribution, which is astonishing for car nerds. The engine weight is usually what tips the scale between the front or the back being heavier. The V6 LLT engine is a good 200 lbs lighter than the V8 LS3 engine. Also the car battery is located in the rear, as opposed to the standard front mounted battery in your engine bay. The chassis and frame on the Camaro is also heavily focused in the rear. For styling and functional purposes, the rear end of the Camaro is much wider than the front, which means more surface area, and more material used, which equals more weight. This does offers more trunk space and more room in the back seats though.
Notice how the car is designed in the above image. The engine is aligned on top of the front wheels, trying to be as near to the center of gravity as possible. Nice! Last but not least, and most people forget this as a weight factor, rear wheel drive. This means there is a rear differential housing. That coupled with gears, axles, and all the other goodies that propel the car forwards: That definately should not be something to forget, and certainly plays a huge role in weight distribution.
In the end, GM did a good job delivering good weight distribution, it would work wonders on the track. However, the Camaro needs to go on a diet, 3750 lbs is a very heavy car for a V6, and it is the biggest mistake GM could have made.
EDIT: The top mentioned discussion isn't as simple as I have explained it. Upon more research, I have realized there are much more things at play than originally described. I won't share what I have found, because you can easily find it online if you do a quick search.
Well, work has been slow, and I miss modding my car, so to keep myself being productive, I've decided to play around with planar tracking and other visual effects. As you can see with my other videos, I love taking the time to edit them, making them a bit nicer to watch.
This is just a concept intro scene for future videos. I'll most likely be working on making it better over time, so just call this concept version 1.
I had come to a conclusion lately, the Ford Mustang has held the crown for too long. So long infact that almost 40% of the Mustangs I have seen on the road are driven by women. Now please do not get me wrong, I do NOT think there is a problem with a woman driving a muscle car. I just find men in general picking up muscle cars before women do.
I don't think the Camaro has made quite a return like this since the Iroc-Z. You can actually see the 2010 Camaro line-up actually stirring up the competition. The 2010 Camaro was released with a V8 version that has a large LS3 engine putting out 426HP at the crank, and the slimmer lighter V6 version isn't too shabby either. When Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet released the big three in 2009, it was clear that Chevy had done good.
Not to bash on any of the cars above. I've been in all three, so eventhough I bought the Camaro, don't think I am at all biased. Okay maybe a bit. The Challenger had the most masculine look out of the three. Classic enthusiasts would love to have the Challenger. Although the interior isn't impressive, it still retains most of its heritage. The power isn't too bad, but with its heavy weight, huge size, and non-aerodynamic lines, it really makes this car just a nice cruiser. The Mustang is the lightest of the three, and it also has the best interior design of the three in my honest opinion. But sadly, the 2010 Mustang line up was extremely poor. Their V8 version had just as much power as the 2010 V6 Camaro, and their V6 counterpart was only producing a shockingly low 210 HP. They released their 2011 cars with upgraded power as soon as they could. Technically, the 2011 Mustangs are competing with the 2010 competitors. Good job Ford (insert sarcastic slow clap here).
I guess Ford had to up their game if they wanted to keep up. Nothing healthier than a little compitition eh?
Well, I guess I've diverged from my original point: Women used to go to Mustang if they wanted straight line power. Now? I see Camaros being driven by lots of women. Actually suprised me that it caught on so fast. But if there are any ladies reading this, GOOD CHOICE! The Camaro is a handsome car, delivers tons of power, cheap to buy, and it comes with a better warranty than Ford and Dodge!
In my honest opinion though, all three cars deserve a round of applause, and for the men and women who drive them, cheers!
Most of the time, I'm sure that I'm just writing into the void, since this blog only started out as a way for me to keep track of what I do to my car. Since the beginning of the blog, I have gotten more views, both on my youtube account and my blog. This lead me to believe, "Hey! People actually read my stuff."
Therefore, I thank those of you who actually read my blog posts from time to time. I'd like to think my DIYs or product reviews actually help you guys.
Okay, well, onto the purpose of this post. For those who know me in person, or who have been reading the blog from the start, I brought my Camaro home on April 6th, 2010. This is a significant day for me, not only was it the day I brought back this beautiful car, it was also the day I started to care and learn about cars. I don't know what to say, without this Camaro, I may have never learned how to change my own oil, remove a car bumper, install an intake system, paint my own engine cover, or create my first circuit.
The number of mods I have gotten done, the amount of time and money I have spent, and the blood and sweat that I literally went through to get my car to where it is today, is just mind blowing to me. If you asked me about cars a year ago, I wouldn't even be able to tell you how much torque my engine puts out at the fly wheel. But now I'm servicing my own car? Haha, crazy eh?
Well, if you wondered how much I have done/spent since April 6th, 2010, here is your answer:
--COSMETIC/MISC MODS--
4 Gauge Auxiliary Pack - $370 (Thanks Gene @ GM Parts House USA)
Floor Mats - $110
Splash Guards - $145
Car Cover - $255
Racing Pedals - $80
Billet Door Plates - $80
Door Sills - $190
Tail Light Blackouts - $30 (Thanks Reggie @ The Camaro Decal Store)
Sequential Tail Lights - $100 (Thanks Web Electric)
HOD Headlights/LED fog lights/Red Footwell Lights/Interior Conversion kit - $215 (Thanks Darren @ Whiplash Auto)
Stillen Front Splitter - $150 (Thanks Josh @ Stillen)
Engine Cover/Fuse Box paint - $50
--PERFORMANCE MODS--
Injen Cold Air Intake - $320
Corsa Catback Exhaust - $1150 (Thanks Ivan @ Southwest Speed)
To the people I thanked above, you guys know who you are, you've done a great deal for helping me in my project. The guys I have mentioned are awesome guys, either they gave me huge discounts, or gave me free gifts as a token of their appreciation. All have provided excellent customer service, no bias, just facts.
That was basically 2010 in a nutshell. I know the year is not quite over yet, I will continue to post from time to time, but it won't really be about mods. Some financial lifestyle changes are taking place in my life right now, so I don't really have the budget to continue modding this year. However, the modifications will carry on in 2011 for sure. If you're as curious as I am about what I'll be doing next, then be sure to stay tuned.
Well, it was bound to happen. Prior to my splitter install, I had no luck finding anyone with a splitter on the 2010 V6 Camaro. Now, after my splitter install, I am proud to say I have gotten a couple of people hooked on the splitter look. Today, I would like to feature Chris's 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LS. I have to say, he did a very good job on the install, and the car looks fantastic!
The car looks like a million bucks! The white and black mixed together are a deadly combination.
Chris explained his install to me, and it seemed that my splitter install was made more complicated than it had to be. Chris did not have to remove his bumper, he just got the car on ramps and worked away there. There were also no adhesive issues with his splitter, perhaps Stillen realized they had to use stronger tape? LOL =D
Well, I am glad my car was the guinea pig, and hope more people get the splitters! Here are some of the other pictures Chris has kindly sent me.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I humbly present to you... the long awaited, Stillen V6 Splitter!
Well I have finally done it. I think it has been two weeks since the box has arrived at my front door. My first attempt was a complete failure. I had tried to install it on the day I installed my Injen CAI. I thought, "Hey, I may as well take off the bumper, install the splitter, and have more access space with the bumper removed to install the intake."
After an hour of attempting to remove the bumper, I gave up. I had realized two things: you either needed to have anorexic arms to reach deep into the wheel wells, or you needed to get jack stands and remove the front two tires. I had neither. A week goes by and I get a friend to help out, he just so happens to own a set of jack stands, lucky me.
Jacked up and ready to go.
You gain a lot more clearance without the tires. If you were to remove the bumper, I'd suggest you remove the tires.
lol... the Camaro without a bumper looks like an insect.
While removing the bumper there is one purple/black harness near the passenger side connecting to the bumper and the car. This harness, I gather, is the harness that controls your fog lights and side indicators.
Gently remove, and place the bumper on a mat or, in my case, pieces of cardboard.
With the bumper removed, place it upright like how I have it in the picture. This makes it a lot easier for you to tape and bolt on the splitter.
The splitter comes pre-taped with double sided tape. The kit also comes with 3 self tapping screws, and a set of instructions. The Splitter is made out of very tough polyurethane, and it comes default in matte black. Some of you have asked if you can paint it... sure, you can paint anything, but would you really want to? Just more money to get it painted and another thing to cry about when it chips. However, if I had to give any criticism to towards this kit, it would be that the instructions were almost completely useless. Some of the steps were way to vague, and others were just too common sense. For example, one of the steps was "Clean surface before taping". Really? No, I'm going to leave all the dirt, and bug guts all over my bumper while I'm taping. Now, when I mean vague, one of the steps told you to remove the 3 torx screws on the wheel well, then proceeds to say you have to remove a couple of bolts inside the wheel wells that connect the fender to the bumper. The picture they provided was a dark image of a man peeling back the wheel well... WITHOUT the tire removed, you can't see anything. I ended up not even looking at the instructions because they were killing my brain cells. If anyone ever installs this themselves, please feel free to ask me how to do it, I will offer you better instructions.
Otherwise, this was a very fun install, glad my friend can help. (thanks Lok!) The splitter is solid on the bumper now, I tried kicking it, and bruised my ankle, lol. The install took me and my friend about 3 hours... thats including removing the wheels to get more clearance in the wheel wells to remove the bumper. I would highly recommend 2 or more people working on this project, but only one is really required. Two people would come in handy when mounting the splitter onto the bumper, less of a chance for off measurements.
Well, I'll post the rest of the images with the splitter below. Just notice how much more aggressive this splitter makes the V6. I just need to lower it now ;)
Final note: the pictures do not do justice. You'd have to see the car in person to realize how much better it looks. If a picture can say a thousand words, then seeing this in real life, would make you speechless.
