Shelby Aurora Project

[KliffsAurora]

Can't Wait!!

[JimW]

Me neither...updates?

[Marc]

Pics would be great.

[Speed Neon]

i am also very interested in this project.

[phydeaux]

Well boys, picked her up at 3:00 Wed. afternoon. All said and done labor was $1984.89 out the door. We ran the factory PCM to control her. Took some time for them to start playing nice together (about 28 miles). As expected, the lower end is slightly lacking but is gaining more and more as the PCM/motor get to know each other better. Top end is absolutely wicked although I am a little apprehensive about opening her all the way up until I get some more miles under the belt. Made it into San Antonio without a hitch whatsoever. Scratch that, the only little glitch I've found is that every once in a while the tach will go on the fritz and dance around all over the place. It does not affect the driveability at all, just a distraction. As posted earlier, I believe that most of the power was in the programming as there is a noticeable difference, but not quite 325hp noticeable. My Dad and I are going to sit down and see if we can get into the Shelby PCM and see if we can at least look at the parameters. We think if we can get that far we can possibly get in and flash the parameters in the stock PCM to what we want. Not sure but I believe that is a ways off. I'm going to leave the Shelby PCM with Dad and see what he can come up with in his *cough cough* spare time. As for now I am loving every minute of it and just want to DRIVE BABY DRIVE!!! I'll put up some pics/vids when I get back to H-Town. Not much to look at as far as pics though. After all it is an Aurora motor in the same slot it was born to go in. Heck, the beauty cover went right back on. I have to find someone with a video camera that wants to go for a 140 mph ride (A-Boy, get your a** down here!) Have fun and Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

[algonquin]

Good to have you back on the road. Play nice and break it in before you start whooping up on unexpecting whatevers.

[kaykirk]

awesome, but...

phydeaux said:

Well boys

...and girls ;D

[Oldsnut]

kaykirk said:

awesome, but...

phydeaux said:

Well boys

...and girls ;D

Kay, don't take it personally. Everyone on here considers you one of the guys, it's a compliment to you. Would it be considered girl or Lady?

[algonquin]

oldsnut said:

kaykirk said:

awesome, but...



...and girls ;D

Kay, don't take it personally. Everyone on here considers you one of the guys, it's a compliment to you. Would it be considered girl or Lady?

What !! kaykirks a girl ?? I knew that ;D

[kaykirk]

algonquin said:

oldsnut said:

Kay, don't take it personally. Everyone on here considers you one of the guys, it's a compliment to you. Would it be considered girl or Lady?

What !! kaykirks a girl ?? I knew that ;D

too funny, never been mistaken before but, I guess I will take it as a compliment...thank you

oh, and oldsnut it would be...boys and girls, gentlemen and ladies, guys and dolls

[aldrichd]

Glad to hear the car is back on the road. Keep us posted.

[phydeaux]

Back in Houston safe and sound. The jumpy tach seems to have settled itself down. Fuel mileage was not very impressive at 21.7mpg, but I was in the Texas Hill Country and did a lot of climbing/coasting. Hoping to see closer to 25-27mpg over the next few weeks on my regular commute to work and back where it is a nice flat steady 70mph cruise. On the placebo side of things the whole car seems to have a new breath of life in her. Seems as though she is rewarding me for taking care of her. Driving around in the rain the infamous untraceable trunk leak seems to have plugged itself up. Seems to handle better with the more responsive engine. Like I said though, mostly placebo effect, but man is it enjoyable. Also, I got an email from somebody at cadillacforums who said he could flash the parameters from the Shelby computer into the factory PCM. I'm taking this with a big grain of salt and will look into it much deeper. Probably wind up buying a used stock PCM and ship him both. All in all I'm very pleased with the setup as is though.

[Marc]

Will you be running at a track to see the actual performance improvement?

[phydeaux]

Just for giggles I'll be taking it to the strip on street night once I get roughly 5k miles on the motor. I'll also schedule some dyno time over at Conelly's.

[aurorabrain]

Did you change out that 8yr old oil yet?

[phydeaux]

I was waiting for that post. I didn't have time before I left but it will be changed this weekend if I get some time. Any recommendations for break in oil? I was thinking good ole Valvoline 10w-30. I'm thinking it is too soon to go Royal Purple as it may lubricate too well for the rings to seat like they should. How many miles before I go Royal Purple?

[aurorabrain]

How many miles are on it now? Valvoline wouldn't be my first choice, but probably couldn't hurt. I've read that the rings should be broken in within 20 miles or so. There is a nice article about breaking in engines, do a google search for 'new engine break in' and do some reading.

[BlackButy]

A good quality Group 2 conventional oil should be good for break in, probably 10w-30, maybe 5w-30. I'd probably change it after the first 500 miles, then again at 1000 miles and then probably do 3000 miles. I'd say after about 5000 miles then switch to a Synthetic. How are you going to be running the engine, normal everyday driving, alot of starts and stops, alot of low rpm driving, high rpm driving? Right now I am running Rotella T 5w-40 and I like it. I ran 10w30 Mobil 1 for a long time but it seemed quite wore out even at 3000 miles. Royal Purple is probably a great oil too.

[aurorabrain]

I wouldn't recommend anything thinner than 10-30 in the Northstars up to 99. 2000 and newer is ok because they're totally roller, but the lifters in the 99 and older need a thicker oil

[phydeaux]

I've put about 500 miles on her so far. Just for comfort's sake I'm going to hold off on Royal Purple until 5000. BlackBeauty, This is going to be my daily driver to work and back. Commute consists of a 20 mile one way straight run at 70mph with no traffic whatsoever either way (Yeah, I know... Impossible for Houston TX. but the time of day I drive is 2:30am going to work and 3:30pm heading home). There will be the occasional my *&%$ is bigger than yours foot race but other than that it's going to be regular commuter usage.

[BlackButy]

I'd say your doing it right. I'd probably change the oil 3 or 4 times before you hit 5000 miles. But yea I would probably just stick to 10w30, although it can get a little hot in the summer time in Houston, a 5w40 or 10w40 probably wouldnt hurt in the summer time. BTW, does your new engine "sound" any different than the stock motor, seeing that the intake is different and the cams are different?

[phydeaux]

The tone did not change pitch at all. It does seem to have a lot more punch coming out of the rear end (not real sure how to describe it, it just sounds stronger, but then again it is a brand new tight motor.). The intake is not different at all, matter of fact the beauty cover bolted right back in place. Even raising the hood isn't a giveaway to it's sleeper ability.

[aurorabrain]

blackbuty said:

BTW, does your new engine "sound" any different than the stock motor, seeing that the intake is different and the cams are different?

Intake same, throttle body same, injectors same, i have one sitting in my garage at the moment. Debatable what cam is different. Heads show no flow improvement, still the same cast exhaust ports.

[BlackButy]

Hmm...interesting! Maybe they are like someone else was saying earlier, stock engines yet to be tuned. It may not be what they claim, but it is a new engine so its still a great deal. The numbers will show if that engine is something else or not, still a great engine regardless.

[phydeaux]

They are definitely different somewhere IMHO from the gas mileage results and the available power over 3000 rpm. A rolling WOT at about 40mph shows a marked improvement over the OE motor. Waiting to hear back from AJ over at cadillacforums about swapping parameters from the Shelby PCM to hopefully unlock some low end power.

[phydeaux]

I'm mailing the Shelby PCM out in trade for a pre-programmed Aurora PCM (yes, I found someone who can program them). He said he will be on here in a while once he gets the programming set in stone and start offering his service to ACNA members.

[algonquin]

phydeaux said:

I'm mailing the Shelby PCM out in trade for a pre-programmed Aurora PCM (yes, I found someone who can program them). He said he will be on here in a while once he gets the programming set in stone and start offering his service to ACNA members.

If there is a way someone will do it. Any idea of the cost ?

[phydeaux]

$0.00 I'm trading him a pre-programmed Aurora PCM straight up for the Shelby PCM. I'm curious what his plans are for it. I have no idea what he might charge in the future.

[ajxtcman]

phydeaux said:

I think I'm going to leave it stock. I am wondering what the exhaust will sound like with an extra 75hp. Left sleeper style I hope the exhaust is the only subtle hint.

That motor may just make 275 to 280 hp if that.

[ajxtcman]

phydeaux said:

$0.00 I'm trading him a pre-programmed Aurora PCM straight up for the Shelby PCM. I'm curious what his plans are for it. I have no idea what he might charge in the future.

Just wait until you feel the power of this program.

My boss has an 00 DTS 300hp. I installed 03 275hp cams in it. I feel the the 275hp cams are better after 00. The 300hp cams are better in 99 and prior. Any way back to my bosses car. This is a big Deville and with the cams and MY NEW PROGRAM it will roast the tires at 40 mph. ;D Now this is a completely different operating system, but I know how to TUNE.