2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

[Chuck G.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

This is the company, L S Technologies. They're in Saskatoon, Sask. Canada. I sent him the two trunk struts from my 06. Did a great job. Quick turnaround.

IIRC, the cost was approximately $80.00 for the pair, and that included return postage. Call first. He'll give you guidance on shipping to Canada.

https://www.gasspringmanufacturers.com/ls-technologies-canada-inc/

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

This is the company, L S Technologies. They're in Saskatoon, Sask. Canada. I sent him the two trunk struts from my 06. Did a great job. Quick turnaround.

IIRC, the cost was approximately $80.00 for the pair, and that included return postage. Call first. He'll give you guidance on shipping to Canada.

https://www.gasspringmanufacturers.c...es-canada-inc/

Great! Thanks Chuck. I'll investigate but they probably wouldn't be able to get them done in time for the Regional. Too bad I didn't know this months ago but I never thought about getting my car judged until now.

Rich

[Terry M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

This is the company, L S Technologies. They're in Saskatoon, Sask. Canada. I sent him the two trunk struts from my 06. Did a great job. Quick turnaround.

IIRC, the cost was approximately $80.00 for the pair, and that included return postage. Call first. He'll give you guidance on shipping to Canada.

https://www.gasspringmanufacturers.c...es-canada-inc/

Thanks Chuck

[Brian M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Great! Thanks Chuck. I'll investigate but they probably wouldn't be able to get them done in time for the Regional. Too bad I didn't know this months ago but I never thought about getting my car judged until now.

Rich

My turnaround time was about two weeks.
You have time.
Give them a call.

[Mark D.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

The struts Nolan restored for my 90...

https://vimeo.com/849594905

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Very nice Mark, thanks. I'm planning to get in touch with them Monday.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

I got 2 service replacement hood struts. One was on backorder but I picked it up yesterday. If I get the originals rebuilt I'll do some swapping. I just want to get those NAPA struts off there.

I also got the Delco Group90 battery. I know it's configuration is different from my original that I swapped out many years ago, and turned it in as a core return, silly me. If I only knew, but it was nearly a brand new car, and who was thinking about getting judged years later and saving a battery then. Gee, I could've cut it open and installed a AGM inside it just like on the 60 year old cars we restore.
Battery_and_HoodStrut.jpg

I just wanted to drive it then. BTW, wanna laugh? Check out this thread I did way back when.... I actually predicted this was going to happen. (Twilight Zone music in background).

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Back to technical. I Need to put the new battery in and test fit my knife disconnect for Harry. More on that later.

Here are the new struts compared to the originals.

New - Full circle crimp at housing near shaft.
Replacements_08.jpg

Original - Dimpled crimp there.
10399704_01.jpg

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New - GM font size small.
Replacements_06.jpgReplacements_07.jpg

Original - GM font size large.
10399704_04.jpg10399704_05.jpg

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New - Debossed line crimp along the entire length.
Replacements_10.jpgReplacements_11.jpg

Original - line not full length.
10399704_06.jpg

Originals were made in Germany. Replacements in Gastonia(get-it?), North Carolina.

Rich

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[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Battery Disconnect Update.

I installed the new Delco 90 this morning, took some reference photos, and had to leave. Here they are. I took some measurements too.

20231119_070303.jpg

I noticed the battery can move inboard about 5/8". I moved it inboard until the bottom touched the side of the tray. This as a just in case I needed a little more room for the disconnect.
20231119_065706.jpg

I measured the inner fender to the Neg battery post. It's about 4 1/4".
20231119_065223.jpg 20231119_065237.jpg

I then measured the negative cable edge of plastic insulator to the inner edge of terminal post hole. Apx 3 3/4". This tells me there is about a 1/2 inch of clearance for the negative post to the inner fender. ( 4 1/4" minus 3 3/4")
20231119_065116.jpg 20231119_065134.jpg

However, there are some body connectors there.
20231119_064700.jpg

But the negative cable terminal actually sits proud of that black connector and its edge sits just above it.
20231119_070324.jpg

Summary: The Delco battery allows use of the disconnect.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Key Fobs:

Please take a look at mine and comment, particularly the backside of each. I have a #1 and a #2, and another #1, but the inscriptions/numbers on the back are different from the others. Both operate properly. Some years ago I had a problem with the #2. I tried to reprogram it then, but it would not recognize it.

As it turns out, that's when I discovered that all CR2032 FOB button batteries are not alike. Batteries that have a distinct "crosshatch/checkerboard/waffle" pattern will yield intermittent or inoperative results. For some reason, the internal contact of the FOB does not make proper electrical contact and deems the FOB useless. See this thread by a member for a real world example... Here.


Here are mine. L to R, #1, #2, #1(spare)
20231114_055039.jpg


Backside. L to R, #1, #2, #1(spare)
FOBS_02.jpg


Closeups of backside. #1, #2
FOBS_03.jpg


Closeups of backside. #1(Spare)
FOBS_04.jpg

Which is original and which is service replacement?

Edit.... I went through the Judging Guide and it appears my #1(103272541) and #2(103272542) are the originals and that 3rd one on the right(#1) is the service replacement(103272543) . I think I bought that one as a spare long ago. I probably have a receipt somewhere as I'm a hoarder when it comes to old paperwork. Hmmm, just reminded me of something....

Supporting Sidenote: e.g. I have the original dealer receipt for my first car ever when I was 18(1972). My 1969 Red/Red Mustang Coupe. It was a trade-in at my Mom's family friend's AMC Dealership in Watertown, MA, Seminara Motors. I'll never forget the excitement I had when Mom took me there to see it in her '63 Rambler American. It was a 302CI V8, C4 Automatic. I bought for $550. It had 48,000 miles, but needed valve seals(smoky startup) and a power steering cylinder piston(they all leaked. $25 at my local junkyard). My BIL replaced the valve seals one night after he got home from work(He was a Ford mechanic!). He did it in about a hour. (sorry for blabbing but we need a break from all of this the technical stuff on occasion)

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

So I've finally had some time to get back to work on this car. Yesterday I spent the entire day in the engine bay. Recall this is a base LS2, 3LT car. Mostly cleaning up 80k+ miles worth of dirt and debris from the engine. It's actually the first time I ever removed the engine covers. There was just a lot of dust and debris in the intake pockets at the heads. I used my vac with small detailing nozzles and compressed air. Then I used my Purple Power spray and a small brush on the slightly oily aluminum covers with a rags on top of the exhaust manifolds to catch all the drips. They came out nice.

Here's driver side. I noticed the spark plug wires "AC Delco" white lettering and nomenclature was facing the engine so it took a mirror to see them. Interesting, on the Pass side I could see all of the lettering facing away from the engine in view.
20240101_163743.jpg

Pass side same, but I removed the bolts holding the heat shields and cleaned them up. I dropped one on the Pass side and spent a half hour looking for it. I had to pull the battery and battery tray to find it, tucked under the tray. 2nd time I've dropped something down there. I forgot to get a photo of that engine side as I was so angry at myself.

I even cleaned the my dipstick where the sun doesn't shine. It actually was pretty nasty with some surface contamination on the stick. Do judges check for stick contaminant condition? They should! I'm ready!
I used my no-scratch fiberglass erasers, course and fine. The car should run better now.

Before
20240101_144633.jpg20240101_144750.jpg

After
20240101_144657.jpg

Also, while cleaning, I noticed traces of a small label on the right rear and left front ignition coils. The right rear flew off when I hit the area with a air hose. I recovered it. There is no marking on it. The JG makes no mention of these labels. I have all 8 original coils as they're date coded. Left front is 6608(June 8, 2006) My car was built in Nov, '06.
Here's the remnant of the RR coil label. It's about 1"L x 1/2" W.
20240101_163459.jpg

Here's the LF coil and DC. You can see where there was once a label. Again, only on 2 coils, one on each side of the engine.
20240101_163507.jpg 20240101_163608.jpg

Can someone provide a photo of their labels if legible?

Alternator. Mine is original. I noticed the JG is missing reference to the 2007 Auto alternator, my 2007 is Auto LS2. Well here it is. Had to get the image via a mirror as it's hard to get in there. I reversed it in SW. I'll drop a note to the TL with the info to add it to the next Revision.

GM# 15841234 Valeo# TG15C107
20240101_181914.jpg
AltLabel.jpg

More later,
Rich

[Chuck G.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Best I could do. This is the RT bank....last coil pack. The LT side label is there, but is totally illegible.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Best I could do. This is the RT bank....last coil pack. The LT side label is there, but is totally illegible.

Thanks Chuck. So is that just on the right rear bank, or on all coils? I had one on front left also.

Rich

[Chuck G.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Thanks Chuck. So is that just on the right rear bank, or on all coils? I had one on front left also.

Rich

My left bank of coils had one label.... on the front-most coil only.

My right bank, shown in the photo, had one label, on the rear-most coil only.

No sign of any labels on any of the other coils.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Ok thanks Chuck, that matches what I have here.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

A follow up. I've made progress with prep but ran into some issues I needed to correct.

All the years I've owned this car I've had a buildup of road debris up inside the front of the AC condenser & radiator. This is a common problem with C6's as it's low to the ground and picks up much junk. Many have opted to install rock screens, a good idea. I may fabricate my own some day.

I ended up taking much of the under-fascia apart to get at everything. I also removed the top air cleaners, the shrouds and the upper radiator covers to access it easier. When I did that I found a clump of leaves, pine needles, insects, and sand particles between the fins and remnants of all sorts of junk, between the radiator and the AC condenser. It took about a hour from up top and underneath to clean it all out. I fabbed a air hose with a right angle fitting to pass between the two cores to blow it all out, from above and below. The lift cylcled up and down the whole while. I also had to use my long needle nose pliers to get about a thousand pine needles out between the fins between both cores, maybe it was two thousand.

20240108_132928.jpg

Pile of parts removed. I cleaned them all for reassembly.
20240108_132940.jpg

This shot is from below looking up at the AC condenser after the cleaning crew got in there. All better. You wouldn't believe how many road sand particles were between all of the fins. Must've been a million, maybe more. I had a pile on the floor and sand all over and above the engine, which I covered first, thankfully. If you own a C6, look under the fascia baffle. You'll be surprised what you see up there.
20240108_133019.jpg