Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

Rob, Run some amsoil in the old girl. I bet the piston knock goes away!
Peter

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

You guys want to get the skinny on oil, check out this site.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi

All you ever wanted to know about oil, filters, etc. but were afraid to ask!

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

Good observation Rob...the piston slap issue is much debated as we speak. Seems that GM overbored a few # 1 and # 8 cylinders during production because of wore tooling that the CNC machine limits didn't see. Actual cases of true piston slap are in the minority.

However, in late 01, GM began coating the pistons with a polymer to arrest any further piston noise problems. Most 2002 LS1/LS6 owners report no problems.

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rob, Run some amsoil in the old girl. I bet the piston knock goes away!
Peter

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree Pete......been running Amsoil for years in all my cars including the race cars. Never had a oil related problem.

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

I have to say that your investment in an Intimidator SS would be worth it, but first . . . what is your X22 4-spd Camaro ??? i.e., engine?, current condition?, paperwork/originality?, etc. Give us more info . . . I own Camaros from all 4 generations and have to say that the Intimidator SS, is one of my favorites. If your car is a COPO, it would be hard to pass it on for anything, but the Intimidator SS will get you more comments at shows than a '69 Camaro. It will probably be the only Intimidator SS there and one of many '69's. Again, give me more info on your car . . .

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

I agree Matt. I had people coming to my house I did not even know to look at the earnhardt car. The ZL-1 is getting even more attention. I kept it in the showroom of my local chevy dealership for a week and the owner told me it was the most fun he has ever had in a week. The GMMG cars seem to appeal to a broader crowd. Not too many cars are worth substantially more than you paid the second they are driven off of the lot. I love the old iron as well, but when you have "the only one" at a carshow, it seems to draw people. Tom, Rob, how about a new GMMG section?

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

Hate to bring this up Rob but didn't your piston knock start at the drag strip after your wide open throttle shift from 3rd to 2nd? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img] (couldn't get the burnout smiley to do it backwards) "O" and isn't most of the tranny problem got to do with the shift knob comming off in your hand? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

Good point Matt! Glad to see you chime in here. I've had lots of people come to my house just to see my Berger, then they bring a friend back, then another. Same situation at a show. Bristol Bash- Only Berger there! It's great! Matt- hope to see you Friday.

Hey Matt, what does that "big block" '67 you have run on? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif[/img]

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

CWilliams I'll be there Saturday. WOuld love to see your Berger there.

My Brother n Laws 02 35th Ann. SS has the knock, and my cousins 00 SS has had 2 or 3 trannies so far. My 96 SS, I believe it has the T56 in it, tranny seems to be bullet proof. Many a time it has endured down shifts when accelerating [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif[/img] and never been in the shop for the tranny or rear end. Knock on wood that continues with the ZL1.

Re: EARNHARDT INTIMIDATOR SS
 

Mo:

You just HAD to chime in! Yeah, the 3-2 shift wasn't one of my "brighter" moments, but the tranny and knock were there LONG before I came along!

It seems that if the car doesn't knock or have tranny problems in the first few thousand miles, that you are generally "ok". I've personally seen and been in BRAND NEW F-bodies that have had tranny problems and engine noise. The tranny problems ranged from notchy between the gears to darn near impossible to get in reverse...of course the dealers didn't notice anything wrong. Uh huh, riiiight.

If I'm not mistaken, and Murphy or Barker could probably tell better than me, but I "believe" the ZO6/Viper T-56's get steel vs. aluminum forks, and they also got beefier synchros (along with a slightly different gear set). Did the ZL-1 cars get the "standard" T-56?