When's mike ever gonna run thst beast I feel like he's disappeared from the forums.
Ha! I haven't disappeared, just been uber busy at home after having returned from both family vacation, as well as having attended the Nat'l Convention this year. Trying to get three teenagers ready for school, and my eldest who's attending Loyola University (& living on campus) has been a gigantic undertaking. I also have an upcoming promotional exam that I've been studying for, coupled with lot's of other of life responsibilities taking me away from being active on the boards.
I find Rich's comment following yours Calgary humorous. Why? Cuz he knows what's been going on. But I also recognize he's goading me into posting as well. So it's all good. Love 'ya there Rich.
Moving along, Calgary.......... if you've paid attention over the course of the last year, you know I've attempted on four separate occasions to "run my beast".
I have said all along, that I thought it would be most appropriate (& respectful) to allow Dan Millen, owner of LMS/LME to "run my beast" down the track (& hopefully into the record books) as a direct homage to him and his incredibly talented staff at his company, for having built the motor in my SHO.
Attempt One..... Fall 2014 LMS/LME CAD Event @ Milan. Result? Rained out, rescheduled. Couldn't attend rescheduled event.
Attempt Two..... As a result of above, Dan says no worries, we'll do a private track day, let's coordinate schedules. While doing so, old man winter envelopes the area much sooner than expected, and Milan Dragway shuts down early. So there goes attempt two.
Attempt Three..... Spring 2015 LMS/LME CAD Event @ Milan. Result? Again rained out! Couldn't attend rescheduled event. Holy ****!
Attempt Four..... Following three unsuccessful attempts of me, trying to do the honorable and "right thing", I figured at this point, my sincerity should be recognized and that there shouldn't be any angst if I chose to run the car myself at this point. So my next thought was to wait until the Nat'l SHO Convention, and "run my beast" amongst fellow SHO enthusiasts. What better way to pay tribute to not only current Gen SHO owners, but more importantly, reinvigorate the older (term used loosely) Gen owners and lend inspiration that the SHO platform is continuing on it's tradition of performance, right?
So fast forward to the Convention drag strip day at Great Lakes Dragway. I was all excited, as I think others were too.
But run #1 (of 4 total) did not fair well. Car was flat on it's face from the line, to about 150'-200' out, then Whooossh! We have life. Car rockets down remainder of the run. I did notice the meth pump appeared not to be turning on. It would prime, but not spray.
So I adjust the settings in the pit, puzzled as to why that happened. Dejected too I'll add. Ok, all good. Feeling confident, I head back out for run #2. Same result as run #1, exception being this time the meth system alternates between priming/spraying. Head back into the pits, adjust settings a 2nd time, and now feeling a lil sick to my stomach. Not happy. Run #3? Better, but still flat on it's face from the line out to about 100' now, then meth comes on and stays on for duration of the run. So always following my 3 strikes, or 3 attempts rule, I decide to stop and attempt giving Dan Millen a call.
Surprisingly, even though it was WELL AFTER business hours, and I learned Dan was attending a company outing at a Detroit Tigers game, Dan was incredibly receptive and helpful in EVERY FACET of the word(s). We tried analyzing over the phone. Checked all connections top side and bottom side as it was thought there was a boost leak of some sorts. Everything looked solid. Dan asks if I have the right tune file loaded? I laughed and gave him a lil playful **** and reply "I have what tune file YOU have labeled as the (lower) track file loaded up you goof". Ha! Dan chuckled too, and gracious as ever, and recognizing I was frustrated, Dan simply asks me just for giggles to upload the daily driver file and take it down the track a fourth time. I did as instructed, and the car ran a full second slower. Ggrr...
Call Dan back again, he asks me to go into a "quiet" part of the pits, and to put it in "Manual" mode, stand on it, build the rpm's, and watch what the boost is doing. It builds to 6psi and holds. That's it. Dan says, "no problem, I'll build you a file right now with more boost, go find someone with Wifi and a laptop". No luck trackside. So Dan suggests at this point to shut it down and let's get it home. We'll re-address the issue in the morning as it was getting late. I told him I'd do him one better, I'll bring the car to his shop for an up close and personal diagnosis.
Thanks to fellow SHO owner's Mval (Mike) and BamSHO (Brian) for following me back to the hotel from the track, ensuring I arrived safely. Each trip, from track to hotel, from hotel to home, from home to LMS's facility in MI. the car appeared fine. NO CEL's. No leaks. All gauges reading normal. It was really puzzling.
Car was dropped off at LMS on July 27th Wife was NOT happy with me, as that was not only the day we began our family vacation at my Dad's place out in MI. but to add insult to injury, it was our 19th wedding anniversary. I was in the dog house to say the least.
Dan and his staff keep me updated, advising that the dyno in their shop, was down for repairs. No worries, Dan was trying his best to motor my car around the streets to assess what was going on. Dan determines that is becoming to risky, and asks for more time to analyze accordingly.
So, they repair their dyno and discover this while my SHO is on the machine...... (photo compliments of Dan Millen respectively)
Turns out my issue was a bad diaphragm on (just one of) the factory BOV's. Weird huh? I think this (to my knowledge) is the first documented incident of a factory BOV having failed.
LMS/LME ordered the replacement BOV , installed it, and I believe they took it to Milan Dragway last Friday. I heard they got two runs in, captured datalogs, and were going to be evaluating those datalogs this coming week. I was told the track conditions were at their worst, with high temps and high humidity, and that the car ran well, but they wanted to comb over the datalogs and make adjustments where applicable. So that's where we sit as of this posting. Car is still at LMS/LME, and I told them no worries, to take their time and do whatever it is they have to do.
My SHO ownership is long term. I have patience and can wait. I'm not like some owners who are short term and contemplate and/or outright decide to up and sell their SHO's. I love my car, and I'd like to continue enjoying all the mod's and accomplishments I've performed to her to date, as well as being able to highlight all the wonderful products and involvement that LMS/LME has released thus far for the Ecoboost platform.
So in closing, I'm never far. Nor have I disappeared. Life's responsibilites do call from time to time, so my "activity" will inevitably be slow at times. As will setbacks to the car as I continue driving it in a daily fashion and the miles accrue. I'm never far
