Just updated the cardomain page with new pics and a short video. Still planning on having it on the road in September, although I'm sure it'll be the end of September. Take a look and let me know what you think.
__________________ Aggressive GXP at $25,995.00 shipping of $600, Manual Transmission.
Options:
Air, $960; Chrome Wheels, $545; PCQ, Premium Package (Leather), $525; Radio, 6-Disc with MP3, $495; Monsoon, $395; Premium Acoustic Headliner, $150; and Sport Metallic Pedals, $115; all totals $29,180.00. No XM/OnStar and NO Spoiler. MODS (RKSport/Magnaflow dual exit exhaust system, K&N filter, Ventureshield.
First 1000. Aggressive with everything, NO XM/OnStar. SOLD
~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding member
~~~~~~~
i'm definetly anxious! It's almost ready for a test drive, just need to bleed the clutch, install the power steering line (it had to be custom made and i don't want to run the pump dry) and i have to rewire the solstice pedal. right now i'm using the corvette pedal assembly for the throttle-by-wire, but I want to use the solstice one since the pedal itself bolts right up (obviously). in order to adapt the solstice pedal to work i believe i have to do the following:
1) the corvette pedal has 3 variable resistors, so the throttle-by-wire module has three inputs. the solstice pedal has 2 variable resistors so i'll be using one of them twice to come up with the third for the module.
2) the variable resistors in the corvette pedal increase as the pedal is depressed whereas the solstice pedal decreases. so i need to swap two sets of wires to reverse the logic.
3) i have to add two inline variable resistors to attain the offset that the corvette pedal has as well as to use for 'calibrating' the throttle position. this may be able to be done with a GM scan tool (there is a calibration procedure for this) but i'm not sure the ranges on the solstice resistors is within the tolerance of the throttle module.
i'll know if this works this weekend when i try it. this all may not be needed for the LS2 swaps as all LS2's are throttle-by-wire to begin with and the pedals may be interchangeable from an LS2 car to the solstice with the generic calibration procedure.
The other things needed to add the throttle-by-wire are:
1) reprogram the PCM to add ETC (Electronic Throttle Control). I believe this involves reprogramming it with a VIN from a corvette. Speartech programmed my PCM, so if anyone needs it done, contact John.
2) get a TAC (Throttle Actuator Control) module from a C5 corvette
3) get a throttle-by-wire throttle body from a C5 corvette
4) add the 2 communication wires between the TAC module and the PCM.
5) add the 6 wires for the new TPS (corvettes have a different TPS than F-bodies)
6) add the 2 wires for the throttle body motor control
7) get corvette throttle pedal or convert the solstice pedal (see above, more to come)
8) add the wiring from the TAC module to the pedal (purchased harness from eficonnection.com)
9) add the wiring from the TAC module to the dash (for B+, GND, Cruise lines, etc.), basic pigtail harness from eficonnection.com
Wow, this is a bit long, if anyone has questions just let me know, I hope this helps eliminate the throttle-by-wire mysteries, i think it's a great way to go as it eliminates the need for the throttle cables and the cruise module, and looks clean. I'll include more details when I get time to put together the schematics for everything.
Done with paint work, need to finish all the reassembly and get back to figuring out how to convert the solstice accelerator pedal to work with the corvette ETC. Done buying all the expensive parts now, airbags and misc. parts are ordered and most are here this weekend.
sorry for the delay in updates, been busy with several things. took the car for a short test drive just around the shop last weekend. looking for a roadtest this weekend. i'll post updates next week.
sorry for the delay in updates, been busy with several things. took the car for a short test drive just around the shop last weekend. looking for a roadtest this weekend. i'll post updates next week.
-Adam
Drive that Baby to Milford on Sunday and meet up at Baker's for the last cruise-in of the summer. I'll be there, and Mallet Sky #11 should be there as well.
sorry, didn't make it to milford, just made it to the gas station... didn't want to venture too far on the first drive.
video and a couple pictures on the site. the video is just the car sitting in the driveway, nothing special. took the car out for a test drive today, everything went well, looking forward to driving it quite a bit more next weekend. i still have a lot to do, but most of those things can wait until the winter when the car is in storage anyway. the car sounds awesome in person, the video doesn't really do it justice.
looks great, if i'd bought a base I'd almost do this in a heartbeat. I'm really interested to see how it handles the corners because of the extra weight up front.
Adam. I can not tell you how impressed I am with you. The work you have done on your Solstice is outstanding. Also, THANK YOU for taking the time, and all the effort to document everything you have done and sharing it with the rest of the world. People (me included) will refer back to your work for years to come. I am always amazed when someone puts in so much effort to help total strangers they will never meet. I have been toying with the idea of doing a V8 Convertion myself for almost 2 years now, and you answered every question I had, and several things I had not even thought of (like the hell you had to go thru with the drive by wire!!!!!!). You should be VERY proud of the job you have done. Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy your car for years to come.
__________________
Deep 2006 Solstice NA...Traded in for:
2009 Sky Redline Ruby Red Special Edition
5 speed manual/rear spoiler added/6 disc/Monsoon
Sport pedals/onstar/bluetooth
*Thank You Bob Lutz*
Thanks Jeff, I'm just glad that there are people interested in this. I hope you do the swap, it's well worth it. I can't tell you how many looks and questions I got when I had this car out (it's in winter storage now). I surprised the hell out of a Subaru STi when he thought he could take a N/A Solstice off the line!, the driver just said, "that thing sounds awesome" he then tried again at the next light with no success . I'm still working on the car just finishing up all the little things that go with any big project. If you have ANY questions on the swap, feel free to email me (i don't alway check this forum) ajthelen@mtu.edu. I know I promised a wiring diagram, and I still intend on doing it, but it'll take some time as it will be a complete schematic with BOM (I'm an Electrical Engineer when I'm not working on cars). I've even toyed with the idea of making affordable wiring harnesses for this swap, if there's interest in that, let me know as well.
If you put together a DIY kit, with schematics, harness, and the hard to find little pieces, you could sell em for a nice markup. I'd sure pay a premium to reduce my hassle.
I believe I have found out another little interesting bit of info with the LS1 swap. It looks as though hooking up the cruise control will be a bit more than just reconnecting the wires from the steering wheel to the PCM.
Cruise control on the LS1:
3 switches: ON/OFF, SET, RESUME. Each of these ground out a separate line on the PCM when they are pressed.
Cruise control on the Solstice (possibly same as LS2):
3 switches: ON/OFF, SET, RESUME. However, there is only one wire going to the PCM for these signals. Each one grounds out the same line through a different resistor (different resistor values as well). This in turn signals the PCM (probably going into an analog-to-digital converter) and the PCM knows which button was pressed by the voltage that is present, ex. ON/OFF 1.5V, SET 2.5V, RESUME 4V.
I am not going to hook up cruise just yet as I don't really use it that often. However, it should be relatively easy to mod the steering wheel controls. I have already taken one apart and I think you can mod the circuit board to add the additional wires. But, this would require removing the air bag to pass the wires through the steering column properly.
Again, I'm not certain yet, but this is what it looks like.
Thanks for the info, Adam. I use the cruise all the time when I'm in the states. Otherwise, I find myself going 100 MPH when I intend to be going only 70.
Seems that if you were to come out with a DIY kit, you would be the only one on the market. We've been waiting far too long for Werks or Archie to market one. As far as I know, neither of them offer it still.
