Okay, so I dropped the car back off at TMP last week. The problem with the knocking was twofold: There was a gasket leaking oil up front, and when they decked the block, it gave it a bump in compression, so we're installing a thicker head gasket to counteract the higher compression.
I retarded the timing to something like 8* before heading up there and it just
barely knocked between 2-3k on acceleration, so that pretty much confirmed it's just spark knock and nothing more serious or mechanical. They'll fix the head gasket and reset the timing to 10*.
On another note, the mechanics behind spark knock are a really interesting thing. If I recall my research correctly, it actually detonates too early in the cylinder, and so the shockwaves from the successive detonations bounce around off the walls and crash back into each other, and so the knocking you hear is just the shockwaves from all the funky detonations.
Michael's company racecar is the white NB sitting behind it. He gave me a ride from Marietta to Griffin and that thing is a
blast with all the good tires and sway bars
. (I know what my next mods are). It also had a fresh coat of plastidip and red powdercoated wheels. Albeit it is a track rat, the plastidip actually looks pretty good.
Anyways, while I had the car back, I finished my redesigned C3 GV install. This is how I had to cut out the GV panel, for those interested in doing the same:
And this is how it turned out with the allen head screws holding it all together. The badges are a cheapo rising sun flag, and something from a Nissan. The S is for 'soon,' lol. Then later it should mean 'supercharged.'
Random pic of the '04 MSM seats:
I also was able to make a better intake. The old one was something temporary to get me from A to B. This one's still temporary but it looks so much better. Also, I'm going to get the blower for the MP62 and the intake manifold powdercoated a polished/chrome color while everything's apart again. Should look really nice.
Finally, I'm still figuring out how to mount the Challenger gas cap. As you can see, it almost fits, but not really.
I will probably notch out the bottom so it has a ridge to sit on. Then I will cut a piece of the edge off the OEM cap and bond it to the edges of the Challenger cap so it will close the space on the sides.
Anyways, I have a GM IAT from TDR coming in the mail and that should be the last piece of the puzzle. Coming up soon: MSPNP 1.3 install! The I can finally dig into my "toy box": the box of supercharger parts I have laying around. :haiguyths: