# https://theruleslawyer.com

> Motorsports build logs, video, and more


## Posts

- [Engine back in the car](https://theruleslawyer.com/engine-back-in-the-car/): Finally got my engine back in the car. It started out with some quickjack issues. The passenger side would go down.
- [Engine assembled](https://theruleslawyer.com/engine-assembled/): I got the engine pretty much assembled.
- [Engine back from the machine shop](https://theruleslawyer.com/engine-back-from-the-machine-shop/): Finally got the engine back from the machine shop today. I guess the shop resized my old rods anyways.
- [Bores too scored: 3.903 bore and Wiseco pistons, oil cooler](https://theruleslawyer.com/bores-too-scored-3-903-bore-and-wiseco-pistons/): The engine is still at the shop. They finally took a look at it and said the bores were too scored to just hone.
- [Rebuild continues: crank polished, rods resized, new 2 piece oil pan with baffles](https://theruleslawyer.com/rebuild-continues-crank-polished-rods-resized/): The rebuild continues.
- [Rebuild plan: bearings, lifters, hone](https://theruleslawyer.com/rebuild-plan-bearings-lifters-hone/): I decided to do the cheap version of the refresh- New bearings all around, lifters, dingle hone the cylinders, and clean everything up.
- [Engine out](https://theruleslawyer.com/engine-out/): I eventually got out the engine. You have to be very careful to keep the torque tube and engine aligned with the load leveler and it'll pop out.
- [Found it: cam gear wear](https://theruleslawyer.com/found-it-cam-gear-wear/): I got my cam gear off and there was wear on the back where it had rubbed a bolt. That's probably the noise.
- [Valley cover off: inspecting the cam bolts](https://theruleslawyer.com/valley-cover-off-inspecting-the-cam-bolts/): I popped off the valley cover and got out the scope to inspect the cam bolts. They looked okay. No obvious wobble. They look snug.
- [Boroscope: no smoking gun](https://theruleslawyer.com/boroscope-no-smoking-gun/): Good news bad news. I boroscoped my cylinders and didn’t find any evidence of something loose in there.
- [The 'coolant leak' that wasn't: AC condensate](https://theruleslawyer.com/the-coolant-leak-that-wasnt-ac-condensate/): Since the first start I tracked down what I thought was a coolant leak, but turned out to just be the AC condenser drain.
- [Heads and long tubes on: first start](https://theruleslawyer.com/heads-and-long-tubes-on-first-start/): SDPC SDRCNC799STG2, which were on closeout for $1600 for a pair of brand new 799 heads with a stage 2.5 job on them.
- [The wing is on: 9 Lives chassis mount](https://theruleslawyer.com/the-wing-is-on-9-lives-chassis-mount/): Yesterday I put my wang on.
- [Tilton clutch is in: stiff and binary, torque tube rebuild](https://theruleslawyer.com/tilton-clutch-is-in-stiff-and-binary/): Clutch is in and oh my is it stiff. And a little binary.
- [Track prep: brake-line insulation](https://theruleslawyer.com/track-prep-brake-line-insulation/): I put some insulation on all the brake lines near my headers. The velcro style sounds easy, but my god was it a PITA.
- [First autocross of 2026: Windy City BMW at Tire Rack](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-autocross-of-2026-windy-city-bmw-at-tire-rack/): First autocross of the season today. I was out with Windy City BMW at TireRack in Indiana. We had a fairly long loopback course. Pretty sweeping design.
- [Where the MK60 kit came from](https://theruleslawyer.com/where-the-mk60-kit-came-from/): where or who did you buy that abs kit from?
- [First track day of 2026: shaking off the cobwebs](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-track-day-of-2026-shaking-off-the-cobwebs/): First trackday of the year last night. Shaking the cobwebs off. No PBs, but set some respectable times. Followed a c8 z06 z07 for a while.
- [Tick clutch master cylinder](https://theruleslawyer.com/tick-clutch-master-cylinder/): I tossed in a tick clutch master. The clutch stuck a couple times at high RPM at blackhawk. It's a common recommended solution.
- [Blackhawk Farms: brake fade and the Aero6 question](https://theruleslawyer.com/blackhawk-farms-brake-fade-and-the-aero6-question/): Nice day out at Blackhawk Farms. I put my old bridge back in so I was running exactly how the car was tuned.
- [Autocross Sep 28: finally beat Dobson](https://theruleslawyer.com/autocross-sep-28-finally-beat-dobson/): I had an excellent showing at autocross today. I finally beat the guy I've been chasing for like 3 years.
- [Weekend prep: DIY tire blankets + Vararam bridge](https://theruleslawyer.com/weekend-prep-diy-tire-blankets-vararam-bridge/): A few things in prep for the weekend autox event on sunday.
- [Autocross Sep 14](https://theruleslawyer.com/autocross-sep-14/): Better showing at autox than last time. 2nd class and 3rd raw overall. A little cool in the morning, but in the afternoon my tires were finally hooking up.
- [State of the build: September 2025 spec rundown](https://theruleslawyer.com/state-of-the-build-september-2025-spec-rundown/): Current snapshot- not including mostly maintenance stuff like seals, wires, non performance stuff, etc.
- [First autocross on the new cam](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-autocross-on-the-new-cam/): First real autocross with the new cam today. Car feels really good and I wasn't hitting any rev limits on course. Not a great performance on my part however.
- [Back together: MPI hubs, knuckles, helper springs](https://theruleslawyer.com/back-together-mpi-hubs-knuckles-helper-springs/): I got the car back together. The parts I ordered off ebay they shipped me two right knuckles instead of a pair and it was the left I really needed.
- [CAM Challenge at Grissom: cracked wheel hub](https://theruleslawyer.com/cam-challenge-at-grissom-cracked-wheel-hub/): So this weekend sucked. I drove out to Indiana for the CAM challenge, about 3 hours away.
- [MK60: 30+ hours in (reply to Kendall)](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-30-hours-in-reply-to-kendall/): Nice dyno numbers! I'm still following your ABS install with interest.
- [Dyno day at Speed Inc: +63 rwhp](https://theruleslawyer.com/dyno-day-at-speed-inc-63-rwhp/): Today I was off to the dyno. Apparently my MAF was flaking out, so had to have a new one put in mid-session. I made about what I expected with a gain of 63rwhp.
- [LS6 intake manifold on](https://theruleslawyer.com/ls6-intake-manifold-on/): Today I worked on installing a ls6 intake manifold. It's more of a PITA than it appears.
- [Cam install done: SDPC LS6 Power Max Plus](https://theruleslawyer.com/cam-install-done-sdpc-ls6-power-max-plus/): I just finished up my cam install. I put in a SDPC LS6 power max plus cam.
- [Intermittent ABS fault: chasing a voltage drop, roof wrap](https://theruleslawyer.com/intermittent-abs-fault-chasing-a-voltage-drop/): I investigated the wiring and lines. It's all hooked up correctly. We may be down to a bad hub sensor, sensor converter, or DSC ecu.
- [A proper MK60 frame-rail bracket (SendCutSend)](https://theruleslawyer.com/a-proper-mk60-frame-rail-bracket-sendcutsend/): It's a really nice bracket for the c5 to mount a mk60 in the driver fender like I did.
- [Autocross July 5: 2nd in class, 2nd raw](https://theruleslawyer.com/autocross-july-5-2nd-in-class-2nd-raw/): I had an autox on the 5th. I did pretty well, 2nd class, 2nd RAW overall. I actually had the FTD, but coned it away.
- [ABS codes sorted: BMW brake switch + fault light](https://theruleslawyer.com/abs-codes-sorted-bmw-brake-switch-fault-light/): I installed the brake switch from above and it works perfectly. It's also wired exactly like BMW originally did now instead of through a complicated mess.
- [Ice mode on the MK60](https://theruleslawyer.com/ice-mode-on-the-mk60/): Mk60 will still go into ice mode? That's a little disappointing as constant oem abs ice mode engagement was a big part of the reason I sold my C5Z.
- [First track day on the new setup: radiator hose spin at Autobahn](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-track-day-on-the-new-setup-radiator-hose-spin-at-autobahn/): This weekend was the first day out at a track with all the new stuff- delrin bushings, swaybars f/r, p1 tires, mk60 abs, and probably a few things I'm forgetting.
- [First event on the MK60 + Vitour P1s](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-event-on-the-mk60-vitour-p1s/): My first event with the mk60 this weekend. Also brand new Vitour P1's. The mk60 feels very smooth in comparison to the old oem ABS.
- [First drive: the MK60 works](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-drive-the-mk60-works/): Last night I got the wheels back on and got to test it for the first time. ABS seems fully functional and I didn't manage to screw up the rest of the car.
- [It's alive: MK60 powers up + INPA](https://theruleslawyer.com/its-alive-mk60-powers-up-inpa/): It's alive! So tonight I got INPA set up on my laptop. It's really helpful to have a row of dedicated 'F' keys for the software.
- [MK60 wiring: day 2](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-wiring-day-2/): I created a yaw sensor mount in fusion 360. I designed it with an angle to match the rear of the center console.
- [MK60 wiring: day 1](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-wiring-day-1/): Red Band - Needs to be connected to 12v power through a fuse. Recommend a 30A fuse.
- [Hydraulic lines finished + routing](https://theruleslawyer.com/hydraulic-lines-finished-routing/)
- [MK60: mounted + hard lines run](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-mounted-hard-lines-run/): I made some good progress on the mk60 on Saturday.
- [MK60 hydraulics: Nicopp lines and the plan](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-hydraulics-nicopp-lines-and-the-plan/): Nicopp lines are the easy button. They can kink if you try to bend them too much by hand, but no issues even with a small radius tool.
- [Ohlins + the MK60 kit arrives](https://theruleslawyer.com/ohlins-the-mk60-kit-arrives/): I got my kit from Alex this week. It came surprisingly quick.
- [MK60 decision + parts ordered](https://theruleslawyer.com/mk60-decision-parts-ordered/): Well I have started down the path to a mk60 setup on my c5 corvette. I ordered a kit from 12GS. It comes with a harness, mk60e1 abs, and the yaw sensor.
- [First drive + alignment fight](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-drive-alignment-fight/): The last week has been frustrating. I went out to test drive the car to make sure nothing was wrong on Wednesday.
- [Rear delrin install, sway bar, end links](https://theruleslawyer.com/rear-delrin-disaster-3-weekends-2-arms-cracked-sleeve/): So this weekend was frustrating. I finished up the rear delrin bushings. Luckily the rear is a lot easier as you can press them out either direction.
- [Suspension v2: Ridetech delrin front](https://theruleslawyer.com/suspension-v2-ridetech-delrin-front/): I've been avoiding this for ages, but this is the largest window I'll have to work on the car before events start in earnest and since it'll need realigned it has to happen at once.
- [Late C6 brake master swap](https://theruleslawyer.com/late-c6-brake-swap-gs-fenders/): Today I finished up a late c6 brake conversion. The c5 master cylinder places the mc seal right over the hole that goes to the ABS system.
- [Trackspec 4-pt bar in](https://theruleslawyer.com/trackspec-4-pt-bar-in/): Got my trackspec 4pt bar installed. Rudz Racing did the install for me. Anyone want to buy a BK harness bar?
- [Firesuit: used IndyCar crew suit](https://theruleslawyer.com/firesuit-used-indycar-crew-suit/): My firesuit came in today. It's a used indycar crew suit from raceimage. I've been watching their inventory since summer for one with the right dimensions.
- [Last autocross of the season](https://theruleslawyer.com/last-autocross-of-the-season/): Last autocross of the season today. A brisk 50-60F today and I could not get my endurance 200tw to light off. Still a reasonable performance.
- [Last track day of the year: a new PB](https://theruleslawyer.com/last-track-day-of-the-year-a-new-pb/): My last track day of the year was this last weekend. I ended up setting a new PB by about 0.8s. Optimal says I have a 1:18 flat in me on the Catalyst.
- [Windy City BMW event 5: fun runs and manual timing](https://theruleslawyer.com/windy-city-bmw-event-5-fun-runs-and-manual-timing/): Windy City BMW event 5 today. Timing was down in the morning so we did fun runs.
- [Autocross: 2nd in class on a tight course](https://theruleslawyer.com/autocross-2nd-in-class-on-a-tight-course/): Another autocross today. No issues with the car. Valve train and new O2 seem to be working out. Oh I didn't mention that in the last update.
- [Valvetrain upgrade: LS6 springs, seals, trunnions](https://theruleslawyer.com/valvetrain-upgrade-ls6-springs-seals-trunnions/): Time for a valvetrain upgrade. I'm hoping to raise the rev limit a little bit to avoid the really short trips to 4th gear on some of the local tracks.
- [Blackhawk with the parents + the brake-feel debate](https://theruleslawyer.com/blackhawk-with-the-parents-the-brake-feel-debate/): Last weekend I was out at Blackhawk Farms again, this time with Northwoods shelby club. Two weekends in a row is a lot for me.
- [PB 1:35.97 at Autobahn South](https://theruleslawyer.com/pb-135-97-at-autobahn-south/): Another day, another PB. It was a relatively cool day out at the track starting at 60 in the morning and up to about 80.
- [AMT motor mounts + Hooker shorty headers + front breather](https://theruleslawyer.com/amt-motor-mounts-hooker-shorty-headers-front-breather/): Today I finished up with the AMT motor mounts. The stock ones were actually in good condition. The previous owner must have done them at some point.
- [First time trials: Autobahn North evening, 1:11.14](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-time-trials-autobahn-north-evening-111-14/): Last night was my first time trials event. I was at Autobahn North, which is normally the configuration reserved for members during the day.
- [First real autocross: NS-2Rs are not an autocross tire](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-real-autocross-ns-2rs-are-not-an-autocross-tire/): First real autocross today. NS-2r are not an autocross tire. They take a while to get enough heat into them to stick.
- [Ceramic plug wires: fixed it, then regretted it](https://theruleslawyer.com/ceramic-plug-wires-fixed-it-then-regretted-it/): I ordered a new set of wires and it cleared up the misfire. The idle stumble went away too.
- [Side skirts? I'll let the man himself tell you](https://theruleslawyer.com/side-skirts-ill-let-the-man-himself-tell-you/): Bummer about the problems both for you and for others!
- [Autobahn return: misfires and a black flag day](https://theruleslawyer.com/autobahn-return-misfires-and-a-black-flag-day/): Back to Autobahn today.
- [Turn One HP2 power-steering pump install](https://theruleslawyer.com/turn-one-hp2-power-steering-pump-install/): Last night I finished up the turn one hp2 pump install.
- [Post-track-day inspection + parts orders](https://theruleslawyer.com/post-track-day-inspection-parts-orders/): Oil in catch can is probably like 1/2 qt. So I'm not actually burning a ton. No notable leaks up on the lift.
- [Track day #2: Blackhawk Farms, #2 overall](https://theruleslawyer.com/track-day-2-blackhawk-farms-2-overall/): Track Day #2 is in the books.
- [Fixing all six first-track-day issues](https://theruleslawyer.com/fixing-all-six-first-track-day-issues/): Burning some oil in the braking zone. The engine is probably under a ton of vaccum and sucking some oil in.
- [First track day: Autobahn South, 1:37.94](https://theruleslawyer.com/first-track-day-autobahn-south-137-94/): I went to my first track day with the c5 this weekend. I've been to autobahn south enough times that I'm pretty familiar with the line.
- [Auto-blip installed](https://theruleslawyer.com/auto-blip-installed/): Installed an auto-blip tonight. Pretty easy to do. Tap into power at the OBD, Clutch top switch, brake light switch, and then 3 throttle wires.
- [Buttoning up for the first track day](https://theruleslawyer.com/buttoning-up-for-the-first-track-day/): Buttoning things up this weekend.
- [Exhaust studs: torch wins, drill loses](https://theruleslawyer.com/exhaust-studs-torch-wins-drill-loses/): I had the same issue with the exhaust bolts on my C5. Just ended up doing headers from Huron Speed (don't know if they still offer that system).
- [Axles, helper springs, oil cooler hooked up](https://theruleslawyer.com/axles-helper-springs-oil-cooler-hooked-up/): Today I put in new axles on both sides. This should fix the grease explosion I had in RR. Still a lot of grease on the suspension that I had to clean off.
- [Steering rack + Trackspec radiator weekend](https://theruleslawyer.com/steering-rack-trackspec-radiator-weekend/): Last weekend I tackled the steering rack. What a PITA that was.
- [Autocross school: first event, shakedown](https://theruleslawyer.com/autocross-school-first-event-shakedown/): This weekend was the first event with the car. Autocross school with the Scca. I was there mostly to shake down the car before its first track day.
- [Coilovers in: Viking Crusaders](https://theruleslawyer.com/coilovers-in-viking-crusaders/): Friday was fluids- did the rear diff and transmission. The diff was a little sparkly. It was also super dirty, so who knows when it was last changed.
- [Lucas stop leak + clock-spring delete](https://theruleslawyer.com/lucas-stop-leak-clock-spring-delete/): File this under dumb stuff I do... Also poured in some lucas stop leak. The fluid in there was pretty gross. Cross my fingers.
- [Rack rebuild or Turn One?](https://theruleslawyer.com/rack-rebuild-or-turn-one/): Never fixed a rack but they're not difficult to remove. You might want to upgrade the rack mounting bushing while you're in there, it's cheap and easy.
- [New discovery day: what's actually under the car](https://theruleslawyer.com/new-discovery-day-whats-actually-under-the-car/): New discovery day. I finally got under the car.
- [Seats finally mounted](https://theruleslawyer.com/seats-finally-mounted/): After what feels like 27 trips to the hardware store the seats are finally mounted.
- [Seats, belts, intake, vents, spoiler](https://theruleslawyer.com/seats-belts-intake-vents-spoiler/): Seats and belts are the gift that keeps giving. 2 steps forward 1 back.
- [QuickJack arrived](https://theruleslawyer.com/quickjack-arrived/): Exciting day. The quickjack arrived and got assembled. I've been waiting on it to get started with some of the mechanical work.
- [Seat fitting is a PITA](https://theruleslawyer.com/seat-fitting-is-a-pita/): Following, love the C5 content (former FRC owner here).
- [Trackspec hood vents](https://theruleslawyer.com/trackspec-hood-vents/): Tonight I did the trackspec hood vents.
- [Future plans: building towards Spec Corvette](https://theruleslawyer.com/future-plans-building-towards-spec-corvette/): I'm building this towards spec corvette. That allows me to run st3/tt3 with nasa too iirc.
- [My new C5 Corvette project](https://theruleslawyer.com/my-new-c5-corvette-project/): Less risky on the track financially.

## Pages

- [Projects](https://theruleslawyer.com/projects/): Every project on Cicada, in the order it happened. Pick a project to read it from the beginning, or jump straight to the latest updates.
- [About](https://theruleslawyer.com/about/): Rules Lawyer Racing is the build log of Cicada, my 1999 C5 Corvette — and of the process of turning it into a dedicated track car, one project at a time.
- [Home](https://theruleslawyer.com/): Finally got my engine back in the car. It started out with some quickjack issues. The passenger side would go down.

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