Over the weekend the GTM Donor Parts kit offered by FPARTS, went on sale at 10% off on Ebay. I've been watching this auction since May. It has been relisted a couple of times, and according to FPARTS, there were 3 kits available.
The economics for the donor parts work out like this:
A new parts kit from SMC Performance is starting to push $12,000.
The GM Performance Parts kit never really materialized. This was something announced over a year ago.
A salvage title C5 is running around $10,000
The FPARTS kit dropped down to $4409 for 2 days over the weekend.
The items not included are the following:
Brake lines
Radiator
Alternator
Brake pads (Duh)
A/C compressor and clutch
I am still planning to get the Big Brake Kit upgrade for Z06 Corvettes. This covers rotors, calipers, pads, fluids and brake lines. I have verified that the Factory Five 18 inch wheel upgrade accommodates this brake kit.
I plan to go with a bigger radiator (probably a DeWitts) anyway.
The alternator and A/C compressor need to matched to the engine accessory kit. Again, I am going with a bigger engine than you could find in a salvage C5 (i.e. LS376).
FPARTS does ask for a little patience. They need to put the donor kit together, and that includes pulling parts off a couple C5s in their salvage yard. I hope to see everything in the next 10 days.
It feels good to take a step forward on this project.
The project I am currently working on involves updating the front end of the Boxster. One aspect of the new look is the addition of DRLs (daytime running lights) that I purchased from Pedro's Garage. For you Boxster enthusiasts, this is a great site for do it yourself projects.
To get power to the DRLs, I have to tap into the windshield wiper motor. Sounds simple, until you look at all the wires running to and fro just for the wiper motor. Fortunately, I have a multimeter and a very good after market manual. There are several pages devoted to schematics of different electrical systems. As my eyes begin to glaze over, I realize that wiring the GTM could be the hardest part of the build.
So I asked people who have wired cars. My wife's cousin, Tim, has restored several classic cars (and a few other odds and ends) told me to check out American Autowire. If I had a classic Mustang or Corvette that required rewiring, this certainly is the system I would use. However, this is a GTM that I plan to install just about every electronic gadget known to man.
Then I stumbled across the ISIS Multiplex System on the Factory Five Forum. This system might also be referred to as ISquare, 1 + 1 or LittleFuse. ISIS is a modular and scalable electrical system that that manages the lights, signals, dash gauges, electronics, ignition, battery monitoring, electric windows, door poppers (well you get the idea).
Rather than stumble through a poor explanation, I found 4 videos produced by Two Guys Garage. The best part of these videos, they explain the ISIS system and they install it on a GTM!
These videos are about a year old.
Since then, they have added the inMOTION Cell. This module handles item like door poppers, power windows and anything where reverse polarity is necessary to make something run. It manages 5 devices instead of 10 like a regular power cell.
The other addition is the inTOUCH MAX Double DIN Touch Screen. With the exception of turn signals and hazard lights, every switch on the dash can be managed from this touch screen module. Plus you can password protect the car, in addition, the security already built into the master cell. The next video shows an actual install.
I talked to Jay Harris, President of ISIS Power last week. He answered a few more questions:
LED lights, flashers - no problem. All of that is managed through the master cell and there is no reliance on electro-mechanical flashers.
The different cells are daisy chained via a data cable enclosed in wire loom. On a build like the GTM, there is no order dependence for cells.
Back up cameras are not currently supported by the inTOUCH cell. Jay plans to support cameras via inTouch by first Quarter 2012.
Custom programming can either be done at the factory, or you can do it yourself.
There is lots of info and reference material on the ISIS Power Site.
This is a modular and scalable system that even a computer geek like me can figure out.
Down side: it will cost more, and I will not be using the supplied wiring from the kit.
