New Brunton Stalker XL owner

[RacerRicke]

Hello USA7s.  I finally purchased a Brunton Stalker XL powered by an LS3.  I have lusted after a LS3 Super Stalker for quite some time.  The car is magnificent.  The previous owner took excellent care of the car.  He was the second owner.  Unfortunately he had no documentation such as parts lists, wiring diagrams, general info, et cetera.  He did identify what all the dash switches are except for one mystery three position switch he had no clue what it is for and operating it reveals nothing about its function.  Being an engineer and ex-racer, I'd like to compile as much info as possible about the car.  If it has a Brunton serial number, I have not found it nor know where to look.  The car has a funky dual cat (four O2 sensors) exhaust system that goes under the car and exits at the rear.  I would like to replace this with the standard side pipes exhaust with just (2) O2 sensors.  He did not know what LS3 version the engine was but I suspect it is a 430 HP version.  Anyone know what the header/muffler/ turnout part numbers are?  If I convert the car to the standard side pipe exhaust system with (2) O2 sensors I suspect the ECU will need re-calibration and if so does anyone know who can do this?  I'd like to get to know all fellow LS3 powered Stalker owners, especially those in southwest Florida.

 

[Croc]

@Anaximander  Bob - are you able to add anything here despite not being local to that part of FL?

[panamericano]

Congratulations on your Stalker.  Hope that will be enough power for you, for a while. 

Nice to see the U-Haul toy hauler being used.  I did check, the are very very heavy.  How did it pull.  

[MV8]

The exhaust you have is better in many ways to side pipes. A bikini top like on jeeps will help with the sun.

[Anaximander]

RacerRicke, Congrats on the new Stalker XL Classic. Actually Croc, the car that RacerRicke just bought resided in the town we just moved to 4 months ago and now he will be taking it downstate but only 2.5 hours South of Stalker Cars in Spring Hill, Florida on the same side of the State. The engine is indeed and LS3/430 which is really about ideal for the car. The original purchaser in California had talked Scott Minehart into making it for him with side doors and air conditioning. The air conditioner apparently never worked correctly but the A/C head unit appears to still be installed under the dash. I actually was in Scott Minehart's shop having him work on one of my Stalkers when the car was being built. It has a Cadillac CTS-V rear end that is designed for about 500 lb.-ft. of torque. One thing that you ought to talk with Scott about is if he "hardened" the attachments of the driveshaft to the rear diff. I think this car has the latest mods on that but I am not sure. Scott will definitely know.  It has I believe a Tremec T-5 6-speed transmission in it. IIRC, the CTS-V's may have had a rear diff ratio of 3.73? Scott uses a Chevrolet ECU. The car is equipped with a ton of heim joints and the gas tanks usually held about 15-16 gallons of fuel. It will run nicely on 93 octane pump gas. Being NA, there are no turbo lag issues and with the torque of the LS3, you will be getting used to the incredible power to weight ratio with the car probably weighing in at about 1850 pounds. The aerodynamics of the front fenders leave a bit to be desired if you are doing HPDE's at high speeds. 

 

You can contact Glen Minehart at 386-931-6435 and he will know Scott's current business phone number and location of his shop. Stalker cars has moved several times over the past 10 years and is likely somewhere near Spring Hill, Florida. Scott knows every nut, bolt and part number on that car by heart and can dial in any level of performance in terms of corner weighting and ECU issues that you may have. He also has vendors who make the side pipes, uprights, etc. and Scott knows how to get the ECU dialed in for different configurations with his preferred tuners. Scott and his whole family, including his mother and father are hardcore autocross folks and his older brother is #2 nationally in SCCA E-Mod in autocross in a Stalker AXR. Scott historically has charged reasonable prices for his work and there is nobody in the country that knows these cars better than him, period. Because they are so uniquely constructed, I personally wouldn't let anybody touch your new baby other than Scott Minehart. That is why they are called M-Spec cars as homage to Scott's design/development. Much good fortune with your beautiful toy!

Bob Schilling

Edited July 28 by Anaximander

[RacerRicke]

2 hours ago, panamericano said:

Congratulations on your Stalker.  Hope that will be enough power for you, for a while. 

Nice to see the U-Haul toy hauler being used.  I did check, the are very very heavy.  How did it pull.  

The smaller auto transport trailers which I tried to get are being phased out and replaced by the U-Haul Toy Haulers which can accommodate larger vehicles.  The Toy Hauler towed like a dream.  I would recommend it.  

[RacerRicke]

1 hour ago, MV8 said:

The exhaust you have is better in many ways to side pipes. A bikini top like on jeeps will help with the sun.

The car came with a black canvas top.  It will be much appreciated in Florida.  The car came with doors and a removable rear window which I will never use.

[RacerRicke]

1 hour ago, Anaximander said:

1 hour ago, Anaximander said:

RacerRicke, Congrats on the new Stalker XL Classic. The engine is indeed and LS3/430 which is really about ideal for the car. The original purchaser in California had talked Scott Minehart into making it for him with side doors and air conditioning. The air conditioner apparently never worked correctly but the A/C head unit appears to still be installed under the dash. I actually was in Scott Minehart's shop having him work on one of my Stalkers when the car was being built. It has a Cadillac CTS-V rear end that is designed for about 500 lb.-ft. of torque. One thing that you ought to talk with Scott about is if he "hardened" the attachments of the driveshaft to the rear diff. I think this car has the latest mods on that but I am not sure. Scott will definitely know.  It has I believe a Tremec T-5 6-speed transmission in it. IIRC, the CTS-V's may have had a rear diff ratio of 3.73? Scott uses a Chevrolet ECU. The car is equipped with a ton of heim joints and the gas tanks usually held about 15-16 gallons of fuel. It will run nicely on 93 octane pump gas. Being NA, there are no turbo lag issues and with the torque of the LS3, you will be getting used to the incredible power to weight ratio with the car probably weighing in at about 1850 pounds. The aerodynamics of the front fenders leave a bit to be desired if you are doing HPDE's at high speeds. 

 

You can contact Glen Minehart at 386-931-6435 and he will know Scott's current business phone number and location of his shop. Stalker cars has moved several times over the past 10 years and is likely somewhere near Spring Hill, Florida. Scott knows every nut, bolt and part number on that car by heart and can dial in any level of performance in terms of corner weighting and ECU issues that you may have. He also has vendors who make the side pipes, uprights, etc. and Scott knows how to get the ECU dialed in for different configurations with his preferred tuners. Scott and his whole family, including his mother and father are hardcore autocross folks and his older brother is #2 nationally in SCCA E-Mod in autocross in a Stalker AXR. Scott historically has charged reasonable prices for his work and there is nobody in the country that knows these cars better than him, period. Because they are so uniquely constructed, I personally wouldn't let anybody touch your new baby other than Scott Minehart. That is why they are called M-Spec cars as homage to Scott's design/development. Much good fortune with your beautiful toy!

Bob Schilling

 

Thanks for the great information!  I will definitely be contacting the Mineharts.

 

[Anaximander]

I second MV8's recommendation to consider keeping the rear exhaust pipes. The side pipes make a huge racket and are hot as hell next to the driver and it makes for kind of an unpleasant experience if driving on the street. Because you have the Classic XL version, the rear fenders direct a heck of a lot of noise into the cockpit and some people mount deflectors just forward of the cockpit off of the roll bar area and this makes a huge difference in comfort while driving on the street.