First round of mods done

HushH · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 08:38 AM

Well, just got my car back yesterday from the guys at MTI Racing. I now have the following:

B&M Shifter
Lingenfelter CAI
Corsa Exhaust
MTI Racing tune

I’ll break down my thoughts on each one, but here’s the bottom line. Final numbers were 357rwhp/356rwtq. The car is a totally different animal now. Much smoother and SOTP difference is amazing. I don’t have the dynograph right here, but I’ll try to get it scanned and post it a little later. On to the specifics.

B&M Shifter – Koop, what were you saying about your B&M being loud? I couldn’t hear you because of mine. The shifter is loud, no doubt about it. I don’t mind the noise from the shifter itself; it’s all the drivetrain noise that I get coming through it that I don’t care for. But they forgot to insulate it, so I’m hoping when I go back in and wrap it with Dynamat I’ll notice a difference. For all the noise it makes though, the shifter is definitely worth it. There is absolutely no slop and it is extremely precise. Also seems like the throws were reduced by about 50% rather than the 25% they claim. And it feels strong enough that I don’t think I’ll have to worry about breakage either. A must do mod.

Lingenfelter CAI – I wasn’t originally planning on this mod, but Reese Cox at MTI assured me that it would be worth it if I go with additional mods down the road. I’m not sure how I would know whether it adds anything or not, but it sure did give it a nice growl, which was probably worth the $225 itself.

Corsa Exhaust – Some of you may recall that I was planning on adding the Borla. I had wanted the Borla because it came with an X Pipe and the mufflers couldn’t be seen below the rear bumper. Well, the guys at MTI had trouble locating one so they gave the folks at Borla a call. They spoke to two guys over there. One said the exhaust was discontinued and the other said it could be special ordered but there would be a 6-week wait. I confirmed and consequently went with the Corsa. The sound is good, but a little more subdued than I would have liked. My wife is happy that it’s not any louder though. And I’m considering getting the mufflers powdercoated black so they’re not as obvious. I’m also glad that I didn’t have the gurgling and popping removed as part of the tune. I’m starting to love that sound. As noted by others on here, the exhaust doesn’t do much for adding power. I only gained about 5hp from it.

MTI Racing tune – I went back and forth on which shop in the area to choose for a tune. Modern Day Muscle Cars and Vengeance Racing & Development were both considered and both seemed very good in their own right, but the responsiveness and experience of the folks at MTI Racing won me over. Reese Cox is the owner and was part of the Corvette C5R development team. He’s also had a very successful SCCA racing career and is heavily involved with the track days here at Road Atlanta. So I had little doubt that he knew what he was doing. The tune was a little on the expensive side at $600, but once I got the car back I knew immediately it was worth every penny. The power comes on earlier, much smoother, and lasts longer as well. Feels like a much larger gain than the dyno indicated because of the gains throughout the band. DQW1 rode in it after the initial tune but before exhaust, and I think he was convinced of the results as well. The only drawback is that I couldn’t hang around and be nosy while they were doing the work. It was pretty much a drop your car off and pick it up when it’s done type of deal. They’re a busy shop and I’m sure part of that was because I was having so much work done as well, but still would’ve been neat to stick around and watch. At any rate, I can’t argue with the results and I highly recommend them to anyone in the area.

Next mod is for me - Panoz Racing School.

PS - I have a stock airbox, shifter, and CAGS eliminator available now if anyone needs one. PM me with offer.

dqw1 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 08:59 AM

You got another tune? I can see that grin from Bama! I'm still waiting on StaticX to get their shop ready so that I can get at least a baseline dyno here in Madison. If they can get the software I'll let them tune it also, if not I'll go with a StealthV tune and dyno again after but I'm not sure how long the wait will be.
Nice job.
No longer sure if I can make to Road Atlanta Thursday but I will try.

rand49er · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 09:39 AM

Hey, Hush, PM me your address, and I'll send you freebie the last piece of Dynamat I've got from doing my B&M.

When I got the stuff about a year ago, it turns out that I only used about 1/4 of it, and I've sent two other people pieces so there's one piece left. I can honestly attest to two things: 1) My B&M is very quiet unless the car is being pushed hard, then you can hear it a bit (though the Kooks and Corsa tend to drown it out

), and 2) I cannot say with 100% certainty that the Dynamat made mine quiet or it's a function of installation somehow or it could be that I just plain can't hear.

My wife will claim the latter.

HushH · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 09:58 AM

Thanks. PM Sent.

gcoan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 01:51 PM

Same mods less shifter, and same dyno numbers (356.6 and 356.8 tq) imagine that! Good guys at MTI

Lingenfelter CAI
Corsa Exhaust
MTI Racing tune

2007 CTS-V

Kadonny · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 01:58 PM

Great write up!

Did you hear the Corsa from outside the car? Different beast and a totally different beast at either SOTP or WOT.

And good news on the tune. I plan on getting my 06 tuned this fall and am looking forward to the increased throttle response and power delivery.

Thanks!

HushH · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcoan

Same mods less shifter, and same dyno numbers (356.6 and 356.8 tq) imagine that! Good guys at MTI

Lingenfelter CAI
Corsa Exhaust
MTI Racing tune

2007 CTS-V

Good to hear. You should consider the shifter too. The difference is night and day.

HushH · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kadonny

Great write up!

Did you hear the Corsa from outside the car? Different beast and a totally different beast at either SOTP or WOT.

And good news on the tune. I plan on getting my 06 tuned this fall and am looking forward to the increased throttle response and power delivery.

Thanks!

Thanks. I've only heard the exhaust with the windows down while I was driving. I definitely like the sound, I just wish it were a little louder. But I'll get my wife to drive around and follow in her car just to get a good listen to it.

CIWS · #9 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HushH

Thanks. I've only heard the exhaust with the windows down while I was driving. I definitely like the sound, I just wish it were a little louder. But I'll get my wife to drive around and follow in her car just to get a good listen to it.

I know of a guy in a Mustang GT who heard mine this morning, a couple of times

dqw1 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HushH

Thanks. I've only heard the exhaust with the windows down while I was driving. I definitely like the sound, I just wish it were a little louder. But I'll get my wife to drive around and follow in her car just to get a good listen to it.

I heard it

Kadonny · #11 (**permalink**) 09-26-06, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HushH

Thanks. I've only heard the exhaust with the windows down while I was driving. I definitely like the sound, I just wish it were a little louder. But I'll get my wife to drive around and follow in her car just to get a good listen to it.

Hehe, just wait. I was all happy last night, I set off a car alarm in a parking garage. I drive by this Jeep and it starts honking and flashing. I think, that can't be me doing that, so I stop and wait. Alarm stops after a few minutes, I give the V some gas and it goes off again!

Needless to say I was grinning ear to ear as I was leaving.