Kooks Install & Tune (before after dyno results)

[trukk]

First thing, let me say

Yesterday I had Damian and the Guys at FBC do some work on my car for me. Big Kudo's for them for squeezing me in last minute (I was out of town for 10 day's on an emergency, and had to try and get squeezed in last minute on Pres Day, so I didn’t miss any more work. I'm also headed down to VIR this comming weekend, and wanted my car at it's best, again Kudo's to them for fitting me in).

I had them install my Hot's bars, from Christmas. I also had them cut out the front weld on my Corsa (in my never ending attempt to kill all exhaust leaks, I had the pre & post resonator connections welded by Lindsay). They then installed my Jet Hot Coated Kooks Long Tubes & Corsa mated cat's, which i got from TByrne in December. The new cat's don't look near as nice as my old Random Tech's, but you take what you can get I guess (plus it didn't seem right to hack up my current RT's). I also had them install some Granatelli 1200 degree '0 Ohm' wires, that I threw koolsox on top of, along with some NKG TR55ix plugs. Finally I had them weld the new cat's to the resonator (thus my only exhaust connections are now between the cat's/headers & headers/block, lessening the potential locations for future leaks). I had asked them to weld in some SS O2 bungs, pre cat, but there wasn't any room on the actual cat, and since the headers had already been coated that was a no go also. I really only wanted them in there for tuning anyway (and FBC's tuner, don't recall his name, just pulls the factory forward 02, and runs the engine in open loop, when tuning, so it didn't really matter.)

It sounds great. At idle it sounds almost identical to my old RT Cats/Corsa combo, but when getting into the throttle, it has a much deeper & substantial sound. No negative sound issues so far, and zippy drone.

My previous bench mark & tune was done @ Tony's Corvette's on their superflow eddy current dyno. It was done with the following mods:

- Corsa Cat Back (2.5")
- Random Tech High Flow Cats
- LPE CAI + FFV v2 (basically a 3.5" squeeze pipe' eliminator)
- KaTech 78mm ported Throttle body.
- Tony's Dyno Tune

My numbers where:

-Corrected RWHP: 357 @ 5900 (note that it did have a spike at dyno cutoff 50 cutoff to 359, see the graph. 357 is probably more 'real')
-Corrected RWTQ: 343 @ 4900

Damian & FBC uses a Mustang eddy current dyno. Due to the two different dyno's, it's not going to be an apple to apple comparison, but it should be much better than between say a DynoJet, and an eddy current model. I don’t have a digital copy of the file from Damian/FBC (post it if you can D.)

New mods:
- 1 3/4 Kooks Long Tube Headers, Jet Hot Coated
- Free Flow Metalic Cats (direct mate to Cora cat back)
- Granatelli 1200 Degree 0 Ohm plug wires + KoolSox
- NKG TR55ix Iridium Spark plugs (gaped at .045 I assume. D?)
- FBC Dyno Tune

Numbers from post install & tune:

-Corrected RWHP: 369 @ 5900 (hard to see exact rpm, since I only have a print out)
-Corrected RWTQ: 354 @ 5000 (hard to see exact rpm, since I only have a print out)


The torque curve on the new tune looks significantly flater. Damian's tune & graph ran from 3000 rpm to 6400 rpm & the tony's ran from 3000 to 6269. the averages for each are:

Tony's........Avg HP: 288
Damian/FBC.Avg HP: 303

Tony's........Avg TQ: 325
Damian/FBC.Avg TQ: 338

[Note: The Damian/FBC tune does carry for approx 140 extra RPM, adding to the average, however both peaked prior to 6269 (5900hp/5000tq, thus during that extra 140 rpm's the poewr was falling off. I'd say these two about wash each other out, for the most part.]

In the grand scheme of things, I'd say the FBC dyno probably reads a bit lower than Tony's, as it 'felt' (I know, subjective BS, alert) like a lot more than a 10 hp/tq gain. Part is explained by a better curve, but part is also probably due to the dyno differences.

Anyway, long story short, I'm a happy camper. Thanks to Damian, and the rest of the guys at FBC.

Look out VIR, here I come (this weekend NASA HPDE event.) I noticed in the driver list there is one other V signed up. Anyone here?

-Chris

P.S. Damian took me for a ride in the ‘black nasty’ or WeTF that thing is called (Procharged 383 stroked V), and it kept breaking loose at 2k rpm’s, in every gear, at partial throttle (only went up to 4th). That car is in definite need of some 335’s out back (and will soon need a new rear I’d suppose). Definitely VERY nasty.

[ctsvflorida]

I remember seeing your numbers before this stuff and thought it was a bit high but also think that these numbers could be a bit low. I am going to do a dyno tune shortly and will let you kow what the numbers are as we have about the same stuff. Hopefully I can get it done with in the next two weeks or so and then the cam goes in! Good stuff Trukk!

[trukk]

Originally Posted by ctsvflorida

I remember seeing your numbers before this stuff and thought it was a bit high but also think that these numbers could be a bit low. I am going to do a dyno tune shortly and will let you kow what the numbers are as we have about the same stuff. Hopefully I can get it done with in the next two weeks or so and then the cam goes in! Good stuff Trukk!

Thanks for the words. I can't wait to try out the Hots bars this weekend (can't really 'test' them on cold icy roads at the moment.)

I can say that I'm pretty happy with 370/355, for a bolton LS6, with caddy rubber galore in the dirve train. Approx 50 more Rwhp and 40 more Rwtq. Not too shabby

I'll probabaly stay like this for a bit. Possibly adding some Ground Control springs, to take it down an inch, and then maybee switching over to a FAST 90/90 a while later. Eventually I'd like to get a Cam, and maybe heads. The only major decision I've made is no super charger, they just don't do it for me. I'm good for the time beaing though.

Now I just need to pray for no exhaust leaks. Nothing makes me madder

-Chris

[rand49er]

Originally Posted by trukk

Thanks for the words. I can't wait to try out the Hots bars this weekend (can't really 'test' them on cold icy roads at the moment.)

I can say that I'm pretty happy with 370/355, for a bolton LS6, with caddy rubber galore in the dirve train. Approx 50 more Rwhp and 40 more Rwtq. Not too shabby

I'll probabaly stay like this for a bit. Possibly adding some Ground Control springs, to take it down an inch, and then maybee switching over to a FAST 90/90 a while later. Eventually I'd like to get a Cam, and maybe heads. The only major decision I've made is no super charger, they just don't do it for me. I'm good for the time beaing though.

Now I just need to pray for no exhaust leaks. Nothing makes me madder

-Chris

So, trukk, it's too early for me to digest everything you wrote, above. Is the gain of "50 Rwhp" comparing stock to headers/tune/etc?

[Drift-caddy]

Hey, glad you came out to watch the tune. There is still some more hp left of the table. This was a road race tune, not a all out power tune. Well when you are ready for the other mods let me know. Ill see if jenn can post up your graph for you today.

[ctsvflorida]

Originally Posted by trukk

Thanks for the words. I can't wait to try out the Hots bars this weekend (can't really 'test' them on cold icy roads at the moment.)

I can say that I'm pretty happy with 370/355, for a bolton LS6, with caddy rubber galore in the dirve train. Approx 50 more Rwhp and 40 more Rwtq. Not too shabby

I'll probabaly stay like this for a bit. Possibly adding some Ground Control springs, to take it down an inch, and then maybee switching over to a FAST 90/90 a while later. Eventually I'd like to get a Cam, and maybe heads. The only major decision I've made is no super charger, they just don't do it for me. I'm good for the time beaing though.

Now I just need to pray for no exhaust leaks. Nothing makes me madder

-Chris

Wake up Randy! Yes, that is what he is saying! lol

Trukk: If you're going to do the FAST stuff then do the cam and Fast together as it will be a lot less expensive to do them together, which includes only one tune and not two. That'll put you in the 420/400 range to the wheels without that 125lb tank sitting between your heads! I have shy'd away from the charger myself.

Speaking of rubber galore, my driveshaft was just changed and rubber galore is an understatement! It was replaced with another rubber! lol
Now I have this ticking noise on slight acceleration and deceleration coming from the tranny that they need to find! Probably from the dealer guys taking it for joy rides!

[Drift-caddy]

Originally Posted by ctsvflorida

Wake up Randy! Yes, that is what he is saying! lol

Trukk: If you're going to do the FAST stuff then do the cam and Fast together as it will be a lot less expensive to do them together, which includes only one tune and not two. That'll put you in the 420/400 range to the wheels without that 125lb tank sitting between your heads! I have shy'd away from the charger myself.

Speaking of rubber galore, my driveshaft was just changed and rubber galore is an understatement! It was replaced with another rubber! lol
Now I have this ticking noise on slight acceleration and deceleration coming from the tranny that they need to find! Probably from the dealer guys taking it for joy rides!

No, he has already paid for the the tune, so any more mods we make he will not be charged to retune it.

[keeksv]

Chris:

Nice numbers. You gained more than you realize given the dyno differences. The flat torque curve you describe is exactly why you throw the car on the dyno and get it tuned.

Brett is great at what he does, as are Jason and the other guys at FBC.

[keeksv]

Originally Posted by keeksv

Chris:

Nice numbers. You gained more than you realize given the dyno differences. The flat torque curve you describe is exactly why you throw the car on the dyno and get it tuned.

Brett is great at what he does, as are Jason and the other guys at FBC.

Oh yeah--you too Damian....

[trukk]

Originally Posted by Drift-caddy

No, he has already paid for the the tune, so any more mods we make he will not be charged to retune it.

Whoa, sweet. I didn't realize that

I'm glad I got the koolsox & coating, as the front passenger wire boot slightly touches the header. I pulled the sock down some more, for a bit more protection. All the other wires are completely clear.

I am really enjoying the sound/tone more and more. It is very mellow, and not at all 'in your face' (unless you mash it). This is the way the car should sound.

I am quite happy with my 'safe' tune. Melting/Breaking my daily driver for an extra 10 hp, would certainly be a tard move.

See if Jenn, can post that graph up, and/or e-mail it to me, and i'll do it. Also tell her how wonderful the wash job she did was

-Chris

[trukk]

Originally Posted by trukk

See if Jenn, can post that graph up, and/or e-mail it to me, and i'll do it.

Bump to D, for graph. Also, can you check with the shop, and see if they still have one of my stock front sway bar bushings. I checked my box last night, and I only have 3 of the 4 bushings.

Thanks,

Chris

[Drift-caddy]

[Drift-caddy]

Originally Posted by trukk

Bump to D, for graph. Also, can you check with the shop, and see if they still have one of my stock front sway bar bushings. I checked my box last night, and I only have 3 of the 4 bushings.

Thanks,

Chris

Bump for ya. SO how you do???

[trukk]

Originally Posted by Drift-caddy

Bump for ya. SO how you do???

Been busy since I got back.

VIR is SOOOOO MUCH FUN!

I can't believe I waited 2 years between trips. I've already signed up for next months NASA event there.

Saturday it was dry, and weather was nice (about 45-50 degrees). I ran with the novice group, since I only have 1 HPDE under my belt. I picked it back up a lot quicker than I thought I would. I probably passed about 12 cars each session (which is a lot in HPDE1, where passing opportunities are very limited.) I ran into some fairly bad brake fade (I didn't have time to change my fluid prior to Saturday. DUMB DUMB DUMB. I swapped it after my last session on Saturday.)

It rained like mad on Sunday, so I didn't really get a chance to push my brakes very hard. I'll be able to validate for sure next time i'm at VIR, that the issue truely was the fluid, and not the pads or rotors (fluid was icky, so I sure expect that was the issue. Pads are Hawk HPS, rotors are GM drilled). Driving in the rain was actually a LOT of fun. really teaches you to be smooth. We had 5 guys with STI's in our group. They were sliding off the track left and right. That cracked me up, because I told my buddy before first session on Sun, that I bet at least 1 of the STI guys goes muddin', and I sure was right. AWD is nice, but it's not super-glue.

I had a BUNCH of people come up to me throughout, and comment on how my car sounded. Everyone said they were really surprised that awesome sound was comming from a Caddy. One guy I passed said "Holy Sh!t, I couldn;t believe it when you passed me. You flew buy, and it sounded increadible" There was a guy that had just purchased a used 04 Z06, fully stock. I was talking with him before the first session on Sat, and asked him if was going to mod or anything. He said, no, car is great as it is. After two session (and two passes by me), he came and said, "Damn it, now I've got to get headers and an exhaust." HeHe.

Aside from the brake issue (my fault), the car performed great. I had no temp issues. The tires were wonderful, they stuck really well, but gave enough feedback when you were near the edge of adheasion (Falken RT615's, TW-200). No off track forays, or mechanical issues.

NASA put's on HPDE's between practive/qualifying/racing for a slew of race series. They divide these up between the lower dispalacement (fighter usually < 2.5L), and higher dispalcement (bomber, usually > 2.5L) groups. There was guy there, who had two old Grand Am or ALMS CTS-V cars there, who raced in the Bomber Group. Below is a link to race video shot by a Black/Yellow C5 Z06. He get's passed by the CTS-V after a few laps, and then is working hard to get by him again, untill the V has to retire due to a mechanical, near the end of the race. Well worth watching the whole video.

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic....4b7f1b50c23d04

(Note the 911 #5, you see at the very begining of the video in front of the Z. THAT THING WAS HAULIN SO MUCH @SS. IT WAS A MAN AMOUNG BOYS OUT THERE.)

If anyone is on the fence about headers: GET THEM.

If anyone is on the fence about doing an HPDE: DO IT NOW!

All in all a wonderful weekend.

Finally, After going back to the road course, I don't think I'll be back to the strip. I'm glad I tried it once, but that was enough. Diff strokes for Diff folks I guess, but I'm definately stroking road course from now on.

Thanks again for posting the dyno graph,

Chris