Discussion
Well, As some of you may know, I sold my blue CV8 back in early summer, and purchased a Black LS2 Monaro VXR with just 42K on the clock. It was pretty much bone stock and a blank canvas for me to consider options, which initially was looking like supercharging.
However, Jez's twin turbo kit had been collecting dust for a while at Monkfish, and looked awfully like it needed a home to go to, so after a couple of preliminary chats with Roger at MF, I took the plunge.
Now I won't say it was the easiest installation, and I ended up without the car for much longer than planned, but I must say, huge shout out to Roger, for a), putting up with my constant requests for updates etc, but b) for doing such a blinding job. A stealthy install is an understatement, under the bonnet, it looks almost stock bar the larger intake pipe.
Needless to say, the lure of more shiny options soon started adding up, but I absolutely love it. It's actually quite docile to drive off boost, but certainly shifts like a rabid animal once on boost.
I'll probably miss something off, but the basic spec list I think is:
APS Twin Turbo kit with larger turbos plus all the ancillary gubbins
Full 3" exhaust with wortec twin outlet back boxes
New cam
ACT twin plate clutch
Uprated fuel pump (I think from Camaro ZL1)
Wortec tune
Hopefully she is running conservatively in the high 600s but don't know absolutely for sure, but it's 'enough'.
It never stops, and the starter is on its way out, so an LS7 starter is on the cards, followed shortly after by some Wortec front stoppers and some other minor bits that need attending to.
So once again, many thanks to Roger and team at Monkfish and Jez for deciding to have an even bigger install and therefore making his old kit available
However, Jez's twin turbo kit had been collecting dust for a while at Monkfish, and looked awfully like it needed a home to go to, so after a couple of preliminary chats with Roger at MF, I took the plunge.
Now I won't say it was the easiest installation, and I ended up without the car for much longer than planned, but I must say, huge shout out to Roger, for a), putting up with my constant requests for updates etc, but b) for doing such a blinding job. A stealthy install is an understatement, under the bonnet, it looks almost stock bar the larger intake pipe.
Needless to say, the lure of more shiny options soon started adding up, but I absolutely love it. It's actually quite docile to drive off boost, but certainly shifts like a rabid animal once on boost.
I'll probably miss something off, but the basic spec list I think is:
APS Twin Turbo kit with larger turbos plus all the ancillary gubbins
Full 3" exhaust with wortec twin outlet back boxes
New cam
ACT twin plate clutch
Uprated fuel pump (I think from Camaro ZL1)
Wortec tune
Hopefully she is running conservatively in the high 600s but don't know absolutely for sure, but it's 'enough'.
It never stops, and the starter is on its way out, so an LS7 starter is on the cards, followed shortly after by some Wortec front stoppers and some other minor bits that need attending to.
So once again, many thanks to Roger and team at Monkfish and Jez for deciding to have an even bigger install and therefore making his old kit available
Well done for taking the plunge and the updates
Glad it's gone back in an HSV so we can hear of the updates and progress
Pics pics pics ??
Enjoy, and hope to see it at meets. any more plans long-term ? Assuming you aren't going down the forged engine route
PS you are brave running that power set up with std VXR brakes
Glad it's gone back in an HSV so we can hear of the updates and progress
Pics pics pics ??
Enjoy, and hope to see it at meets. any more plans long-term ? Assuming you aren't going down the forged engine route
PS you are brave running that power set up with std VXR brakes
preciousmetal said:
Well done for taking the plunge and the updates
Glad it's gone back in an HSV so we can hear of the updates and progress
Pics pics pics ??
Enjoy, and hope to see it at meets. any more plans long-term ? Assuming you aren't going down the forged engine route
PS you are brave running that power set up with std VXR brakes
Yes, Roger wasn't too impressed doing the road testing on standard stoppers. But once the Wortec fronts are on, I have a set of AP rears as well which Mick refurbished for me. Doing Wortec F & R is an investment too far at the moment. Kinda reasoned in this weather it won't be pushed too hard, plus if the roads are salty, it won't be going out at all near the salted stuff. British winter means there'll still be plenty of mild days to be had. At road speeds the VXR stoppers aren't too bad, but if it goes to Thunder Road later in the year, it'll all want to be done by then, and preferably by summer driving season.Glad it's gone back in an HSV so we can hear of the updates and progress
Pics pics pics ??
Enjoy, and hope to see it at meets. any more plans long-term ? Assuming you aren't going down the forged engine route
PS you are brave running that power set up with std VXR brakes
It might be nudging 700ish, but happy with high 600s if that's all it is, and keeping it conservative till its been on a set of rollers (next month).
wormus said:
Good news although I would have thought 700 hp on stock pistons was asking rather a lot. General consensus is 600-650hp is the limit, certainly on a supercharged engine.
It makes its power differently, but have been assured it'll be ok, but no higher unless more work done. There really isn't much to see though, it's such a stealthy install, and I can't get under the car at home. I'll post a couple up in a tick.
Would you mind posting up a more detailed review of the TT kit, particularly in comparison to the known SC options?
I understand why you'd go for this kit with a forged engine, as I believe you could see 900bhp+. So, bearing in mind that you've kept the stock internals:
- Why did you choose the TT over a SC?
- Do you loose any power off boost (compared to stock)?
- Any other pros and cons....?
I hope I'm not being too nosy!
I understand why you'd go for this kit with a forged engine, as I believe you could see 900bhp+. So, bearing in mind that you've kept the stock internals:
- Why did you choose the TT over a SC?
- Do you loose any power off boost (compared to stock)?
- Any other pros and cons....?
I hope I'm not being too nosy!
Janosh said:
Would you mind posting up a more detailed review of the TT kit, particularly in comparison to the known SC options?
I understand why you'd go for this kit with a forged engine, as I believe you could see 900bhp+. So, bearing in mind that you've kept the stock internals:
- Why did you choose the TT over a SC?
- Do you loose any power off boost (compared to stock)?
- Any other pros and cons....?
I hope I'm not being too nosy!
Not at all and I try and post up some info as I get to know it better.I understand why you'd go for this kit with a forged engine, as I believe you could see 900bhp+. So, bearing in mind that you've kept the stock internals:
- Why did you choose the TT over a SC?
- Do you loose any power off boost (compared to stock)?
- Any other pros and cons....?
I hope I'm not being too nosy!
But initial responses:
- Always sat on the fence over FI, but thought sod it, why not - one over the other didn't particularly bother me either way, and as a lot of people have done S/C, fancied something a bit different. I became aware of Jez's old kit collecting dust and did some man maths and thought that could work, and may even come in under a fresh/new S/C budget, bearing in mind the TT kit on offer included the full (manifolds to tailpipe) exhaust system. Obviously adding the ACT, CAM, uprated fuel pump etc added up, but they would all have been needed with a S/C install (ok, maybe not the ACT, but an upgraded LS7 clutch either way) to go for proper power. I did think all along if I was going to do it, I would want to do all of it, ie not stop half way, but get deep into the 600BHP zone. Being an impatient type, doing a S/C install, bits at a time wasn't really on the cards either, it was all or nothing.
-I don't see how it would lose any power off boost compared to stock, I guess, off boost, it just feels so normal, though I would describe low speed/stationary to moving away as being quite 'cammy' if that is even a term! By that, I mean, its not easy to pull away slowly and gently, you have to give it some to pull away without stalling, that ACT needs getting used to, and to be fair, apart from picking it up last week, only driving it once more (yesterday). Haven't stalled it yet though - but come close a couple of times!
At low revs, cruising, it’s probably not quite as happy/refined as stock, but perfectly drivable and in no way unpleasant. Now I know Roger was making sure I was very well prepared, but apart from some cold tyre low grip (MPSS on rears, but still 245 width on stock rims), even yesterday on pretty chilly roads (4 deg in Kent), once the tyres up to temp, unless the road was damp, it generally gripped very well (I haven’t been stupidly provoking it, so no doubt the grip limits are there if you really want to find them). But for example, a modest prod at 40mph in 4th just sees a mighty wallop of torque catapult you up the road in a fit of giggles and mild bewilderment. It’s certainly not something I can see myself getting bored with any time soon. I guess the power will tail off early being a turbo car, but you might think it a bit strange having done all the work, but it won’t be driven like I stole it all the time and I have no intention of exploring the red line at every opportunity – I’d like this to last!
- Pros/cons – don’t know yet, unless you’re playing in the boost range, the fuel economy doesn’t seem to be too badly affected, but then that doesn’t bother me as it’s not a daily. Again, that low speed/pulling away ‘cammy’ feel will take some getting used to, but wouldn’t call it a negative. I can’t immediately think of any negatives! Pro’s - Rogers installation, it is immaculate and a credit to the man (and supporting team – thanks again Roger). It looks totally stock, though a keen eye will spot the larger intake pipe (see pics). Everything is near enough completely hidden from view and is very much stealth. I also like the sound more, its different from a S/C or stock loud car, the turbos chop the noise differently, and whether the fact it’s a 3” exhaust over the standard 2.5” Wortec systems, not sure, but it has a deeper, more resonant note to it, rather than the waspish rasp of the other Wortec systems. Even with silencers in, it’s still plenty loud enough though but with zero drone/total refinement in the cabin. After the loudness inside and out of my old blue CV8, that’s taking a while to get my head round.
I will post more updates after some more time with the car, most likely when it gets a bit warmer! I doubt I’ll make Ace Café, but should be a SRR.
Any turbo or SC install should pull away just like normal and the ACT's any use here as they are just organic also drives like a standard clutch. So if there are any issues pulling away, it will be down to tuning.
But it really should behave just like a standard car in that respect.
It would certainly be possible to build a single turbo, twin turbo, whatever you want really. It just all boils down to finding someone to do it...and funding it. Custom stuff like that will rarely be cheap.
But finding room for a larger single and a downpipe etc etc....isnt always easier than a pair of smaller twins, and the low down location does work out pretty good.
The only place I've heard of in recent times offering TT kits for these cars in RHD were Goat, who did pop up on the forum before the Nazi's banned them for advertising.
http://www.goatperformance.com.au/
Their stuff looks much like the APS, GenT etc installs, so should be fairly tried and tested in that respect.
But it really should behave just like a standard car in that respect.
It would certainly be possible to build a single turbo, twin turbo, whatever you want really. It just all boils down to finding someone to do it...and funding it. Custom stuff like that will rarely be cheap.
But finding room for a larger single and a downpipe etc etc....isnt always easier than a pair of smaller twins, and the low down location does work out pretty good.
The only place I've heard of in recent times offering TT kits for these cars in RHD were Goat, who did pop up on the forum before the Nazi's banned them for advertising.
http://www.goatperformance.com.au/
Their stuff looks much like the APS, GenT etc installs, so should be fairly tried and tested in that respect.
stevieturbo said:
Any turbo or SC install should pull away just like normal and the ACT's any use here as they are just organic also drives like a standard clutch. So if there are any issues pulling away, it will be down to tuning.
But it really should behave just like a standard car in that respect.
It would certainly be possible to build a single turbo, twin turbo, whatever you want really. It just all boils down to finding someone to do it...and funding it. Custom stuff like that will rarely be cheap.
But finding room for a larger single and a downpipe etc etc....isnt always easier than a pair of smaller twins, and the low down location does work out pretty good.
The only place I've heard of in recent times offering TT kits for these cars in RHD were Goat, who did pop up on the forum before the Nazi's banned them for advertising.
http://www.goatperformance.com.au/
Their stuff looks much like the APS, GenT etc installs, so should be fairly tried and tested in that respect.
Are these similar to the ebay special?But it really should behave just like a standard car in that respect.
It would certainly be possible to build a single turbo, twin turbo, whatever you want really. It just all boils down to finding someone to do it...and funding it. Custom stuff like that will rarely be cheap.
But finding room for a larger single and a downpipe etc etc....isnt always easier than a pair of smaller twins, and the low down location does work out pretty good.
The only place I've heard of in recent times offering TT kits for these cars in RHD were Goat, who did pop up on the forum before the Nazi's banned them for advertising.
http://www.goatperformance.com.au/
Their stuff looks much like the APS, GenT etc installs, so should be fairly tried and tested in that respect.
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