410hp conversions
Discussion
Just driven our second 410hp CV8 conversion and what a car it's become, an completly different animal.
It growls at idle, instead of purring.
It howles like a banchy when you give it some hoof.
It barks (on the overrun)instead of drowning down to idle.
It pulls like a cart horse from 1000 revs, instead of sedatly getting to 3000 revs and then scaring the arse off you cuz you've run out of road, again (it's much safer now).
It snarls and snaps when you blip the gas.
It's become what it should have always been, a big, loud, grunty, V8, with all the attitude of a gang of teenage lads outside the local disco with a pack of fags and a tin of 3% Heiniken.
Our considerable thanks have to go to Paul from Wortec for his absolute mastery of Monaro and HSV PCM re-mapping well done Paul.
Line up chaps, you won't get better value or more passion for your car IMHO.
It growls at idle, instead of purring.
It howles like a banchy when you give it some hoof.
It barks (on the overrun)instead of drowning down to idle.
It pulls like a cart horse from 1000 revs, instead of sedatly getting to 3000 revs and then scaring the arse off you cuz you've run out of road, again (it's much safer now).
It snarls and snaps when you blip the gas.
It's become what it should have always been, a big, loud, grunty, V8, with all the attitude of a gang of teenage lads outside the local disco with a pack of fags and a tin of 3% Heiniken.
Our considerable thanks have to go to Paul from Wortec for his absolute mastery of Monaro and HSV PCM re-mapping well done Paul.
Line up chaps, you won't get better value or more passion for your car IMHO.
My car is up at Wortec today
Just having the pcm tune done, and rolling road tests, as I already have all of the mechanical mods - 2nd hole in the air box, k&n filter, big bore maf/tb pipe, headers and exhaust system. In this state it was tested on Abbey Motorsports dyno system, and was putting out 350 bhp at the hubs (~400 flywheel bhp?) so I'm looking forward to seeing what the Wortec tune will do. Flat out power is all very well, but it's a flatter torque curve, crisper throttle response, and better driveability that I'm interested in.
There is no end of debate as to the best way of measuring a cars output, but Wortec use a rolling road (rather than the dynos that Abbey use) to measure the power at the wheels and extrapolate a flywheel bhp figure.
Picking the car up tomorrow morning - can't wait!


Just having the pcm tune done, and rolling road tests, as I already have all of the mechanical mods - 2nd hole in the air box, k&n filter, big bore maf/tb pipe, headers and exhaust system. In this state it was tested on Abbey Motorsports dyno system, and was putting out 350 bhp at the hubs (~400 flywheel bhp?) so I'm looking forward to seeing what the Wortec tune will do. Flat out power is all very well, but it's a flatter torque curve, crisper throttle response, and better driveability that I'm interested in.
There is no end of debate as to the best way of measuring a cars output, but Wortec use a rolling road (rather than the dynos that Abbey use) to measure the power at the wheels and extrapolate a flywheel bhp figure.
Picking the car up tomorrow morning - can't wait!

Agree with you Caspy, but colleague posed the question that if a mod. was made/fitted by a main dealer was it with the blessing of Vauxhall & what would be the comeback if there were any problems relating to such a mod.
I know that Vauxhall recognise LSV, but will not cover their modifications under warranty. But it is a different scenario when a main dealer reccomends/sells a modification. I couldn't give him a straight answer. Maybe Picador or Wortec offer their own warranties for any related issues? I assume that in a worst case scenario they would have to have insurance to cover such liabilities.
Maybe Stu Harris can give us the official Vauxhall verdict?
I know that Vauxhall recognise LSV, but will not cover their modifications under warranty. But it is a different scenario when a main dealer reccomends/sells a modification. I couldn't give him a straight answer. Maybe Picador or Wortec offer their own warranties for any related issues? I assume that in a worst case scenario they would have to have insurance to cover such liabilities.
Maybe Stu Harris can give us the official Vauxhall verdict?
A tuner/modifier of HSV's/Monaro's.
I believe that TWR, Vauxhall & LSV have had several meetings in the past with a view to importing/tuning cars. Obviously things have moved on with TWR going pop & Vauxhall importing Monaro's. I think that LSV may have tried to get some sort of official status from Vauxhall for mods. to Monaro's. I guess this was not possible for obvious reasons(liability) as Vauxhall/GM do not own any part of LSV.
I believe that TWR, Vauxhall & LSV have had several meetings in the past with a view to importing/tuning cars. Obviously things have moved on with TWR going pop & Vauxhall importing Monaro's. I think that LSV may have tried to get some sort of official status from Vauxhall for mods. to Monaro's. I guess this was not possible for obvious reasons(liability) as Vauxhall/GM do not own any part of LSV.
I would assume so as well Caspy. It would be a great selling point if you could have a tuned Monaro with full GM warranty.
I know that some main dealers for other marques have links with tuners, Synter BMW with Alpina & Reading Saab with Hirsch, for example. I think these dealers offer warranties to match the original ones.
Maybe Picador do the same?
If so my colleague may well be joining the enlighted few.
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Friday 17th June 16:54
I know that some main dealers for other marques have links with tuners, Synter BMW with Alpina & Reading Saab with Hirsch, for example. I think these dealers offer warranties to match the original ones.
Maybe Picador do the same?
If so my colleague may well be joining the enlighted few.
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Friday 17th June 16:54
Caspy, sorry I'm confused now, it doesn't help not having actually met most of the contributors here. I didn't know that you were a tuner,who for? Is it Picadors?
I replied to Graham's topic, as I was asked a warranty question by a work mate. I have no knowledge of Monaro warranties, but assumed that Vauxhall wouldn't cover any non GM tuning etc. However as Graham's business is a Vauxhall dealership & Monaro servicing agent, I wondered what the score was re: warranties and tuning/exhaust mods. etc. because my mate would want at least 400bhp & could well buy a Monaro particularly if fully warranted. Hopefully Graham or Stu can clarify things.
Paul, amusing to be reffered to as an "LSV boy", as I only go there about once every 10 months & its a good 2.5 hour drive away. Plus I've only actually met Tim the owner of LSV once! I could just as easily have become a "Wortec boy" as many of the contributors here appear to be(hence this topic). But 5 years ago Mark was the only mechanic I knew that had experience of HSV's & so far I've had virtually no problems with either car & a great service from LSV. Back in 2000 when I got my first HSV it was fairly scary, as support was minimal to say the least, basically just about everyone reffered to Mark for any technical queries that they couldn't work out for themselves. It's great that owners now have a choice as to where they can take their cars for tuning, servicing etc.
Sounds as if you are doing a great job Paul, on improving these already fantastic cars & I wish you every success. Nobody can knock me for being loyal to Mark though.
Supersante Alpina & also Brabus are seperate manufacturers, but I think that the BMW & Merc. dealers who sell them offer comprehensive warranties, although I would imagine subject to them servicing the car.
I did fancy a Brabus EV12 that I saw at Goodwood, until I discovered the price!!
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Saturday 18th June 01:40
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Saturday 18th June 01:43
I replied to Graham's topic, as I was asked a warranty question by a work mate. I have no knowledge of Monaro warranties, but assumed that Vauxhall wouldn't cover any non GM tuning etc. However as Graham's business is a Vauxhall dealership & Monaro servicing agent, I wondered what the score was re: warranties and tuning/exhaust mods. etc. because my mate would want at least 400bhp & could well buy a Monaro particularly if fully warranted. Hopefully Graham or Stu can clarify things.
Paul, amusing to be reffered to as an "LSV boy", as I only go there about once every 10 months & its a good 2.5 hour drive away. Plus I've only actually met Tim the owner of LSV once! I could just as easily have become a "Wortec boy" as many of the contributors here appear to be(hence this topic). But 5 years ago Mark was the only mechanic I knew that had experience of HSV's & so far I've had virtually no problems with either car & a great service from LSV. Back in 2000 when I got my first HSV it was fairly scary, as support was minimal to say the least, basically just about everyone reffered to Mark for any technical queries that they couldn't work out for themselves. It's great that owners now have a choice as to where they can take their cars for tuning, servicing etc.
Sounds as if you are doing a great job Paul, on improving these already fantastic cars & I wish you every success. Nobody can knock me for being loyal to Mark though.
Supersante Alpina & also Brabus are seperate manufacturers, but I think that the BMW & Merc. dealers who sell them offer comprehensive warranties, although I would imagine subject to them servicing the car.
I did fancy a Brabus EV12 that I saw at Goodwood, until I discovered the price!!
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Saturday 18th June 01:40
>> Edited by A57 HSV on Saturday 18th June 01:43
I am also a Vauxhall agent, and would warrant any upgrades we undertook for people, regardless of source. If the product offered is a quality one, i would have no problem fitting and warranting it etc.
PS
We also sell and service Brabus product, and are only one of three official dealers in the UK now.
>> Edited by caspy on Saturday 18th June 14:13
PS
We also sell and service Brabus product, and are only one of three official dealers in the UK now.
>> Edited by caspy on Saturday 18th June 14:13
I would expect a Wortec tuned car to have fewer long term problems due to the maps being tailored exactly to the car and I'm sure these Vauxhall boys are aware of that.
Bear in mind it's not like upping the boost on a turbo car and exceeding the safe envelope, this tune simply eliminates overfueling problems to give a smoother ride and the power hike is a very useful bi-product of this. AFAIK the map is undetectable anyway due to containing such small changes plus its still working within the set safe parameters programmed in by Holden/Vauxhall. Taking a 5.7 CV8 Monaro up to around 410bhp to be in the same league as a VXR is not going to stress the engine any more than a warrantied VXR engine.
On a different note I'm sure LSV do have an agreement directly with Vauxhall on the S1 & S2 tunes.
Bear in mind it's not like upping the boost on a turbo car and exceeding the safe envelope, this tune simply eliminates overfueling problems to give a smoother ride and the power hike is a very useful bi-product of this. AFAIK the map is undetectable anyway due to containing such small changes plus its still working within the set safe parameters programmed in by Holden/Vauxhall. Taking a 5.7 CV8 Monaro up to around 410bhp to be in the same league as a VXR is not going to stress the engine any more than a warrantied VXR engine.
On a different note I'm sure LSV do have an agreement directly with Vauxhall on the S1 & S2 tunes.
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