Power upgrades...Where do I start?
 

This is a cut and past post from the "General Forum". Boy, asking a question in there gets you crucified for have a 4 cylinder.....:noidea:


Hey! New to the forum, long time Camaro enthusiast. I'm probably gonna get alot of opinions on this one so here goes:

I'm looking to do some power upgrades and after a ton of research (here and on the web) I'm still at a loss of where to start. Guess the first thing to establish is the wanted end result. I know i can get 350 RWP out of this thing just not sure the best way to go about it. (i.e. different mod combos and the such) I am the second owner and as far as I can tell there are no mods done at all. Still stock. Although the exhaust sounds ALOT different than most of the 2.0's I see. I'm not sure what that is all about....? I do know it's not a down pipe upgrade. I also want better throttle response and a transmission that actually shifts when I use the paddles instead of that annoying lag.
Budget is not really an obstacle, but I will say that anything I do will not be done all at once.
Suggestions on what to do, what to start with and what to do moving forward after that?

I'd start with opening up the turbo: high-flow air filter, high-flow intake tube, aftermarket downpipe. From there, I'd add the aftermarket recirc valve that JacFab came up with...BNR sells it now, I think. Those four things plus a tune will make it a whole new vehicle for not much of an investment. It'll have you blowing by V6s of all makes and the low-end V8 Dodges...

I'm only on a air intake and muffler delete. Next mod is injen intercooler piping and go about the exhaust. The intake did improve a bit of performance and noticed my boost reading on torque through intake psi is hitting 21.96 lbs.

1. Catted Downpipe – ZZP, Mishimoto, BNR or aFe
2. aFe (or similar “K&N” style) OEM replacement air filter
3. Intake Tube - ZZP or Mishimoto
4. Larger 67mm Throttle Body - ZZP, RPM Motorsports or
soon to be released Solar Performance (I will be doing testing for them)
5. Hot & Cold Side Charge Pipes - Mishimoto or Injen
(you must have at least the cold side installed for the
larger 67mm Throttle Body. Also, don't be a cheap
ass and just buy the cold side "half pipe". Spend the
money and do it right. Get both the cold and hot side
together. *these will not work with the ZZP front
mounted Intercooler so decide first about what intercooler you want to go with
6. JacFab/BNR aftermarket Recirculation Valve (this will
throw a CEL. It's totally harmless though. Just
annoying having a CEL always on your dash. When
you finally get a tune it can be permanently disabled.
7. Intercooler - Mishimoto or ZZP front mount (comes w/own charge pipes)
8. Mishimoto Catch Cans (get both sides)
9. E85 kit (if that type of gas is available in your state)


Optional nice to haves but not totally necessary:

- Cat-Back or Axle Back Exhaust system. Too many to list here. IMO the full Mishimoto Cat-Back is hands down the best. Again, please don’t be a cheap ass here and do the dreaded “muffler delete”. I can’t stress to you enough how awful it sounds and the cabin drone is biblical. Just leave your suitcase muffler on if you can’t afford an exhaust.

- PTP Turbo Blanket and downpipe wrapping (how much heat does it really deflect?)

- MSD Blaster Ignition Coils (stock coils are actually really nice)

- “Better” Spark Plugs (the stock ones are perfect, don’t waste your money here unless you have to)

You are now at the tuning crossroads
IMO you only have 2 options here,
1. Get a tune with the stock turbo and all of the bolt-on’s above.
2. Get a tune with an upgraded turbo and all of the bolt-on’s above. If you go this route you have 4 options IMO.
1. Trifecta tune w/their own T40 stage 2 Turbo
2. Coopers Camaro tune w/Turbo Bay stage 2 Turbo
3. ZZP tune w/their own ZFR Turbo
4. Vermont tune w/their own stage 2 Turbo
ONLY USE THESE TUNERS: Trifecta, Coopers Camaro, Vermont or ZZP (I’m sure this going to hurt people’s feelings).
USE AT YOUR RISK: BNR (nonexistent customer service), RPM Motorsports (just no), and any garage that claims they know how to tune GM vehicles, your stoned want to be tuner friend and for god’s sake do not try to do it yourself unless you’re nuclear physicist from the star system 40 Eridani A like wook wook.

Also, the above list will safely net you around 340WHP and 390WTQ on 91or higher gas or around 350+WHP and 400WTQ on E85. Anything above that you are going to need to upgrade the rods, pistons, cams, springs, neutral balance shaft, fuel pumps, fuel injectors ect…
That is a whole nother ballgame.

If you're going the remote tune route then I would go with Vermont Tuning's 390hp package if you have E85 in your area. If not then the bolt ons, turbo upgrade and tune that zed/stm listed above will get you there.

Haha why you even recommend ZZP is beyond many of us. I'll agree to disagree with your assessment given my success with 2 local dyno tuners now being able to figure this platform out as well if not better then most companies and I have the #'s, mods and overall abuse to back that up.

Trifecta I still harbor issues with for good reason but your right when you suggest Vermont and cooper 100%

Just wanted to add that I had a brief cel that went away quickly and hasn't come back yet (months) with the BNR valve and Mishi intake. No tune. I get my downpipe installed next week so hopefully my luck continues! :)

Does anyone have a website or contact info for Cooper? All Google comes up with is someones Facebook...?

Does anyone have some input on the Race Chips tuner and throttle controller combo? I see them both online for around $850 total.

Don't do it. Waste of money that you'll end up replacing with a real tune anyway. Been saying that since day one even Wook came to the light.

That is Cooper he's not on here much anymore. He knows his stuff if your not going with a local dyno tune I'd use him.

@ STM - I'm still blushing. Everything you listed is really all there is. Its just a matter of doing it.. Building definitely brings real satisfaction if you can do some yourself. I can speak for myself it was just trial by error and figuring it out as I went. It has been really fun. I am going to try and take it one step further and try and get a collective of tuning information for HPtuners type stuff. To kind of demystify the art and science of that. I know this is closely guarded territory so I will try and not ruffle too many feathers. But there is no reason if you are at all comfortable flashing your ecu you cant do a basic tune yourself.


Here: Tell me your Honest opinion of how bad an idea this is.




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Wook. I know you mean well, but there are some ABSURDLY smart guys here and elsewhere, even in this very thread, that should not be attempting PCM modifications,. there is a very adapt curve to this model. It may seem simple for you, its just not the case for the norm....

I hear ya. I'm thinking that too. It would be up to the person to decide if they want to do it like in any endeavor. My thinking is if ppl who are thinking about it if you understand it will lead to more acceptance and more options. Because if the shops are getting bashed and ppl are afraid who are otherwise willing to do it or have it done for fee then it will open up more business. If I do a step by step it will be in a pay for download guide. I am just thinking that we would have a team of non affiliated tuners behind the scenes work on that.