Update on some mods...

[Massiv]

Thought I'd write for the local crew and give an update on some modifications I have done since picking up the SKY in mid-April.

If anyone wants to roll by and check them out, I'm more than happy to give a demo.

SOLO Performance MACH Exhaust and Downpipe
I really felt the exhaust on the SKY was a little tinny and lacking some grunt and muscle. My last few cars had awesome muscular sound, so I set out to fix that issue, and grab some more power to boot.

I did some research and it turns out that SOLO Performance is located only a few clicks from me over in Mississauga!

Anyway, spoke with the owner online a bit -- great experience dealing with these guys. Very up-front, great facilities, and good value for the cash. I got the MACH exhaust and the new hi-flow cat (aka downpipe). GLAD I DID NOT GO WITH THE LOUDER SYSTEMS! It's at the limit of where I'd want it to be... I have clients and have to be half respectable.

Anyway, the setup has a good sound at idle and when cruising around. A TOUCH loud when you hit WOT and full boost. But the best part, is there's this AWESOME popping and burbling on decelleration. It is SERIOUSLY menacing! Worth it for that alone.

Power-wise, I would say the turbo spools up much quicker, so you have more power available a bit quicker. Peak-power wise, I doubt there's that much gain with the setup, but you can tell it's breathing a bit better. Still felt a bit restricted on the intake side...


Wester's Tune
How cool is it to get all your parts in Canada and not have to pay the UPS rape-you fees? Installed this today along with a K&N panel filter (have been down this road before, and haven't loved the panel filter route) and a fresh oil change. I also backed off the wastegate mod a bit just in case...

Haven't had a tonne of time to evaluate the tune, but my brother has an identical 07 SKY Redline (also red on black), and he has a cold air intake and magnaflow exhaust and I soundly trounced him when we went for a little blast!

There's much more power all over the place, and the feeling of being held back is gone. Highway driving is a bit like a shark through a school of fish... It's now that much easier to put down your foot in 5th or 4th and take lanes and do what you have to do. Without even hitting max boost (now 22-23psi), you can feel the car has more jump.

To protect against potential issues, I snagged a brand-new ECU and had it burned with Wester's program and then shipped to me. Not cheap, but fast and painless and swapping out the ECU couldn't have been easier. All in all, am very happy with the tune so far.

Also, could be just me, but I swear with the Wester's tune the car is actually quieter (with the SOLO MACH exhaust) than it was before. The exhaust sounds a bit less percussive (not a sound I like... I'm much more a smooth Mustang with X-pipe sound kind of guy) and quieter overall. Maybe it's running a bit richer which has quieted it down. I have some question about the effect of SOLO Performance's "O2 Extender" technique that they use in the exhaust setup, and if it truly allows the O2 to sense lean/rich conditions correctly. Mix that effect up with the black-box tune from Wester, and I really need to get this thing on a dyno and datalog it to see where I'm at.

Forgot to mention... I pulled the stock airbox out of the car with the idea that I might cut the front inlet area cleanly off to give the air a straight-shot to the new K&N panel filter. Looking at it, I think the extra air channels are all for quieting the intake sound down, and I doubt they're inhibiting airflow very much. I put it back in without breaking out the hacksaw.


DEJON Intercooler vs. HAHN Intercooler, + IC Piping
Still waiting for my intercooler from Dejon, but I'm told it will show up this week. HAHN seems to have a better end-tank design, so I'm compelled to snag their intercooler and pair it with Dejon's piping, and then resell my DEJON intercooler, as I would've paid for them both. These will go in next weekend and I'll post my thoughts. Really looking forward to this mod as I want to increase efficiency in this beast as much as possible, and intercooling is definitely the way to go there.

If anyone wants an intercooler, in Canada, and ready to go, let me know. I might sell the DEJON piece momentarily.

Anyway... SKY's running great. Everywhere I go, it is CONSTANT comments on the car. Kudos to GM for putting this together! We all said we'd buy "the car" if GM ever *made* "the car", and now I'm putting my money where my mouth is and couldn't be happier!

Doing more with less... great times when gas is $1.50/liter.

Anyway... looking forward to finally hooking up and meeting the GTA-local folks at the next meet.

Massiv.

[ceeker]

Great post man!

I love to read what others are doing to their cars.

I do have a question for you.

I bought a new ECU and am going to have a westers tune installed on it.

Since the ECU is new it does not have any existing stock tune installed.
Do I have to have the stock tune put on this new ECM before I send it off to westers for the new tune or can they install it on a blank ECM?

I have the Hahn intercooler on order and it's scheduled for delivery this Tuesday. I took advantage of there sale and went with the Hahn instead of the DeJon.

[Massiv]

Am 99% sure that you will not need your stock tune on the ECM. They just need your VIN and car specifics and will write the program onto the ECM.

Massiv.

[harry777]

this forum will not let me post a new thread.....tried everything.....anyhow i wanted to say that i think i have a abnormal 2008 rl.....the more i drive it the faster it seems to get.....i live in an area of exotics so it is not difficult to get something started......first time it was a new bmw m6.....tight and winding road with no chance of passing but he could not even come close to loosing me....right on the bumper al the way.....could hear he was driving it hard...i wasn't close to the limit.....then another day an aston martin db9?????.....comes along side....opens up...so i did as well .......and left him in the dust.......side by side with a new ferrari on a very steep hill.....bye bye.......and now tonight the final conformation........starting out at about 50 mph at the bottom of a very long hill with 3 crotch rockets and 3 open lanes i led the whole way until i let off for upcoming traffic......they were wound out.....screaming rpms....


i think i hve a freak......it is really quick

smile

[TravisJames]

Hey Massiv,

I like the way you're setting up your Sky, sounds a lot like what I'm trying to do with mine; however, I was waiting to do the Wester Tune until after I put all the air flow mods (CAI, IC, Exhaust) on the car. It was my impression that Wester tailors the tune to the modifications you have installed. That being said, now that your Intercooler is on its way (I actually received mine in the mail from Dejon today) are you going to need to retune your new ECU to accommodate the new Intercooler?

[Massiv]

Hey Travis,

I was thinking along the same lines as well, but Wester's told me it's essentially the same tune for that setup, and that it will just perform better with the IC in place.

Car seems to have gotten even faster since the ECU install this past weekend. VERY fun... Just have to get the IC install done, and then I'm done for 2008.

UNLESS clutch goes or tires go before end of summer. Then will put in a heavier clutch and aluminum flywheel, and/or wheels and 275's out back. Hoping to wait until next year for that stuff tho...

Massiv.

[Igmyster]

Hey Massiv, are you going to come to our Niagara run and BBQ in August?

[|V3nom|]

Originally Posted by Massiv

SOLO Performance MACH Exhaust and Downpipe
I really felt the exhaust on the SKY was a little tinny and lacking some grunt and muscle. My last few cars had awesome muscular sound, so I set out to fix that issue, and grab some more power to boot.

I did some research and it turns out that SOLO Performance is located only a few clicks from me over in Mississauga!

Anyway, spoke with the owner online a bit -- great experience dealing with these guys. Very up-front, great facilities, and good value for the cash. I got the MACH exhaust and the new hi-flow cat (aka downpipe). GLAD I DID NOT GO WITH THE LOUDER SYSTEMS! It's at the limit of where I'd want it to be... I have clients and have to be half respectable.

solo makes a catback for the sky? i thought they only made them for the solstice.

[Massiv]

Yup.. they have new SKY tips in stock, or you can re-use your existing ones. I went with new to keep the stock system fully intact. Pipe-wise, the GXP and Redline systems are identical.

Niagara run and bbq? Sounds like good eats! When is it? I'll check the thread...

Massiv.

[|V3nom|]

do you think you can make a video clip of the exhaust? i listened to one but it probably didnt do the exhaust any justice as you could barely hear it.

[Massiv]

Sure, I'll whip one up for you. Am more convinced now that it actually is quieter after the chip. I'll make one this weekend and post it up.

Massiv.

[FingZ]

Hi Guys N Gals

I ve set mine up with the Dejon I/C plus all their piping and the cold air intake....Then returned to my stock air box , dropped in a K&N High Flo Perf Filter ....Added the RPI GT exhaust.....And for the Niagarra Ride , my BSR Tune will be in....R/K Sports complete body kit is on ..........minus the front lip....wich I lost on the Freeway....

Don t know why the heck I did all that ....just cost me 1514.16$ for 4 new Michelin Pilot Sport 96Y Tires ....

If you drive and corner HARD,.....Go for the Kappasphere Re-Bar ...it is a must !!!! Holly Crap...what a difference in Handling the tight curves....

Unfortunattelly , I had to remove my Re-Bar as they don t mix and match with my RPI Gt Exhaust....I do have Friends in Low places that will modify the re-bar so it will clear the exhaust....But thats a winter project...

By the way ...I have a Red Dejon Cold air intake for sale !!!! El Cheapo....


See you on the July NCR Ride and/or at the Niagarra Run !!!

FingZ

[SkyBaby]

Very cool.... I like reading and seeing pics of all the different mods that can be done to these cars..... SkyBaby

[Massiv]

Small update... for those wondering about the power of the combination. I went to the SVT Owner's Assocation track day at Mosport (I used to be a Ford guy) and raced against multiple Shelby 500GT's (500hp). I *spanked* the drivers in my class (mostly modified Cobras and Shelby GT's), in part because the course setup we were on was fairly tight and it's REALLY tough for a car to beat the SKY's handling. But even on the straights, I was able to press these guys and pass. Gotta love HIGH power and LOW weight.

I don't condone street racing (and hardly ever do it), but on a deserted stretch of 401, I spanked a lightly modified Cayman S (nice guy, actually -- he couldn't believe it and we chatted for a bit after), and more recently, the brand new M3.

How much do you love taking your SATURN and spanking cars that are twice the price and have twice the number of cylinders? Awesome!

Still think I'm done for mods this year (with the possible exception of some dyno tuning to really dial it in).

Next year will def see 19 or 20" wheels (if I can find nice ones -- haven't seen anyhting I liked), suspension, and very likely a turbo upgrade.

Massiv.

[SkyBaby]

You beat a new M3? very cool.... mine was a 97 and would fly.... very cool.... SkyBaby