MY07 GT - performance mods - learning

[cyrus_b]

hey guys...

Im not particularly mechanically minded, but i am very interested in learning. And considering im young, i dont feel too embarrased in asking for some advice and explanations.

Basically i want to get a bit more power out of my stock GT, and im not sure what path to take, and what mods deliver the best bang for your buck. Im not too interested in hitting top speed but there are a few things i want to obtain:
quicker pickup in low revs, bigger boost from the turbo (more like the throwback in the WRX rather than the smoothness of the Liberty), and i want a more mean sound from the engine/exhaust.

Not really interested in tracking the car, but it would be nice to see the it takeoff alot quicker when i get the awesomely cool VL Holdens pull up at the lights (where the drivers are slung back in their seat far enough to be paralell with the car floor). So i guess im looking alot at improving torque and boosts (??) - i was thinking tuning would help with this, but wanted some advice first.

As for the engine noise, i've seen people have installed air filters, BOV's and a other few things to the effect im after, and im pretty sure im gonna install a Gitech exhaust to get a decent grumble from the rear, but do i need a new dump pipe to have any real effect?

I know i probably come across as a ricer, and frankly if thats what i am then so be it. Im not made of cash so i wanna get some mods done to boost performance enough, but also have the car look and sound the way i want.

One last question that may or may not be relevant here: does anyone know of any gauge mounts for the top of the dashboard (ie: infront of the McIntosh centre speaker, like the FPV's etc have)? I know my car isnt a rocket, but in time i will keep building, and i just wanted an idea of the possibility of this. I cant do cubbypod because i have a satnav there?

Any other advice to help me learn would be greatly appreciated. Eager to learn, not to be trashed on.... the bigger person can admit he needs education..... and i know next to nothing


thanks guys

[adhar]

Can't give much advice on the gauges, but if you are after a mean sound and a bit more oomph get an exhaust, (just a catback is fine if you're on a budget), and it sounds like you might like the sucking sound of a pod filter too!

Good bang for buck mod is a tune, espesially if you had the exhaust and pod. I noticed you are in Melbourne, I can personally recommend a V-tune at STi docklands. You will notice a big difference. Costs about $800 for GT Liberty though, but still cheaper than some other tunes such at ecutec.

When you get your car going faster don't forget about mods such as braking and handling, you will need them.

My 2 cents.

[adhar]

One last question that may or may not be relevant here: does anyone know of any gauge mounts for the top of the dashboard (ie: infront of the McIntosh centre speaker, like the FPV's etc have)? I know my car isnt a rocket, but in time i will keep building, and i just wanted an idea of the possibility of this. I cant do cubbypod because i have a satnav there?

Hey Cyrus,

I was thinking about your gauges... I haven't seen any ones made of the liberty/legacy to go ON TOP of the cubby hole/satnav but there are loads of universal pods. Some look cheap and ricey, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder i suppose!! haha!

As far as gauges go, there is no reason you can't put them on the dash like the Ford, but i wouldn't want to drill holes there as its kinda right in front of you if you sold the car and took the gauges off. Can you double sided tape them on?

If you are super keen on gauges there seems to be heaps of options of what you can put them in.

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These are what some of them look like.

[SillySora]

IMO best thing you can do for performance is exhaust cheap, and makes it a Subie. Or you can get a tune, which gives more power and use less fuel. I used ecu-tek which you can turn these stupid engine lights off.

Depends what your overall goal is.

[moggy]

Depending on your budget your best performance gains are an exhaust system upgrade. The stock system is very restrictive so you need freer flowing mufflers like the Hi-Tech or Phat quads. The biggest gain I had was after I had the Phat dump pipe fitted, I couldn't believe the difference it made. I am yet to have a tune but when I do the gains are are going to be impressive. Handling wise Whiteline sway bars front and rear are the best bang for your buck.

Bob.

[Johnb]

If you want to blow off a VL Commodore:

Cheapest option is an ECU remap with an aftermarket hi flow panel filter (e.g. AVO or HKS) and the resonator removed with no other modifications - opensource is a good lower cost option to ECUTEK. From there the sky is the limit.

If you want to blow off a VL turbo plus about 90% of cars on the road with a nice induction and exhaust note, then:

-ECU remap (Opensource $1100, ECUTEK up to $2000 depending on type)
-Turbo back exhaust (preferred system Phat quad mufflers, Phat dump pipe and Phat centre pipe) (estimate $2500)
-Hi-flow panel filter (e.g. AVO, K&N, HKS, Perrin) with resonator removed (estimate $50-$125)
or cold air intake plus airbox (AVO CAI estimate $450)
-GBF or Turbosmart Blow off valve (estimate $300)
-Top Mount Intercooler (AVO or Perrin) (estimate $1,000)
-Silicon intake, inlet and throttle body hoses (estimate $460)

you can then add:

-more efficient turbo
-front mount intercooler
-after market turbo actuator
-electronic boost controller
-TGV deletes
-hi pressure fuel pump
-bigger injectors
-fuel regulator
-fuel rails
-Hi performance coils
-Hi performance sparkplugs
-etc (this can cover anything upto cosworth race motor valued at about $US17,000)

You will also need to do something about your brakes and suspension:

cheapest big step brake upgrade:
-Motul 600 or AP Super 600 brake fluid,
-MRT or Cusco or Laile Master Cylinder stopper
-Hawk HPS or Dixcel pads
-braided lines (need to be teflon coated to pass Australian standards otherwise can be defected)
(Again you can go up from here: next step wrx 4pot front, 2 pot rear and slotted rotors; next step 330mm Brembos, APs, Stoptech, Ksport, etc)

Cheapest big step suspension improvement for handling and ride:

set of coilovers (low end best is probably Ksport or megan racing - can source from US at $US900 + freight, higher end Tein Flex - can source from Arith/Phat on this site for about $2500)

then can add:

-whiteline or perrin swaybars (estimate $500)
-front and rear strut bars (Whiteline or Cusco, estimate $500 - $900)
-front lower control arm castor kit (whiteline and super pro do one plus Phat is now sourcing one from Japan) $150 + fitting
-anti lift kit (whiteline or super pro or perrin) ($150 + fitting)
-roll centre adjustment kit if you lower the car (whiteline is best lower cost option) ($250 + fitting)
-Cusco type 2 lower arm bars ($750 + fitting)
-rear diff bushes ($50 + fitting)
-adjustable (toe in and camber) rear lower control arms ($500 + fitting)
-various aluminium suspension components ($thousands)

Yes, I did get carried away.

[adhar]

John, i like your shopping list!! hehe

[cyrus_b]

thanks for all of the advice guys....

im looking at getting a remap done (seems to be a lot of different advice on where/what is best), after i get a hitech exhaust (do i need a new dump pipe/centre pipe??), a pod filter - is this an alternative to a panel filter or are they two seperate things?? , possibly a BOV (not too loud like a crazed up skyline, just a soft whoosh hehehe). Im not sure what the resonator is or why it needs to be removed ??

also, i guess handling and braking need to be improved - probably sway bars (but first the coilovers, then i'll see if theyr necessary) and a brake upgrade. Im not too sure what to do with those though, replace the whole setup or just change fluid/pads/stopper etc??? I do like the idea of hiny brembos but im guessing they cost a real packet...

again, thanks for the advice guys

[cyrus_b]

hey everybody,

rather than starting a new thread, i thought i'd see if i can use this one first.

Im rather interested in Gordy's CAI Cobb system (which comes with a box/heat shield), but am not very clued up about this stuff, so after some reading this evening on the net, i have a few questions:

Do i need pod rather than a decent aftermarket panel filter?
I know this sounds like a stupid question but consider that i am currently running a stock MY07 GT, is it gonna make a difference at all (performance wise) between an Apexi panel or a Cobb CAI Pod?

I am definately fitting a new exhaust (at least mufflers, probably centre and dump pipes) and a BOV then doing tune (probably at STI Docklands), so that should be factored in also.

What kind of maintenance is needed - re-oiling, cleaning, etc?
As opposed to the replacement of the stock panel or cleaning the paper Apexi filters?

Am i naive to expect better fuel efficiency?
I have heard random tales of 50km extra per tank, but surely thats too good to be true?

Pod : paper vs oil?
I have heard there are negative issues with oil based filters (though i do know they provide better filtration). Is this relevant to the Cobb system and the Liberty?

By removing the stock airbox (when installing the Cobb) does this remove the resonator? And if i used a panel filter and removed the resonator, would i get a similar sound to using a Pod filter?

Finally, i have a quick exhaust related question:
I plan on picking up a set of either Phat (if i can get my hands on them) or HiTech Quads.
Do i need to replace the centre pipe and dump pipe aswell as the mufflers to notice a performance gain, or will replacing the mufflers on their own make a difference?
Also, sound-wise, do the mufflers or a dump pipe make a louder noise (i dont want to start sounding like a douche with a massive cannon if its too loud!)


I know thats a lot of questions, but im sure you all have the knowledge to help me out, so if someone has a few minutes to spare, i'd really appreciate the explanation.

Thanks, Cyrus

[vitagen]

Do i need pod rather than a decent aftermarket panel filter?
If you want to go pod, please go for an apexi one which is a dry type filter that requires no oil, which will ultimately root up your MAF, (i'm speaking from expereince not in my current GT but my friends WRX and my corolla sportivo), I have managed to use half of the stock airbox as a heat shield with an apexi short ram, together with the intake snorkel, the intake temp is about 5 degrees above ambient temp (from the ECUdatascan), i'll post pics up later when i'm home. I don't know about performance, but it sure sounds damn cool, i'm yet to tune my car.

if you are going full exhaust you will be able to hear a BOV noise even with the stock one, if you are keen on getting a BOV, get the GFB stealth GT which I have, leave it on full plumback mode...... speaking of which, even with the apexi pod you can hear kind of a BOV noise but on the intake side , if you put on atmospheric venting mode, your car will backfire and run hell rich

if you go full exhaust you will require a tune too to maximise power

with the apexi pod, you don't require any cleaning or reoiling etc and there was no CEL when i installed it

thats my 2 cents

[lolzer]

Check my post in the vendor section under

"Crisp Products" - Gauges!!

I have a video of how I set up my gauges on the instrument panel.

[smythie]

Do i need pod rather than a decent aftermarket panel filter?
If you want to go pod, please go for an apexi one which is a dry type filter that requires no oil, which will ultimately root up your MAF, (i'm speaking from expereince not in my current GT but my friends WRX and my corolla sportivo),

Conversely, if you oil the filter only just enough, you'll be fine - reference the large number of guys on here with oiled filters who aren't having any MAF problems.

I have managed to use half of the stock airbox as a heat shield with an apexi short ram, together with the intake snorkel, the intake temp is about 5 degrees above ambient temp (from the ECUdatascan), i'll post pics up later when i'm home. I don't know about performance, but it sure sounds damn cool, i'm yet to tune my car.

How are you measuring ambient temperature? I take it the intake temp would be coming from the combined MAF/temp sensor.

if you are going full exhaust you will be able to hear a BOV noise even with the stock one <snip>

How would a full exhaust affect the sound from the BOV in the intake?

, if you are keen on getting a BOV, get the GFB stealth GT which I have, leave it on full plumback mode...... speaking of which, even with the apexi pod you can hear kind of a BOV noise but on the intake side

Now this is where I would expect to be able to hear the BOV - you're changing the intake design.

if you put on atmospheric venting mode, your car will backfire and run hell rich

I doubt that venting the BOV to atmosphere on its own will cause the engine to run all that rich at all. I'd say there is something else at play there