Aside from GSM1, K&N SRI, a tune, Powell TCABs, and Powell rotated transmission mounts, what other must have mods are there for the SS/TC?

I've been running Hawk HPS pads in the rear since new, and I've got 6000 miles without any grooves on the rear rotors.

 

Upper charge pipe and intercooler are usually must haves with a tune

 

How much boost can the stock upper pipe and intercooler handle?

What are some good brands to consider that don't have any fitment issues? I haven't had any issues with my stock upper pipe popping loose, I remember that being a common problem with 2008s.

 

I was on 25 psi. Stock intercooler. Held fine.

 

I know there are a lot of different experiences with this, but my stock IC end tank cracked/popped at 23-24 psi after only about 8 weeks of going from GMS1 to the 23-24psi tune. I only did a few boosted pulls a day during that period. I put in the ZZP smaller unit (more ground clearance). It fit well with the small exception that the diameter of where the hoses hooked up seemed to be a little large, particularly on the drives side (that was a real bear to get that hose on). But otherwise seemed to be a quality built piece and fit well in all other aspects. Still on stock upper charge pipe though. So if over 21psi on a tune I would look at changing the IC out for reliability (so you don't get stuck with a $220 towing bill like I did).

 

What are you looking to do with the car?

I don't have toooooo many mods, but the harness bar and rear sway bar from powell make that B tight as hell and it corners like crazy.

I'd also say wheels and tires....

 

My stock intercooler failed on 25psi and blew a huge crack on the plastic end tank.

Upgraded to treadstone tr10 with all treadstone charge pipes. Cheap nice products.

 

Should we even be hitting 25 psi with stock pistons? I read that 22 psi is what our stock LNFs can run all day long on a road course. GMS1 maxes out at around 19-20 psi. I think I'm good at about 20 psi. My Cobalt doesn't have a real lack of power, it's more of a problem with traction, wheelhop, and torque steer.

 

Hi flow or catless 3 in downpipe

 

I'd say Pistons are fine, 25 is about the max efficiency of the stock k04

 

I put in the high flow cat downpipe from hahn, mmmm was that a nice upgrade. I still have stock exhaust, and boy does it sound good, but still quiet enough for an old man.

 

Get better tires for traction. I dont see how your still getting wheel hop with powells rotated mounts and cabs on a moderate tune but you can get some stiffer springs so it doesnt make the front end buck up when you launch. Yyz and ottp are great options.

 

I don't have the rotated mounts yet, and I just installed the CABs. I haven't taken the car to the track since. When I was at the track, I got massive torque steer, wheelspin, etc... at WOT in 2nd gear (as soon as the boost kicked in around 4000 RPM) and that is after the massive wheelhop in 1st gear during the launch. Even when I am on the freeway and just moving at 40 MPH in 2nd, if I kick open the throttle the car will shoot to the right with massive wheelspin. And that's with the 20 psi tune. I tried 23-25 psi and while it did flow a lot more air, I wasn't seeing much higher trap speeds until I was hooking up. After I read the few threads where people discussed piston failures above 23 psi, I wanted to keep it safe. GM's documentation seemed to indicate the stock LNF pistons could only handle 300 hp, but I'm not sure if that is safe by OEM standards or forum standards (you know, Blah Blah is running 600 whp on the stock internals).

I also ordered the Powergrid endlinks because I'm starting to see grease coming out of the top joints for both stock endlinks.

 

linking boost pressure to piston limits and the 300hp limit is comical to me.

High dynamic cylinder pressure and true knock is what kills the LNF pistons. Just because the boost is higher doesnt mean you're following more air.

Also for the jerk to the right, make sure your alignment is good, and then get some nice sticky tires.

Additional question, who is tuning you?

 

GM is the one that said the stock LNF pistons are only good to 300 hp in one of their publications that outlined what was needed to reach 700 hp on the Ecotec engines.

When I was running 25 psi, I saw more airflow, about 34 to 35 lb/min. Using Garrett's airflow to hp estimation, that's about 330 hp. My SHO flows about 38-39 lb/min stock at 10-11 psi (twin turbo 3.5 v6) and is rated for 365 hp.

The car has 6k miles and alignment looks good. I want to get tires as a very last resort, because tires seem to become hard with time, and I don't like spending $800 every few years to get new summer tires when I log about 1k miles a year on this car.

 

I've been running 25 psi for 2 years without issue, many do, you should be fine there provided you don't hold it there every mile. I'm Lnf at 380whp on e47 and have yyz springs prs rear cab's and his rotated mounts, and have 0 torque steer, and minimal wheel hop ( only when I'm on drag radials and don't have them at the right temp). Something isn't right with your setup.

 

The 700 hp ecotec was the LSJ, not the lnf. Also a LNF with bolt ons and tune will be over 300hp

Tires are essential...if you dont' want to spend money then you'll have to deal with hop and spin or moderate your throttle control :/ My old nt05's or stock oem tires spun hard, the new 71r's grip like a ****, but they are autox tires I run on the street.....

 

34-35lb/min on the maf or ve? (curiosity)

and as northvibe said that was the lsj not the lnf, multiple people are near 500 on stock pistons and rods for a good amount of miles.

 

Clean your valves if needed and get one of Powell's separators.

 

The gm build book also outlines the ratings of pistons for the lnf. Pretty sure op is right, but many take them to 400+ without issue.

 

I still have the factory tires, they were made late 2008 so they're almost 8 years old (about 6k miles). I'll eventually get new tires, but I want to address the other issues first. I'm not too interested in drag racing times, it was mainly for testing and tuning, but the torque steer and wheelspin in 2nd is present when accelerating onto the freeway.

ECaulk: It's MAF (SAE), the VE Airflow is much lower, about 29-30 lb/min. Is there a genuine difference?

I have read old threads that advised going over 23-24 psi, this isn't one of them but it again mentions 22 psi for racing:
LNF: What max PSI are you running with stock turbo?

I've attached the build book excerpt, it's for stock LSJ/LNF pistons (300 hp).

 

The fact they grouped the LSJ and LNF pistons together even though they are very different I doubt they actually tested them, someone just went we'll just throw them in the if you're over 300 replace them.

The MAF airflow can be skewed, and I forget if people figured out the VE calc to see if it holds true or not. As long as you're just using the lbs/min to hp as a ball park youre good, but its just that a ball park number

 

Please give a source. The LSJ build book was out well before the LNF was public.

 

You know tires would fix like 90% of the wheel spin

Go be gansta and buy only 2 for the front....

 

I would have agree with you but apparently there are newer editions

http://www.motionlabtuning.com/resou...?aid=4241&sa=1

But again those piston figures are not right. We know that.