Discussion
Ok so I have my Monaro and I'm more than happy with it but like anyone else I'd like to add some more power. It would be nice to perhaps discuss what people have done in the past and what has worked well for them. Obvious options which come straight from Monkfish would be the likes of their exhaust systems (of which I already have one on order) to Superchargers etc. I have also heard talk of turbo kits. On this forum people have purchased and installed new headers and high flow cats, I'd like to know how they found them and were they worth the money. So yeah....discuss :-D
Guess someone should get the ball rolling.
Really you get out what you put in, more money = more power, there aren't any cheap boosts!
A remap is comparatively cost effective, but generally worth doing once you've done some airflow mods, such as:
Cold air intake / exhaust will give minimal gains, may feel faster due to more noise. Maybe 5 at the wheels if lucky?
Headers/cats may see a 'reasonable' jump, perhaps 10 or 15 at the wheels, more noise again though
The LS2 intake manifold is utter crap, porting that may help a bit, improved versions are expensive (FAST102 etc.)
High ratio rocker arms may be worth a few if mapped with them. Will impact cam choice later on (can still use a MF cam though), possible concerns on reliability / performance, do your own research and decide as with everything...!
New heads are expensive but will help, although then really the cam is a limiting factor.
Cam will give good improvement across the range, will ultimately be limited by the stock heads though if they aren't changed. Cheap if you can do it yourself, although obviously, needs mapping...
Supercharger is a well trodden path, lots of power, lots of wheelspin, plenty been done reliably, may get warm.
Turbos less common, but probably required if you want ridiculous power.
Stroker kits not common over here, price depends on source of labour...
Really you get out what you put in, more money = more power, there aren't any cheap boosts!
A remap is comparatively cost effective, but generally worth doing once you've done some airflow mods, such as:
Cold air intake / exhaust will give minimal gains, may feel faster due to more noise. Maybe 5 at the wheels if lucky?
Headers/cats may see a 'reasonable' jump, perhaps 10 or 15 at the wheels, more noise again though
The LS2 intake manifold is utter crap, porting that may help a bit, improved versions are expensive (FAST102 etc.)
High ratio rocker arms may be worth a few if mapped with them. Will impact cam choice later on (can still use a MF cam though), possible concerns on reliability / performance, do your own research and decide as with everything...!
New heads are expensive but will help, although then really the cam is a limiting factor.
Cam will give good improvement across the range, will ultimately be limited by the stock heads though if they aren't changed. Cheap if you can do it yourself, although obviously, needs mapping...
Supercharger is a well trodden path, lots of power, lots of wheelspin, plenty been done reliably, may get warm.
Turbos less common, but probably required if you want ridiculous power.
Stroker kits not common over here, price depends on source of labour...
Typically an LS1 with a good mafless tune with full exhaust (decent headers, hi-flow cats, x-pipe and at least twin 2.5" system) plus OTR should see at least 40 rwkw gained as a conservative guide. Also a lot more torque can be achieved which is often forgotten. Also get rid of the turtle shell over the intake as that just gives massive heatsoak. With the above mods in Oz we were typically running flat 13's on the blacktop, although I should add most had revised diff gearing to give a bit much punch in the acceleration stakes.
As already said, then it starts to get more expensive and planning and thought required on how to achieve the power/performance goals.
As already said, then it starts to get more expensive and planning and thought required on how to achieve the power/performance goals.
TheLeatherman said:
Typically an LS1 with a good mafless tune with full exhaust (decent headers, hi-flow cats, x-pipe and at least twin 2.5" system) plus OTR should see at least 40 rwkw gained as a conservative guide. Also a lot more torque can be achieved which is often forgotten. Also get rid of the turtle shell over the intake as that just gives massive heatsoak. With the above mods in Oz we were typically running flat 13's on the blacktop, although I should add most had revised diff gearing to give a bit much punch in the acceleration stakes.
As already said, then it starts to get more expensive and planning and thought required on how to achieve the power/performance goals.
We may be part of Europe, but we don't do metric when it comes to powerAs already said, then it starts to get more expensive and planning and thought required on how to achieve the power/performance goals.
IMO the best way to think about things is to work out what you want powerwise first.
This might be quarter mile time, or rear wheel horsepower, or top speed etc.
Once you know what you really want in those terms dreams become quantifiable. The worst thing you can do is just add stuff willy nilly because eventually you will end up spending 3x as much as you needed to. This is good for everyone except yourself.
So figure out what you want first. Then dig the calculator out and head to the automotive calculator websites, Forums, books etc.
Some design principles you will use are likely to be;
- Minimise cost
- Maximise durability
- Maximise fuel efficiency
- Retain vehicle value
- Minimise off road time
- Meet design objective
If you can do some/all the work yourself the first principle will be optimised.
Once you have your goal the rest will follow. It would be interesting to do a paper exercise for someone listing out all the costs to see what works out best. I pretty much did that and ended up with a stocker to achieve my goal which met my design objectives.
Of course some like to add emotional design requirements in like "It must be noisy", or "It must have a whining supercharger noise" etc.
Neither of these help meet your quantifiable goal, they are aesthetic only which count for nothing concrete. Just hormone release
Having said that, maybe "Must sound cammy" might have been somewhere in my list
This might be quarter mile time, or rear wheel horsepower, or top speed etc.
Once you know what you really want in those terms dreams become quantifiable. The worst thing you can do is just add stuff willy nilly because eventually you will end up spending 3x as much as you needed to. This is good for everyone except yourself.
So figure out what you want first. Then dig the calculator out and head to the automotive calculator websites, Forums, books etc.
Some design principles you will use are likely to be;
- Minimise cost
- Maximise durability
- Maximise fuel efficiency
- Retain vehicle value
- Minimise off road time
- Meet design objective
If you can do some/all the work yourself the first principle will be optimised.
Once you have your goal the rest will follow. It would be interesting to do a paper exercise for someone listing out all the costs to see what works out best. I pretty much did that and ended up with a stocker to achieve my goal which met my design objectives.
Of course some like to add emotional design requirements in like "It must be noisy", or "It must have a whining supercharger noise" etc.
Neither of these help meet your quantifiable goal, they are aesthetic only which count for nothing concrete. Just hormone release
Having said that, maybe "Must sound cammy" might have been somewhere in my list
ringram said:
ARAF said:
Using the 'search' button on Pistonheads will bring up a wealth of previous discussions on all of the above. You will then understand the pain that some have gone through to achieve their goals.
Self inflicted often..
Yanayaya said:
Ok so I have my Monaro and I'm more than happy with it but like anyone else I'd like to add some more power. It would be nice to perhaps discuss what people have done in the past and what has worked well for them. Obvious options which come straight from Monkfish would be the likes of their exhaust systems (of which I already have one on order) to Superchargers etc. I have also heard talk of turbo kits. On this forum people have purchased and installed new headers and high flow cats, I'd like to know how they found them and were they worth the money. So yeah....discuss :-D
Is it a LS1 or LS2 Ringram advice is very sound advice.Work out what power you would like and go from there.Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff