First STS Kit in Chicago Area

[TonyNo]

did you go to komet?

[Orange5thGen]

Did they do any data logging for you? I need to hook up my laptop with you and do some driving around and send the info to Vince as a data file to see if he can tweek the tune...

[MyWorld]

No, they didn't do any data logging. They the standard dyno info. With the AFR at 9.2 it is running way to rich to put down any power.

[MyWorld]

Yeah, I went to Komet. I only put down 240 WHP with the tune being so obnoxiously rich.

[libertyforall1776]

V'Ger huh?

I hear 'ya on despising your other car. Mine is a '99 Voyager!

[libertyforall1776]

Wow, to me that is VERY worrisome -- you might consider a shop that does due diligence... I mean to install something like this and not test it?

Definitely interested to see and hear your car when you get it all sorted...

I also am going to bring my car back to Performance Unlimited on Monday. They did a great job of installing the system. Their mistake, was assuming that the kit tune would work without an issue.

[MyWorld]

It seems like forever and a day, but I finally have an update.... I dropped off my car at Benchmark, they are going tune with vince at trifecta. They have to mail each other back and forth with the tunes and logging after each dyno run, so it may be a few days. But we are finally headed in the right direction.

[TonyNo]

Good to hear!

[XxantichargerxX]

Good news I want to see this on the dyno!

[MyWorld]

Update:

The Initial Logs were sent to Vince on Friday. The car is still running PIG rich. I am confident that Vince can fix that. One thing that concerns me though is how long it is taking to spool. I don't hit 5 lbs until 4200 RPMs. Hopefully fixing the AFR in the tune will fix the SLOW spooling problem too.

BTW - For those wondering what it dynoed at in it's current PIG rich state, It dynoed pretty much the same as stock, so I am not even going to post those numbers. This will be fixed when we get the AFR away from 9.2 and set to 11.5 at WOT.

I'll send another update after Vince sends back a new tune, and we get back on the dyno to get new logs.

[MyWorld]

I got an update....

Vince had a chance to review the logs. He said he had never seen any other STS Camaro have the logs that I had. He did not want to write a tune to fix a mechanical problem, which he was fairly certain there was.

Benchmark examined the turbo kit installation, and discovered the wastegate was not functioning. The gates were just sitting there in the open position with the car at idle. They were able to open and close them with their hands. There was no spring resistance. This would explain why it was so slow to boost and would also explain why the AFR was so far off.

It's too early to tell if the wastegate is actually broken, or if some bafoon move like not putting a spring in the wastegate was done. The wastegate will need to come off to tell. I contacted STS today about what is going on and have been in voicemail contact with Rick Squires. Between Rick Squires, Vince, and Mike at BenchMark tuning we should be able to get everything straightened out.

On the brightside... think if the wastegate was stuck in a closed position instead of open.

[showstopper]

There is always a positive side to everything. If doing a mod like this was easy everyone would be doing it. Be patient my friend it will all be worth it in the end.

[Ends]

Hopefully that fixes it for you!

[libertyforall1776]

Wow, I'll be interested to hear the root cause analysis -- part failure or installer failure...

[MyWorld]

Update...

The wastegate was not the whole problem. It was stuck open (just a little bit)because there was soot and krud in it. Mostly likely from it running so rich. The wastegate was cleaned out and it looks to be running good now ??? I can't say I fully understand the whole story, but Benchmark was able to fix it.

On to the next problem... The orginal installer had used the temporary clamps that STS includes with the kit to connect the factary exhaust to the pipe that goes to the Turbo. These clamps are suppossed to be used by do it yourselfers, so they can install the kit, then drive it some place to have the pipes welded. These were leaking air like crazy. I noticed this, because there was black soot all over the pipes where the clamps were. I brought it to Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, IL eairlier this Month. In their attempt to fix this, they tac welded it and the put the clamps over this. STS and Benchmark tunning were very puzzled why they wood do such a thing. The worst part was it was still leaking after they were done. For many reasons (more than just this one, I will not be going back to Performance Unlimited).

Here is a pic from the orginal install pictures of the clamp:



I'm not of a fan of welding this thing together as the STS instructions state. I want the option of removing their kit if I feel like it in the future. I am going to have Benchmark fabricate some custom V-Bands to connect the exhaust to the pipe that goes to the Turbo.

In the back of mind though I am wondering if these leaks are really the cause of everything. I will make another update after the V-Bands get installed. I also am replacing the pipe that goes from the factory exhaust to the Turbo. I am having a Stainless steel one made, because that pipe gets insanely hot, and there is a lot of moisture there from the exhaust. Hot moist gases combined with mild steel do not go well together, no matter how you coat it.

Overall though I am highly optimistic about getting everything straightened out at getting to 400WHP like others with the STS kit are getting.