• Got the Contributing Memberships stuff finally worked out and made up a thread as a sort of "How-To" to help people figure out how to participate. So if you need help figuring it out, here's the thread you need to take a look at -> http://www.corvetteflorida.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3581 Thank you, everyone! Rich Z.

STS Twin Turbos

OK, I just got back a couple of hours ago and will just briefly give my first impressions of the STS twin turbos.

First off, the dyno sheet:

STS_tt_102106.gif


The figures run on my car before the install are this:

368.19 hp, 346.52 ft-lbs.

After the install and tune we now have this (with 6 lbs of boost):

506.43 hp, 465.72 ft-lbs.

Bear in mind that it was 90 degrees out, so Greg tells me a run during cooler weather would likely net 525 hp on the dyno.

So apparently the turbos are basically asleep until the tach hits around 3.5K and then the torque spools up quickly, peaking at around 5K. So for most driving situations, the car acts like the turbos are not even there. But when you put you foot into it, that wakes up the "beast".

Kind of an odd situation when you drive it and awaken the "beast". Hitting the go pedal feels pretty normal as I have come to expect it, then as the rpms climb though the "wake up call" area, it feels like a big hand gets behind you and just starts pushing. HARD... But honestly, in first and second gear, you just are not in that "sweet spot" area for very long before it is time to shift. First time I ran it it actually hit the rev limiter before I even realized it.

Some of the guys at the shop wanted me to start it up when it was sitting out back after being washed, so I jumped in and did so. First thing that struck me is that the sucker is LOUD!! And not just a little bit. I mean, shake your teeth loose LOUD. A lot more than I had expected, and far and above more than the advertising videos from STS I have viewed. Substantially so. Inside the car it is VERY overpowering in the 1200 to 2200 rpm range. Haven't had the wife ride in it yet, but I'm pretty sure she is not going to like it at all. I'm not even sure I like it. I really wasn't expecting that. And I'm going to be on pins and needles any time an officer gets close by thinking it is most certainly going to catch their attention as well. It is NOT subtle at all. Maybe it will grow on me. Hope so, because I'm not sure what I can do otherwise.

Another thing that is a minor annoyance is that the exhaust pops a LOT when decelerating and in between shifts when the revs drop. So much so that it sounds like backfiring. Greg said this is normal, but again, it is something I had not expected, nor heard in any of the video clips. Normal or not, I'm not really crazy about that effect that has cropped up.

So overall? Hmm, not sure about this.......
 
The numbers are great! but the key here seems to be first impressions aren't good..Usually even when its bad when someone gets something new everything seems wonderful, then in time the complaints start....But from your first impressions the car seems to be way too loud and you like me seem to rather have a car that has a deep sound but basically a sleeper, and the STS turbos blow that philosophy out of the water. I am very surprised because I myself am a big fan of that system since it came out and I love watching that trans am video on their site. I hope its just that your car was just very quiet and in time you will love the sound and maybe its not as loud as you think..Keep us posted but I am sure the power rush must be something.....:thumbsup:
 
Rich, glad to hear you got the Z back. I really hope it grows on you. I'm not a big fan of the popping on deceleration, but I'm used to mine doing it ever since I put the headers on. I don't remember you saying it did that before with your LG's. Maybe mine is a combination of the LG's and my Corsa's.

Look forward to hearing it in person at the Ultimate Corvette Party. 'Til then, I hope you'll make a video and post it.

Scott
 
Rich, I understand what you're saying.

If you want to trade me for my nice quiet LT4, gimmie a ring....I'm here for you. :D
 
Interesting, makes descent power, i'll like to here how it souds. can use your old LG exhaust clip for comparision. must be a blast to drive though. So far it looks like i'll be going with the APS TT setup, see how that goes :D
 
Yeah, I'm planning on recording the exhaust noise when I get a chance. Raining here right now, however.

I dunno, I just felt like "cop bait" when I was driving it home. Even just regular pulling through the gears without really cranking it makes a LOT of noise. And I am worried that the wife just won't like riding in it at all, which will shoot the hell out of our plans on just cruising around for enjoyment sake in the vette. I dunno..... hope I just didn't make a HUGE mistake with this... I listened to every audio clip I could find of the STS system and NONE of them sounded even close to being this loud. Especially on STS's own site. There is just no way you can really hear the turbos spooling up over the sound of the exhaust itself. And I don't recall ANYONE ever saying it was TOO loud to them, so maybe it's just me.

Heck, maybe I'm just a real picky SOB. I'll give it some time to see if it grows on me (and the wife). If it doesn't, well Houston, we have a problem.....
 
TOO LOUD...depends on the person

To me and many of my friends my 427 sounded awesome but to the new owner it is too loud and he is worried about getting a ticket in CA. It has been sitting in his garage awaiting a new exhaust:thumbsdown:

On an STS note, when I was at the ZFest on of the member had an STS on his Z. I could hear the turbos spooling three cars back. What he hears in the car maybe a totally differnt sound.

Usually turbos quiet the thing down, that is a :NoNo: in my book.
 
Rich Z said:
Heck, maybe I'm just a real picky SOB. I'll give it some time to see if it grows on me (and the wife). If it doesn't, well Houston, we have a problem.....
Click to expand...
I don't think you're being "picky". It's really frickin loud. I mean, it has no mufflers at all, from my understanding. Just the cats and the turbos.

I said the same thing to Greg when I heard it and he said there was the possibility of adding a Borla XR-1 to the system. I don't know how much difference that would make.

Actually, I should thank you. I had been thinking of that kit myself, but once I heard it that was all she wrote. I like to be able to hear the exhaust but that car sounds almost like a muffled race car to me. Cool as heck, but yeah, "cop bait". Plus I don't like it to be *too* loud when I pass people on the road.

Good luck with it. Hope you can work something out. It *is* a killer ride. :)
 
Gannet said:
Plus I don't like it to be *too* loud when I pass people on the road.
Click to expand...

Funny, my 427 was so loud I have had people swerve when I passed them. Must have scared the s... out of them...:rofl1: :rofl1:
 
Well, the wife sat in the passenger seat and I just started it up and revved it a bit. She says it doesn't sound bad to her at all. But, of course, might be a different tune after driving for an hour. But we'll have to see.

One odd thing is that there is a whining noise that was never there before coming from the front of the car and ready audible within the car itself. It's certainly not loud enough to be the panic buzzer for the oil pump, but it's definitely there. It was louder earlier today when I had the wife in the car than it was just a few moments ago when I started it up to try to troubleshoot where the sound is coming from. There are some new doohickies up front that weren't there before and it sound like the whining noise may be coming from that area. Actually almost sounds like it is coming from the airbridge/throttle body area, but I know how sounds can be hard to track down through an engine.

Anyone heard this whine and have any idea what it may be? THAT bothered the wife a lot more than the rumble from the exhaust.....
 
FourG63 97GST said:
Tru, well the didnt come from Z06 Ti to currently no mufflers. I thought my corsa was a cop magnet too when I just got it. got use to it after a week or 2.

found this STS clip also
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/ba9dcfc5-b516-40dc-953c-985b014e9d7f.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yeah, I've listened to that video several times now. Heard some slight popping from the exhaust, but not as much as my car is making. Doesn't sound too loud, neither, so I hope my car sounds that way from that distance, and not much louder....
 
I kinda like the popping noise, but if you don't then maybe you should see if Greg recommends an "x" pipe along with the Borlas he mentioned. The "x" pipe tends to reduce popping.

I like loud exhaust. If it's too loud then your too old.... :hehehe:
 
Z06 Rocket said:
I kinda like the popping noise, but if you don't then maybe you should see if Greg recommends an "x" pipe along with the Borlas he mentioned. The "x" pipe tends to reduce popping.

I like loud exhaust. If it's too loud then your too old.... :hehehe:
Click to expand...


Too loud? Huh? What was that? LOL! I agree.....NEVER to loud!!
 
Z06 Rocket said:
I kinda like the popping noise, but if you don't then maybe you should see if Greg recommends an "x" pipe along with the Borlas he mentioned. The "x" pipe tends to reduce popping.

I like loud exhaust. If it's too loud then your too old.... :hehehe:
Click to expand...

Already have a X-pipe installed. Got that when I put in the LGM Pro LT headers.

As for the "too loud" quote, I guess I'll have to remember to tell that to any cop that might pull me over to ask me about my "mufflers". :lmao:

"Too loud" is very subjective and subject to personal preferences. If I can't hold a conversation with my wife while we are cruising down the road, then it is TOO LOUD, in my opinion. Really man, just what do people think it is that the volume level of their exhaust really measures? :rolleyes:
 
Z06 Rocket said:
Nuthin, just sounds more agressive.
Click to expand...

Hah! I thought for certain you would say it is a clear cut determiner of the age of the car's owner....... :rofl1: And it may very well be dead on the money.....
 
Never TOO lOUD!

:reddevil: As an owner with a "BILLY BOAT" exhaust system with cross-overs......you never can be too load.:reddevil:

:thumbsup: I agree with "IVO".....LOUD is good!!!!:thumbsup:

Rich.......Best of luck with the new system...Want to hear it up close and personel at the TampaBay Vettes Show......
 
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