LS4 Performance - Turbo project and more..

I have decided to keep the impy and just completly rebuild everything. I will be purchasing the Cartuning turbo kit, a completly rebuilt transmission (possibly a 6 speed if possible), HP Tuners, a cam, rockers, heads, headers, DR's and plan on having a 4 door car in the 10's **on spray and very low 11's w.o spray. Goal is to have between 600-650 whp w/ spray. Project will begin at the end of the year. If anyone has any suggesstions please feel free to comment.

Sounds like a great plan. Let me know what you find for a tranny

you're nuts. I can't wait to see the results...will you rebuild the drivetrain too and made it RWD?? k thx. ;)

This is going to be yet another LS4 patrolling the streets(even though we already do)!! Good luck to ya bro!!

These cars are great, but just not worth the 10k+ plus you are going to put into it. Save your money and get a new Camaro SS or something like that.

If you really want to upgrade the car, then do minor stuff and be done with it.

Good luck

Doooooooooo it!!! brooooooooo

im excited to see someone go all out on one of these if you dont mind i would love to see the costs..... especially on the trans

good luck

I have decided to keep the impy and just completly rebuild everything. I will be purchasing the Cartuning turbo kit, a completly rebuilt transmission (possibly a 6 speed if possible), HP Tuners, a cam, rockers, heads, headers, DR's and plan on having a 4 door car in the 10's **on spray and very low 11's w.o spray. Goal is to have between 600-650 whp w/ spray. Project will begin at the end of the year. If anyone has any suggesstions please feel free to comment.

There is a 600 plus whp GXP in southern Ontario or north states, and he didn't need N20 to get it there just a bigger turbo than the one that comes in the kit. With weight reduction, custom 15" rims, Dr's and everything else you said and if you can drive you will be in the 10's

These cars are great, but just not worth the 10k+ plus you are going to put into it. Save your money and get a new Camaro SS or something like that.

If you really want to upgrade the car, then do minor stuff and be done with it.
Maybe he doesn't want to be like everyone else with a stang or camaro.. Everyone knows a ton of stangs, camaros, gtos, vettes etc than are in the 11's but how many ls4's? i know of 2,

Yeah, if you are going to go the turbo route, it would be terribly inefficient (cost per horsepower) to do the heads/cam, etc. While you will gain with turbo friendly cam, it is a considerable extra expense and how much power do you think you can get to the ground? Of course if you are making a track only car and are not worried about longevity....stronger axles, slicks, boost, and the occasional replacement of broken hard-parts will get you an exciting ride. For a car that you intend to drive on the street, I would stick with standard compression (some weaker head gaskets, so that if you do detonate/explode something, it is a cheap gasket instead of a piston) and get a serious dyno tune from somebody who has a lot of experience with aluminum block turbo'd cars.

Most will tell you that lowering your compression and raising boost is the way to go to make that kind of power. While I generally disagree and feel that lower boost with careful tuning and standard compression makes for a better package. Crisp throttle response off the boost and the like, however maybe going with lower compression pistons and upping the boost might be just the ticket for a front-driver. Less power down low where we already have too much and into the boost at the top of first and carrying it to second where there would be enough RPM/load to get right back into where it would really shine! Plus, you could always hit the button and get that extra 75 shot if you ever really needed it.

Maybe he doesn't want to be like everyone else with a stang or camaro.. Everyone knows a ton of stangs, camaros, gtos, vettes etc than are in the 11's but how many ls4's? i know of 2,

I hate to tell you this, but most people if they had a choice between a car that has very little to no aftermarket parts vs. a car that is above anything out there. Most people would go the route of buying the Camaro SS and doing mods to that.

10K+ trade in on the Impala SS would get you damn close to more HP/TQ with a better end result of add ons later down the road

10K+ on a FWD LS4 car is just going to be a lost project after everything is said and done. Dont get me wrong, these are great cars but not great enough to spend that kind of money when there are better options out there.

BTW, how many new Camaro SS cars have you seen on the roads? VERY LITTLE.... So he wouldnt be like all the others since most people do not have them yet.. He would become one of the few to have a great product car with alot of aftermarket support.

Why not have the new SS Camaro & a 600hp GXP:D

My wife is planning on trading her 2006 Mustang in for an 2011 SS Camaro.

Future plans for my GXP include a LS9 crate motor (supercharged 640hp), 6 speed auto (I'm getting old & this is my DD) & RWD.

Modding cars is rarely a sound investment but the thrill of having something different that you built makes it worth all the sleepless nights, busted knuckles and a little thinner bank account.

I say go for it!

Why not have the new SS Camaro & a 600hp GXP:D

My wife is planning on trading her 2006 Mustang in for an 2011 SS Camaro.

Future plans for my GXP include a LS9 crate motor (supercharged 640hp), 6 speed auto (I'm getting old & this is my DD) & RWD.

Modding cars is rarely a sound investment but the thrill of having something different that you built makes it worth all the sleepless nights, busted knuckles and a little thinner bank account.

I say go for it!

And you only live once :) So drink up:chug:

I would love to see the pics of a GXP with an LS9 with a procharger on it, but I just still do not get it..... Then again when I look at my Monte and think about this body style was only made for 2 years and thats it. It really makes me enjoy the car that much more and I want to do more. IE Rockers, better tune and maybe get Headers made.

We can always dream. :(

BTW, how many new Camaro SS cars have you seen on the roads? VERY LITTLE.... So he wouldnt be like all the others since most people do not have them yet.. He would become one of the few to have a great product car with alot of aftermarket support.

I've seen about 15, I've seen more G8s (about 25) and Camaros than GP GXPs, MCSSs, ISSs, and LSs combined. I've seen 9 GP GXPs, 7 ISSs, 2 MCSSs, 1 LS.

The new Camaro is just too big, I like it, but I'd never buy it. I like the WTF faces I get when people see my car. 14,000 GXPs, 10,000 MCSSs, probably around 12,000 ISSs, and probably around 10,000 LS, I'll keep my LS4. You can have an LS3/L99 if you want.

I say go for it. Be nice if we could twin charge... :eyes:

You could twin charge, but you would be driving from the back seats. LOL

I really do think, with the right money you could get a sweet Eaton blower on these cars and mod it enough to be around 400-410hp

Need to make it AWD

Would an LS9 even fit? I'm all for thinking outside of the box and doing something different but seriously? Sounds like you can do alot of work yourself, but for arguments sake, lets look at having some of it professionally done.

Price of the GXP new(assuming you bought it new): around $30k
Price of a RWD and tranny swap with all the major custom fab work that would be needed to done: probably about $20k
Cost of an LS9 crate motor: $25k-$30k
Right there you have a $75k Grand Prix. Different? Surely. Remotely worth that? No.

You could save $20k and buy a CTS-V that would be a greatly superior car in every single aspect. Sure you didn't built it yourself, but you also said it's your DD. Tearing into a DD that much just seems foolish to me. Hell you could even snag a good deal on a G8 GT and get the APS twin turbo for it and still have an infinitely better vehicle for less than $40k.

Why we fighting on his thread

Is this Club GP or something? I had to... lol... J/k guys.

-Mike

Who's fighting? You guys must have a loose definition of fighting haha. Sharing an opinion isn't fighting. This IS a forum afterall.

I really do think, with the right money you could get a sweet Eaton blower on these cars and mod it enough to be around 400-410hp

The turbo kit for these cars is good for 500+ whp.

well not fighting, but putting down his idea

Well, it's not my intention to put down or discourage his idea. Just my opinion that regardless of how different you want to be that to me doesn't seem like a remotely cost effective idea putting $60k into a daily driver when you can either have a better car out of the box for cheaper or a better car modded for a lot cheaper. If his pockets are that deep then go for it.

After all, it is the internet. People aren't always going to see eye to eye on ideas.:chug:

Would an LS9 even fit? I'm all for thinking outside of the box and doing something different but seriously? Sounds like you can do alot of work yourself, but for arguments sake, lets look at having some of it professionally done.

Price of the GXP new(assuming you bought it new): around $30k
Price of a RWD and tranny swap with all the major custom fab work that would be needed to done: probably about $20k
Cost of an LS9 crate motor: $25k-$30k
Right there you have a $75k Grand Prix. Different? Surely. Remotely worth that? No.

You could save $20k and buy a CTS-V that would be a greatly superior car in every single aspect. Sure you didn't built it yourself, but you also said it's your DD. Tearing into a DD that much just seems foolish to me. Hell you could even snag a good deal on a G8 GT and get the APS twin turbo for it and still have an infinitely better vehicle for less than $40k.

No harm taken. If I buy a car to replace my GXP it will be the 2009 CTS-V. That is one awesome car. I sat in one at the new car auto show.

I only paid $16,200 for my 2008 GXP with 9,200 miles on it so I've got a head start there. I don't have a car payment but I do put money in my "Supercharger Fund" that my wife started for me a few years ago.

I like the looks of my GXP better than the CTS-V. I don't like the G8 as much either but I like RWD better than FWD.

I don't plan on tearing into the GXP until she's at least out of warranty.

What I'll probably do is buy a supercharged LS powered Camaro or Corvette as a donor if I go forward with the conversion.

Modding cars can turn them into money pits quickly. I have 7 modded cars at my house right now. The only stock car I have is my 1st car which is a 65 Mustang Conv but it's in storage for now.

7 modded cars...what else do you have hiding in the garage?

what about doing something like this guy did. you can have the look of the body you want on the frame of a gbody. from there skys the limits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJKsDAhKusM

7 modded cars...what else do you have hiding in the garage?

Here's our toys. Too many mods to list.

I still have 3 boys at home so not all these are my cars. Got alot of father/son bonding time in these cars.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo91/heslekrants/8pack.jpg

Nice collection ya got there

is this club gp or something? I had to... Lol... J/k guys.

-mike

....qft

what about doing something like this guy did. you can have the look of the body you want on the frame of a gbody. from there skys the limits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJKsDAhKusM

If I could have my monte in RWD and stick, I would never buy another car again.

GTO or Camaro from GM ;)

Well, it's not my intention to put down or discourage his idea. Just my opinion that regardless of how different you want to be that to me doesn't seem like a remotely cost effective idea putting $60k into a daily driver when you can either have a better car out of the box for cheaper or a better car modded for a lot cheaper. If his pockets are that deep then go for it.

After all, it is the internet. People aren't always going to see eye to eye on ideas.:chug:

X2...!!!!!:chug:

"....qft"

What does this mean? lol...

-Mike

"Quoted For the Truth"

Here's a couple of options.


World's First LS9 Powered 2010 Camaro SS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2yFzx9DTk

700 hp Cadillac CTS-V Test Drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EkgwcLYVqE&feature=related

Good luck on this. Please post some details as you go along. I'm going to go the turbo route for my 08 Impala SS. I'm going to get the transmission rebuilt first. By the way, for your setup, you may need to track down the 1" chain for your transmission. They have been discontinued, but ZZP may have some left. I think they are almost $1000 so be prepared. I intend to stay under 600 hp, so I'll probably go with the 7/8" chain myself. I don't intend to go all out.

As far as cost goes, I still think it's a good investment. I've debated trading my SS in for a G8 GXP or (god forbid) a Taurus SHO. But both are $40,000 cars. I paid $25,000 for my SS and, with $10,000 in modifications, I'm still over $5000 cheaper than the G8 GXP, Taurus SHO, or a Charger SRT8.

Plus, like others said, it's nice to have something no one else does. I can't wait to smoke a few Mustangs, Camaros, and even a base Corvette. Imagine the look on their face. :cry:

Keep in mind that right now you can get a G8 GT cheap.

Also, your 40k price tag would come down a bit as these cars are just not selling. So you might beable to get a steal when buying one.

Again, its better to get a car you know you can mod with the correct parts out there vs. something that was thrown together. What I mean by this is having the bigger names out there like SLP, ProCharger, Magnacharger, Kooks, Year One, etc making parts for the car vs. trying to make parts for an LSX fit the LS4.

Just wish we had more options.

I have decided to keep the impy and just completly rebuild everything. I will be purchasing the Cartuning turbo kit, a completly rebuilt transmission (possibly a 6 speed if possible), HP Tuners, a cam, rockers, heads, headers, DR's and plan on having a 4 door car in the 10's **on spray and very low 11's w.o spray. Goal is to have between 600-650 whp w/ spray. Project will begin at the end of the year. If anyone has any suggesstions please feel free to comment.

I want to know the outcome of this project. I have the same car and plan on some mods. Shift kit, exhaust, fabbed Actual CAI, and Superchips.

I want to know the outcome of this project. I have the same car and plan on some mods. Shift kit, exhaust, fabbed Actual CAI, and Superchips.

I highly doubt it got done. . .

It's easy to jump on a forum and tell a bunch of people you don't know about a bunch of shit your not gonna do....I believe the rare beast is called a bluffopatamus

It's easy to jump on a forum and tell a bunch of people you don't know about a bunch of shit your not gonna do....I believe the rare beast is called a bluffopatamus

There have been many sightings on this forum. . .

Well, I know there is another guy on here who really did put a gang of money into his 06 impss. He has his own site... I know these cars can never get the Camaro-Charger power...but 400 horses seems feasible and obtainable. I want to get my 4 door family car up to that.


Exhaust and shift kit with cooler coming in my first grand. The exhaust guy said he would charge me 500... i'm thinking the total of the shift kid and cooler should run around the same. 500... then the superchip tuner for around another 300.

I'm in the inland empire in socali... so if anyone knows of anybody who can do it cheaper.

Well, I know there is another guy on here who really did put a gang of money into his 06 impss. He has his own site... I know these cars can never get the Camaro-Charger power...but 400 horses seems feasible and obtainable. I want to get my 4 door family car up to that.


Exhaust and shift kit with cooler coming in my first grand. The exhaust guy said he would charge me 500... i'm thinking the total of the shift kid and cooler should run around the same. 500... then the superchip tuner for around another 300.

I'm in the inland empire in socali... so if anyone knows of anybody who can do it cheaper.

Sweet another IE member.I know of an exhaust place that will Fab up a nice 3" system for a around the same price your looking at.