Pontiac GTO 2004-2006 - APS Twin-Turbo Installed (photos)

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo14.jpg

The LS1TECH project GTO now has a pair. :)

I've just picked up the 2006 GTO from having the APS twin-turbo (http://www.airpowersystems.com.au) (tuner kit) installed over at MTI (http://www.MotorsportTech.com) here in Houston. Chris and Jayson did an excellent job on the installation and dyno tuning, as usual. Thanks guys!

Overall, I'm very impressed with this APS kit, I believe the smile is still stuck on my face after driving it for the first time today. Gotta love the way twin turbos spool and make all kinds of cool sounds. I loved this GTO even before modifying it, but now I really love this car. It needed a good kick in the pants! The car was 100% unmodified before putting the turbo system on, and is still 100% stock other than the turbo system, 60# fuel injectors, and a KB Boost-A-Pump. Yes, stock exhaust system, stock internal LS2, stock clutch, etc.. The turbo system was installed as-is, out of the box with the preset factory boost settings (6.5 psi).

Dyno Results: 540 rwhp & 534 ft-lbs SAE Corrected @ 6.5 psi on 93 Octane

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo00.jpg

The car still drives/sounds completely stock until you floor it. It is very quiet, and even the turbo system is very quiet. The blowoff valves exit into the intake tube, and the wastegates exit into the exhaust system. You get a faint hint at the blowoff valves in sequence when you floor it and shut the throttle. Turbo whine is there, but minimal. The car has very little lag below 3,000 rpm, and hardly any lag after 3500 rpm. Power comes on very quickly around 3000 rpm and just pulls and pulls. It was important to me to keep this car quiet and enjoyable as a daily driver, we even put over 3,000 miles on it last month for the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. I didn't want the hassles of loping cams, surging low rpm drivability, or loud exhausts and rattles. The car is flat out nice to drive, now it is even quick too.

Anyways, here are some photos of the install, they speak for themselves.

Here is how the APS kit looks by itself:

http://www.airpowersystems.com/ls1/ls2/gto_3_4_front.jpg

That is just a fancy cold air intake tube, the car is stock :devil:

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo01.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo02.jpg

Here is an APS billet blowoff valve. Outlet goes into the intake tube:

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo03.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo04.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo05.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo06.jpg

The front-mount intercooler is coated black, very stealth!

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo07.jpg

The APS kit tucks in high, not a single inch of ground clearance lost:

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo08.jpg

Dual TIAL wastegates exit into the exhaust system after the turbos

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo09.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo10.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo11.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo12.jpg

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo13.jpg

Beauty!

GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! Good luck with it. Best color BTW :)

Wow, your car is amazing!

I'd sacrifice my left testicle and kidney for it!

WOW ! Looks great dude! :)

:cheers:

good grief thats clean. fit and install look top notch.

Damn that thing looks good:)

Holden :hail: :)

Looks good man. To bad you didn't do the install yourself? I just finished up an APS install for a customer of mine. We did a Tex twin disk clutch, a SW 3" catback, and an APS twin fuel pump system. At the tuners now, and should have #'s by next week. He is adding a Meth injection kit.

Came out nice. Surprised you stayed with the MAF. We are doing a speed density tune.

Difftechnics one piece 200 mph 800 HP drive shaft, Harrop diff cover, and a stub to hub soon.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/myGTO/Pacesetter%20headers/APS%20install%20pics/Picture1796.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/myGTO/Pacesetter%20headers/APS%20install%20pics/Picture1801.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/myGTO/Pacesetter%20headers/APS%20install%20pics/Picture1784.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/myGTO/Pacesetter%20headers/APS%20install%20pics/Picture1785.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/myGTO/Pacesetter%20headers/APS%20install%20pics/Picture1787.jpg

Very stealth. I'm sure you'll surprise quite a few people with that setup, at least until they hear the whine of the turbos :D

Looks awesome Tony. I've been eying one of those as well. :)

.

looking nice man any plans to upgrade the fuel system

no need to lose the MAF or add a huge fuel system. My goals for this car aren't to push it to the limits, it is just a quick daily driver with stock drivability.

Oct03GTO, that sounds like a cool build up! It is obvious our goals for these cars are much different ;)

Very slick....

nice ride

no need to lose the MAF or add a huge fuel system. My goals for this car aren't to push it to the limits, it is just a quick daily driver with stock drivability.

Oct03GTO, that sounds like a cool build up! It is obvious our goals for these cars are much different ;)
Well, this is not my car. It is a customers car. I do installs for the loacl GTO crowd. :) This customer wanted to be able to add more performance without having to deal with all the fuel system, or exhaust again.

Next year, we are forging a stock cube LS2, porting the heads, adding a mild FI cam, and putting in a built trans. This should yeld him about 14 psi on a safe rune. And more if he chooses. :drive:

Till then, I have my own plans for bigger cubes and FI. :devil:

Very stealth. I'm sure you'll surprise quite a few people with that setup, at least until they hear the whine of the turbos :D

No doubt! Any chance of getting some sound clips of those bad boys?

Sure do have a pretty.....goat.

Super clean install. Very Nice!

very nice. i love that car. the color and the monaro conversion was sweet, and this just takes the cake

Beautiful work. Very nicey put together. Pretty good numbers also.

No doubt! Any chance of getting some sound clips of those bad boys?
Soon. Just have to wait till the tuning and meth kit are installed before we can open it up.

Damn what a sweet set up! What wheels are those? CCWs?

Damn what a sweet set up! What wheels are those? CCWs?

No, about 1/3 the price of CCW wheels ;)

Ruff Racing model 279 wheels (hyperblack finish)
19x8.5 fronts (35mm offset) w/ 245/35-19 Nitto tires
19x9.5 rears (45mm offset) w/ 275/30-19 Nitto tires

Wow that will be my next kit, sticking with the STS for a bit longer on my 454 LSX then we'll really push the limits with the APS.

Soon. Just have to wait till the tuning and meth kit are installed before we can open it up.

Saweet!

Looks good. I wish that kit was out befor I first modded my car, I would love to get one.

Soon. Just have to wait till the tuning and meth kit are installed before we can open it up.Will be very interesting to view your results. :)

Peter

No, about 1/3 the price of CCW wheels ;)

Ruff Racing model 279 wheels (hyperblack finish)
19x8.5 fronts (35mm offset) w/ 245/35-19 Nitto tires
19x9.5 rears (45mm offset) w/ 275/30-19 Nitto tires

Thanks!! Car looks awsome!!!

No, about 1/3 the price of CCW wheels ;)

Ruff Racing model 279 wheels (hyperblack finish)
19x8.5 fronts (35mm offset) w/ 245/35-19 Nitto tires
19x9.5 rears (45mm offset) w/ 275/30-19 Nitto tires


No problems in front with that 35mm backspacing? Also, they make the rears in 45mm? I could only find 43mm backspacing for the rear.

Will be very interesting to view your results. :)

Peter
Yes it will. We are using a Mustang Dyno set to SAE specs. So the #'s will appear low. If going on a Dynojet, the #'s will be about expected. I am looking for 540 RWHP on the Mustang. The Dynojet should yeld 575-580 RWHP.

Can you feel the difference of the extra 200 hp???

Also, i'm pretty much stealing those wheels...Or buying my own at least

Yes it will. We are using a Mustang Dyno set to SAE specs. So the #'s will appear low. If going on a Dynojet, the #'s will be about expected. I am looking for 540 RWHP on the Mustang. The Dynojet should yeld 575-580 RWHP.Good luck with the engine tuning and make sure you post up your power/torque graphs when you get a spare minute or two. :thumb:

Peter

No, about 1/3 the price of CCW wheels ;)

Ruff Racing model 279 wheels (hyperblack finish)
19x8.5 fronts (35mm offset) w/ 245/35-19 Nitto tires
19x9.5 rears (45mm offset) w/ 275/30-19 Nitto tires

Sorry to drag you off topic again, but did you have to roll or trim the rear fenders to get them to fit?

Can you feel the difference of the extra 200 hp???


Hopefully you are kidding. lol

did you have to roll or trim the rear fenders to get the wheels to fit?

The rear fender lips were rolled heavily, and I had to install BMR drag bags to keep the tires from rubbing on large bumps in the road.

Good luck with the engine tuning and make sure you post up your power/torque graphs when you get a spare minute or two. :thumb:

Peter
As soon as we get the #'s, they will be posted. It will be mid week next week.

Killer job on a super clean install! Very nicely put together judging by the pics.
Since you're keeping it a DD do you forsee any issues with the IRS with adding miles with that kind of power upgrade? Did APS suggest anything in addition to thier kit as far as supporting mods along the lines of drivetrain strengthening? Curious since I plan on FI with my future GTO, the APS TT is an option for me.

That color is awesome btw. I'm currently shopping for an '06 BOM, I love that color!

no need to lose the MAF or add a huge fuel system. My goals for this car aren't to push it to the limits, it is just a quick daily driver with stock drivability.

Oct03GTO, that sounds like a cool build up! It is obvious our goals for these cars are much different ;)

Exactly what I want from mine, and what you have done is exactly what I plan to do to mine too except for my suspension mods and the catback. For the money and for the driveability in a car thats going to see alot of street use there is no better way to add a significant amount of power to a vehicle IMO.

How is traction Tony? GTOs like to spin them with stock power as I'm sure you know. Is it blowing the tires off or are they doing a halfway decent job of holding through the gears? What tires are you running again?

I must say I'm impressed... Looks great man.. very clean job...

As soon as we get the #'s, they will be posted. It will be mid week next week.Cool...............keep us all posted. :)

Peter

How is traction Tony? GTOs like to spin them with stock power as I'm sure you know. Is it blowing the tires off or are they doing a halfway decent job of holding through the gears? What tires are you running again?

I'm running regular 19" Nitto tires. The drag bags in the rear helped quite a bit on wheel hop and traction. Surprisingly, the tires hold up pretty good on the street, better than the stock tires did for sure. The weight of the car keeps them from spinning too far.

Wow is all I can say. That's a super clean setup, looks really good, kind of a sleeper :devil: The whole car is super clean lol, I bet it's a blast to drive every day. :cool:

Wow is all I can say. That's a super clean setup, looks really good, kind of a sleeper :devil: The whole car is super clean lol, I bet it's a blast to drive every day. :cool:Can we say a very stealth GTO twin turbo install............and all for very good reasons. :D

Peter

Can we say a very stealth GTO twin turbo install............and all for very good reasons. :D

Peter


I can hear it now "...Naw, I'm all stock. All I got is a cold air kit, man. You wanna run it?" :jest:

how much did this kit run you?

Less than $6K shipped. APS had an introductory group purchase on them.

Can we say a very stealth GTO twin turbo install............and all for very good reasons. :D

Peteryou best believe, if i ever happen to find myself driving a ls2 gto .... im gonna be ordering some stuff from you guys ;)

Very nice, Tony. The APS setup is a perfect complement IMO to the character of the GTO - iron fist in the velvet glove. I love it. Also, from my (albeit limited) experience with APS on my old WRX, their quality is second to none.

Are you planning to upgrade any part of the drivetrain? I am curious to see how the clutch especially holds up to the significant increase in torque.

...I am curious to see how the clutch especially holds up to the significant increase in torque.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/timmy2kegs/Smilies/blowup.gif

LS2 clutch is holding up just fine so far. My C6 put down 550 rwhp with the stock LS2 clutch also. Since this isn't a drag strip warrior, it should be okay for now.

I already know my stock clutch would be toast. I wouldn't be able to keep myself from gettin in the throttle all the time...making the twins whiiiinne. HOOWEE!

Another reason these cars are for grown-up kids. :D

Nice!

Awesome machine.

NICE car :judge: , that's a great looking setup.



....you don't drive down many dirt roads though, do you? :lol:

You take excellent photo's. I hope my current build comes out like that. Maybe I can hire you to take some pics :jest: That is one great looking GTO! :) I do have one question? How does the exhaust piping look after it has been thru a couple heat cycles? I had a polished stainless exhaust on my friends 06 Ford GT and it didnt look too good after a couple of heat cycles. I am just wondering if I should get this kit ceramic coated. Thanks

JMG

Sweet ride! Now quit pussing out and add some fuel and boost until the stock driveline parts land in your lap. We finally have manufacturers making all the right parts for these cars, so take advantage of it. As the site owner, you should be able to get some nice sponsor discounts.
edit-- Remember the site motto-- "too much is almost enough".

Looks great! I really like the route you took for a modded daily driver. Must be very fun to drive and amazing performance per dollar on that car, given that you stopped at 6.5 psi and the stock parts seem sufficient so far and you don't need to invest in a whole driveline upgrade. Keep us posted please!

Tony have you taken it to the strip yet or have any plans to?
I took mine last weekend, horrible conditions (track was super slick) and didnt hook til 3rd gear on BFG's. Ended up with a 13.2 @ 114 w/ 2.3 60ft.

No track visits, no plans either. I took the car when it was completely stock and the wheelhop and tire spin was annoying as hell. It even wheelhopped going into 4th gear. That was 200 rwhp ago.

This car isn't meant to be a dragstrip whore, it is a nice highway cruiser that can humiliate other cars on chance encounters :)

Great Job as usual....so its for sale in 6 months? lol

Super Clean setup.:hail: Guess I'm gunna have to start saving money!

Great Job as usual....so its for sale in 6 months? lol

You can buy it anytime you want for the right price. The right price is just much higher when I'm not bored of something yet :)

That goes for any of my vehicles.

Have experience any oil leaking from the turbo's
Its been a little bit of a problem over on ls1gto.com

no oil leaks so far.

Have experience any oil leaking from the turbo's
Its been a little bit of a problem over on ls1gto.comI very much doubt that the oil is leaking from the turbos unless the oil return pump is not fitted correctly and or the engine is running massive engine oil pressure which may overwhelm the oil return pumps capacity to return all of the oil to the engine.........in many cases (not all) if you have excessive oil circulating around the intake side of the turbos only (in the air entry and intercooler ducts), then imo the engine has very high crank case pressure (caused by inadequate piston ring sealing) and in this circumstance the engine breather system requires an improved oil vapour seperator system.

Peter

Just wanted to update you guys on that instal job I did. Everything went great on my install. It went off to the tuner for tuning, a meth injection kit, and some guages. Car was dynoed on a Mustang Dyno. Reached 543 RWHP, and 569 RWTQ. To let you know what was done again. An APS twin fuel pump system was installed with the APS twin turbo system. Added a Stainless Work 3" turbo muffler catback, and a Tex twin disk clutch. Those are corrected #'s with a 50* intake temp with the meth kit activated.

Just an FYI after the fact. Once the tuner tuned the car and had great power. He took the car for a test run. Cylinders 5 and 7 went lean. He blew the motor. The car had 1k miles on it. Not since the turbo's, but since new. I am to say the least mad. But I have no control.

OUCH! Why didn't you guys just install the kit as-is to get the baseline first, and then tweak from there and then add meth?

Hopefully none of the piston fragments went through the turbos and chewed the blades up. :(

Well, we installed so many new parts, and a new clutch. A quick street tune was used so the tuner can drive the car a few miles before putting the car on the dyno and breaking the clutch in. I believe he did 7 pulls. He only told me what they got on the high side. Not base line.

I hope the turbo's are OK to. But anything blown is comming out of the tuners pocket. Thankfully.

Just wanted to update you guys on that instal job I did. Everything went great on my install. It went off to the tuner for tuning, a meth injection kit, and some guages. Car was dynoed on a Mustang Dyno. Reached 543 RWHP, and 569 RWTQ. To let you know what was done again. An APS twin fuel pump system was installed with the APS twin turbo system. Added a Stainless Work 3" turbo muffler catback, and a Tex twin disk clutch. Those are corrected #'s with a 50* intake temp with the meth kit activated.

Just an FYI after the fact. Once the tuner tuned the car and had great power. He took the car for a test run. Cylinders 5 and 7 went lean. He blew the motor. The car had 1k miles on it. Not since the turbo's, but since new. I am to say the least mad. But I have no control.I'd be confident in saying that your tuner ran the air fuel ratio far too lean and this is what would have hurt the # 5 and #7 piston, best to keep the afr to around 11.1 at peak torque and no leaner than 11.5:1 at peak power, hope that helps and I'm really sorry to hear about the engine issue. :(

Pm me if you need any other advice on the engine tuning, I have a few base tuning maps that would help you get started if you plan on doing the tuning work yourself in the future. :)

Peter

Got new info after tear down. #'s 3,5,7 went lean and blew the ring lands. Went lean because the tining of the meth injection was set to slow. When everything was tuned, it was tuned in 4th gear. A slower gear than second. On the street, the tuner mashed it in second. The boost came on way faster than the STS kits he is used to. The meth was too late, and the motor went lean. The shop is taking full responcablility, and rebuilding the motor for only the cost of the stronger upgraded parts. No labor. I'm happy about that. But I still loose on the $1,300 worth of parts I was going to install on the car this week. (Harrop cover, 800 HP aliminum driveshaft, and Torco gear oil) Plus my labor to install. Now the owner can't afford it at this time. So, anybody need a driveshaft? If not, it's going in my car.

Peter, I will be talking to you soon about that. Thanks.

Which driveshaft and how much?

Got new info after tear down. #'s 3,5,7 went lean and blew the ring lands. Went lean because the tining of the meth injection was set to slow. When everything was tuned, it was tuned in 4th gear. A slower gear than second. On the street, the tuner mashed it in second. The boost came on way faster than the STS kits he is used to. The meth was too late, and the motor went lean. The shop is taking full responcablility, and rebuilding the motor for only the cost of the stronger upgraded parts. No labor. I'm happy about that. But I still loose on the $1,300 worth of parts I was going to install on the car this week. (Harrop cover, 800 HP aliminum driveshaft, and Torco gear oil) Plus my labor to install. Now the owner can't afford it at this time. So, anybody need a driveshaft? If not, it's going in my car.

Peter, I will be talking to you soon about that. Thanks.

Nice to hear your tuner took responsibility.


Tony, had no idea you went TT. Very nicely done.

-Ronnie

That sucks to hear. I would try and get a discount of some sort on the labor. They are only doing the work cause they blew the motor

Hey I like your install there. I'm from the land of the Holden Commodore and I was wondering did you import your front end from Australia?

http://www.ls1tech.com/06GTO/turbo14.jpg