So people assume...But 90% of the time, if you ask someone if they have "stage 1", they will be like "What the **** are you talking about?"

Also, where do you buy these stage 1 and stage 2 kits? It annoys me because people with domestic cars (usually) always ask my buddy's with wrx/DSM what stage they are...

 

excuse me.... do you mind telling me what stage you are on to get that bad *** spolier.

 

I'm sure it does annoy you ... but I am not really sure why. I never really care to ask people what "stage" they are, since I am sure different manufactures have different stages for different performance levels ... but around here if you ask a ricer what they have in their car, they will 90% of the time have no clue except for a "stage 2 kit from greddy" or something along those lines. It all comes in a huge kit, they bring it to a shop which overcharges them up the *** to put it all on for them, and then they end up going slightly faster.

Welp, here are some links I found for you ...

http://www.dsmparts.com/customer/sea...ubstring=stage

http://www.dsmtuners.com/parts/default.php?cPath=86_91

http://www.3tm.50megs.com/custom.html

http://www.visionimports.com/Turbos.html

 

Well, ricers arent the only ones to have stages... haha. Well, I guess it depends on your interpretation of rice, but The G60 engine found in VW corrados has stage upgrades as well. Basically stage one is a slightly smaller pulley, a new fuel pressure regulator, and a chip, to make the computer agree. A stage two would be basically the same thing, but with a smaller pulley, and then the stage three is again a smaller pulley, FPR, chip, as well as a different cam. These stages are basically just upgrades using the supercharger, so I would guess that stage upgrades on another F/I car would be basically for the turbo/supercharger. Unless its a body kit stage or some bullshit nonsense like that.

 

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Milla, I wonder if this stuff is only found in NY? I mean, every ricer performance shop you see around me has "STAGE 3 TURBO KIT INSTALLED $3000" or some **** like that in the window.

 

It may be a tri-state area thing, cause I'm totally familiar with what you guys are talking about.

 

Stages, as best I understand them, are packages that work well together. say for instance... a certain sized turbo, injectors and fuel pump to go with it, upgraded piping where needed, and a complimentary sized exhaust.

basically, as opposed to v8 musclecars where you can do damn near anything you want to the car at any time, and just have something NEW be the weak link, "stage" packages are set up so that if you do absolutely nothing to the car after installing the package, then you won't really have a weak link in the system.

making a guess, i'd say that based on common upgrades to f-bodies, what's most cost effective, and what is gonna make something else break/not be sufficent, i'd say that it'd work out something like this (give or take a few parts here and there):

Stage1: lid, cat-back, intake manifold, free mods, tires

Stage2: headers & y-pipe, medium cam, clutch for manual -or- converter & shift kit & tranny cooler for automatic, pcm tune

Stage3: bigass cam, heads, rear end, fuel system upgrades, suspension upgrades, more pcm tune.

obviously you can do things in a different order than that, but it's just an example.

 

i hate to say it but i have a friend with a gsx and he does'nt have near the amount of 40 g's maybe about 3k or so and his car does 11.60's so yes it will wack a stock ls1 matter of fact he has several of them. at the time myself included.104 octane and some minor head work along with a pretty good sized turbo and the cam or cams (not sure) and wieght reduction and it's all over.to answer the question about the ls1 cam you will get around 30 to 45 at the wheels at least thats my experience.

 

Yup...

 

Yep, Skarecrow is right.

Stages are usually a certain size turbo, intercooler, etc.

Stage 1 will produce X amount of HP, at Y price. Stage 2 will produce more HP for more $$$. The higher stages usually require more tuning, and more constant care over time.

Skarecrows examples are a little off, however. If you were talking about stages with an fbody (or any V8 really), it would be more like Stage 1 would be a very modest cam with little lope that produces a small jump in hp. Stage 2 would be a bigger cam with more lope, larger jump in hp, and less streetability. Etc. The stage upgrades are typically larger and larger components. Then again they usually cost a lot more. You could also talk stages on a fbody (or again in any v8) in the aspect of blower size.

Stages aren't laid out as much here, since, like Skarecrow said, upgrading a V8 for the most part is whatever order you want to do it (cam first, lid, then exhaust, or whatever you feel like). In a turbo 4 banger, you wouldn't want to get a massive turbo before a boost controller, upgraded IC, etc.

 

Looks like we figured it out for you ... now you won't have to get annoyed at people with domestic cars who ask your buddies what stage they are .... anywhose, glad we could be of service.

 

Stage 1: street performance/limited strip (bracket racer)
Stage 2: street/strip (weekend warrior)
Stage 3: race/ little streetability (trailers are your friend)
Stage 4: pro outlaw/circle track (what's a street?)

That's how it was explained to me by a friend who is also an NHRA competitor.

 

If you want one more:

Stage 5: JATO and good life insurance.

 

no, but you guys proved even more that stages are just some BS that change by manufacturer, person that is talking about them, and by car...thus calling **** in "stages" is still dumb as ****

 

maybe i can help as i had a mid 11's 91 TSI AWD
the stock block can handle 550hp if tuned right and the head can outflow about any head on the market

recipe for high 12's-
boost controller- $12
20g turbo-$750
580 injectors- $280
GM maf-$30
GM maf translator- $170
2600act clutch- $370

so, for about 1700 you can have a 1g in the 12's if not better. it will pull 1.7's on street tires all day long and is PERFECT in the snow

 

you forgot to add fuel pump...lol

 

http://dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/1gturbo/

High 12s are what you'd be shooting for (best run) with ~$2000 in the car. Unless you've stripped it out, etc.

http://dsmtuners.com/tuning-guide/2gturbo/

For anyone who is curious.

 

Stages are an easy way for people who run in the circles to tell people what's on their car. It's easier to say "I have stage 1 mods," than saying "upgraded turbo, upgraded IC, upgraded BOV, etc etc." They don't mean anything to you, because, surprisingly, you aren't into that type of car.

If you told a DSM guy you had a T-Rex cam in the car, he'd more than likely know absolutely jack about what you are talking about. Same as people telling you they have stage 1 mods.

 

Would it be true that most ricers are stage "-5"? Whereas -5 = fart pipe/K&N/stickers/body kit/wings, Gay and Furious 2 dangling air freshener,complete with a modified digital pix of their G-tech reading 10's?

 

Not really. If a guy with a Camaro said "i have stage 2" even other camaro drivers would be like "wtf is that?" -- you could guess what it means, but have no real idea...

its the same for a driver of any other type of car...example) on wrx's, company's sell stages...turboxs stage 2 = high 12's, whereas vishnu stage 4 = high 12's and the exact same mods (just from different companies)