Custom Tune and 2.6 pulley worth it?

[cheftjpeck]

Ok, I have the FRPP CAI with the PRO CAL tune already. I am looking at getting a custom tune... while I am at it..I am contemplating changing the pulley to the VMP stock look 2.6 pulley with 90mm idler....I have a few questions...first and foremost
Is it worth it...for pulley, custom dyno tune and idler as well as new SCT tuner is $900 (includes installation which I know is easy)
what happens if something goes wrong with my car post these mods...My dealer is pretty cool and Justin at VMP has a dealer by him that does not even give him any trouble with mods and service issues..........
I mean without checking right now I assume I am probably around 460-480 rwhp with the FRPP CAI AND TUNE....I read where with a custom tune and smaller pulley I can be at 540-550 ish....thats pretty substantial gain...I assume my streetability will be still the same....
is it worth it?
will it shorten the life of my engine or SC...
is this smart to do on a DD with only 4,000 miles on it,,,

please all opinions welcomed...my appt is on December 5th and I want to determine by them if I am just getting the custom tune or the works...

thx

[rpretzel]

1. Go for it. It's worth it for sure. You won't regret it.
2. Just a pulley and tune is pretty safe. I don't think you should worry about problems, even as a DD. A 2.6" pulley is still spinning the S/C well within it's range. With VMP's stock-look pulley, lot's a shops won't even realize you put a pulley on it.

[gr8snkbite]

+1..
I'm running the same, except on the tvs...unreal..if their a good dealer, shouldn't be an issue, especially if it's Justin's dealer. Develop a cool relationship.

[SLB8SNK]

Chef, just my .02 I would say stick with what you have and save your money. At some point these cars can turn into money pits... meaning - You already have a nice CAI and tune, opens the motor and lets it perform as it should have from day one. (same reason I am doing both). However, once you push that envelope, to gain that much more HP, you have to realize that will cause driving issues (traction, rear wheel hop, turning - LCA UCA) all the same issues dozens of guys had (go read the posts). That in turn starts or continues the need for more mods to correct issues associated with higher HP.

Bottom line you have to decide what you want. A cool street legal, nice driving high HP car (with enough get up and go), or a street demon with never ending mods to gain the perfect suspension to support the every growing HP.

[JTB]

Originally Posted by rpretzel

1. Go for it. It's worth it for sure. You won't regret it.
2. Just a pulley and tune is pretty safe. I don't think you should worry about problems, even as a DD. A 2.6" pulley is still spinning the S/C well within it's range. With VMP's stock-look pulley, lot's a shops won't even realize you put a pulley on it.

I like the look of that VMP pulley too but I think you need the idler set up with that pulley and most dealers would notice that.

Wouldn't they?

[2COKEMAN]

Originally Posted by SLB8SNK

Chef, just my .02 I would say stick with what you have and save your money. At some point these cars can turn into money pits... meaning - You already have a nice CAI and tune, opens the motor and lets it perform as it should have from day one. (same reason I am doing both). However, once you push that envelope, to gain that much more HP, you have to realize that will cause driving issues (traction, rear wheel hop, turning - LCA UCA) all the same issues dozens of guys had (go read the posts). That in turn starts or continues the need for more mods to correct issues associated with higher HP.

Bottom line you have to decide what you want. A cool street legal, nice driving high HP car (with enough get up and go), or a street demon with never ending mods to gain the perfect suspension to support the every growing HP.

+1, THAT IS MY THINKS ALSO, I AM HAPPY WITH SETUP AS IS, IT IS BY FAR MORE POWER THAN WILL EVER BE NEEDED!

[JTB]

Originally Posted by SLB8SNK

Chef, just my .02 I would say stick with what you have and save your money. At some point these cars can turn into money pits... meaning - You already have a nice CAI and tune, opens the motor and lets it perform as it should have from day one. (same reason I am doing both). However, once you push that envelope, to gain that much more HP, you have to realize that will cause driving issues (traction, rear wheel hop, turning - LCA UCA) all the same issues dozens of guys had (go read the posts). That in turn starts or continues the need for more mods to correct issues associated with higher HP.

Bottom line you have to decide what you want. A cool street legal, nice driving high HP car (with enough get up and go), or a street demon with never ending mods to gain the perfect suspension to support the every growing HP.

SLB is making a lot of sense here. I have the FRPP CAI and a Corsa cat back etc. (all my mods are listed on my profile) and I went one step further and added the FRPP Shorty Headers but the the best money I ever spent on my 500 is on the Steeda Billet Control arms which enabled me to get a lot more power to the ground and eliminated the wheel hop. Frankly, our cars should have had a much more robust control arms from the factory. In my opinion these cars and transmission are good for 650+ reliable horsepower but what's the point unless your at the track every weekend and spending a couple of grand on slicks every month and are building a car to get into the 10's.

For everyday use what we have is enough (CAI and Exhaust) as getting power out of our motors is relatively cheap getting it on the ground can get get expensive hence the lack of a world class, modern rear suspension in the Shelby GT500 from the factory.

I also believe that in the event the top blows off your motor that you are in a much better position with a warranty claim with FRPP parts. Further, in my opinion FRPP perform well, fit well, and offer great value for the money.

[JTB]

Originally Posted by 2COKEMAN

+1, THAT IS MY THINKS ALSO, I AM HAPPY WITH SETUP AS IS, IT IS BY FAR MORE POWER THAN WILL EVER BE NEEDED!

Another Canadian here!

What's up with your Senators? They suck more than our Leafs for a change....

[Joe G]

Originally Posted by cheftjpeck

Ok, I have the FRPP CAI with the PRO CAL tune already. I am looking at getting a custom tune... while I am at it..I am contemplating changing the pulley to the VMP stock look 2.6 pulley with 90mm idler....I have a few questions...first and foremost
Is it worth it... I think so - the smaller pulley allows the SC to spin faster which = more power

for pulley, custom dyno tune and idler as well as new SCT tuner is $900 (includes installation which I know is easy) - 1) you can borrow a puller, the pulley + idler package (VMP) is $215, SCT tuner is under $400 + a few bucks for a tune (think VMP does a cheap package for that) = just over $600. $300 for install seems a big high IMO.


what happens if something goes wrong with my car post these mods...My dealer is pretty cool and Justin at VMP has a dealer by him that does not even give him any trouble with mods and service issues..........
I mean without checking right now I assume I am probably around 460-480 rwhp with the FRPP CAI AND TUNE....I read where with a custom tune and smaller pulley I can be at 540-550 ish....thats pretty substantial gain...I assume my streetability will be still the same.... yes, this is still very easy on the street

is it worth it? see below

will it shorten the life of my engine or SC... only time will tell, but doubt it

is this smart to do on a DD with only 4,000 miles on it,,, - only you can judge that - are you happy with what you have? If so, then maybe save the $$ and put it towards suspension or wheels/tires?



thx

Here's my thoughts (above) Chef.


Dan (SLB8SNK) is right when he says you need to judge where you want to end up. Put in more power and you'll need more traction (and maybe even a one-piece driveshaft) and better suspension.

Don't feel, though, that it's "too much" or bad for the car. As you've seen, there are many here running the TVS, KB or Whipple SC's who have hundreds of HP more than you or I and don't break anything unless they're really pushing it (usually on the track).

-

[2COKEMAN]

Originally Posted by JTB Consulting

Another Canadian here!

What's up with your Senators? They suck more than our Leafs for a change....

WE ARE NOT GOING TO EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR?? I have lost faith, The leafs are at least consistent at losing, we are hot and cold??

[2COKEMAN]

JTB- Did you get your GT500 at sticker or did you pay a premium?? If you don't mind me asking, just curious??

[Johnny Dangerously]

Originally Posted by 2COKEMAN

WE ARE NOT GOING TO EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR?? I have lost faith, The leafs are at least consistent at losing, we are hot and cold??

Welcome to my world. I'm a Cubs fan.



`

[cheftjpeck]

Originally Posted by Johnny Dangerously

Welcome to my world. I'm a Cubs fan.



`

a cubs fan??

a cubs fan!!!!

[JTB]

Originally Posted by 2COKEMAN

JTB- Did you get your GT500 at sticker or did you pay a premium?? If you don't mind me asking, just curious??

I'm bought it in Cherry Hill, NJ just outside of Philly for 2000K over sticker with every option with NAV, in MAY 08.

[JTB]

Originally Posted by cheftjpeck

a cubs fan??

a cubs fan!!!!

Wow the friggn' Cubs!

Loved Mark Grace though as a kid, what a Ballplayer.

[Birdman]

Guys this is the TECH & Performance section ....back to the topic at hand please...

Chef one bad thing about the smaller pulley on a stock blower is the added heat soak it will generate because it will increase the blower speed. Under normal driving this will not be a problem though but will at WOT for any sustained or repeated WOT runs . Plus you will get the MOD bug and want to keep going faster and spend more money ...Uoops too late...

[08redgt500]

Originally Posted by cheftjpeck

Ok, I have the FRPP CAI with the PRO CAL tune already. I am looking at getting a custom tune... while I am at it..I am contemplating changing the pulley to the VMP stock look 2.6 pulley with 90mm idler....I have a few questions...first and foremost
Is it worth it...for pulley, custom dyno tune and idler as well as new SCT tuner is $900 (includes installation which I know is easy)
what happens if something goes wrong with my car post these mods...My dealer is pretty cool and Justin at VMP has a dealer by him that does not even give him any trouble with mods and service issues..........
I mean without checking right now I assume I am probably around 460-480 rwhp with the FRPP CAI AND TUNE....I read where with a custom tune and smaller pulley I can be at 540-550 ish....thats pretty substantial gain...I assume my streetability will be still the same....
is it worth it?
will it shorten the life of my engine or SC...
is this smart to do on a DD with only 4,000 miles on it,,,

please all opinions welcomed...my appt is on December 5th and I want to determine by them if I am just getting the custom tune or the works...

thx

The SC was engineered to balance power and operating characteristics. The trade-off on a 2.6 pulley is a faster spinning SC, which means faster onset of heat-soak if you use it, especially if you live below the 38th parallel in a warmer climate. Now you could offset the heat soak issue, somewhat, by getting a beefier inter-cooler radiator, but that's a pricey mod to do too. As some of the other folks already said, it can quickly become a mod money pit. But is is fun...oops some contradiction from the other side of my head! Then there's the additional suspension mods you'll need to keep it from getting too squirrel y.

[2COKEMAN]

Originally Posted by JTB Consulting

I'm bought it in Cherry Hill, NJ just outside of Philly for 2000K over sticker with every option with NAV, in MAY 08.

Good job, way less than mine at sticker in Canadian $$

[BADBOY500]

Yes.

[Johnny Lupara]

my take on this; you need to really do a good self analysis on how you want to drive your car. Everything folks have said is true, taken from their perspective.

-is this just an interim measure, and you intend to do more later
-do you drag race
-do you track race
-do you want to be the biggest dog on the block

the list goes on for a while; but the reality is, if you do not race, and all you want is a bit bigger kick in the rear once in a while while accelerating, then the 2.6 and a tune is a great way to go. I have that set up and really enjoy it, but still plan to add the larger intercooler heat exchanger at some point, just to keep coolant temps down.

if you plan to race once in a while, a more efficient supercharger is the way to go (5K or so). If you would like to get a new supercharger, but have to save for it, then the 2.6 would be a nice interim measure. It truly is a thought process, and you need to be realistically focusing at the end point, otherwise you could spend a lot on mods that you later upgrade.

good luck