newbie: performance upgrades VU SS UTE

[dplp1]

Hi Im a newbie that has just bought a vu ss ute. Ive searched the threads and cant find the info for performance upgrades that I am looking for. I want to know in what order shall I do things. My ute is the 5.7 with 6spd trans. It has a 2.5inch cat back exhaust and 18inh mages apart from that it is stock. Im guessing my next step would be to put some extractors on? Then maybe a air filter? Any tips would be greatly appreciated and if anybody knows of any good shops on the gold coast ( where i live) or brissie I would appreciate it,
Cheers
Dave

[DCJ81]

Ok i'll give this a shot

Try Y paceys with a good twin 2 1/2 system
Air filter and GTS/HSV maf pipe
MCAI (monaro cold air intake)
are good starts,
After this i would be driving up the road to see Mark at Power torque (forum sponsor) for a maf-less tune. A good addition to this would be 3.9 diff gears and a ORCAI

Hope this has been a help


And remember the search button is your freind
:)

[SSBarney]

Hi Im a newbie that has just bought a vu ss ute. Ive searched the threads and cant find the info for performance upgrades that I am looking for. I want to know in what order shall I do things. My ute is the 5.7 with 6spd trans. It has a 2.5inch cat back exhaust and 18inh mages apart from that it is stock. Im guessing my next step would be to put some extractors on? Then maybe a air filter? Any tips would be greatly appreciated and if anybody knows of any good shops on the gold coast ( where i live) or brissie I would appreciate it,
Cheers
Dave

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=33344 for one of the best bits of advice :D

[DCJ81]

i was just looking for that link to give to him :D

[stealthvz]

Same, beat us to it! :lol:

That has to be one the best and most informative posts on this forum, you will find out just about all the mods to do to your LS1 from that!

Should be made a sticky that one! ;)

[SSBarney]

Same, beat us to it! :lol:


Should be made a sticky that one! ;)

It is a sticky :D

[stealthvz]

It is a sticky :D

:o oops! :lol:

[chillicatqld]

drop us a pm if u like dplp - I am on goldy also. You can come round and have look at my VY SS ute if you like. Mark at PowerTorque has Mafless tuned - 230rwkw.
TaipanXP TriY ceramic coated headers, open Cats, dual 2.5 zorst, filter, 2nd hole mod. Have a look and take ya for a drive if ya like... you should like.

[cossmo]

Here is my 3 minutes worth – I have posted this elsewhere and it was well received.These are the things I would have liked someone to tell me when i was in your position regarding power mods. However nothing can replace time spent reading existing threads, including link in post #3 was the best post written in a long time on the discussion of newbie and mods so check it out as it explains some of the mods and choices you have with them.


1. LS1 edit is the best bang for your buck but do it last so you don't need a re-tune (cost $1,000)

2. Cold air intake is a good idea as you would not do a running race whilst breathing through a straw (cost $50 - $600, where $50 mods your airbox and $600 gets you an OTRCAI)

3. Catback exhaust so your motor can breath out as well (cost $500 - $1,400 and depends on mild steel or stainless and how much you can do yourself)

others would say 4. is headers (cost $1,000) and 5. I would think is cam (cost = few thousand $) and 6. maybe a turbo or s/c (cost = few more thousand $).

There are also mods like:
- Underdrive pulley. This reduces the amount of power used up by air con etc. This mod is supposed to bring about 12rwkw.
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=39296

- Colder Thermostat. This means the engine will switch on cooling at lower temps. I have this and am a fan as it is widely believed that a colder combustion and burn produces more power.

I stopped after the first three plus underdrive pulley and thermostat and have conservatively 321kw. I find the ute hard enough to drive in the wet but when driven by the girlfriend or mum it is dangerous as neither likes facing the gutter or parked cars.

I hope this provides some framework around your search, you will now have to read around to see what makes sense to you due to your preferences and budget.

But keeping in mind things change and LS1 edit has done a lot to getting every day drivability with better than GTS power but certainly my above options are where things stand.

Oh yeah and if you want some instructions on the 2nd hole mod, check out this link:
http://www.users.on.net/~pedroj/ute/vy_ute_airbox.html
This has pictures and runs you through the process.