GTM and Stillen SC Install Facts and Results Thread

[zzdudaka]

Ok we get it you don't like stillen. I have heard all 3 stories and understand their situation. I have pm'd some owners directly too. I want to get other peoples perpectives on both systems. So let's keep to the thread topic please if we can please. Some of us actually use this forum to make educated decisions. Maybe that is where I am going wrong. Hahah. Kidding.

Shumby do you have a kit installed? What has been your experience?

Liquid, can you share where you are?
All who have posted their info thanks for sharing your experience. All of this is good to know.

Leaning toward GTM, but I am still collecting info to help make up my mind.

[shumby]

Originally Posted by zzdudaka

Shumby do you have a kit installed? What has been your experience?

Yes I have the GTM stage one kit. There are actually 2 threads on my car on this site so I will not gointo details. 390HP 350TQ 6.5 psi pully. This was my choise and i still ripped my trans out of the car. lost the upper gears. This is do to my driving style and has nothign to do with the GTM kit. I was just to hard on the upper gears. ( well as z elim or Zat would say my wife was lol.) Had the hot start issue that the first 3-4 that Sam did had. Fix with a simple reflash within one day of talking to Sam. My trans is on its way down to Sam now to get some work done. This is the only issue I have with Sam it is taking him forever to get the trans to him. After the trans is upgraded I will be putting the 8 PSI pully on and getting the new intake to run my LTH's hoping at that [point to see 430-440hp at my wheels. ( might do the dyno on a day when it is -50C and scew the numbers. lol)

[BLM]

Originally Posted by shumby

Yes I have the GTM stage one kit. There are actually 2 threads on my car on this site so I will not gointo details. 390HP 350TQ 6.5 psi pully. This was my choise and i still ripped my trans out of the car. lost the upper gears. This is do to my driving style and has nothign to do with the GTM kit. I was just to hard on the upper gears. ( well as z elim or Zat would say my wife was lol.) Had the hot start issue that the first 3-4 that Sam did had. Fix with a simple reflash within one day of talking to Sam. My trans is on its way down to Sam now to get some work done. This is the only issue I have with Sam it is taking him forever to get the trans to him. After the trans is upgraded I will be putting the 8 PSI pully on and getting the new intake to run my LTH's hoping at that [point to see 430-440hp at my wheels. ( might do the dyno on a day when it is -50C and scew the numbers. lol)

I'm more interested in the bolded part. Just curious, when you say upper gear do you mean 1-2? I think "lower" for those. With all the market competition and choices in terms of forced induction, I was always wondering what the stock trans and engine internals could handle. Coming from a wrx that made 375 whp on stock internals and nothing but an aftermarket clutch, I never ripped it through first gear and was always just waiting for things to break. Granted, the internals and trans are different from car to car, but guys putting down much less power than I were ripping up first and second gear.

The guys at Performance Motorsports suggested that a conservative estimate for the stock internals was 450 whp for a daily driver, but also added that as you approach 500, you're pushing it. It seems that a 6.5 psi kit making 400 whp would be the perfect mix of a huge bump in power over stock while maintaining reliability and drivability, until of course I saw this post. I know this has much to do with driving style, but has anyone else reported/read of issues with stock internals/transmission? After all, what's the point in spending the time and money for all this crazy power if you have to baby the car? If I had the cash I'd go all out and build the motor and the trans first, this way you can use the full potential of these SC and TT kits and not worry about blowing motors or gearboxes.

Also, shumby, did you have an aftermarket clutch when you damaged the trans? And what exactly did you mean by your "driving style". Even with 500 whp the gears wont just shred up under a load. They would be most vulnerable to hard launches with a strong clutch and aggressive shifts.

[dal1307]

Originally Posted by BLM

I'm more interested in the bolded part. Just curious, when you say upper gear do you mean 1-2? I think "lower" for those. With all the market competition and choices in terms of forced induction, I was always wondering what the stock trans and engine internals could handle. Coming from a wrx that made 375 whp on stock internals and nothing but an aftermarket clutch, I never ripped it through first gear and was always just waiting for things to break. Granted, the internals and trans are different from car to car, but guys putting down much less power than I were ripping up first and second gear.

The guys at Performance Motorsports suggested that a conservative estimate for the stock internals was 450 whp for a daily driver, but also added that as you approach 500, you're pushing it. It seems that a 6.5 psi kit making 400 whp would be the perfect mix of a huge bump in power over stock while maintaining reliability and drivability, until of course I saw this post. I know this has much to do with driving style, but has anyone else reported/read of issues with stock internals/transmission? After all, what's the point in spending the time and money for all this crazy power if you have to baby the car? If I had the cash I'd go all out and build the motor and the trans first, this way you can use the full potential of these SC and TT kits and not worry about blowing motors or gearboxes.

Also, shumby, did you have an aftermarket clutch when you damaged the trans? And what exactly did you mean by your "driving style". Even with 500 whp the gears wont just shred up under a load. They would be most vulnerable to hard launches with a strong clutch and aggressive shifts.

Shumby is 7AT

[Liquid_G]

Originally Posted by zzdudaka

Liquid, can you share where you are?

I'm about 6 hours into the install.. DIY. Replaced the fuel pump one evening and then started the tear down last night.. GTM's instructions are pretty spot on. I've never gotten into a project this involved, but feel real confident that the rest of the install should go smoothly (famous last words I know)