New Owner. 2011 Charcoal Gray

[Turbo Pig]

I just purchased my 2011 SHO with 40k miles. Charcoal Gray with the black/brown interior. Love the car but it's definitely the slowest thing I've owned in forever.

I just got out of a 2006 CTS-V with a 418 stroker motor. I had an 800 rwhp 2000 Lighthing and a twin turbo Goat.

I love this car though and will be doing some small mods and would like some ideas. I'm sure I'll read here but maybe you can focus my attention. The 3 bar MAP and tune seems like a good way to go. But is that the right idea.

Also looks like the classifieds are kind of slow here so buying new slows down mods.


Thanks for any help.

 

[Sholab1]

2015 went with plugs, thermostat, 3bar and tune from Torrie @ unleashed. 91 octane stock tune.
91 octane performance and 93 performance depending on gas in area.
Makes a world of difference.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[SHOdded]

Welcome, turbo pig, and congrats on the new ride! Like sholab said, tune/3bar/TStat is the most common mod, with the greatest return. To keep your investment safe, make sure all maintenance is up to date before tuning.

Did you get a warranty with your SHO?

 

[Turbo Pig]

I do have a warranty for now. But I'm not happy with price.

Would rock auto sell the 3bar, what thermostat and beat place to buy, and what tuners?

 

[SHOdded]

A search will reveal gobs of information on everything you want But a quick answer:

A) Yes, RockAuto sells the 3 bar (CX2231)
B) 170F (Unleashed/Reische) or 160F (Livernois) TStats
C) Unleashed & Livernois are the top tuners around for the SHO. Datalogging gets the best out of an Unleashed tune after revisions. Livernois tunes - people generally use as is, with tweaks IF needed. A lesser-known outfit for tuning is Leading Edge Tuning.

 

[Turbo Pig]

Already ordered the 3 bar from rock.

I'll decide on a tuner and tstat with some research. I'm leary of mail tunes but it looks like they've come a long way since my Lightning days.

I need to figure out a nice exhaust tone but I think I'm keeping the first two cats. I must be getting old. I might build a custom 2.5" with the 3rd cat removed but the resonator left and the long straight through magnaflows with the sound filling.

 

[Sholab1]

Exhaust tone will be the difficulty part from what I have been looking at. I hear some online and think Rice burner. I myself want a rumble but know I won't get the sound of a v8. I still have 143,000 left on extended Warranty so I have time for that. I am using unleashed. Torrie from unleashed gets right back to you within 2 hrs so for for me that's what made me go with them. Being a regional service manager that's What I like to see. No experience with the others. Good luck on your choices.

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[BoatSHO]

Already ordered the 3 bar from rock.

I'll decide on a tuner and tstat with some research. I'm leary of mail tunes but it looks like they've come a long way since my Lightning days.

Welcome Turbo! FYI, I'm not sure if the SHO will run (at least not very well) installing the 3 bar without a tune. So if you already ordered that, get a tune asap.
I could be wrong...I'm sure others will chime in. I know once tuned, you can't go back to the stock 2 bar. But I believe a 3 bar with no tune will not be very good.

 

[Turbo Pig]

Wouldn't think of installing it without a tune. It will sit in the garage until I figure out the tune.

 

[BoatSHO]

Wouldn't think of installing it without a tune. It will sit in the garage until I figure out the tune.

Luckily you won't have too much to "figure out". There's only a couple as SHOdded mentioned (really only 2) reputable ecoboost tuners out there. Not like pony cars where mail tuners are a dime a dozen. Unleashed and Livernois.