Joined the LS club.
06-02-2013, 04:33 PM
#1
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Joined the LS club.
LS2, that is.
I know, I know. I want a turbo Miata. This is true. However, I also want a fun DD. I had been looking for cheap Miatas and the one I wanted sold out from under me (guy was an idiot, I spoke to him then drove an hour and a half to look at it, drove it, made an offer and he told me it had sold earlier that morning... least I got to enjoy sliding a Miata with a Torsen for the first time!).
I test drove a stock '04 Sport. Real nice car, and REAL slow.
Then I happened upon this car, in decent shape, for.... a really, really good price. I have wanted one of these like y'all wouldn't believe. There was a time when if I could have had any car under $100k, it would have been one of these.
Now I've got one.
It came with a commitment though... I believe this is our 14th car in the last 3 years. It's something of an unhealthy obsession and I'm spending way too much time on it. So in order to get my wife to agree for us to buy this, I had to agree to not buy any more vehicles for 5 years.
That should give me PLENTY of time to save up for a sweet turbo miata.
PLUS.... the deal doesn't include anything about buying car PARTS. tee hee...
I know, I know. I want a turbo Miata. This is true. However, I also want a fun DD. I had been looking for cheap Miatas and the one I wanted sold out from under me (guy was an idiot, I spoke to him then drove an hour and a half to look at it, drove it, made an offer and he told me it had sold earlier that morning... least I got to enjoy sliding a Miata with a Torsen for the first time!).
I test drove a stock '04 Sport. Real nice car, and REAL slow.
Then I happened upon this car, in decent shape, for.... a really, really good price. I have wanted one of these like y'all wouldn't believe. There was a time when if I could have had any car under $100k, it would have been one of these.
Now I've got one.
It came with a commitment though... I believe this is our 14th car in the last 3 years. It's something of an unhealthy obsession and I'm spending way too much time on it. So in order to get my wife to agree for us to buy this, I had to agree to not buy any more vehicles for 5 years.
That should give me PLENTY of time to save up for a sweet turbo miata.
PLUS.... the deal doesn't include anything about buying car PARTS. tee hee...
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06-02-2013, 04:56 PM
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Anyway, I brought the car home Wednesday night and have put about 300 miles on it. Highway only running 78 mph I was getting 27-28 mpg. With normal, mixed driving it's right around 20. Throw in some aggressive driving (long, hard sustained acceleration on an uphill mountain road) and it drops to 18. If something changes I'll update.
The torque is just absolutely mind blowing. Unreal. I do miss the turbo shove though, and the Miata's gearbox. I'll still have to get one someday... maybe 5 years and a day from Wednesday!
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06-02-2013, 08:22 PM
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Just got back from a drive.
This thing is rated for 400 hp and 395 lb ft. It feels wonderful. Could use a bit more involvement and some stiffer suspension but not by all too much. Just sweet. Removed the much-too-dark tint off the front side windows today, much better.
This thing is rated for 400 hp and 395 lb ft. It feels wonderful. Could use a bit more involvement and some stiffer suspension but not by all too much. Just sweet. Removed the much-too-dark tint off the front side windows today, much better.
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06-02-2013, 08:33 PM
#6
I've got a G8. I find that I drive the Miata a lot more. Which is great for keeping miles off the G8 (likely to be collectible someday, last of the "Pontiacs" and all).
Things I recommend:
1. Intake
2. Tune.
3. Headers and high-flow cats.
4. Better wheels. I dropped 10 lbs from each corner with Enkei PF01's! Does great things for handling and comfort.
Things I recommend:
1. Intake
2. Tune.
3. Headers and high-flow cats.
4. Better wheels. I dropped 10 lbs from each corner with Enkei PF01's! Does great things for handling and comfort.
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06-02-2013, 10:11 PM
#8
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Hmm, I really prefer the look of the stock wheels but might consider a change at some point down the road. Likely won't do anything for the duration of the 5 years though on the wheels.
As far as the other stuff... Between intake, tune and exhaust how much performance and fuel economy gain did you see? The only way I could rationalize any performance mods would be if it increases fuel economy as well. To be honest, I don't feel a desire for more power at this point! Very satisfied with this car as it sits, minus the bits of reconditioning it needs.
As far as the other stuff... Between intake, tune and exhaust how much performance and fuel economy gain did you see? The only way I could rationalize any performance mods would be if it increases fuel economy as well. To be honest, I don't feel a desire for more power at this point! Very satisfied with this car as it sits, minus the bits of reconditioning it needs.
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06-02-2013, 10:51 PM
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I love it.
Working on a name for it though. Thinking Thor or Zeus. Any Aussie suggestions?
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06-02-2013, 10:59 PM
#12
Had an 06 CGM. Sold it recently actually. Really a fantastic car, mine was completely immaculate. Too perfect for a guy who is used to driving hunks of crap, which is why I only put 13k miles on it in the 3.5 years I owned it.
Assuming you got an M6, get a short shifter on that thing immediately. I put a Billet Pro on mine, best mod hands down for the car.
I will say, the trunk size always made me a bit sad. I understand why it was the size it was, but it sucked having such a large car with such a useless trunk. Oh well.
I kinda miss it, I'm sure you will enjoy yours!
P.S. - A note for anyone considering doing an LS swap in a Miata and keeping it a street car.....drive one of these first. For the money invested into making a Miata LS powered, you can buy an already nicely equipped comfortable LS powered street car for less money.
Assuming you got an M6, get a short shifter on that thing immediately. I put a Billet Pro on mine, best mod hands down for the car.
I will say, the trunk size always made me a bit sad. I understand why it was the size it was, but it sucked having such a large car with such a useless trunk. Oh well.
I kinda miss it, I'm sure you will enjoy yours!
P.S. - A note for anyone considering doing an LS swap in a Miata and keeping it a street car.....drive one of these first. For the money invested into making a Miata LS powered, you can buy an already nicely equipped comfortable LS powered street car for less money.
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06-02-2013, 11:07 PM
#13
How about Donk (Crocodile Dundee tribute)?
If it's anything like the G8, intake and tune is low-hanging fruit. Worth about 30-40HP on a G8, I kid you not! Plus, it makes an automatic behave a lot better. Is yours an automatic or a manual (manual, I hope)?
On the wheels, I figured that I was saving the OEM's for posterity (they are, in fact, stored away). Dropping that much weight does make a big difference though. The interesting thing is that the wheels on your car are likely 18x8 Enkei MAT wheels, just like the PF01s. The GM OEM "styling" adds 10 pounds! I just couldn't stomach that.
If it's anything like the G8, intake and tune is low-hanging fruit. Worth about 30-40HP on a G8, I kid you not! Plus, it makes an automatic behave a lot better. Is yours an automatic or a manual (manual, I hope)?
On the wheels, I figured that I was saving the OEM's for posterity (they are, in fact, stored away). Dropping that much weight does make a big difference though. The interesting thing is that the wheels on your car are likely 18x8 Enkei MAT wheels, just like the PF01s. The GM OEM "styling" adds 10 pounds! I just couldn't stomach that.
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06-02-2013, 11:17 PM
#14
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How about Donk (Crocodile Dundee tribute)?
If it's anything like the G8, intake and tune is low-hanging fruit. Worth about 30-40HP on a G8, I kid you not! Plus, it makes an automatic behave a lot better. Is yours an automatic or a manual (manual, I hope)?
On the wheels, I figured that I was saving the OEM's for posterity (they are, in fact, stored away). Dropping that much weight does make a big difference though. The interesting thing is that the wheels on your car are likely 18x8 Enkei MAT wheels, just like the PF01s. The GM OEM "styling" adds 10 pounds! I just couldn't stomach that.
If it's anything like the G8, intake and tune is low-hanging fruit. Worth about 30-40HP on a G8, I kid you not! Plus, it makes an automatic behave a lot better. Is yours an automatic or a manual (manual, I hope)?
On the wheels, I figured that I was saving the OEM's for posterity (they are, in fact, stored away). Dropping that much weight does make a big difference though. The interesting thing is that the wheels on your car are likely 18x8 Enkei MAT wheels, just like the PF01s. The GM OEM "styling" adds 10 pounds! I just couldn't stomach that.
...that much power on a G8? Wow. Perhaps I'll have to look into that in the somewhat near future. Did you notice an MPG improvement?
Yes mine is an M6. Also, mine are the 17" wheels, the 18s were optional in '05 and '06 (or were they standard on '06? Not sure...)
Karter: that copper color is my fave on the GTO, even over blue which is normally my favorite car color. Jealous. Do you mind me asking how much you sold it for? Also, yes the trunk was a disappointment. I expected it to be quite large and actually had never looked in the trunk of a GTO until AFTER I bought mine! Unpleasant surprise but hey I guess you can't have everything. Why is it so small anyway?
For the near future I won't be modding anything, just reconditioning, but the mods will start coming later!
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06-03-2013, 12:57 AM
#18
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Two of my close friends have/had these and I run around with a bunch of guys that have them.
They have a lot of common problems. I would strongly recommend registering on LS1GTO.com and going through the stickies and becoming acquainted with their issues.
Dont buy a Hurst shifter, hurst had big problems with them. When my buddy called to source some parts to service his, the Hurst rep said "Oh one of those GTO shifters. Tell me what parts you need and give me an address, and Ill ship them out." No questions asked or anything.
Let me show you the problem
The base that the shifter handle goes into has a plastic cup with another plastic cup inside it. Im not sure if its for feel or stability but the plastic wears out very quickly and the expense *** shifter feels like **** pretty quick.
If they dont wear out, you mar the **** out of the plastic and then it gets stuck.
Guys have had the cups remachined out of metals and had good results, and on newer ones they have re-greased the assembly and had better longevity
Hurst for the camaros is awesome, not so much for the goat.
Make sure the back window is nice and dark or the back seats will split.
If you want power and economy Id recommend a tune. The stock LS2 tune is pretty bad and both friends got nice gains in power and economy with a tune. If you plan on doing the rest of the bolt ons you may want to wait and do it all at once though to get the most out of it. LSxs see big gains from a good Long tube header on almost all platforms.
They have a lot of common problems. I would strongly recommend registering on LS1GTO.com and going through the stickies and becoming acquainted with their issues.
Dont buy a Hurst shifter, hurst had big problems with them. When my buddy called to source some parts to service his, the Hurst rep said "Oh one of those GTO shifters. Tell me what parts you need and give me an address, and Ill ship them out." No questions asked or anything.
Let me show you the problem
The base that the shifter handle goes into has a plastic cup with another plastic cup inside it. Im not sure if its for feel or stability but the plastic wears out very quickly and the expense *** shifter feels like **** pretty quick.
If they dont wear out, you mar the **** out of the plastic and then it gets stuck.
Guys have had the cups remachined out of metals and had good results, and on newer ones they have re-greased the assembly and had better longevity
Hurst for the camaros is awesome, not so much for the goat.
Make sure the back window is nice and dark or the back seats will split.
If you want power and economy Id recommend a tune. The stock LS2 tune is pretty bad and both friends got nice gains in power and economy with a tune. If you plan on doing the rest of the bolt ons you may want to wait and do it all at once though to get the most out of it. LSxs see big gains from a good Long tube header on almost all platforms.
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06-03-2013, 12:58 AM
#19
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Until then, just livin' the dream! ha
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