Topic: GM perfomance kit

[chuckdoc]

I recently ordered the GM performance kit from Crate engine company.  I have a tracking number and as soon as it gets here I will post pictures and relate my experience with the install and performance .

Chuck

[lil goat]

Thanks Chuck, I know a lot of inquiring minds want to know, including a friend from up North.

[Wester's Garage]

  You've got that right !   

[DeepBlueGXP]

Welcome Lyndon to the forum

[BLK GXP]

Great news. It'll be interesting to see what this opens up.

[chuckdoc]

I love Canada and certainly will supply any information I can in order to keep the performance ball rolling,  Eh!

Should be here soon and the price in loonies was not too bad.  I know programmer will be able to work some magic in a couple of months.

Chuck

[GXPinKC]

I recently ordered the GM performance kit from Crate engine company.  I have a tracking number and as soon as it gets here I will post pictures and relate my experience with the install and performance .

Chuck

  I will be on the edge of my seat.  Want to find out how GM does with this upgrade.  I have only one, the padded center console.  And I have said that I would not make any more additions to "Miss Red Eagle" but the call of the wild, may be to strong!

[Wester's Garage]

It was -35C here on Monday...and I'd been driving my Solstice right till last week ! Blizzard hit over the weekend, and everything is under white right now. Gotta love 'global' warming. At any rate, I've gotta somehow get my car 5 miles back into town so we can do more testing with new pieces and parts available...really looking forward to seeing what that GM Perf Kit tune will do in its' stock form. Dyno charts will be posted as soon as they're available.
The other nasty bit...the exchange rate ! 10% change again in a week...

[Sly Bob]

I hear ya' Programmer. That exchange rate can be a killer, a deal killer that is! 

[DeepBlueGXP]

-35c  ouch, that has gotta suck.  Programmer, did you get your kit in yet?

[Critterman]

-35c that's like real cold, like -31f or colder than brass balls or witches &!&  brrrrrrr

[Twotoys]

I recently ordered the GM performance kit from Crate engine company.  I have a tracking number and as soon as it gets here I will post pictures and relate my experience with the install and performance .

Chuck

   Chuck,  Did you get it yet ?   I just got here but I need to know. 

[chuckdoc]

Got it installed last night. 

What a nightmare, dealing with GM.  Ok, I got to calm down.  Just to end the suspense; I got the tune, and the car is amazing.  This review is just from seat of the pants driving and may be technically all a$$ backwards.  It does not have as much boost as Westers.  With Westers I got around 21 of boost and coming home I only got 19.  The temp outside was 42 degrees and when I had the Westers in the summer I got 20-21.  Now the good part.  The torque is amazing.  I have the automatic transmission and I came to a stop 3 times and floor it.  3 different roads in case the road surface was unique.  Each time I floor it with the traction control on I spun the tires and lit up the low traction light.  I never did this with Westers so I assume it is the torque.  The car seems equally fast with both.

If Westers gets a test car, I know with the Nanny controls off and just an increase in boost, this car will be really fast.

Now for the install:  The O rings "Tmap O-rings  Part number 12626998" were both dry rotted.  The tech showed me and if you just bent them they split.  He said he could not reuse the old ones and did not have any that size at the dealership.  He looked the part number up in the computer and it did not exist. (Way to go GM).  We called CrateEngineDepot and the guy just said I had to talk to a GM engineer and they would call the dealer back.  I gave them the dealer number and they did call back.  He told the service writer he would ship new ones out next day delivery, so I can not fault their good intentions, BUT THEN GM HUNG UP THE PHONE.  THE SERVICE WRITER SAID HE NEVER ASKED FOR THE NAME OF THE DEALER OR THE DEALER #.  I am hoping CED will help me and I will post on the other thread plus PM him.  Anyway the Dealer crafted some homemade O rings (not too scary) and then came the real fun.  GM was very very slow to send the Flash for the tech 2.  Many calls later, which I could not hear and calling the Dealer IT guy plus back and forth with GM.  Not me, but the Dealer.  It finally worked. 

I told the service manager there was no way I was going to pay 4 hours labor for the install.  He asked me what was fair and I said two.  He said how about 1 and 1/2 and we agreed that was fair (150 bucks)  I was really happy with the dealership as they said if it threw a code, he would give me a rental.  I cried, not another Chevy Cobalt (see my other posts) and he called GM tech back and they finally got the flash done.

Yikes

I will now try to get new O rings and Deepbluegxp will install them

In summation, open the O ring package and flex them and see if you see cracks.  Do this before you go to the dealer.   Number 2, make sure your dealer contacts GM before they cut the wires and make sure they will speedily send the tune.

Anyway that's my saga but it is all worth it.  I just think GM management has some serious bugs to work out.  There is no way a new part should be dry rotted (way to go, GM buying parts from Mexico)  There is also no way a part number should not  be in the computer system.  Do not release a package until everything is good to go.  Remember you are trying to keep customers happy.  It does not take 2 hours to send a tune electronically.  This stuff travels at the speed of light. (186,000 miles per sec)  It did not come from alpha centuri. 

Chuck

[Twotoys]

 That's what I'm waiting for.   Y'all to get the bugs worked out.   I can't wait much longer.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Better hurry up and get it before GM is gone

[chuckdoc]

I called CrateEngineDepot and PMed them and posted in a general thread on the big board (bb)  No response.  Thankfully Dejon Dave, stepped up to the plate and found the part.  I will paypal him as soon as I get his email.

I certainly would hesitate ordering anything again from them or do you think I am being too rash.  I expected them to take ownership of the simple problem and what they did was refer me to GM.

Chuck

[lil goat]

I think I would blame GM on this one, CED just shipped what they got from GM.  I would expect better customer service from CED on getting you new O rings, heck they sell O rings at any good parts store.

[chuckdoc]

Right Jim, but the problem is the exact size.  Anyway Dave at Dejon Daves, has a bunch of them.  I was just frustrated nobody would take ownership of the problem and we were talking about a 50 cent part.

BTW, Jim, Jay said you never stopped in to get your grey retaining parts. 

Chuck

[baconbits]

Chuck.. I had a little problem with Onstar not getting back to me after repeated tries to contact them.. I found out a VP of GM was on the board of Onstar and sent him an email.. within a couple of hours he emailed me back saying his team was looking into it.. problem solved next day..maybe you might want to send a email to the powers that be (VP) explaining the problems you had.. there is so much middle management that the upper ecshelon never hears about daily screw ups...just my two cents..
Bacon

[BLK GXP]

So for those of us that already have a Wester's tune; Is the GM upgrade recommended? If for no other reason than the sensors? I realize that the two will not work together, yet. Maybe it's really just too early to tell.

[chuckdoc]

Well that was me, I had the Westers tune and now the GM stage 2 and soon a new Westers tune.  I got to tell you the torque is amazing.  Autotransmission, and if I floor it, I smoke the tires.  I can not floor it while making a turn, because the Nanny controls light up.  It is really sick amount of torque.

Now I want to tell every one, Dejon Dave, stepped up to the plate and sent me new O rings of the proper size.  I have never bought from him but he certainly is a standup vendor who understands service.

Chuck

[DeepBlueGXP]

Yes, but LilGoat is working a way to find the parts and Programmer will update a tune for it.  We'll scan chucks to send to Westers but will more than likely need another person who has a manual to send Programmer a scan.  I don't think Chuckdoc's will have the no lift shift feature since it is an automatic

[Critterman]

Chuck had the Wester's tune, the new GM tune over writes that one.  I believe the new code is already in the "garage" being looked at.

[lil goat]

The only issue with getting the parts is finding 3 BAR TMAP sensors, we are working on it. Anyone know a good Alpha Romeo parts supplier, that is where the part comes from.
I know a place I could get the O-rings if I knew what size, they have about a thousand sizes, it's even here in Manassas, and you would be amazed how many sizes Lowe's carries. It's great Dejon Dave has them, but he bought them somewhere, I just need a size, I'll order a hundred.
Jay just called me this morning at 6:30 about the gray clips, I had to work late and missed them, service was closed.

[Pep]

Did you have to put the stock tune back in before you went to the dealer for the install of the GM tune, or did they install over the westers?