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SisqocqkSTi

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SisqocqkSTi New Member

SisqocqkSTi

Posted
Posted

Howdy, my name's eric and im a frequenter of www.i-club.com (one of the few import forums against rice) and have a couple n00b questions for my father.

 

I got off the phone with my father today and he's tired of his trucks performance and is a bit jealous of my MY03 WRX and 04 STi because im always doing something new to it.

 

Anyway, he owns a 2003 GMC 1500 4.8L with AT and is looking to get a Reflash on his CPU and a good dual tip catback. I tried to seach for "CPU" etc but am unfamiliar with the reputable companies so i didn't have too much luck. What is the best going reflash on the market now or the "best bang" for his dollar. Also, how do they work? are they user tunable with different maps or do you ship the CPU off to the company? Will the dealer be able to find it during work on the car and will it matter for smog? Any info you think i'll need to know would be awesome.

 

Also, what are the better catbacks on the market? i want one with decent welds and sound. I love the sound of a good magnaflow...do they make one for his model?

 

Sorry to ask a question on my first post. I just want to get the ball rolling for my father.

 

Any direction is appreciated!

 

thanks, Eric :lol:

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

First off, welcome :thumbs:

 

 

Then, use the "search" feature up above and to the right.

 

Use the terms "Westers" and/or "Nelsons". You will get quite a few hits. Take some time, do some reading.

 

Both of them are mail-order tunes that appear to be the best out there right now. (I don't have either, but so many people here are amazed by their results.)

 

Oh...and...

 

Howdy, my name's eric and im a frequenter of www.i-club.com (one of the few import forums against rice) and have a couple n00b questions for my father.

 

I got off the phone with my father today and he's tired of his trucks performance and is a bit jealous of my MY03 WRX and 04 STi because im always doing something new to it.

 

You drive a WRX, but are in an "anti-rice" forum? I'm not flaming you, I just found that to be a little odd. :dupe:

 

 

:lol:

rhilton Enthusiast

rhilton

Posted
Posted

Best PCM "bang for the buck" he can get is a wester's PCM upgrade. With that you order the PCM, Lyndon (the owner) ships you his tuned PCM and then you send your original core back to him. He has 87 to 93 octane tunings. He also tunes for mods like catbacks, camshafts, headers, intakes, etc. Here's the link Wester's

 

Recommendations on catbacks

 

From what I've heard, JBA, Gibson, and flowmaster are the top dogs.

 

I'd go with JBA headers. And a K&N FIPK intake. If he really wants to put some strength to it, go with a Vortech, Kenne Bell, or Whipple supercharger. :lol: That's probably not what he wants

 

But Westers does free upgrades for the life of the vehicle.

 

Say you got a supercharger put on after you had the PCM already. Tell Lyndon, he'll tune you a new one, send it to you and then you send your old one back to him. No down time.

 

Hope I helped.

rhilton Enthusiast

rhilton

Posted
Posted
You drive a WRX, but are in an "anti-rice" forum? I'm not flaming you, I just found that to be a little odd.

 

WRX are one of the few imports that hardly ever sound like a ricer. :thumbs: Of course, with a specific muffler, you probably could make a 4800 chevy sound like a ricer. :dupe:

 

Or get a whistle tip like Bubba Rubb. :lol:

 

It goes "Wooo-WOOOO"

 

-Robert

LikeaRock14 Enthusiast

LikeaRock14

Posted
Posted

Well, here's my opinion on a cat-back

 

If your dad is looking more for performance w/ a great sound, Magnaflow is the most efficient way to go. Their straight thru design is flawless, they're all stainless cat-backs, and they sound awesome! A single 3" in 2.25" or 2.5" out w/ the tips he likes will be great. I actually found a site off this website that was a great one. Magnaflow d/o cat-backs for like $417 I believe. That's a hell of a deal for magnaflow! The usualy gain from Magnaflow is about 10-16 hp, 20-30 ft lb's of torque.

Corsa's cat-backs are a hell of a deal too. They sound extremely aggressive from their clips I've heard, they have a great power increase and have almost 0 interior sound from what they say. they produce a good increae in power too.

I personally love the sound of Borla on a 4.8 or 5.3 GM. They don't drone (i thought they did, amsingly they dont!), they have a deep mellow tone all thru the r's, they don;t get overly loud (quieter than a 40 series Flowmaster), and they have a great performance increase too.

 

For more of a performance SOUND, a Flowmaster Super 40 series muffler w/ a cat-back from them would be nice. Deep mellow tone, little interior sound, good power increase.

My personal favorite for a unique sound, since I love that chambered muffler sound :lol: is a Spin Tech Cat-bac. 0 interior drone, but that sounds there when u want it!!! Deeper, mellow agressive tone, smooth, refined. Awesome sound

 

As for an intake, go Volant or K&N. A chip, WESTERS ALL DUH WAY

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Bubb-Rubb..... :lol: MAN that's funny stuff.

 

 

And I am not :thumbs: on the WRX, those cars are d@mn fast, and handle like they are on rails. Great cars, in my opinion.

SisqocqkSTi New Member

SisqocqkSTi

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Wow very prompt responses.

 

Im from the bay area (well near) and Bubb Rubb and whistle tips are well known here. What i meant by "anti-rice" is the fact we keep our cars respectable. we don't throw on the primered bodykits and giant wings. We keep it simple, easy on the eyes and functional of course. We always have meets, autocrosses, picnics etc while keeping it safe and CHP friendly (some of us are cops so...)

 

Anyway, thanks for the responses.

 

Here my last question on the Reflash. On my WRX i have an EcuTek reflash and it comes with 2 built in maps. One for the primary driver and one for valet, kids, wife etc. All i do is turn on the ignition (without the engine on), step on the throttle and hit the defrost button to switch maps. I have one set at 9psi at 4000rpm gov. and one at 16.5psi and 9000rpm max.

 

Are there features on the 4.8L reflash that'll give my father the opprotunity to switch maps or turn off the tuned CPU when my Step-mother steps into the cab? Or is it all set in stone once he ships it off to the reflash company?

 

BTW very respectable forum you have here. :lol:

 

thanks again! Eric from http://www.i-club.com

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

D@mn, I want some James Bond-like programming for my truck too!!! :thumbs:

 

"Wait! Ms. Moneypenny, please don't press that......BOOM!!!!". :lol:

 

 

The tunes are going to be a step-up, that's for sure, but they will not make it undriveable to the un-initiated.

 

I know Westers will give you a dual-tune, which responds differently to different octanes. Not sure about a switched, dual mapped chip though.

 

Would certainly be cool. I had one with 6 different settings on my 89 years ago, but you had to pull the glove box out to change it. So guess where it stayed. :dupe:

SisqocqkSTi New Member

SisqocqkSTi

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Outstanding Info fellas.

 

So far i know for a fact he'll want a Wester 87octane Map because he's not the type to spend too much on gasoline. plus we live in CA so the price is already high.

 

can someone please tell me EXACTLY which reflash i'll need off this page ( http://westers_garage.eidnet.org/scprice.htm ) because i don't want to give him false information on price etc.

 

So correct me if im wrong but my father orders the Chip based on octane/VIN etc. They send a new CPU without any downtime and my father simply mails the OEM factory ECU back? sounds too easy...

 

 

Also looking into the Gibson Catback seen here because i love the design: http://www.gibsonperformance.com/extrem.asp :lol:

 

Last question (until i can think of more crap :thumbs: ). I know how my father thinks. He wants a nice "streetable" truck with nice catback rumble. Should he wait until he gets new , larger size wheels, catback and K&N before ordering the Wester's? Or it really wouldn't matter what route he takes because wester will ship him a new CPU for free based in recent upgrades, right?

 

 

thanks again, eric

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Yup, it really is that easy.

 

And yup, he will do future upgrades for free....Well....You pay shipping, of course, so it isn't all that free. But still a much better deal than you will get just about anywhere.

 

Sorry, I can't help you on the catback, don't have one on the 02. Lot's of fellas here have them, and you will probably get lots of info on that over the next couple of days, as not everyone can live on here like I do. :lol:

 

If you do a search on cat-back, or exhaust, you will get a ton of hits back.

Wingnut Senior Enthusiast

Wingnut

Posted
Posted

Oops, looks like we spoke too soon. It appears he is still asking for the core first on the 03/04 model years....I think that means that you will have to send him your computer, and then he programs it. Looks like a cost of $595 :lol:

 

Lots of info in **this thread here**.....Which happens to be a group purchase going on (discount)

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