TurboCharger Installed

[LasVegas]

Well, almost. In the interest of the forum I did the install myself to determine practicality. The kit is installed & running. The 42 lb injectors aren't here yet so I can't install the PCM tune & I can't boost it for fear of getting on the lean side. The injectors should be here
Mon/tues & that will complete the project. Even without boosting there's a huge difference. It has that distinctive turbo spool up sound & the response is nearly immediate to end the "lag" debate. The kit is very high quality & anybody with average mechanical ability can install. In 4-6 hours as advertised....no way. Maybe two people in a long day or one person 8 hours if he had done it before but not 4-6 hours. Here's some pictures of the install. I'll have more performance information after installing the tune & injectors. For those interested in turbocharging their H2 I'll probably be entering into a "special" arrangement with STS just for members of the forum. There will be major discounts to forum members. Anyone interested just PM or email me. <span class="ev_code_GREEN">4/25/05 Update on the fuse blowing problem below. Turned out to be a simple short in the alarm connector</span>

[LasVegas]

Well, almost. In the interest of the forum I did the install myself to determine practicality. The kit is installed & running. The 42 lb injectors aren't here yet so I can't install the PCM tune & I can't boost it for fear of getting on the lean side. The injectors should be here
Mon/tues & that will complete the project. Even without boosting there's a huge difference. It has that distinctive turbo spool up sound & the response is nearly immediate to end the "lag" debate. The kit is very high quality & anybody with average mechanical ability can install. In 4-6 hours as advertised....no way. Maybe two people in a long day or one person 8 hours if he had done it before but not 4-6 hours. Here's some pictures of the install. I'll have more performance information after installing the tune & injectors. For those interested in turbocharging their H2 I'll probably be entering into a "special" arrangement with STS just for members of the forum. There will be major discounts to forum members. Anyone interested just PM or email me. <span class="ev_code_GREEN">4/25/05 Update on the fuse blowing problem below. Turned out to be a simple short in the alarm connector</span>

[HUMMERcustoms.com/TAZ]

Great Jonahs keep Us up to date. I bet You are going to have a harder time keeping Your foot out of it for a few weeks. Install looks sweet. If a person wanted to not let people know what was there. I think Jason has that fender well liner kit that hide piping. With tubing being cold air it would not melt rubber liner.
TAZ

[LasVegas]

Frankly, if you do look at it it looks pretty cool. I might paint it black but either way it's hardly noticable.

[LasVegas]

If you like sound this has a really cool throaty sound to it. I'm having Midas add a Flowmaster 70 after the turbocharge that will bring it back close to stock on sound but for those that like a performance sound the turbo is cool. Sounds beastly!!

[alecs wife]

How will it do in deep water fording conditions?

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by R2:
How will it do in deep water fording conditions? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Well you'll have to gauge that based on its location. It's about even with the top of the rear tire and a couple inches lower than the rear floor. That would be higher than the rated fording depth I think.

[Dewi2005]

Jonahs,

This is very cool!! I have been looking/thinking about adding a turbo, so I would definitely be interested in your deal with the turbo manufacturer.

Couple of questions that I hope you can answer.

1. with headers that attach to the factory cat pipes, do you need to modify or replace to allow this turbo work?

2. I have a Corsa Exhaust... again, will I need to modify?

3. Do they offer a kit to move the air filter back up to the stock location?

4. does it have any intercooler, or is the amount of pipe it take to get it back to the engine sufficient for cooling?

Thanks in advance for your help on this... Im looking forward to hearing how much this helps the perf of your H2.

[HUMMERcustoms.com/TAZ]

Dewi2005
You will need to go back to stock exhaust system including exhaust manifold. But, after the turbo You can run mufflers or what ever. Headers will place to much back pressure on engine because of the increased exhaust flow and the small diameter of the turbo hole. it really does work better with stock exhaust.

You will not need a factory intake or any other intake. The air filter is bolted onto the turbo itself.

As long as You do not boost over 5 lbs. no intercooler needed. The pipe acts like an intercooler with 5 lbs. boost or less.

You will like the system.
TAZ

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by sfox:
Nice install Jonahs, very well done. R2 asked about fording depth, but I think from an off-roading POV, the bigger issue is the "modified" slider. The amount of cutting you had to do is downright scary for a truck that might need these off-road.


S </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Not really. It looks worse than what it is. There's still quite a bit of meat left there. But no problem, you can just weld/bolt on some extra meat to the side of the bracket to get it back to stock integrity.

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dewi2005:
Jonahs,

This is very cool!! I have been looking/thinking about adding a turbo, so I would definitely be interested in your deal with the turbo manufacturer.

Couple of questions that I hope you can answer.

1. with headers that attach to the factory cat pipes, do you need to modify or replace to allow this turbo work?

2. I have a Corsa Exhaust... again, will I need to modify?

3. Do they offer a kit to move the air filter back up to the stock location?

4. does it have any intercooler, or is the amount of pipe it take to get it back to the engine sufficient for cooling?

Thanks in advance for your help on this... Im looking forward to hearing how much this helps the perf of your H2. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Dewi...I spoke with STS. The headers do not cause a problem. The Corsa exhaust is not a problem depending on how it's routed. You just have to get the two pipes to the STS Y pipe. If you have different sized exhaust from stock STS will make the Y pipe to accomodate.

[LasVegas]

Between me and Midas we engineered installing a Flowmaster 70. Amazingly it ended up looking like a factory install. After painting you don't even notice it. It's actually quieter inside than stock (probably a combination of the turbo & muffler). I also painted the discharge tubing in the wheel wells & again you have to look for it to see it.

[Dan]

Jonahs - how does the FM70 sound outside the truck compared to stock? Just curious...

[BLOWNZO6]

This all looks incredible.

I am perhaps missing something, so I am going to ask this question as polically as possible. On their web site it states the cost is $5195, yet the other kits for a Tahoe, for example are $3995, or do these kits not include the tuning items?

I have been pricing this stuff before the STS kit came out for the H2 and am now seriously considering building my own. This is very nice though.

Thanks for your efforts.

Nick

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> This all looks incredible.

I am perhaps missing something, so I am going to ask this question as polically as possible. On their web site it states the cost is $5195, yet the other kits for a Tahoe, for example are $3995, or do these kits not include the tuning items?

I have been pricing this stuff before the STS kit came out for the H2 and am now seriously considering building my own. This is very nice though.

Thanks for your efforts.

Nick </div></BLOCKQUOTE>The H2 kit includes and requires the tune and the injectors. STS also maintains that the H2 kit is the most expensive for them to build. Hence the reason for the $5,195 price.

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan:
Jonahs - how does the FM70 sound outside the truck compared to stock? Just curious... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>It's difficult to judge by my rig because the turbo muffles the sound and then the Flowmaster 70. So it's very quiet. A little throaty but as quiet as stock inside. Maybe even quieter. Fine for me, I'm not into sound. I want it to go fast but look/sound stock! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[BLOWNZO6]

[/QUOTE] STS also maintains that the H2 kit is the most expensive for them to build. Hence the reason for the $5,195 price.[/QUOTE]

Hmm.. well in looking at their other kits, etc. I cannot see the reason for the extra cost. I have a Corvette as well and it seems like the Corvette Tax/Hummer Tax is coming into play here.

I am still curious to see what you can negotiate with them. But I already have the tuning software, injectors, etc.

Looking forward to seeing your pricing.

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BLOWNZO6:
STS also maintains that the H2 kit is the most expensive for them to build. Hence the reason for the $5,195 price.
Hmm.. well in looking at their other kits, etc. I cannot see the reason for the extra cost. I have a Corvette as well and it seems like the Corvette Tax/Hummer Tax is coming into play here. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I agree. The turbo is a little larger & probably more expensive but????

[LasVegas]

STS pricing: I'm sorry to report that my efforts to get STS to offer forum members a discount has come to an end without success. I have many hours in this attempt and frankly I don't understand STS's position. I just received an email indicating they will try to go to our forum direct to promote their kit. If this helps the forum and the members can in fact get a reasonable discount I'm happy to have played a part in this. I've uncovered a great deal of information in the course of this attempt. First, I recommend you do business with a dealer, not STS. Second, the dealer has a reasonable markup in the kit and has the room to deal on the price. Don't accept retail pricing because IMHO forum members can do better. If I can help anyone on this just let me know.

[BLOWNZO6]

Time and time again I am seeing this. It really sucks and I sent you PM. I don't want to bad mouth anyone here, I am new around here, but have a lot of experience with forced induction. I ordered the upgrade to my tuning software today and am going to investigate this further.

There is really nothing to fabricate here, no headers, accessory drive modifications, etc. It is no worse than what your boys at Midas do every day.

I sincerely hope that people can see some others business practices for what they are and not do business with them.

[Fastest H-Town Realtor]

Even with the reported good initial response from the STS kit, I am still not gung ho about buying a kit with the turbo at the wrong end of it. So, I contacted Livernois and inquired about the Speedworks Escalade unit being reconfiged for the H2. They said its in the works, be done end of May. With a potentioal price of under 5K, Ill await this new kit to come out.

http://www.livernoismotorsports.com/

[BLOWNZO6]

I have not looked into it, but does anyone know if the Escalade has a 4L80E instead of the 65? I know that they have the most bulletproof production transfer case GM has, not sure if it is the same as the H2.

If you do what they were doing on a 4L65E, you ARE going to break the transmission, it is not a matter of if, but when.

I am not looking for a kit that will make 15 psi and let me run 12.80's. But that is certainly impressive. Looking like I am just going to build my own.

[LasVegas]

Update on STS pricing: After other correspondence with STS and a discussion about the strength of this forum, they have indicated there WILL be a discount to forum members. I've put STS in contact with Jason so this can be accomplished on a professional basis with Jason playing a part as he deserves. STS does have to respect their dealership network and I respect that. So hopefully this will all work out for those of you that wish to turbocharge. It is a nice quality kit.

[LasVegas]

Install finished. I received my 42 lb injectors today and installed along with the Nelson PCM tune. Not a bad job, just have to take your time.

Performance: All I can say is....WOW. It's a different rig! I only had about a 1/2 hour to test and you want to take it slow to determine a/f ratio, etc. So I eased up to full throttle a couple time. 5 + lbs boost, solid green on the a/f ratio with flicker of yellow and LOTS of power. Boost is available as low as 2000 rpm and at 2400 just hang on!. No heat, detonation or other problems. Quite impressive. This is all relative because I've not had the opportunity to drive a supercharged H2 but I can't feature needing any more than this for normal use. And according to STS it only gets better as the various components break in and the PCM learns more. I'm very satisfied for under $5,000.

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Fastest H-Town Realtor:
Even with the reported good initial response from the STS kit, I am still not gung ho about buying a kit with the turbo at the wrong end of it. So, I contacted Livernois and inquired about the Speedworks Escalade unit being reconfiged for the H2. They said its in the works, be done end of May. With a potentioal price of under 5K, Ill await this new kit to come out.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>That's good that someone comes up with an alternative. But there are some problems with "up front" turbocharger i.e. space, intercooler and the big one...heat. After getting my STS completely installed today I'm very impressed with the design, quality and most of all performance. I couldn't feature any other comparable 5 lb kit working any better.