• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Anyone Look Into An STS Turbo???

bonedog

bonedog

SM 2004
Full Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2003
Messages
3,056
Location
bloomfield,NJ
I am shoping for a way to boost my AV. I have looked at the Vortech, ATI, Whipple, Radix, Paxton, custom setups and came across the STS setup on LS1Tech. Seems a few over there have installed it and absoultly love it. Acording to STS it builds full boost by 3000rpm and holds that power through the shifts. It also says that the kit can handle 15lbs of boost on its "high" setting and is preprogrammed for 5lbs. Aftermarket tuning is not required until you build over 6lbs of boost and it is made to work with stock engines and tranny combos.

This seems to be what I want in a boosted application and for the right price. MSRP is 3995.

I was wondering the take from any of the gurus of boost over here if this is a smart choice.

Thanks for any help guys.

Bonedog

Link: www.ststurbo.com
 
how can it work with stock tranny? If you develop too much Torque the TM takes over.....and/or you may develop tranny problems?
 
bonedog said:
I am shoping for a way to boost my AV. I have looked at the Vortech, ATI, Whipple, Radix, Paxton, custom setups and came across the STS setup on LS1Tech. Seems a few over there have installed it and absoultly love it. Acording to STS it builds full boost by 3000rpm and holds that power through the shifts. It also says that the kit can handle 15lbs of boost on its "high" setting and is preprogrammed for 5lbs. Aftermarket tuning is not required until you build over 6lbs of boost and it is made to work with stock engines and tranny combos.

This seems to be what I want in a boosted application and for the right price. MSRP is 3995.

I was wondering the take from any of the gurus of boost over here if this is a smart choice.

Thanks for any help guys.

Bonedog

Link: www.ststurbo.com
Click to expand...

This kit has one Major down fall... They remote mount the Turbo under the truck and the Air intake is located under the truck as well... You can suck just about anything up with the kind of vacum a turbo is capable of... Even in a street truck App. I would be concerned with water or whos knows what else getting sucked in...

Note: K&N Filter to right of the turbo... :rolleyes:
00__Tahoe_5.3L_Turbo_View.JPG


But, check this video on their site... I about craped myself when I heard this Z71 take off... Soooooo sweeeettt :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1473169/f/Video/Z71_Quick_Clip.wmv
My AV WILL get a turbo on it, some day...

Turbo in my opinion is the best way to go...







Personal Terms Of Service Disclaimer: These are just the opinions of Lord Aries and are not facts nor does he claim them to be facts. If you follow these opinions he will not be held responsible for the results should you be unhappy. Lord Aries will not be held responsible for you receiving a TOS notice should one be issued as result of his post in this or any thread.
 
So Lord A, they've got that turbo over the rear axle? I guess that they needed/wanted to put it somewhere behind where the exhaust from each side of the engine is joined.
 
Main One said:
So Lord A, they've got that turbo over the rear axle? I guess that they needed/wanted to put it somewhere behind where the exhaust from each side of the engine is joined.
Click to expand...

This would be my guess as well... Not a bad idea to remote mount a turbo but, here is what I would change...

-Remount under Passenger Seat
-Install a heat shield above turbo
-Use heat shield wraping on trubo for less heat and faster spool time
-Install a skid plate to protect Turbo
-Run a small Intercooler, located at front of truck
-Run Intake piping up to factory location, not easy but is possible

But, to be real about it... We have more then enough room in the engine bay for a turbo to hang out, heat is not a problem if you wrap the turbo in heat wrapping... My system that I would do would be the following:

-Twin Turbos located in engine bay
-Medium to large Intercooler
-Heat Wrapping on Turbo's
-Intake routed to my Ram Air hood for a true cold air intake
-Flex-A-Lite fans for extra cooling (never hurts to have extra cooling)

But, thats just what I want...
 
I have a call into STS to find out more.

From some dyno sheets on LS1Tech... Most 5.3s are seeing 350-375RWHP and 400+RWTQ. I mean this shouldn't be bad for us. I also like the fact you can adjust the boost from 5 to 15PSI and the flip of a switch BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAPABLE of 15psi. Stcok motors and trannies would gernade at that but at least it gives you the room for expansion down the line.

More to come....
 
Main One said:
So Lord A, they've got that turbo over the rear axle? I guess that they needed/wanted to put it somewhere behind where the exhaust from each side of the engine is joined.
Click to expand...

Thats crazy... the air intake is low to the ground. What is preventing water from getting into the air side of the turbine during a rain storm or snow or during muddy off-road runs.

Okay.. you add lots of performance but only when its dry. You end up taking away overall vehicle versatility. Lots of extra piping as well.

 
I wonder at the extra cost of the remote mounting as well as the versatility factor. Like Lord Aries was suggesting, there is plenty of room under the hood of most trucks for all that one would want to do.

BTW - that vid does sound sweet. Maybe enhanced a LITTLE by the fact that it was in a tunnel. But sweet none the less. :cool:
 
From what STS told me they have yet to hear of rain/snow/road debris get into the turbo. They said the K&N w/ Filter wrap prevents almost everything from getting in... for water to enter it would need to be fully submerged. As far as offroading.. they do NOT recomend this unless on a lifted truck that takes precautions for a turbo setup of this nature.

The intercooler is not needed.. they see 50% effeciance and close to 100* IAT drop. The tubing itself cools the charge.

This is from what the company has told me and my own research. i asked a few guys in the PNW that run this setup and have yet to run into a water or debris problem.

I still have more research to do but this looks fesible for what I want.

Bonedog
 
Just got off the phone with STS.. man what great customer service... They were able to answer all my questions and answered them the way I was hopeing!!! Looks like I will be giving Allen a call and get the STS and a tune!!!

Bonedog
Soon to Join the ranks of the Boosted ;D

BTW.. John over at STS said i should see 365RWHP 390RWTQ @ 5psi with there kit, and 5psi(full boost) by 3100rpm, foot stall with stock coverter around 1800rpm should see 2-2.5lbs :eek:
 
bonedog said:
Just got off the phone with STS.. man what great customer service... They were able to answer all my questions and answered them the way I was hopeing!!! Looks like I will be giving Allen a call and get the STS and a tune!!!

Bonedog
Soon to Join the ranks of the Boosted ;D

BTW.. John over at STS said i should see 365RWHP 390RWTQ @ 5psi with there kit, and 5psi(full boost) by 3100rpm, foot stall with stock coverter around 1800rpm should see 2-2.5lbs :eek:
Click to expand...

Once you have the kit, do yourself (and us >:D) a favor and go to a fab shop and have them make you an intake pipe to bring the intake up to the factory location... I think you will be wise to just spend the money and do that, rather then run the risk/cost of Hydro-locking the motor if water Does get sucked in... Just because it never happend to them does not mean it can't happen to you...

I am not trying to be a jerk or bad mouth STS just voicing a very real concern for your wallet and your AV... (y) ;D
 
Lord Aries said:
Once you have the kit, do yourself (and us >:D) a favor and go to a fab shop and have them make you an intake pipe to bring the intake up to the factory location... I think you will be wise to just spend the money and do that, rather then run the risk/cost of Hydro-locking the motor if water Does get sucked in... Just because it never happend to them does not mean it can't happen to you...

I am not trying to be a jerk or bad mouth STS just voicing a very real concern for your wallet and your AV... (y) ;D
Click to expand...

I have already thought about it.. have great intake setup in mind.. real trick and completly water proof!!
 
bonedog said:
I have already thought about it.. have great intake setup in mind.. real trick and completly water proof!!
Click to expand...

Well I look forward to your personal review of the kit... When will you be ordering it?
 
Well its 8:30 here and I put a call into Allen earlier...If I don't hear from him i have another 3 dealers to call that were all reccomended by John at STS.

The reason i said Allen is I wanted a tune to go along with it. I was told by John that is not necessary so I may just have to look elsewhere for now and save a little green. When i decide to up the boost a little 6-7psi range then i was told I should call Allen because at that PSI a tune IS necessary.

I should be ordering this by months end and installed shortley there after.
 
bonedog said:
Well its 8:30 here and I put a call into Allen earlier...If I don't hear from him i have another 3 dealers to call that were all reccomended by John at STS.

The reason i said Allen is I wanted a tune to go along with it. I was told by John that is not necessary so I may just have to look elsewhere for now and save a little green. When i decide to up the boost a little 6-7psi range then i was told I should call Allen because at that PSI a tune IS necessary.

I should be ordering this by months end and installed shortley there after.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Good luck with it... Wish I had the money to pull off a mod like this, I can afford the parts but, not the premium fuel it will drink after installed... :rolleyes:
 
OK, not to be cynical, but could they have never had problems with water, etc. because they've only tested it on dry pavement and in good weather???

Also, say you do get some custom piping done to move the intake up higher, back the the stock location, or to some other waterproof location. What kind of damage might happen to the turbo itself if it gets a good dose of the wet stuff, even if it doesn't suck up water??
 
I spoketo Garret Turbo about this... Garret said that there turbos can take direct submerson at full boost witout cracking. The turbo unit itself will handel any road debris or wet stuff that can be dished out..other than extreme offroading or mudding.

As far as water tesing and real world stuff... over at LS1Tech there are numerous guys that have run this setup on he Camaros for close to a year now on their daily drivers so I feel confident about this. I ave even spoken on the phone with a guy over there that lives in the Pacific Northwest and has not had problems... he drives a 3/5 dropped SS Silverado and the kit was put on days after buying the truck when it first came out. He has driven through standing water and torential rains that they regularly getup there. He said he has not had a problem yet or even a consern of a problem.

As I get closer to getting this...I am shoping for the best price.. I will respond with any and all info I recieve. Onc I get the kit I will post on what my experiences are with the kit.

Time will tell.

Bonedog
 
do they have a dyno print out for this kit hosted anywhere?
 
You know, thanks to this thread I am all hyped about turbo's now again... :E: But, I have to control myself... I can't afford the premium gas... :rolleyes:
 
Note that the dyno runs were done at 4200+ feet elevation, which should negatively affect the non-aspiration assisted baseline runs more than the boosted runs. It is interesting that the more detailed plots that you can find on the site show about 150 rwhp for the baseline 5.3L, which should roughly equate to 190 hp at the flywheel, whereas the plot that you see directly from tymcneal's link shows about 250 rwhp. It makes me wonder why the big spread.
 
The '03 AV has 285 at the flywheel, and approximately 235 at the rear wheels. The '04 has 295 flywheel, approx. 245 at the rear wheels.
 
These are off the STS site.. but I have spoken with John and he said he will look to see if they have a 5.3L out of a silverado to compare to.


Tq
01_Tahoe_Torque_ezr.jpg


These are off a Tahoe.. its the closest to what we have.

Hp
01_Tahoe_HP_ezr.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 01_Tahoe_HP_ezr.jpg
    01_Tahoe_HP_ezr.jpg
    34 KB · Views: 97
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top