Removing turbo

[Boosted]

When I bought it, it was my daily driver, so I needed something FWD (for the occasional snow) good gas mileage, confortable, reliable etc. now I have a cheaper beater work car and the regal sits in the garage and only comes out on nice days. So now it's time for something more fun! I've had tons of boosted F-bodies and vettes over the years, so a FWD 4 cylinder is not my ideal Sunday fun car. The tune went on after 1000 miles, K&N and BOV, refuse to put exhaust on a 4 cylinder, sounds like trash!

 

[FatherDeth]

So why did you buy it then, also have you tuned it

Probably the same reason most people bought it: GM hyped this car up and made it sound awesome, then skimped before production. There's no reason why this car shouldn't make performance numbers the Cobalt SS (turbo version) made. It'a nice, pretty fun, but not the capable performance car GM promised. Examples: They could have made the Recaro seats an option, the AWD and option, the GS mode could have been about 25% more stiff and for $37K there's no excuse why this car doesn't have power folding mirrors and vented seats. There's nothing wrong with adding that much HP to this car, but with the amount of problems I have had, I'm not doing it. Plus the gearbox ready feels like junk. I'm not so sure it can handle it.

 

[Sonny@bnr]

Probably the same reason most people bought it: GM hyped this car up and made it sound awesome, then skimped before production. There's no reason why this car shouldn't make performance numbers the Cobalt SS (turbo version) made. It'a nice, pretty fun, but not the capable performance car GM promised. Examples: They could have made the Recaro seats an option, the AWD and option, the GS mode could have been about 25% more stiff and for $37K there's no excuse why this car doesn't have power folding mirrors and vented seats. There's nothing wrong with adding that much HP to this car, but with the amount of problems I have had, I'm not doing it. Plus the gearbox ready feels like junk. I'm not so sure it can handle it.

well we have found that the lhu isnt as good as the lnf, yeah i wish we got the recaros and the v6 turbo
im over 300w now but i have to hop back on the dyno since my latest update. will prob update my tune one more time before i hop on

 

[jepva]

it seems like most of the complaining is from gm die-hards used to the V8 muscle cars. coming from that perspective, you really can't compare the two.

anyone who bought the car before researching the reviews and road tests..well that is your own fault.

also it seems like a lot of the owners are pretty nitpicky on some of these things. first of all, the Regal GS pulls 0.93g's on the skidpad and has a 68mph slalom. very few cars, especially sedans, can do that under $40k..hell even $50k. it's also one of the few cars in this price range with an adjustable suspension at all.

for me, it was the combination of all the things it had together that made it a great choice for my DD. it had the interior, handling, 6MT, brakes, performance, and of course price i was looking for. not to mention the motor is highly tunable.

If you thought you were buying a G8 GXP replacement or a CTS-V, you were mistaken. It's annoying to see people on here complaining about how "limited this stupid 4 cylinder turbo fwd is" when they bought the car in the first place and it was never meant to a be a 400+ HP RWD/AWD sports car. And the AWD version is coming out in a few months, if you hate the FWD so much go buy that if you can live with the AT..

 

[ericptek]

Regardless of all the GS shortcomings, it is a very fun car to drive.

Putting the tune on it made a huge difference. Without the tune the car is a mess. Does one thing one minute, another the next.

I kid you not I could get get around a stock V6 Camry, a Fiat 500 Abarth and some old POS Honda at times. One second it was great the next crap.

Handling wise the car is great. You can push it very hard and it goes. FWD sucks but it handles it pretty well overall.

I bought this over a Taurus SHO. The SHO stock is faster, even tuned I bet the SHO is tough because of being FWD, but from a handling standpoint it is the best handling FWD car I've driven stock. Has a decent amount of oversteering at the limit which is tough to do in FWD.

The flip side is I paid just under 32K for mine and my lease is dirt cheap. I drove an ATD AWD the other day because I can probably sell my GS for what I owe. "Nicer" car but no where near as fun.

The car is pretty perfect with the high octane tune.

 

[Boosted]

I'm not saying the car isn't nice. It is a very nice well rounded car. But people are trying to make it out to be that CTS-V/M5 type car, built motors, full exhaust, upgraded turbos etc. It will never be that type of car. To each their own though. I just want to get rid of mine now because I don't need a nice DD car and want a CTS-V/ATS-V etc. I'm not knocking the Regal in anyway. But I do agree it was hyped up and GM could have made it a lot better, but instead they left those models over seas. I'd have zero complaints if it had the V6 TT RWD/AWD platform with a manual trans. That's what I'm in the market for, 2 years ago I wasn't when I bought my regal.

 

[FatherDeth]

it seems like most of the complaining is from gm die-hards used to the V8 muscle cars. coming from that perspective, you really can't compare the two.

anyone who bought the car before researching the reviews and road tests..well that is your own fault.

also it seems like a lot of the owners are pretty nitpicky on some of these things. first of all, the Regal GS pulls 0.93g's on the skidpad and has a 68mph slalom. very few cars, especially sedans, can do that under $40k..hell even $50k. it's also one of the few cars in this price range with an adjustable suspension at all.

for me, it was the combination of all the things it had together that made it a great choice for my DD. it had the interior, handling, 6MT, brakes, performance, and of course price i was looking for. not to mention the motor is highly tunable.

If you thought you were buying a G8 GXP replacement or a CTS-V, you were mistaken. It's annoying to see people on here complaining about how "limited this stupid 4 cylinder turbo fwd is" when they bought the car in the first place and it was never meant to a be a 400+ HP RWD/AWD sports car. And the AWD version is coming out in a few months, if you hate the FWD so much go buy that if you can live with the AT..

Uhhhh, I went from a 220 HP MINI Cooper S to this vehicle, so I don't think you're talking to me as I have never owned anything but four cylinders. Please don't get butt hurt because I pointed out the vulnerabilities of the car. Yes, I plopped down $1,000 in October of 2011 to have my GS built without having test driven a GS. I only went off the dynamics of a normal
Regal and figured the GS would be pretty potent. Yes, I am aware that FWD cars aren't perfect. I'm more upset of all the problems I've been having with the car as of late. Again, I wasn't expecting Camaro level performance. I would have expected at least a sub five second 0-60 time for example.

 

[FatherDeth]

I'm not saying the car isn't nice. It is a very nice well rounded car. But people are trying to make it out to be that CTS-V/M5 type car, built motors, full exhaust, upgraded turbos etc. It will never be that type of car. To each their own though. I just want to get rid of mine now because I don't need a nice DD car and want a CTS-V/ATS-V etc. I'm not knocking the Regal in anyway. But I do agree it was hyped up and GM could have made it a lot better, but instead they left those models over seas. I'd have zero complaints if it had the V6 TT RWD/AWD platform with a manual trans. That's what I'm in the market for, 2 years ago I wasn't when I bought my regal.

Very much agreed!!

 

[WHITEGS13]

Wow, talk about off topic! But seeing as we are, I couldn't agree more with the statement below.

anyone who bought the car before researching the reviews and road tests..well that is your own fault.

 

[Boosted]

Reviews when I bought my car were minimal at best since it was still new (I bought an 11, the GS wasn't even out yet). But I did test drive my car extensively, it suited my needs then, but not now. I luckily have had zero problems with my regal. I wish I could afford to keep it as a DD and have something fun in the garage but unfortunately I can't.

 

[jepva]

I don't think most people are having the same problems as you fatherdeth, but I understand why you would be mad about that. I'm surprised you haven't had it lemon lawed yet..I know it depends on the state what the rules are.

I personally can't wait to get the tune and short shifter. I'm also seriously considering the LSD at some point, I think that would seriously transform the car a bit.

 

[kranz38]

Front wheel drive is the biggest limiting factor. Having a 2.0 4 cylinder is limiting too. Yeah it can make power, but at what cost? You start sacrificing drivability just to get to a N/A V8 power level. Weight is another factor. But the drivetrain is what I hate most about this car.

Well, this is not to start a flame war by any means. I have had several v8's as I'm sure you have...that being said all of them sacrificed drivability to make power (except efans, exhaust etc). If you buy a fast car, people expect it to be fast. Id rather have a sleeper that no one expects to be quick. I'll park next to a mustang all day and have people at shows question and compliment it. Fwd is limited about the same as rwd... Call me ignorant but it took me several set ups to hook in my 5500lb trailblazer and even more in my goat. I'm not nut hugging this car because i bought one.. il admit its a complete dog turd stock... Then again so are most stock vehicles.

Back on topic i just put my first 5 gallons of e85 in, just taking it easy to get it through the lines, then fill the whole tank for the drive to zzp. Gotta say no cats n corn smells amazing.

 

[WHITEGS13]

Back on topic i just put my first 5 gallons of e85 in, just taking it easy to get it through the lines, then fill the whole tank for the drive to zzp. Gotta say no cats n corn smells amazing.

Keep us posted after ZZP does the springs etc.

 

[FatherDeth]

I don't think most people are having the same problems as you fatherdeth, but I understand why you would be mad about that. I'm surprised you haven't had it lemon lawed yet..I know it depends on the state what the rules are.

I personally can't wait to get the tune and short shifter. I'm also seriously considering the LSD at some point, I think that would seriously transform the car a bit.

I was told to start a lemon law case, you had to contact a lawyer and have a letter written. I'll call the service advisor on Monday and inform him the car is acting up again and ask him if there's anything he can do. I lope the manger of the Jeep dealership contacted Chrysler directly and told them that the bearings on my wife's Jeep Wrangler were defective when one of them spun. Chrysler paid for a new engine block. I want to keep the car. I just don't want to have to put it in the shop every few months.

 

[FatherDeth]

I had no choice today but to drive the GS and pick my daughter up from her grandmother in Smithton, PA. As soon as I got her, I had to drive her straight to Lynchburg, VA. The only way to get there was to either take 5 hours east to get on I 81 and then drive another ( or so hours to finally get into Lynchburg, OR I could go straight down through the Mountains of West Virginia. Let me tell you all. I was wrong about the Goodyear RS'. Yes, they are a pretty crappy tire, and no just on a performance level, but in the mountains, these things stick!! It's weird, you hit an off ramp with Ben and you lose confidence, but tight, windy curves, the car handles awesomely. Unfortunately, when I arrived in Lynchburg, I stopped at a store. When I got back in, the car started idling funny and displaying engine power reduced and the service stabilitrack light came on along with the emergency brake light?? I'm so confused!!!! In going to make an appointment on Monday. Since this is a turbo thread, I wonder if the new turbo has anything to do with it.

 

[kranz38]

I had no choice today but to drive the GS and pick my daughter up from her grandmother in Smithton, PA. As soon as I got her, I had to drive her straight to Lynchburg, VA. The only way to get there was to either take 5 hours east to get on I 81 and then drive another ( or so hours to finally get into Lynchburg, OR I could go straight down through the Mountains of West Virginia. Let me tell you all. I was wrong about the Goodyear RS'. Yes, they are a pretty crappy tire, and no just on a performance level, but in the mountains, these things stick!! It's weird, you hit an off ramp with Ben and you lose confidence, but tight, windy curves, the car handles awesomely. Unfortunately, when I arrived in Lynchburg, I stopped at a store. When I got back in, the car started idling funny and displaying engine power reduced and the service stabilitrack light came on along with the emergency brake light?? I'm so confused!!!! In going to make an appointment on Monday. Since this is a turbo thread, I wonder if the new turbo has anything to do with it.

have you physically inspected your turbo?? I'm hauling ass on e85 no tune no code, lol... Stupid i know... So i ran it out of gas, went to the closest station and i saw this ..... Then had to go another 20 miles on e clenching my cheeks.

 

[FatherDeth]

have you physically inspected your turbo?? I'm hauling ass on e85 no tune no code, lol... Stupid i know... So i ran it out of gas, went to the closest station and i saw this ..... Then had to go another 20 miles on e clenching my cheeks.

Actually, I haven't physically inspected the turbo to tell if it even got changed, but guessing with all the scuffs, they did something under there. On this trip, I hit 4 CELs, all for the same thing.

You ran E85 without a tune? How was the performance? Did it run eratic? And that picture is crazy!!!!! LOL!!

 

[Sonny@bnr]

You def need a tune to run e85 unless you have the regular regal turbo

 

[kranz38]

You def need a tune to run e85 unless you have the regular regal turbo

No doubt, i was running fine under 4k rpm on E85 but for shits i did a pull in 6th gear on the highway on the way to ZZP and it threw 3 or 4 codes.. i took a pic of them il post... Regardless, it still drove fine all the way there.

Update: I dropped my regal off at ZZP when they opened this morning, originally, my plans were to do an intake cam w/ upgraded fuel pump lobe, and maybe some goodies like intake piping etc. with a nice clutch. Tim @ ZZP is undoubtedly one of the nicest guys i have ever met at a speed shop and hands down the best customer service. Originally i was going to net around 320-330 whp with the e85 and tune, then do a precision wheel upgrade and net around 380whp max. However, Tim believes that my clutch being 10k miles on it will last quite a few more miles and is going to make the boost come on more gradually. I decided to go with a ZFR turbo, and i will sell my stock one. We also think our piping is somewhat strong, and will hold around 25lbs no problem. The last issue is the trans, at which point my research showed that our trans (F-40 if im correct) is actually very strong, granted it wont take much over 400 TQ... the 6 speed is an upgrade for the 5's in cobalts and much stronger.

This set up, ZFR, conservative 85 tune- should get me around 380whp, with the option in the future to do cams/springs/clutch and net around 450whp no problem. As far as and LSD, which i mentioned to Tim-- thinks that with the amount of power il be pushing it will blow both tires off the ground. Ultimately, it should not be a limiting issue. Again, im no mechanic, nor am i claiming to know everything. So for those that want to bash it, take it elsewhere. I am simply experimenting and will report back as i drive the car. I rarely beat on it, but expect it to be ran through its paces.

The regal should be done no later than Wednesday... hell, before i left the shop it was already being torn apart . I told Tim that maybe in a couple months when i get more time i will drop it off for a couple weeks and have some IC piping/front mount mocked up so we will have some more mods available.

 

[Boosted]

Goodluck with everything! Definitely be interesting to see it when it's all done. Do you think there will be much lag with this setup? A FMIC would be awesome!!!