[STOCKMADA92101]

Ladies and Gents:


Last week I had the Volant G3 cold air intake and the Gibson Aluminum Cat back system installed on my 05 SE 4x4 with the tow package! WOW, WOW, WOW, THE TRUE BEAST HAS BEEN UNLEASHED! The stock performance was already eating Hemi's for lunch and dinner, but now it is out of this world! I will try to post details later. It is a great set-up.

 

[ggeorgie]

Ladies and Gents:


Last week I had the Volant G3 cold air intake and the Gibson Aluminum Cat back system installed on my 05 SE 4x4 with the tow package! WOW, WOW, WOW, THE TRUE BEAST HAS BEEN UNLEASHED! The stock performance was already eating Hemi's for lunch and dinner, but now it is out of this world! I will try to post details later. It is a great set-up.

Don't forget the pics, thanks

 

[STOCKMADA92101]

Volant G3 + Gibson

Gents and ladies:

Ok, I have had the VOLANT G3 AND GIBSON catback exhaust system on my 05 SE 4x4 with Tow package for about three weeks. Here are some my observations. There is definitely some major increase in horse power. More noticeble in the higher rpms but I do not think it has lost any low end power or torque. The beast just seems to breath better now and has so much more reserve power. It take alot less throtle to accelerate and or to manitain speed. Listed below are some speed and rpm numbers. Mind you I did not take any figures before the install, so maybe someone can take them off a stock 4x4 with tow and we can compare.

IDLE: 600 RPM
40 MPH 1050 RPM
45 MPH 1200
70 MPH 2000
75 MPH 2100
80 MPH 2350
90 MPH 2600

As far as fuel economy, my last tank I averaged 14.2 miles per gallon. That is cruising at 75 to 80 on the highway. Other members were right about the fuel economy-- you love to here the beast sing so you give it alot more throttle now to hear the incredible exhaust sound, thus poorer fuel economy.

The beast is even more incredible going up long incline highway hills. There is nothing like putting away those dime a dozen GM Yukon Boxes (tahoes, hummers, suburbans, denalis, and escales) and seeing them go bye bye in your rear view mirror, lol.
There is so much more considerable power, I find myself forgeting this is a 5500 pound suv as it just loofs at 90 to 100 miles an hour. It is a good thing I have diplomatic immunity or a would get a ticket every week--I have roughly a 95% chance of getting out of a ticket.

I have not heard the Borla system but I recommend field testing an Armada with Gibson before you buy and install one. It is not for the meek. I am lucky my wife really doesnt notice the beast sing. It is fairly loud during any time you give the beast some throttle. At level ground and cruising, you cannot really hear anything. However, when you are going up hills or under partial throttle you definitely hear it. When you go WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (WOT), LOOK OUT! In conjunction with the Volant , it sounds like you've got a supercharger underneath the hood!

 

[llajumpvid]

Your 70mph+ rpms match pretty close to my stock Armada. Your lower speed rpms are less than what I see. I'm around 1600 rpm at about 40mph.

 

[FL_Crushin]

Speed=RPM x gearing

The speed at RPM has nothing to do with horsepower. It is simply a formula of RPM times your gear ratio. The more power you have just means getting there faster and possibly a smigin better mileage at speed. Just cause the engine is breathing better, doesn't mean that you are going to go any faster at any given RPM.

 

[sturner06]

With all due respect, I have the same Gibson/Volant setup and started a similar thread a few weeks back having the same comparisoin with rpm/speed. I do agree with you to a certain point, but if the beast has more torque (read: can cruise at a given speed with less effort) then the torque converter can engage at a lower rpm and thus lower your rpm for a given speed. Someone more in the know about Armada's than I, brought that up in my thread...may have been SCR, I forget. Although, oddly enough, it only seems to be signicant at speeds < 55 mph, IMHO. Mine runs 1200/1300 rpm at 45 mph.

The speed at RPM has nothing to do with horsepower. It is simply a formula of RPM times your gear ratio. The more power you have just means getting there faster and possibly a smigin better mileage at speed. Just cause the engine is breathing better, doesn't mean that you are going to go any faster at any given RPM.

 

[sturner06]

Not polite to brag!!!! :urock:

*Jealous of you* As everytime I get pulled over, thankfully RARELY, but they care not that I am a healthcare provider and just get their inkpen writing almost immediately. LOL

Happy New Year to everyone by the way!

ST

It is a good thing I have diplomatic immunity or a would get a ticket every week--I have roughly a 95% chance of getting out of a ticket.

 

[STOCKMADA92101]

GIBson + Volant G3 on 05 SE 4x4 with Tow

Gents and Ladies:

Thank you for all the replies! Only a dyno at the rear wheels can tell us exactly how much an increase of horsepower and torque these bolt on modifications have helped the Beast. All that is not important, what I do know is that was the best $750.00 I have ever spent ( Volant G3, Gibson Alum. Cat back, shipping, and install at local muffler shop) at So Cal sports! It makes driving the Beast even more Fun!

Be Safe!


Yeah, It will beat Hemi!!! LOL

 

[Jack B]

One clarification - the torque converter locks up based upon internals, more or less power is not going to change that. More hp does not change the ratio of rpm/mph during cruise.

Stockmada:
what you need now is engine management to get the a/f correct, you are going to be running a lot leaner than oem and that is not corrected during wot, the lean condition will be exacerbated during cold weather. Personnally I would get it dynoed and find out what the a/f is.

 

[sturner06]

Isn't that what the computer does over time (200 or so miles) or if you reset the ECU? I was under the impression that it relearned the NEW a/f mixture and this is why performance actually gets better 50-200 miles after the install. With the Armada being fuel injected and computer savy, find it hard to believe it would run lean at WOT.

Just a thought...

ST

Stockmada:
what you need now is engine management to get the a/f correct, you are going to be running a lot leaner than oem and that is not corrected during wot, the lean condition will be exacerbated during cold weather. Personnally I would get it dynoed and find out what the a/f is.

 

[casinojames]

Isn't that what the computer does over time (200 or so miles) or if you reset the ECU? I was under the impression that it relearned the NEW a/f mixture and this is why performance actually gets better 50-200 miles after the install. With the Armada being fuel injected and computer savy, find it hard to believe it would run lean at WOT.

Just a thought...

ST

Exactly!! The ECU will adapt over time, however, an ECU reset (many posts on how to do this) is the optimum way to achieve bliss.

 

[scr38]

One clarification - the torque converter locks up based upon internals, more or less power is not going to change that.

Torque converter lockup is controlled by speed and throttle position The more throttle opening the later lockup occurs.. (See attachment)
The lockup point with the 3.36 rearend is 41-46 MPH at very light throttle and 105-110 MPH at heavy throttle. Partial (or slip) lock occurs at 29-34 MPH at very light throttle. So if the engine is producing more HP/torque it will require less throttle opening for the same MPH, and the converter will lock at a lower speed. For example, before any mods, you may not have converter lockup driving at 45 MPH. After mods that increase power, it takes a little less throttle opening to drive 45MPH, so lockup occurs. At that speed your RPM would be less than before, because of no slip with the locked converter. However, once the converter is locked, there can be no difference in the RPM/MPH ratio; that is a factor of gear ratios. So the RPM can't be less driving along at 70 MPH with the converter locked. But it is possible to see a reduction in RPM in a narrow band of speeds due to the earlier converter lockup.

 

[STOCKMADA92101]

Mpg On Road Trip

GENTS AND LADIES:


Last week completed a 1300 mile roadtrip with the Beast (first road trip with Gibson and Volant G3). With me driving the beast between 80-100, I averaged 14.90 miles per gallon. I had a light load of myself, the old lady,the rugrat, and luggage. A few times when the old lady was asleep and the freeway was clear,I pushed the beast to about 110. It seemed like there was alot more top end available but I didnt want to push it with the precioius cargo and the lousy contis. Btw, During this trip, I put away at least a half a dozen rolling boxes ( gm crap) going up slight grades ! lol

Drive FAST BUT SAFE!