Hi -

I'm a recent transplant in Jax, FL - and 6 months ago I purchased an '07 SS/SC. I've owned plenty of FWD GM's, and been an active member of beretta.net for about 10 years. When I get some free time, I wouldn't mind meeting up with some local members.

Has anyone gotten a stage 2 upgrade installed in the Jax area? If so, how much have people been paying/quoted? A local dealer told me $1100! I've seen the kits go for wholesale ~$600, and to think they deserve $500+ for installation to "maintain the warranty" is crap. I'm very familiar with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, so I have a hard time believing that GM wouldn't back a failure (if one was to occur) with the stage 2 GM Authorized Kit... regardless who installed it (obviously installed by a competent human being).

I was considering installing it myself - since I've successfully built a couple 225HP Quad 4's. What risks do I run if anything were to go wrong? Anyone have any advice regarding this?

Thanks again,

Matt

 

Welcome to the area If you are going to get GM stage 2 then you are going to have to go to the dealer no matter what becuase they have to do the reflash. But if you want to do an install yourself type deal you might as well buildy our own stage kit and have it tuned by Unleashed Tuning on Phillips HWY. You can get better parts that will yeild more power if you build your own.

 

What part of Jax are you in? I'm personally not in Jax but I'm about 40 miles away or so. I got my Stage 2 reflash done at Gordon Chevy in Orange Park, they are pretty good about prices. I also got my custom tune done in Orange Park at H.P. Performance, cost $300 for that, I believe the same guy that tuned mine does the tuning at Unleashed.

 

There not open anymore, you will have to contact Torrie or let me know, I can flash/tune your car with some of the files that have been good on mine. Where do you live?

Torrie(Who tuned your car) used to have a shop on Philips Hwy but had to close down due to some personal purposes. Send me a PM if you are looking for a tuner

 

Ah, thats right. I remember someone telling me that a while back. I think it may have been you.

 

Probably, im still in the process of tuning mine, should be a beast when I get done

 

Thanks for the welcome - I'm living in NE Jax - due to my desire in cutting my commute time to work, I only commute ~17 miles round trip. I used to commute ~50 miles round trip in STL, over the wonderful 'CF' called the Poplar Street Bridge, where 3 highways combine over one bridge. None the less, I steered away from buying a GTO while there because of the mileage - and got my SS/SC.

To be honest, I rather stick with my warranty - because I've done plenty of modifications on other vehicles - and my daily driver isn't going to be the car that I jepordize in the sake of performance. That is why I'm looking to find the most affordable way to get stage 2 backed by the GM warranty. I was thinking of buying the Stage 2 at a wholesale price (ie: gmpartsdirect, or others) and having a dealer install it (even though I know I could do it myself) and flash the PCM.

How much improvement and what improvements have you been getting from the custom tunes? I was doing some custom tuning in OBD1 vehicles, and I was debating on doing some custom tuning on OBD2... it appears to be more accessible.

Does anyone have any GM Service contacts in the Jax area that wouldn't mind charging me less than $500 to install and flash? I work for a famous beverage company *cough* beer *cough*- and I'd be willing to offer a trunk full of it to get a 'discount rate'.

Also - I saw that some of you get together on a monthly basis to hang out? I wouldn't mind doing that - I like getting away from work and bs'in about cars...

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure of the numbers over the Stage 2 tune my custom tune got me because they didn't do a baseline run. I can tell you that it is much more responsive and seems a bit smoother overall.

I have a tech friend at Gordon Chevy, I'll talk to him and see if I can work something out for you. I'm not sure if he'll take beer, he's not much of a drinker

I go to the GM Sport Compact meeting the first Saturday of every month in Orange Park on Well's Road next to Sonic. Its mainly Cavi's but a few Cobalts show up. Everyone is really cool. Ranger knows of more meetings in that area than I do. He can give you the info on those.

 

I got my stage 2 installed at Coggin chevy on phillips. They charged me $450 for everything i think. To much in my eyes, but it was a xmas present.

 

Hey 88gtu I talked to my buddy and he said he can probably work something out with you. Shoot me a pm and I'll hook you up with his phone number if your interested.

 

You still have a warranty if you install the stage 2 kit, just less of one. It says it in the paper work. I helped my friend install his stage 2 kit. I then had to reflash his ECU as well, because he did not make it to the dealer to get the reflash.