Stage Kits
03-07-2012, 10:53 AM
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Stage Kits
Looking to upgrade my cobalt ss/sc want to start with the kit upgrades. ZZPerformance offers the stage 2 kit now my question is do i need stage 1 to be able to add on stage 2? And also stage 3 is that required to have stage 2 installed before getting the stage 3 kit?
03-07-2012, 11:01 AM
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no. you can go directly to whatever stage you want.
stage kits are basically how aggresive you want the parts, for example:
stage 1: 42lb injectors with 3.1" pulley
stage 2: 50lb injectors with 2.9" pulley
stage 3: 60lb injectors with 2.8"- pulley
this is the basic power adders, with this you need spark plugs and cooling mods.
stage kits are basically how aggresive you want the parts, for example:
stage 1: 42lb injectors with 3.1" pulley
stage 2: 50lb injectors with 2.9" pulley
stage 3: 60lb injectors with 2.8"- pulley
this is the basic power adders, with this you need spark plugs and cooling mods.
03-07-2012, 11:09 AM
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Ahhh OK i see then. So with stage 2 Kit i believe it comes with spark plugs well at least ZZP stage 2 kit. But i see what your saying with the choice of stage kits. Just every where i read it states have stage 2 before upgrading to stage 3..
03-07-2012, 11:11 AM
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when you go to zzp website they give you different options for pulleys, and i think only the stage 3 kit lets you choose what size injectors. the main difference in their stage 2 and 3 in their website is that the 3 comes with the heat exchanger.
03-07-2012, 11:26 AM
#7
GMS3's nitrous feature will bring the car past 300whp. ZZP's kit with their canned tune will usually put out around 250whp or so (more on a custom tune, but not "a lot more" than GMS3). GMS3 is a very underestimated kit, and not a lot of people on this site know about it's capabilities. It is superior to GMS2, and was fine tuned on most of GM's racing applications like Time Attack, Grand AM cup, & the Land Speed cars (hence why it's actually called GMR Stage 3).
Last edited by Staged07SS; 03-07-2012 at 11:34 AM.
03-07-2012, 11:29 AM
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Yeah you cannot kinda lame... but states you get an 50 shot of NOS? a lot more expensive also.. so regardless going with ZZP. but i got it now for pulley size any thoughts on the size to get just have an stock ss/sc 05
03-07-2012, 11:33 AM
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GM's Stage 3 kit has some features ZZP's kits do not offer like an adjustable rev limiter, high octane mode (spark tables tailored to race gas), and the ability to run a 50 shot of nitrous. It is very expensive compared to ZZP's stage kit, so people looking for the best bang for their buck should lean towards the ZZP setup.
Incorrect....
GMS3's nitrous feature will bring the car past 300whp. ZZP's kit with their canned tune will usually put out around 250whp or so (more on a custom tune, but not "a lot more" than GMS3). GMS3 is a very underestimated kit, and not a lot of people on this site really know about what it can do. It is superior to GMS2, and was fine tuned on most of GM's racing applications like Time Attack, Grand AM cup, & the Land Speed cars.
Incorrect....
GMS3's nitrous feature will bring the car past 300whp. ZZP's kit with their canned tune will usually put out around 250whp or so (more on a custom tune, but not "a lot more" than GMS3). GMS3 is a very underestimated kit, and not a lot of people on this site really know about what it can do. It is superior to GMS2, and was fine tuned on most of GM's racing applications like Time Attack, Grand AM cup, & the Land Speed cars.
03-07-2012, 11:39 AM
#11
Sure does 
I just purchased the nitrous jumper wires that come with the GMR kit.
High octane mode alone is fun. I can only imagine once you add a 50 shot.
Only time will tell. Oh yeah, I also have A/C with my GMR Stage 3 setup
Anyways, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I am by no means saying anything bad about ZZP's kit, and actually recommend them due their reliablity, cost, & performance/$.
I just purchased the nitrous jumper wires that come with the GMR kit.
High octane mode alone is fun. I can only imagine once you add a 50 shot.
Only time will tell. Oh yeah, I also have A/C with my GMR Stage 3 setup
Anyways, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I am by no means saying anything bad about ZZP's kit, and actually recommend them due their reliablity, cost, & performance/$.
Last edited by Staged07SS; 03-07-2012 at 11:46 AM.
03-07-2012, 11:49 AM
#13
Marth617 you need to do some research on what you are looking for performace wise, and choose your kit or setup from there.
A nice conservative setup would be a 3.0 pulley, 42's or 50's, intake, exhaust, cooling & a tune. This is only an example, and things like pulley size and injector size will change if you want a little more power.
With ZZP's kit as is?? No.
but if you get a custom tune you can get it setup for nitrous.
A nice conservative setup would be a 3.0 pulley, 42's or 50's, intake, exhaust, cooling & a tune. This is only an example, and things like pulley size and injector size will change if you want a little more power.
but if you get a custom tune you can get it setup for nitrous.
Last edited by Staged07SS; 03-07-2012 at 02:48 PM.
03-07-2012, 02:02 PM
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I was thinking about getting an ZZP stage 2 kit with an K&N CAI. with a HP tune to start with. any ideas or any thoughts if there will be any flaws in that move?
03-07-2012, 02:24 PM
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im pretty sure when you get that your gonna want stage 3. i say just take time and think good about what power goals you want and then do it. no need to get lets say 3.0" pulley with 50lb injectors, tune, and then want smaller pulley and bigger injectors, your goign to be buying everything and paying for another tune. just my opinion. good luck
03-07-2012, 05:03 PM
#22
GMS3's nitrous feature will bring the car past 300whp. ZZP's kit with their canned tune will usually put out around 250whp or so (more on a custom tune, but not "a lot more" than GMS3). GMS3 is a very underestimated kit, and not a lot of people on this site know about it's capabilities. It is superior to GMS2, and was fine tuned on most of GM's racing applications like Time Attack, Grand AM cup, & the Land Speed cars (hence why it's actually called GMR Stage 3).
I'm glad you said it.
GMS3 is awesome ~ and stopped where it did for a reason;
If you want more power you simply cannot get around upgrading your pistons, becasue at GMS3 power levels, the ring lands come apart;
(info from GMPD/CED - a link that is now dead)
Additional Stage 3 Information:
A lot of people wonder why Stage Three is what it is and why we stopped there. The answer is that Stage Three pushes certain production engine components to their limit. Going any farther with Stage Three, or adding more modifications to Stage Three, would put us at a horsepower level that would require internal engine upgrades.
For example, the piston (specifically the second ring) in the LSJ 2.0L Supercharged EcOtec engine can not hold any more than 310 horsepower. This is one of the reasons the Stage Three PCM allows for only a 50 shot of nitrous. Once you have the Stage Three 76-mm pulley and a 50-shot, youre maxed out. Anything more would require upgraded pistons and rings. Otherwise, youd see cylinder pressures that could ruin your piston rings and potentially more. This also creates crank case pressure high enough to blow out the dipstick with extended high rpm use.
A lot of people wonder why Stage Three is what it is and why we stopped there. The answer is that Stage Three pushes certain production engine components to their limit. Going any farther with Stage Three, or adding more modifications to Stage Three, would put us at a horsepower level that would require internal engine upgrades.
For example, the piston (specifically the second ring) in the LSJ 2.0L Supercharged EcOtec engine can not hold any more than 310 horsepower. This is one of the reasons the Stage Three PCM allows for only a 50 shot of nitrous. Once you have the Stage Three 76-mm pulley and a 50-shot, youre maxed out. Anything more would require upgraded pistons and rings. Otherwise, youd see cylinder pressures that could ruin your piston rings and potentially more. This also creates crank case pressure high enough to blow out the dipstick with extended high rpm use.
03-07-2012, 09:23 PM
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id look for water/meth also when droppin below a 2.9" and really make use of the supercharger, with a good tune on meth ur looking at an avg 12%-15% increase in power
03-08-2012, 07:11 AM
#24
I'm glad you said it.
GMS3 is awesome ~ and stopped where it did for a reason;
If you want more power you simply cannot get around upgrading your pistons, becasue at GMS3 power levels, the ring lands come apart;
(info from GMPD/CED - a link that is now dead)
If I had bought a used SS/SC ~ and i was in the market for one when I found my SS/TC ~ I would have gone straight fora GMS3... or better yet gathered the parts, and then gotten the Trifecta version of it.
Great power, adjustability, and reliability
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