11,000 miles with an EFR 7163

[cnyms6]

I’ve driven my MS6 11,000 miles on a built engine with an EFR7163 and here’s my report.

Short version: It’s my daily driver and track car and all is good. Excellent choice. Two exceptional vendors: Stratified Tuning and SpeedPerf6rmanc3

The longer version:
First, as many others have done, I need to acknowledge that without this forum and the wisdom in it, I would not have been able to do any of this. I bought my MS6 new and it’s the first car I’ve done any significant work on. I now prefer to do my own work on everything but engine internals and tuning.

I have used the MS6 as my primary car since I bought it. In addition, a friend introduced me to track events shortly after I got the MS6 and for the first few years I drove a couple events per year on the same all-season tires I used daily. Then I slowly upgraded tires, brake pads and fluid, and eventually added a hypertech tune and a JBR intake. Then after moving to high altitude, I experienced high KR (probably LSPI due to exiting a tight corner at low rpm) at a track event and felt a vibration in the clutch. So I decided to build the motor, renew many of the wear parts in the car and see how that would all turn out.

I chose Speed Perf6rmanc3 to build the engine and I’m extremely glad I did. I got their basic build at the time (Wiseco pistons, Manley rods) and the engine has been perfect ever since; no piston slap, runs very smoothly at all rpm, no oil consumption. And Pablo and company have provided exceptional customer service after the build too. Because I’m at altitude, there were questions about compression and leakdown and SP63 lent me tools and helped me through the confirmation process. Far beyond what I would expect from an engine builder.

I decided to go for the whole EFR enchilada and bought the 7163 package from Full Race; manifold, turbo, downpipe and intake. The 7163 provides a nice wide power band kicking in about where the K04 does and continues to add power all the way to redline. That’s an incredibly different feel than the stock turbo that just gives up at 5500 rpm. On the street, the setup has been flawless, but I’ve experienced manifold to turbo gasket/joint failure three times at the track. It turns out that the manifold outlet flange surface wasn’t perfectly flat and it’s simply impossible for me to get adequate torque on the flange bolts with the manifold and turbo in the car. Since flattening the flange and bolting the manifold and turbo together on the bench and putting it in the car as one unit, I haven’t had a recurrence. But weather and schedule kept me from having a full power day at the track this fall. So we’ll see, but I’m confident.

Stratified Tuning, in the person of Alejandro, has been an awesome tuner. I’ve done pump gas and E30 high altitude tunes since the build. In both cases Alejandro has been a patient, detail oriented tuner that simply won’t stop until both he and I are satisfied with the final result. Even after the tune is completed, Stratified has contacted me with suggestions for improvements based on their extensive experience and has provided upgraded tunes at no charge. Their tunes run smoothly and powerfully on street and track. Because of the high altitude, outputs are going to be lower than comparable setups at lower elevations. We are about 375 hp and I’m on a stock clutch. I haven’t needed auxiliary fueling and the power levels on this setup suit me just fine.

As a late adopter, I’ve been able to watch other forum members deal with issues on the track and incorporate what they’ve learned into my own build. Kudos to @Tomas; and @Code Monkey; for everything I’ve learned from you.

On the suspension side, @phate; is the master and suspension replacement may be my project for next winter.

Obviously, there are countless other contributors to the forum and I simply can’t remember everything I’ve learned from adding a RCA input to the aux feed on the radio to replacing the pinion seal on the transmission to fixing the P2006 CEL. This is an awesome if mildly unruly forum. It’s sad to see participation tail off as these cars get older.

My complete build list:
Powertrain:
CPE motor mount
CPE rear diff mount
SP63 build – Wiseco pistons, Manley rods, mild P&P intake with shutter removal
Full Race intake, exhaust manifold, downpipe
EFR 7163 IWG
Treadstone TR8 FMIC
2.5 inch charge air piping
Ron Davis radiator
GM catalytic converter for Suburban in second cat location
Stock catback
Autotech HPFP internals
Guardian Angel
Perm PCV plate and extra venting
Damond catch can
JBR EGR delete
SP63 PTO straps
SP63 Aux Fan Controller
JBR Short throw shift kit and solid spacers

Suspension and Brakes:
SPC adjustable ball joints
Carbotech Bobcat pads (street)
Carbotech XP12/XP8 (track)
Cut OEM springs
Whiteline RSB
17x7 wheels w/ ExtremeContact DWS 225/50-17 (very comfy)
Enkei RPF1 17x9 w Nitto NT05 255/40-17 (track)
5mm spacers on the front hubs
MS3 power steering pump with remote reservoir
Damond power steering cooler

Interior and Instrumentation:
Auber 1813s: Coolant temp, Boost Air temp, Engine oil temp, trans oil temp

Other fun things:
Powered fan cooling for power steering cooler
Relocated stock windshield washer fluid tank to trunk
Cooling air vent to turbo oil drain hose
Under radiator aero plate
Tow hitch

At this point I’m very satisfied with the whole project and I still can’t find a car I’d rather have than the MS6. I just need to get my driving mojo back since it’s like driving a new car with much higher performance levels.

[Code Monkey]

Now slap a good suspension and 275's or 295's tires and go spank some Porsches at the track.