Tim’s Garage Episode 6: Saturn Sky Redline / Solstice GXP GMPP and charge tube upgrade

In this episode, I contrast the free flow air charge tubes with the factory charge tubes and share a preparation tip. I also discuss briefly the GMPP tune for the LNF engines to upgrade the stock 260 HP and purported 260 lb ft.
Stage 1 is the GM re-flash with 3 Bar sensor upgrade using existing GM mechanical hardware. This upgrade was something GM would honor the factory warranty on and results in the engine producing about 290 HP and 340 lb ft.
Stage 2 builds on Stage 1 by adding the free flow charge tubes from RPM Motorsports or DDM Works and a free flowing exhaust. This creates output levels of 320 HP and 360 lb ft using a revised ECM flash.
Stage 3 builds further on Stage 2 and is the most the stock engine can reliably endure. With larger “Big Wheel” Turbo and a larger capacity Intercooler along with a custom written ECM tune, the LNF can potentially achieve +400 HP and +400 lb ft.
Follow along while I extract more power from my 2007 Redline!
Please like and share!
#redline #Turbosky #turbomods #garageprojects #saturnskyredline #fastlittlecars #myskyisfasterthanyours

[@brnbch8]

Keep up the videos Tim. It's been a while since someone has done a detailed how-to on our cars.

[@350tiger]

Thank you for the encouragement ... first time doing a video series.

[@Wpjgdmtu]

You're doing a great job on these videos. I've been looking at Sky Redlines and this is exactly the path I want to take with one. Be nice to have something to follow along with once I get my hands on a Sky.

[@350tiger]

Glad you are enjoying the videos ... if there is a detail I miss that you would like to see please reach out and let me know. I will do my best to be as detailed as possible.

[@rex4x4]

I've never seen that deburring tool .... 🤘🏻😜🤘🏻

[@350tiger]

They are very inexpensive ... and extremely effective. My machine shop buddy first showed me one 20 years ago.

[@xnadave]

Love the shirt. Now do a video on the water pump! :)

[@350tiger]

David ... I was totally going to preemptively change the water pump but it has only 8000 miles ... in your opinion should I update to a newer impeller design pump or leave it alone?

[@xnadave]

@@350tiger I don't think it's worth messing with if it only has 8k miles on it. If you wind up in there doing a turbo upgrade or a timing chain, then sure. I'm honestly not sure what is better about the newer impeller. I changed mine because I was slowly loosing coolant (104k miles). If you decide to do it anyway, get the full circle tool (OTC 6616), not the half circle tool. The 6616 covers the entire water pump access plate area (which helps keep stray bolts from finding their way in there) and the channels to get to the gear bolts are deeper, making it a lot harder to drop THOSE down into the engine.

[@350tiger]

David Lively I actually ordered and received the OTC full circle tool as I suspect I will need to do it at some point in the future. Perhaps I will mention it and show some images to illustrate the location and process to change that water pump. It looked to me as though you definitely need to have the turbo removed to change the pump assembly. I may make a short video to illustrate that before reinstalling the Turbo. Thank you very much for your input David.

[@350tiger]

The newer water pump impeller design with the cast curved blade shape and the full disk design appears to me that it would cavitate much less than the cheap stamped bent blade version they came with originally.

[@xnadave]

@@350tiger Thanks for the explanation. I replaced the water pump without removing the turbo, but I did have to disconnect the cat to get to one of the bolts on the lower thermostat housing. Then, you have to remove the pump cover from the pump and take it out of the car in two pieces. (DDM's instructions go into that.) Others have done it without disconnecting the cat, but, after a few hours of trying that, I finally undid the whopping six nuts that it took to move the cat out of the way, and had pretty easy access to the trouble bolts. It's overly complicated. Whoever decided that a chain-driven pump was a good idea... Yay.

[@celestinoybarra3057]

Any data on flow for those tubes compared to stock?

[@350tiger]

Well for a stock car the pipes do not need to be updated but I have a Big Wheel and a larger inter cooler. On my car it holds 23 psi and 36-37 lbs per minute of airflow.

[@saucy3809]

I wish RPM motors had the mounting brackets. I wonder if I can add them to mine?

[@xnadave]

I assume you're talking about the stock brackets for the intercooler pipes, for a K04 kit? The OEM parts should work. The mounting points (holes) are already there on the 2.4 models, and the charge pipes have attachment points.

[@350tiger]

Well you can add them if you have access to a TIG welder and a skilled tech. You would need to recoat the tubes though ... Martin indicates if you wanted brackets he could add those for you although he indicated they are really not necessary. After installing I would agree with Martin but to maintain a more OEM appearing install the brackets in my opinion look a little more ‘factory’ in appearance.

[@hifiveguyy]

Awesome video Tim! Just a question... are you serious on that "three bar" sensor? I'm a rookie when it comes to cars but I know that that is a significant amount of horse power and I simply find it hard to believe that a little sensor really rammed another 30 horse power into the car. (again, I'm a rookie) Can you explain how it's able to do that? and where did you get this information? And is there some secret car society that shares this type of information??? I just can't believe I'm barely hearing about this! I guess I just want to know how is it that you know about this "2006 General Motors upgrade." Once again thank you for these videos man, keep up the great work!

[@350tiger]

Hifiveguy ... The GMPP tune contains two replacement sensors as well as stickers for fuel and the California compliance to CARB as well as a download code that a GM dealer can use to reflash the car. The 3 Bar sensors replace the 2 Bar sensors and permits the car to read higher boost levels. The GM tune tells the computer to allow boost levels of 23-24 lbs instead of the factory setting of 16-17 lbs. If you understand how increasing boost from 16 to 24 lbs raises HP it is easy to see how you can increase HP. Today even though you can still buy the GMPP stage 1 upgrade tune for out cars from Crate Engine Depot in-line it is hard to find a dealer willing to install or reflash you car. Personally if you want to add 30 HP I would purchase a tune from RPM Motorsports in Phoenix AZ. If you want to go a little further adding the charge tubes can add another 25 or so HP for a total boost of about 55HP ! Very worthwhile for a do-it yourself project and a little time over the internet with a tuner. If you have any more questions just reach out I will respond as frequently as I can ... the secret society is a Myth ... lol 😂

[@hifiveguyy]

@@350tiger lol awesome Tim, thank you !

[@codithheretic110]

I know it's not from this particular video but can you share a link to the product you were using to seal the raw metal edge after cutting it to prevent corrosion? I've always just spray painted cut edges like that and sometimes I get rust later on

[@350tiger]

The product I used is from AkzoNobel and we refer to it as the AutoPrep etch pen and it may be available here www.myrefinishportal.com/us/en/autoprepr-etching-pen-cf-1-3oz.html

[@monstev20]

Nice video! If you order the gmpp kit online does the gym dealer install flash your car for free? Or how does that work?

[@350tiger]

Hmmm to be honest I am not entirely certain ... my guess is at the time you would have bought it from the dealer that installed it. Today it is a lot better to opt for one of the aftermarket tuners as few GM dealers are as familiar with these cars as you would hope.

[@richardcombs1540]

How do you go about getting the GM Performance Parts upgrade and tune? Do you just go to the dealer? Or do you have a link?

[@350tiger]

Well these days I would opt for a tune from one of the third party vendors as many dealers are reluctant to flash the cars. You can now buy a much more well engineered option with pre-made pigtails to install the 3 bar sensors. If you still want to buy the GM upgrade I believe you can from CrateEngineDepot.com If you decide to go that route it may be difficult to get a specific dealer to flag your car. If you want to use a third party tuner for the stage 2 tune ... RPM Motorsports and PAW (Performance AutoWerks) and DDM are options. I used Martin at RPM and was happy with my choice. If I can help more reach out to me on FB Messenger (Tim Ronak)

[@jeffreyfulmergardner478]

great video I am about to get the rpm intercooler how long did it take to get to you?

[@350tiger]

They had it in stock so about a week