BIG GAINS with Kong X PORT Upgrade for ZL1 Camaro

In this episode, Erik takes on the much-debated topic of whether or not porting a stock supercharger is really worth it. Fortunately, we have help from our friends at Kong Performance who were good enough to perform an "X Port" service for James' 2019 Camaro ZL1.
To put this debate to bed, Erik is going to test the stock LT4 supercharger with Florida High Performance's tried and true heads/cam package against Kong Performance's "X Port" ported LT4 supercharger with the same setup (with a Katech 103mm throttle body). We'll compare baseline numbers before tuning with the stock blower, then against the heads/cam setup, and finally against the X Port setup, all with the help of Matt from @mstuningtx.
Stick around for the results because they definitely exceeded our expectations!
To learn more about the Kong Stage X Port Upgrade visit:
kongperformance.com/
🏁 Like and Subscribe!
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Test and Tune chapters below:
00:00 Start
00:19 Current Camaro ZL1 Upgrades
01:14 How we're testing the LT4 Kong Stage X Port Upgrade
02:09 FLHP Upgrades to the 2019 Camaro ZL1
03:10 Heads + Cam Dyno Run on the stock blower
04:28 Recap of the Dyno results
07:00 LT4 Supercharger with X Port Upgrade
08:00 Kong Stage X Port Dyno Run
08:50 Results vs Expectations
#camarozl1 #zl1 #lt4 #supercharged

[@oceanwaves83]

I am an old customer of Eric's from years ago. I honestly consider him a friend, that's how personable and professional he is, really goes above and beyond. I got recommended this video and was pleasantly surprised to see him on KZbin!!! If anyone reading this is on the fence about contacting him for a job, take it from me, the hype is real!! And Eric you deserve way more subs!

[@floridahighperformance]

Wow. Just saw this. Thank you so much. This really lifted my spirits. This is a hard business to be in....can't make everyone happy. Just the way it is. I have been around a while, have a lot of happy customers- it is nice when someone chimes in and drops this kind of message. Reminds me of why I started and why I keep going despite the challenges. Thank you again!

[@xp46290]

I know it takes way longer to retune and dyno between different parts combos, but you share so much information and advice this way. Fantastic video Erik!

[@floridahighperformance]

You are correct. This video was shot over 2 days….and that was after we did the head cam swap and other work. I don’t want the videos to bore people or drag on- there’s a balance between too long and too short- I try to get the info across in a smooth timely fashion without missing key elements. Glad you enjoyed the video. We are working on a lot more!

[@Need4SpeedVette]

Awesome to see you doing your own thing and what you love!!

[@floridahighperformance]

Yes! Thank you!

[@maxoutlawyer]

Awesome! Didn’t realized ported blower and 103 makes that much difference. Great video!

[@floridahighperformance]

Ultimately, it’ll always boil down to the set up. Air in, air out. It’s all about the individual parts working together to make the most of what they can do. I’ve had ported superchargers suffer because they didn’t have adequate supporting mods- and vice versa- stock superchargers not keeping up with mods like heads, cam, larger engines, etc. This is a proven combo that just plain works. Keep in mind also that his baseline was very low- due to a few major issues with his tune. So the results are higher than normal- just being 100% transparent here. None the less, the car hauls the mail.

[@Need4SpeedVette]

Erik, you have always provided great information and instruction!!

[@floridahighperformance]

I appreciate that!

[@gkviper192]

Great job with the testing! Kong Stage X LT4 FTW!

[@Asizzle22ZL1]

Can’t wait for refund season lol. I’m doing it!!

[@jeffnoob8448]

Your knowledge comes through clearly. Well spoken clear explanation..... dam pleasure to watch this well done video

[@floridahighperformance]

Thank you so much. I try to be straight and to the point- no bs- just sharing knowledge and my passion for this stuff

[@roguecanine157]

I love your contents…. You need way more followers!!

[@floridahighperformance]

Working on it!

[@James33432]

Awesome video!! You mentioned the intake hinders performance with bolt ons, which intake do you prefer with this set up?

[@joshgessinger4509]

Amazing very well put together car and video. Great job only wish i had a ZL1 with ur work done to it hahahaha!!! Keep up the great work Thank you

[@floridahighperformance]

Hey thanks a lot- glad you enjoyed it. More content coming…

[@motomaniac1637]

Great video as usual

[@floridahighperformance]

Thank you

[@DavidWilks]

Great video and info!!

[@floridahighperformance]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DavidWilks]

@floridahighperformance I'm originally from Baton Rouge and remember back-in-the-day when #CamMotion was in a small building doing regrinds. I had a 1967 Cougar with a Boss302 small block Ford that I auto-crossed... with their help back in the 1990s, that engine made killer power all the way to 7500rpm. I'm road racing my ZL1-1LE in what the Kong blower would do by itself with also freeing up the exhaust with the goal of reducing heat both under the hood but the MATs.

[@DavidWilks]

@floridahighperformance Here's a little Camaro vs. Mustang Crime at Road Atlanta! The GoPro dies within 5-8 minutes every session due to heat & thermal shutdown, but the sound is epicAF! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWTOon99ZtOSpsk

[@jeffersonvieira449]

Nice i have Zl1 1le 2023 I want upgrade

[@racerbox77]

Stock fuel system, wow. What psi was the low side dipping down to? My guess from my personal experience high 30's psi? Curious who does your tuning or if you do? I enjoy your content. Thanks 😊

[@floridahighperformance]

Correct. 93 is pretty forgiving. 60's on the low. MS tuning in Houston, or DDTECH in LA. Depends on their schedules and the build. Thanks for checking us out!

[@mjc3502]

Pretty solid for a stock low side. Great video.

[@floridahighperformance]

I agree. These vehicles do a lot with a little, if the combo is right. Thanks for checking us out.

[@mjc3502]

I enjoy car content. I have a modded zl1 and what these cars do is nothing that I imagined when I bought my first ls1 in 2001. The technology today is sick. Keep the videos rollin.

[@floridahighperformance]

Sweet!

[@00badcompany90]

I know nothing about you and your shop.. just was on my KZbin page cause I'm in the market for zl1 camero.. I admit just the way you presented yourself and talk and explain set up I would definitely take mine there from NC... Start to finish a set up like this..mind saying est Price?

[@floridahighperformance]

Thank you. I’ve been in the late model GM performance business a long time- both working for shops and owning my own…and everything in between. I’ve had many people send me their vehicles- with great results. Logistically speaking it adds another layer, but nothing we cannot accommodate. This exact set up is right at 20k- which is all parts, labor and tuning. I just quoted a 23 ZL1 yesterday for the same package- he will be bribing his car from the other side of the state in a few months when the parts arrive and our schedule allows. Since these KZbin episodes have dropped, the number of clients from afar have considerably increased. We enjoy working on these vehicles- I own one myself and am very passionate about the platform.

[@krisf7]

In your bad pumpkin build, that made 742 lbs of torque? But 80ish less HP? What is the difference on the street driving between those?

[@6319ghostrider]

You mentioned you don’t care for the RotoFab, what would you suggest? Thanks

[@floridahighperformance]

Rotofab is all I use. I was referring to the big gulp version on bolt on cars- or cars that don’t really need the big gulp. I find the standard version works just well on those builds- I don’t upgrade to the big gulp until larger TB- ported blower- heads cam- etc. big gulp needs a lot of calibration to get right- and often hinders performance gains where it isn’t warranted.

[@ANMIV517]

Very nice, making me rethink the need of the magnuson. With the head work the power is still falling off a little at 7k? Bone stock ZL1 , package like that runs what 10k with labor? 15? What kinda of heat soak will I see with this over the magnuson? What’s the stock clutch good to?

[@lostinawareness7979]

What was the SAE? I thought the fuel system starts failing at anything over 720whp but I'm sure the cam helped.

[@floridahighperformance]

Correct- large fuel lobe on the camshaft and LT4 fuel system components provided ample fueling on this set up.

[@LoneWolfSnowplowing]

Multiply by .98 So right around 758whp SAE. That's ballpark.

[@jom1230]

How were the iats after the port and tune? I might be coming from Tampa soon to you.

[@floridahighperformance]

Thanks for checking us out. IATs weren't too bad considering...150-160 after wot pulls on the dyno. Cruising they were like 120-130...nothing horrible...

[@elliaspalmares9053]

Will port and polish of stock blower on stock motor/tune produce dtc's?

[@floridahighperformance]

Potentially. Even worse is fueling will be WAYYYYY off and can damage the engine. Tune is required when increasing airflow...

[@matt-ts8cx]

Kong is the best, glad you switched to them.

[@floridahighperformance]

Thanks for the comment and checking out the video. We actually use both Kong and Jokerz- that way clients have choice of their preference- and depends on set up. One might be better than the other for some things- all depends. Always good to have a choice in this business. We were pleased with the results from the Kong as you can see.

[@cliffweed5524]

Connecticut unfortunately does tailpipe emissions checks every other year once a vehicle hits 4 years old. I was going to upgrade the 2018 zl1 to a 2024 unit given it's the final year for the camaro . Well, no more 1LE and the dealers have no ZL1 allocations. So I'll be keeping the 2018 and contemplating upgrading power. Question is what can be done with remaining emissions compliant? The put the car on a chassis dyno to simulate driving conditions and as long as the check engine light isn't on, I don't believe they're looking into the computer. So as long as it passes tailpipe emissions, I think I'll be Ok. The Yenko Stage 2's with the stroker motor are 50 state legal at 1150 hp which is an interesting option but I don't see the transmission / rear end surviving at that power level. That's a car you keep while the 3 year warranty is still applicable.

[@floridahighperformance]

We are fortunate here in FL...we don't have that. You can build any of these cars with the emissions systems completely intact...but power will be reduced.

[@tylersosnowski843]

How much does the parts and labor cost for everything on this car from a fully stick car? Whats a ballpark number?

[@floridahighperformance]

All in, about 20k or so...

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@rogeliolopez2594]

100 hp with cam heads ported blower and 103 throttle body that’s low my zl1 made 70 plus only joker’s ported blower so I think could made easy like 120 up to 150

[@floridahighperformance]

Car made 774...came in with 590. Check your math my guy.

[@sergioduran3545]

What made you guys pick Kong over Jokerz ?

[@floridahighperformance]

Thanks for asking this. A lot of people wanted to know. First- it’s client’s preference. I’ve used both over the years- I’ve got a Jokerz unit on my personal ZL1. Some people are partial to one or the other- for a multitude of reasons. So long as the choice is the appropriate one- and so long as the choice will benefit the clients set up, I’m flexible. I would not run an X port on a bolt on car. I would however run a Jokerz Full Tilt. At the end of the day, they both work. Just depends on the set up, client preference, power goals, etc. Both companies provide us with excellent service- that’s for sure. Can’t go wrong with either one. I fully review the Jokerz FT lt4 port results on my ZL1 “Bad Punkn” in episode 2 here on the channel.

[@robertm2172]

And boost charge temps?

[@floridahighperformance]

130-140 during these pulls on the dyno. I’ve had cars here come in with 200* IATs with inoperable pumps or improperly filled HX systems. For what it is- I’m content. It can always be better- but it’s tough in this summer heat! Cooling mods are being added by the client soon. We always recommend them.

[@user-xs1pf3ze2r]

How much does those specific upgrades cost

[@floridahighperformance]

Email me for specific pricing as it can vary from vehicle to vehicle. [e-mail]

[@drz22xx77]

Only made 77 more horsepower than my car i have a 2.3 upper pulley. btr stage 2 pd blower cam. kooks 2inch headers. dsx low-side and flex fuel. 91mm PTB alky twin methanol kit m10-m15. weapon x heat exchanger big gulp made 740whp on e70 698 on 93 11.5 psi thats all the mods

[@floridahighperformance]

Congrats

[@gunsmokezz]

I’m surprised this car has no extra cooling installed. That’s gonna heat soak

[@floridahighperformance]

Valid point. Customer will be installing a larger trunk tank for the heat exchanger system. On the dyno- IATs we’re 130-140 or so. Not too bad- no loss of power at that temp during testing. During the summer months here is Sofla where heat index is 115* and humidity high, any positive displacement set up is going to heat soak- despite adding cooling mods. That’s an inherent draw back of a set up like this. We always recommend upgrading the HX, adding a larger capacity reservoir or trunk tank, and like using meth to cool that charge air down. Ultimately, the client is able to decide once they’re given the pros and cons.

[@getfresh25]

What part of Florida

[@floridahighperformance]

Boca Raton, FL 33431

[@getfresh25]

@@floridahighperformance you do tuning, do you have a specific machine shop you go too

[@floridahighperformance]

@@getfresh25 we offer late model GM tuning. Machine shop depends on what it is we need- we have a few we use.

[@bwaters698]

ZL1 Nothing Else Needs To Be Said!!!

[@redneckrevolt1]

You can easily show us the build while your sitting there talking to us. 😅

[@floridahighperformance]

This wasn’t really a build feature. It was a feature on the blower itself. I have episode coming out on my ZL1 that’s heads and cam and will show the build.