200+

[TboneMinister]

I'd like to get a thread going of those that have broken the 200HP mark (at the wheels, of course). Please include your HP and TQ, list of mods, and verification (if available; if not, please indicate that your results are unofficial). I am also interested in how your Sonic was used, what issues you ran into along the way, and any other interesting tidbits you may have.

 

[dtbrown]

I've had mine for over 2 years and done quite a few mods and researched almost all mods and reality is over 200hp in these cars will net issues long run. If you have an auto trans it'll definitely start to slip and shift harder in my experience and talking with other people. Just plan on changing the trans fluid sooner than GM scheduled time as it'll help. I've heard of some auto trans breaking along with axels. Manual trans I imagine hold up a bit better just will need an upgraded clutch.

Long term will need the pcv bypass as all intake manifold will have issues in time. Also if you're lucky to not have an oil leak from a main seal or a cracked piston count yourself lucky.

These are fun cars to tinker with but come at the risk of repair and additional service as time goes.

Still won't hold me back from modifying but I'm finding that happy balance of hp and reliability.

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

 

[TboneMinister]

I've had mine for over 2 years and done quite a few mods and researched almost all mods and reality is over 200hp in these cars will net issues long run. If you have an auto trans it'll definitely start to slip and shift harder in my experience and talking with other people. Just plan on changing the trans fluid sooner than GM scheduled time as it'll help. I've heard of some auto trans breaking along with axels. Manual trans I imagine hold up a bit better just will need an upgraded clutch.

Long term will need the pcv bypass as all intake manifold will have issues in time. Also if you're lucky to not have an oil leak from a main seal or a cracked piston count yourself lucky.

These are fun cars to tinker with but come at the risk of repair and additional service as time goes.

Still won't hold me back from modifying but I'm finding that happy balance of hp and reliability.

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the info! Where have you found that balance between HP and Reality to be?

I think MPFab had a 300hp build that was running great for a while. I thought the auto trans was used in vehicles producing much more power? From the reading I've done on here, it seemed like 200-250 was realistically achievable. But, that's the point of the thread, lol.

 

[dtbrown]

Thanks for the info! Where have you found that balance between HP and Reality to be?



I think MPFab had a 300hp build that was running great for a while. I thought the auto trans was used in vehicles producing much more power? From the reading I've done on here, it seemed like 200-250 was realistically achievable. But, that's the point of the thread, lol.

Well based on my setup and 1/8th and 1/4 mile times I'm about 190hp and I'm experiencing trans slip. So from guesstimate 200-220 is probably the sweet spot for reliability based on people's feedback and my research. But with these cars it's easy to research how much hp gained with what mods but to get information on repairs and failures you have to dig and ask directly as people never want to share what broke their car and why.

But to achieve over 200hp on 93 octane you'll need an upgraded turbo of some type. With an upgraded stock turbo 200-230 hp is easily doable with supporting mods. And with upgraded stock turbo it's not just about the leak hp or tq it's about the broader power curve overall. So a lot more power and tq in allmost all the rpm not just peak. Bnr and ZZP and the only stock housing upgraded turbos available. ZZP new V3 turbo seems to be getting people over 200 pretty easily on 93 octane.

Also I did research and saw there are two more auto trans in the same family that run the same case but with upgrades internals. From the looks they would straight bolton to the stock bell housing and would just need the ecu to be flashed to the VIN. Stock sonic or cruze 1.4t using 6t40 that's designed for 180hp, 177tq, and it's big brother 6t45 designed for 215hp and 232tq and bigger brother 6t50 260hp and 258tq.

I'm keeping this car for a bit and figured may as well have fun and what breaks will break. I'm getting one more service for a couple of issues then going zzp V3 setup. Depends if I do it this year or next as I just spent some $$ on my motorcycle.

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

 

[TboneMinister]

Well based on my setup and 1/8th and 1/4 mile times I'm about 190hp and I'm experiencing trans slip. So from guesstimate 200-220 is probably the sweet spot for reliability based on people's feedback and my research. But with these cars it's easy to research how much hp gained with what mods but to get information on repairs and failures you have to dig and ask directly as people never want to share what broke their car and why.

But to achieve over 200hp on 93 octane you'll need an upgraded turbo of some type. With an upgraded stock turbo 200-230 hp is easily doable with supporting mods. And with upgraded stock turbo it's not just about the leak hp or tq it's about the broader power curve overall. So a lot more power and tq in allmost all the rpm not just peak. Bnr and ZZP and the only stock housing upgraded turbos available. ZZP new V3 turbo seems to be getting people over 200 pretty easily on 93 octane.

Also I did research and saw there are two more auto trans in the same family that run the same case but with upgrades internals. From the looks they would straight bolton to the stock bell housing and would just need the ecu to be flashed to the VIN. Stock sonic or cruze 1.4t using 6t40 that's designed for 180hp, 177tq, and it's big brother 6t45 designed for 215hp and 232tq and bigger brother 6t50 260hp and 258tq.

I'm keeping this car for a bit and figured may as well have fun and what breaks will break. I'm getting one more service for a couple of issues then going zzp V3 setup. Depends if I do it this year or next as I just spent some $$ on my motorcycle.

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought they switched to the 6T45 at some point?(I'll have to check my build codes) I think I remember reading that there have been a few revisions along the way. I'm considering the v3 eventually (now that Trifecta is almost done with the tune for it), but I want to get the ported TB and upgraded IC from ZZP first. I'm still paying off my current mods, so it'll be a while. That's alright though, since I plan on keeping this car a while.

 

[TboneMinister]

I was wrong. There have been revisions, but it is still the 6T40.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Porting was one of my first mods. The flow restriction tabs basically made it top out at around 5500 rpms. After, 7000 something. Been a few years since driving the car and rebuilding the engine now. Around 176HP the stock rings broke and I parked it for a couple years. Looking for upgraded engine internals but all I see is pistons, rings sets and valve springs. My little go cart needs more go and more reliability.