"Hot" Side Unboxing - Twin Turbo Install

[RThomasII]

This is an awesome build! what type of HP numbers are you expecting at the rear?

When talking with Armageddon, they told me I should expect 630hp to 640hp at the wheels with the stock exhaust on low boost (6lbs - 7lbs). There's a YouTube video with this same kit on a 2015 Esky and stock exhaust. On the dyno it made power right in that same ballpark.

I'm hoping for 700hp at the wheels but I'm also too big of a ***** to crank up the boost too much so I'll have a conversation or two with my tuner and hoping we can find a happy medium. Keep in mind I'm installing a Kook's Y-Pipe with Green Cats and a fully custom exhaust with key-fob remote cutouts in place of the current factory Y-Pipe/Cats and Magnaflow catback exhaust.

Hoping that helps my HP numbers some.....

 

[Colby_e32]

You should be well over the 700 mark on low boost. Cant wait for more updates. Curious, what do you do for a living?

 

[RThomasII]

You should be well over the 700 mark on low boost. Cant wait for more updates. Curious, what do you do for a living?

I hope you're right on the HP numbers.

Right now I'm head of IT Operations at a privately held financial services (mortgage lending) company. For my career I've got 20+ years working as a network engineer. Formerly I did Cisco route/switch type stuff in the DOD space. I'm an old guy!

 

[Colby_e32]

I hope you're right on the HP numbers.

Right now I'm head of IT Operations at a privately held financial services (mortgage lending) company. For my career I've got 20+ years working as a network engineer. Formerly I did Cisco route/switch type stuff in the DOD space. I'm an old guy!

I gotcha, Thats awesome. I wasn't trying to dig too deep into your personal business, but a 2020, with twins... This is no childs truck thats for sure.

I envy it buddy. Hopefully one day I can afford something similar. I've been in the small engine industry for 15 years, and it doesn't quite yield great financial success.

 

[CMoore711]

@RThomasII - I'm curious if as a part of your install are you doing an actual mechanical AFM/DOD delete or are you just disabling it in the tune?

 

[RThomasII]

You're less than a week away from install!

Really looking forward to hearing your feedback on the day to day drivability and how much power you end up with. It's going to be a whole new truck.

Curious to see how the kit fits out of the box or if there are any items that have to be adjusted or changed in order to complete the install.
Sounds like you're dropping it off at a local performance shop for the installation; Assuming this isn't their first rodeo installing boost onto GM LT/LS platforms...
How familiar are they with the Armageddon Turbo kits? Have they installed any of them before?
Is Armageddon providing your installer/tuner with a "starter" tune file or is the shop going to install and tune it themselves?
Did Armageddon make any recommendations as to the max amount of boost you should run on a stock 6.2 L86 and stock 10 speed transmission?
You mention in the first post you've had conversation with your tuner; Have they given you any maximum recommendations for boost pressure?
Your motor is all stock right? As well as your 10 speed transmission?
Curious to see how well the 10 speed holds up to the extra power and maintains daily drivability. Has your tuner mentioned anything about the trans tune or recommended % of torque management to keep the trans alive?

Sorry for all the questions. Just not too many people throwing twin turbos on the K2XX SUV's!

Hey CMoore711,

Apologize but I completely missed this post. To answer your questions:

You are correct. A local performance shop is doing the work although I have been stopping by and providing an extra set of hands (I got some mechanic skills) when my schedule allows.

Nope... The shop has a ton of past performance installing boost but this is their 1st rodeo with the Armageddon kit. That said, the shop owner and I had several meetings discussing the install. They pointed me in the direction of Armageddon. I also spent at least 12 hours over several phone calls with staff at Armageddon sorting stuff out as well.

Armageddon did provide a "drive-able" base tune file but we will only use it to start the truck and get it loaded on the car carrier to transport to the dyno tuner.

Nobody (Armageddon, my installer, my tuner) made any recommendations for max boost because from the start I kept preaching "I'm not trying to blow my new truck up". Everyone involved in this project I've worked with in the past and they pretty much know where my comfort zone is.

The motor and trans are 100% stock. We are doing the LT4 fuel upgrade (injectors, fuel pump, etc). That said.... Armageddon sells an upgrade kit that includes a Texas Speed Cam, forged pistons and other goodies. I was set to move forward with doing the turbo install and the upgrade kit at the same time but Armageddon talked me out of it for a few different reasons.

I did ask a lot of questions regarding daily driving, parts longevity, etc. There were no concerns. The guy tuning it actually has the same Escalade as mine but he's running a Whipple on his. Everything kept coming back around to "How to you plan to use the truck?" Everyone who knows me knows this build is more about doing something different and less about having a track ready school bus to line up against every Hellcat on the road that I see. I literally drive like a little old lady. I doubt this thing will ever see the drag strip or do a burnout. I initially declined the cutouts because I don't ever see them getting used. The truck will probably spend most of its life sitting still at "Cars and Coffee" events with the hood up and people walking by shaking their heads while commenting on what a waste it is that I'm not beating the hell outta the thing.....

 

[RThomasII]

@RThomasII - I'm curious if as a part of your install are you doing an actual mechanical AFM/DOD delete or are you just disabling it in the tune?

Disabling with a tune for now.

 

[CMoore711]

Hey CMoore711,

Apologize but I completely missed this post. To answer your questions:

You are correct. A local performance shop is doing the work although I have been stopping by and providing an extra set of hands (I got some mechanic skills) when my schedule allows.

Nope... The shop has a ton of past performance installing boost but this is their 1st rodeo with the Armageddon kit. That said, the shop owner and I had several meetings discussing the install. They pointed me in the direction of Armageddon. I also spent at least 12 hours over several phone calls with staff at Armageddon sorting stuff out as well.

Armageddon did provide a "drive-able" base tune file but we will only use it to start the truck and get it loaded on the car carrier to transport to the dyno tuner.

Nobody (Armageddon, my installer, my tuner) made any recommendations for max boost because from the start I kept preaching "I'm not trying to blow my new truck up". Everyone involved in this project I've worked with in the past and they pretty much know where my comfort zone is.

The motor and trans are 100% stock. We are doing the LT4 fuel upgrade (injectors, fuel pump, etc). That said.... Armageddon sells an upgrade kit that includes a Texas Speed Cam, forged pistons and other goodies. I was set to move forward with doing the turbo install and the upgrade kit at the same time but Armageddon talked me out of it for a few different reasons.

I did ask a lot of questions regarding daily driving, parts longevity, etc. There were no concerns. The guy tuning it actually has the same Escalade as mine but he's running a Whipple on his. Everything kept coming back around to "How to you plan to use the truck?" Everyone who knows me knows this build is more about doing something different and less about having a track ready school bus to line up against every Hellcat on the road that I see. I literally drive like a little old lady. I doubt this thing will ever see the drag strip or do a burnout. I initially declined the cutouts because I don't ever see them getting used. The truck will probably spend most of its life sitting still at "Cars and Coffee" events with the hood up and people walking by shaking their heads while commenting on what a waste it is that I'm not beating the hell outta the thing.....

No worries man. Thanks for the additional info.

Even on a mild tune and low boost this thing is going to be a whole new animal once dialed in!

 

[Ghost10]

Any updates ?

 

[RThomasII]

Any updates ?

The install is coming along.... The Twin turbo install is pretty much done at this point. We are at the stage of just making final adjustments, cleaning up wiring, and fit and finish quality control, gauge installs, etc. The custom exhaust install has started as well. Cutouts also need to be installed. Here's a few (really bad) pics of the exhaust and a video I put on YouTube of 1st start. The truck sounds MEAN. My cell phone video does not do it justice.

 

[RThomasII]

A couple of more shots of the downpipe routing and install.

 

[gat0r]

coming along


what driveshaft are you going to go with?
or will you just see how long yours lasts?

 

[RThomasII]

coming along


what driveshaft are you going to go with?
or will you just see how long yours lasts?

The long answer is that my goal with this truck from day one was to make as much power as I could with only bolt-on mods. AND to maintain daily drivability to a large extent. I had no plans to modify engine internals, etc. I probably could have stuck to the plan with a Whipple. The the twin turbo kit I'm not so sure it makes sense. I already have a phase 2 build in the works which includes upgrading the cam and rotating assembly.

The short answer is I'll probably just "fix in production" i.e. upgrade/replace as parts give out.

Unfortunately my budget for this project took a huge setback in the last 24 hours when my 07 Silverado LS daily driver/work truck/home improvement hauler finally gave out on me. I'm at the "the repair is going to be more than the truck is worth" point so I'm now in the market for a new pickup when it is the absolute worse time to buy a new/used car or truck.

 

[RThomasII]

I was trying to go back to the OEM look for the exhaust tailpipe exit (I hated the Magnaflow tip) and we ended going from this:



To this:



Neither look is really my style so I'm having the tailpipe cut flush with the bumper for a hidden tailpipe look. After that it should be time to mock up and install the cutouts.

 

[Ghost10]

I was trying to go back to the OEM look for the exhaust tailpipe exit (I hated the Magnaflow tip) and we ended going from this:

View attachment 356275

To this:

View attachment 356276

Neither look is really my style so I'm having the tailpipe cut flush with the bumper for a hidden tailpipe look. After that it should be time to mock up and install the cutouts.

Looking good,
Can’t wait to see a driving video, maybe a few drags at a stoplight against another ride ?

 

[RThomasII]

We got the cutouts installed and the engine torn down to do the LT4 pump and injectors. Also got the gauge pod installed. The pod looks better than I thought it would but I'm going to look into having a custom pod made to match the interior for a more OEM look.

 

[RThomasII]

Update: The install is done. FINALLY! The Escalade is being transported to the tuner on Thursday afternoon. We're scheduled to get on the dyno Friday morning. I'll share the dyno results as soon as we have them. I also have a ton of pics and several videos that I need to edit and post online.

 

[RThomasII]

Loaded up the Escalade for a trip across town to the dyno shop. We were scheduled to hit the dyno this morning but I've decided to address on last item before we call this build done. We did the LT4 fuel upgrade (which was more of a PITA than it needed to be) but we neglected to address the lowside fuel system. So we're gonna upgrade the lift pump before final tuning. Parts should be here early next week but I'm thinking we won't get on the dyno until after Christmas.

This is a short clip of the truck rolling out of the garage to get loaded on the flatbed trailer. The exhaust tone is with cutouts open....

 

[sealandsky]

You ride sounds awesome! Have you considered installing hood vents to help get rid of heat? Those turbos are going to make it really hot in there. Additionally, that heat is going to rob power since you don't have a CAI installation.

 

[HansJr]

Man that’s an awesome build!!! I love it!!