Good LS1 tuning shops in CT area

**ss~zoso~ss** · 02-01-2008, 11:39 AM

Well like the thread says, do any of you know any good / reputable shops in the CT area for Tunning LS1's?

**Quicksilver Vert** · 02-04-2008, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by ss~zoso~ss

Well like the thread says, do any of you know any good / reputable shops in the CT area for Tunning LS1's?

Try the Corvette Center in Newington.
There's really not much closer to you,in the Storrs/UCONN area.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 02-04-2008, 10:41 AM

I got a street tune down at Mongillo Motors in New Haven. It was quite a drive for me seeing that I live on the Mass border. They're definitely a great shop tho with a good amount of VERY fast cars sitting around.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 02-04-2008, 10:42 AM

Also, the guy who installed my headers at meineke said he could tune it for me too... but idk where his shop is, he might be from Mass.

**Chemist** · 02-14-2008, 09:44 AM

I had my A4 05 GTO tuned at East Side Performance in Wallingford - 415 rwhp so far!

They specialize in LS1's and LS2's.

UConn '86 and '92. GO HUSKIES!

**GottaHaveLS1** · 02-14-2008, 12:22 PM

Looks like i'll have to check these places out come spring. It might be cheapest for me to go down to New Haven again cuz I won't have to pay the $100 charge to use the software again.

I'm also a UConn student... I can't wait to get the T/A down here on spring weekend!!!

**buswwa** · 02-14-2008, 01:07 PM

What about J and M Corvettes in Manchester? That guy has built some amazing cars. He offered to sell me an 11 second 01 ss w/ 250 shot tuned for street w/ headers and all the goodies for 21k. If I had the cash, it would have been a done deal.

You could have eaten off every surface of the thing.

**tripp_symmes** · 02-15-2008, 03:39 AM

Hey BUSWWA....I think I have seen you on Rt 83...Not many f bods around now days.

**buswwa** · 02-15-2008, 03:54 AM

Probably. I work at Suburban Subaru. So I drive down 83 all the time. I live right off it. I drool everytime you drive by. You have some kind of bagdes on your b-pillar, right? Nice chrome factory rims. I believe I know your car.

**tripp_symmes** · 02-19-2008, 03:19 AM

Probably. I work at Suburban Subaru. So I drive down 83 all the time. I live right off it. I drool everytime you drive by. You have some kind of bagdes on your b-pillar, right? Nice chrome factory rims. I believe I know your car.

Right, those badges are the Last Of A Breed ones.

**buswwa** · 02-19-2008, 04:35 AM

Do you ever bring it to tritown cruisers in the summer?

**ss~zoso~ss** · 02-19-2008, 06:17 AM

i got to tri-town every other Friday usually, its a nice little car show

**ss~zoso~ss** · 02-19-2008, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by buswwa

What about J and M Corvettes in Manchester? That guy has built some amazing cars. He offered to sell me an 11 second 01 ss w/ 250 shot tuned for street w/ headers and all the goodies for 21k. If I had the cash, it would have been a done deal.

You could have eaten off every surface of the thing.

i've heard bad things about them, more bad than good, and they've already tried to get me to pay like 1200 dollars just to have headers installed, so for specialists they're no good in my book

**buswwa** · 02-19-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by ss~zoso~ss

i've heard bad things about them, more bad than good, and they've already tried to get me to pay like 1200 dollars just to have headers installed, so for specialists they're no good in my book

I dont know where all the thought that headers are easy to install comes from. Maybe if you have a lift in yer garage, but otherwise I call horseshit. Some guys on here have said 2 hours, one said four with just jack and stands. Bullshit. If you think 1200 is expensive, just try to find a shop that wants under that to do them. Most places simply say "We dont do header installs on LSX engines. Too time consuming, sorry." My guy that I get a good deal form (been taking my cars to him for years) quoted e 1600 including all the parts I forgot to get when I did my headers. You know, heat wraps for the starter (so it doesnt burn out in 6 months) heat wraps for the wiring for everything that goes near the exhaust, locking bolts so as to not have to go in a month later and tighten them all up and a Y-Pipe to connect it all. He would also be installing a single high flow cat. So if you think 1200 is bad, do some calling around.

As for tri town, Im there every friday as I work across from the show, i head over after work, but wont enter my car until I install in my lower ground effects. And now paint the hood.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 02-20-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by buswwa

I dont know where all the thought that headers are easy to install comes from. Maybe if you have a lift in yer garage, but otherwise I call horseshit. Some guys on here have said 2 hours, one said four with just jack and stands. Bullshit. If you think 1200 is expensive, just try to find a shop that wants under that to do them. Most places simply say "We dont do header installs on LSX engines. Too time consuming, sorry." My guy that I get a good deal form (been taking my cars to him for years) quoted e 1600 including all the parts I forgot to get when I did my headers. You know, heat wraps for the starter (so it doesnt burn out in 6 months) heat wraps for the wiring for everything that goes near the exhaust, locking bolts so as to not have to go in a month later and tighten them all up and a Y-Pipe to connect it all. He would also be installing a single high flow cat. So if you think 1200 is bad, do some calling around.

As for tri town, Im there every friday as I work across from the show, i head over after work, but wont enter my car until I install in my lower ground effects. And now paint the hood.

Dude, i wouldn't pay over $500 for mine to get installed and that's what i found. I asked a guy at meinekie in Enfield, CT how much he would install headers on my car for just after he passed me for emissions. He said it should be $300. I had him install it and it turned out to be $500 by the amount of time he put in, but since he told me $300, he only charged $425. That's a damn good deal if you ask me.

BTW, i dont have locking header bolts or a torque wrench... but once i get one, how much should i torque the bolts down to???

**buswwa** · 02-20-2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by GottaHaveLS1

Dude, i wouldn't pay over $500 for mine to get installed and that's what i found. I asked a guy at meinekie in Enfield, CT how much he would install headers on my car for just after he passed me for emissions. He said it should be $300. I had him install it and it turned out to be $500 by the amount of time he put in, but since he told me $300, he only charged $425. That's a damn good deal if you ask me.

BTW, i dont have locking header bolts or a torque wrench... but once i get one, how much should i torque the bolts down to???

Yeah, side mechanics will do it for that. Thats what i wound up paying, but I also had a lot more done to my engine at the time. New gaskets for oil pan, timing cover, new front main seal, valve cover gaskets, full tune up, all free mods done except the throttle body bypass. But if you call real shops, with tuning capabilities, see what kind of quotes you get.

**ss~zoso~ss** · 02-20-2008, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by buswwa

I dont know where all the thought that headers are easy to install comes from. Maybe if you have a lift in yer garage, but otherwise I call horseshit. Some guys on here have said 2 hours, one said four with just jack and stands. Bullshit. If you think 1200 is expensive, just try to find a shop that wants under that to do them. Most places simply say "We dont do header installs on LSX engines. Too time consuming, sorry." My guy that I get a good deal form (been taking my cars to him for years) quoted e 1600 including all the parts I forgot to get when I did my headers. You know, heat wraps for the starter (so it doesnt burn out in 6 months) heat wraps for the wiring for everything that goes near the exhaust, locking bolts so as to not have to go in a month later and tighten them all up and a Y-Pipe to connect it all. He would also be installing a single high flow cat. So if you think 1200 is bad, do some calling around.

As for tri town, Im there every friday as I work across from the show, i head over after work, but wont enter my car until I install in my lower ground effects. And now paint the hood.

callin bullshit huh? well thats what they told me so i guess i'm a liar, and i've found 2 or so shops that would do them for around 500 dollars because they're LSx specialists and they have lifts and tools,

i ended up doing it myself cuz i knew i could, i did it in my driveway with jacks and it took me about 10 hrs, so i'd cut that time easily in half with a lift and proper tools so, lets see 5 hrs times shop rate of 70 dollars or so, thats less than 500.

**GottaHaveLS1** · 02-20-2008, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by ss~zoso~ss

callin bullshit huh? well thats what they told me so i guess i'm a liar, and i've found 2 or so shops that would do them for around 500 dollars because they're LSx specialists and they have lifts and tools,

i ended up doing it myself cuz i knew i could, i did it in my driveway with jacks and it took me about 10 hrs, so i'd cut that time easily in half with a lift and proper tools so, lets see 5 hrs times shop rate of 70 dollars or so, thats less than 500.

Yea thats true. I wanted to do it myself but my dad didn't want to go thru the hassle of helping me. I was afraid of breaking a bolt. The guy at the meineke said they broke two when they did it and thats why it took longer. keep in mind that shops can just say that and keep your car longer... but i dont think that was the case with me. he was a very honest guy.

**Frost** · 02-20-2008, 01:02 PM

I have been apart of many a header install, and they aren't as bad as you guys are making them out. For that matter, 2 buddies of mine doing the swap for their first time ever did 2 cars in 8 hours back to back, and that's counting the ORYs and having them buttoned back up and all. Keep in mind that's 2 people working at once on each car...

**buswwa** · 02-20-2008, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by ss~zoso~ss

callin bullshit huh? well thats what they told me so i guess i'm a liar, and i've found 2 or so shops that would do them for around 500 dollars because they're LSx specialists and they have lifts and tools,

i ended up doing it myself cuz i knew i could, i did it in my driveway with jacks and it took me about 10 hrs, so i'd cut that time easily in half with a lift and proper tools so, lets see 5 hrs times shop rate of 70 dollars or so, thats less than 500.

Whoa, relax dude. Perhaps if there was a way to convey tone on the net.......

If you found two shops cool. Now where did you find 2 shops with 70 per hour rates? I thought CT minimum was up to around 90 as required by the state. As for LSX specialist, Im sure all would like to know, where are they? I have work for them.