SEMA 2008: STS Twin Turbo C6 Corvette a matte monster
by Jonathon Ramsey on Nov 6th 2008 at 1:29PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the STS C6 Z06
The Squires Turbo Systems twin-turbo C6 Z06 gives the former most-powerful Vette model a boost to 700 horsepower at a very reasonable 7 pounds of boost, which, depending on how sorted the Bilstein-shocked suspension is, could give it a good shot at sticking with a stock ZR-1. The most unique thing about this car is that STS mounts the turbos remotely, at the rear of the car. That placement keeps the engine bay freer and adds a host of technical perks like lower temps under the hood and cooler oil going to the turbo. And according to STS, some customers have even gotten better gas mileage. Strangely, though, for all of that new performance, the brakes look untouched. Check it out in the gallery of high-res photos below.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Assass1n 1:36PM (11/06/2008)
Being that this car is likely lighter than a ZR1, I would say this car, with 62 more HP would destroy the ZR1. Looks awesome in matte black too!
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s13hybrid 2:12PM (11/06/2008)
I would have to say that aerodynamics have a part in the ZR1 being so quick, which this one may not do so well.
But I don't know much about the ZR1 other than it is a great car. I am also not talking about drag racing, which you may be talking about.
RJ 3:08PM (11/06/2008)
Actually, the aerodynamics of the ZR1 is worse than the Z06, from a pure drag point of view - .36 cd vs .34 cd, I believe. Of course the ZR1 probably has superior aero stability (less life / more downforce).
The biggest thing about the Z06 seems to be the nervous stock suspension and tire setup. I'm amazed that the ZR1 can post a slalom of near 75 mph (2 more than an Enzo), while the Z06 seems to be stuck in the mid 60's. Also explains why the ZR1 is 20s quicker at the Ring.
Matt W 12:26AM (11/07/2008)
The reason for the big difference in slalom times is the tires. The Goodyear Eagle F1's on the Z06 are no match for the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s on the ZR1.
I've got PS2s on my '04 Z06 and they're like magic. They're just plainly in a different league than the older Pilot Sports I had on my NSX and Boxter S (Pilot Sport Rib).
Chris O 1:40PM (11/06/2008)
While I'm not a huge fan of tight packaging underhood, I've never liked the turbo-back approach.
Variable-geometry turbos and/or smaller impellers don't help a bit for lag when you have that much distance to overcome. The lag might work for rolls on the streets or on the strip, but it wouldn't be any fun getting out of corners - and it's a shame, because the the Z06 is an excellent track car.
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Paul 1:45PM (11/06/2008)
not a very great detail job on this vette
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Chris 1:54PM (11/06/2008)
Those are not Z06 brakes...just standard C6 z51. Looks like a widebody conversion to make it look like a Z06.
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greg 3:57PM (11/20/2008)
Ok everyone let me clear some things up for you all. This is my Vette and it is NOT a Z06 it is a C6 Z51. I brought the car down at the last minute and did not have time to put the brake kit on. We are now putting them on, it's Baer extreme plus big brakes. I will be glad to post pics here if I can. This Vette has a fully forged 403 stroker w/custom wiseco pistons, dragon slayer crank and all the other goodies. Elect water pump, under drive pulley, ported AFR heads and fast 90 etc. It was tough keeping this clean so it does look rough!lol As far as that one fella saying STS is junk, he's entitled to his opinion. I can assure him that this particular set up is very quick. At any rate, thanks for looking you all!
Steven 1:57PM (11/06/2008)
Ugh, I'm completely sick of matte cars now.
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RG 2:02PM (11/06/2008)
See, I'm not sick of it yet. Actually, I am becoming more and more curious as to why an automaker has not tried to sell a car with a matte finish yet.
Are there insurmountable production hurdles?
Is there not enough interest?
Are there drawbacks that I do not know about?
I personally would be intrigued at how a production matte car would do. Granted, they are all the rage on the tuner scene, but still, the idea of a car that looks badass and doesnt need to be waxed appeals to me quite a bit.
CarbonBlack 1:49PM (11/07/2008)
Really?
I think Matte is amazing!
Mark 5:40PM (11/06/2008)
I love the look, but when other people see matte their mind says "primer". Stupid yes but people, like fish, like shiny things. *drooling*
why not the LS2LS7? 2:04PM (11/06/2008)
Now that's he's laid down a good primer coat, what color is he going to paint it?
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Jared 2:17PM (11/06/2008)
Alot of people believe that the remote turbo systems produce more lag. It's been proven on many different platforms from Vettes to pickup trucks that the remote turbo system does not induce more lag. People seem to believe more piping = more lag. The thing is the piping is already filled with air, and the turbo's are moving such a large volume of air at any moment that any lag different between a 10ft pipe and a 1ft pipe while on the car would be almost unnoticable to the every day guy.
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RichP 2:25PM (11/06/2008)
It's not like the 400hp or 436hp Vettes are lacking in power to begin with that you would notice "lag".
With so much power stock, it would be helpful for the turbos not kick in right away so you might have a chance at getting traction.
john 3:06PM (11/06/2008)
I'm sorry buts thats just not true, i don't care what STS tells you its just not physically possible, turbos rely on heat to spool up there for closer to the engine the faster the spool. I used to have an sts kit on my mustang then i switched to a front mount system in the bumper with the same turbos. I reach full boost 1000rpm sooner than the sts kit and i am producing 4 more pounds of boost by 3500rpm
Chris O 2:35PM (11/06/2008)
@Jared
That's not really true.
I wasn't referring to the intake charge, since you're right in stating that the air valume there is pretty high. I was referring to the exhaust driving the turbo - and the distance DOES have a quantifiable impact on the spooling lag.
@RichP
I agree that it's nice that the LS1/2/3/6/7 has decent torque to begin with, but I can say with firsthand experiance that you do want the turbos to "kick in" as close to immediately as possible. It would probably help to think of the turbo lag as being a lag in throttle response.
What you'd probably want instead is a programmable boost controller that limits boost at certain speed bands to keep you from going sideways whenever the 50% extra power arrives :p
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ls1vette 2:35PM (11/06/2008)
As custom tuning Corvettes is my business I have to say the STS turbo system is junk.
The car has to be hacked up since the turbos are in the back large pipes have to be plumbed all the way back to the engine and there is no real free space for this without hacking on the body.
The tubos bearing are cooled by having engine oil piped to the back and many cases gaskets go bad and the oil then is flowing into the return pipes back into the intake causing damage
The popoff values are junk and tend to leak causing hugh imbalance to one side of the engine. The springs in them are also jink and can cause engine not to go beyond 5600 RPMs.
As it is a stock LS7 is nothing more then a punched out 346 thus there is no cylinder walls and over time engine will blow.
Head bolts are small thus with boost the heads lift causing head gaskets to blow out and burn pistons.
The tune that comes with the kit is junk and the fuel injectors are too small.
Custom tuning of the PCM is less then $500 and average gains for a LS7 is about 60 HP and 50 ft/lbs torque so spending 100nds of dollars for what STS outputs is a loser and a Z06 hacked up loosing its value.
Add the LS7 has 11.1 engine compression adding boost over time assures BOOM sooner or later.
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Wildbill 3:08PM (11/13/2008)
Interesting but negative comments, your statements are completely untrue. I especially like the one about bolwn head gaskets causing burned pistons.
Good one!
Any one that would like to see the rest of this gentlemens negitive comments about everything else on the board, just go up to ls1vette on his post and click on it.
I will rest my case on that final note and make no further comment.
Lee 10:36PM (11/06/2008)
I love the matte! I would so buy a matte color, as it absorbs radar ;)
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