• Gintani Stage II supercharged E46 M3 (S54) at 10 psi vs. 390 whp LS2 Corvette

                    
      		   
      Published on 04-07-2011 01:52 PM
      58 Comments Comments
      An LS2 corvette is a very, very capable car. Quick in stock form and this example is modified with headers, intake, full exhaust, and putting down 390 whp on a Mustang dyno. The E46 M3 is running a Gintani Stage II SC at 10 psi with meth, it puts down 485 whp. It is making almost 100 whp more than the Vette, but we are a bit surprised is pulls so easily right away. This really wasn't much of a race and shows how strong the E46 M3 can be when boosted.



      This article was originally published in forum thread: Gintani SC e46 M3 vs Corvette C6 Ls2 started by fastgti69 View original post
      Comments 47 Comments
      1. leo985i's Avatar
        leo985i - 04-07-2011, 02:14 PM
        How much does a kit like this cost?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 04-07-2011, 02:17 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by leo985i Click here to enlarge
        How much does a kit like this cost?
        The Stage II isn't cheap from I understand, something like $13k. Gintani hasn't really released detailed pricing on their S54 setups... which they should.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 02:39 PM
        @ Sticky,

        Do you think the gap in performance in rolls between these two cars would be closer if they were starting off in 2nd gear? With F/I the E46 can find more usable power in higher gears.

        I'm sure the E46 would always walk a C6 with this power level but just wondering if 3rd gear is the best gear for the Vette to start off in?

        Also, what are the weights of each cars? If there is no weight reduction on the E46, it would be a little heavier than stock because of the blower and ATA intercooler (if it has one).
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 04-07-2011, 02:42 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        Do you think the gap in performance in rolls between these two cars would be closer if they were starting off in 2nd gear? With F/I the E46 can find more usable power in higher gears.
        I think with how quickly and decisively the E46 M3 pulls, it really wouldn't matter what gear if they are going from a roll. The power disparity is simply too great but I expected with this being a centrifugal that it would take longer for the M3 to show its greater power up top.

        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        Also, what are the weights of each cars? If there is no weight reduction on the E46, it would be a little heavier than stock because of the blower and ATA intercooler (if it has one).
        The C6 should be around 200 pounds lighter if I recall correctly.
      1. leo985i's Avatar
        leo985i - 04-07-2011, 02:56 PM
        It looks like the performance is between a HPF Stage 1 and Stage 2. Not too bad for how much it costs I think. Without Race gas that is.
      1. Benz-O-Rama's Avatar
        Benz-O-Rama - 04-07-2011, 03:02 PM
        Congrats on the win, but that Vette sounds effing amazing!
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 04-07-2011, 03:11 PM
        oh i remember the E46 guy , was a completely dick !! the username was something like Imola Red E46 or something like that
        kept bashing everyone on M3post !
      1. GG///M3's Avatar
        GG///M3 - 04-07-2011, 03:15 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by LostMarine Click here to enlarge
        A good rape though not bad rape
        Yes a good clean rape in my best guy in the barber shop voice from the movie coming to america with Eddie Murphy.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 03:49 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        I think with how quickly and decisively the E46 M3 pulls, it really wouldn't matter what gear if they are going from a roll. The power disparity is simply too great but I expected with this being a centrifugal that it would take longer for the M3 to show its greater power up top.

        The C6 should be around 200 pounds lighter if I recall correctly.
        Yeah, I figured the Vette would be a lighter. One thing I really like about the LS motors is the similarity of torque to hp. I love that in an engine-- hence my love for the M156.

        I had a L99, which is an LS3 with a different cam and VVT. It made 410 btq and 400 bhp.

        I installed a Vortech V3 Si centri on it. It's true the power definitely comes in up higher, compared to the same motor with a twin screw on it. But, in a roll, if you get the hit from the sweet spot in the rpms, the car doesn't really lag. And then, when it's changing gears it's already in the sweetspot for the rest of the run.

        Does the Gintani centri setup come with an ATA intercooler?
      1. BrenM3's Avatar
        BrenM3 - 04-07-2011, 03:56 PM
        Got to drive one of these setups - they hammer pretty good. 480-500whp on gintani's low reading dyno
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 04-07-2011, 03:58 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        Does the Gintani centri setup come with an ATA intercooler?
        I'm not sure what model intercooler it is specifically or where it is sourced but I know it is water-air, not air-to-air.
      1. fastgti69's Avatar
        fastgti69 - 04-07-2011, 03:59 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by inter1032 Click here to enlarge
        nice
        is the owner on here?
        The owner of the Vette is here but not too active: M3//rider710
        The owner of the red m3 is : Imola Red E46 or something like that

        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama Click here to enlarge
        Congrats on the win, but that Vette sounds effing amazing!
        Hell yea! Take a look at this

        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sorena Click here to enlarge
        oh i remember the E46 guy , was a completely dick !! the username was something like Imola Red E46 or something like that
        kept bashing everyone on M3post !
        That is him.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 04:13 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        I'm not sure what model intercooler it is specifically or where it is sourced but I know it is water-air, not air-to-air.
        Oh... I didn't know that.

        I was told by some F/I tuners that ATA was the way to go with the centris. I'm not sure why to be honest.

        I had a relatively big ATA intercooler with my centri setup.

        Something I am unsure of and would love to know more about is the benefits of water-air vs ATA. Isn't water-to-air just using a heat exchanger up in front of the car?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 04-07-2011, 04:15 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        I was told by some F/I tuners that ATA was the way to go with the centris. I'm not sure why to be honest.
        Why would that be? I'm not sure, but I have run water-air on a centri and it has worked out quite well for me.

        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        Something I am unsure of and would love to know more about is the benefits of water-air vs ATA. Isn't water-to-air just using a heat exchanger up in front of the car?
        Well water can absorb more heat than air, so it will be able to move away more heat.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 04:28 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Why would that be? I'm not sure, but I have run water-air on a centri and it has worked out quite well for me.


        Well water can absorb more heat than air, so it will be able to move away more heat.
        I don't know why they said that. Perhaps it's the simplicity of the design of the ATA.

        Is your water-to-air via a heat exchanger up front?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 04-07-2011, 04:28 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge

        Is your water-to-air via a heat exchanger up front?
        Yes.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 04:32 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Yes.
        Thanks. That's what I was thinking.

        My last car also had a water-to-air heat exchanger up front. I had a twin screw on top of the motor.

        The difference between our cooling designs, though, was my top mount aslo had intercoolers I believe under the blower's rotors? I'm not 100% sure on that. The intercooler blocks could have been on top of the rotors. It was a Kenne Bell.

        I'll admit, I'm confused on this topic. Just trying to better understand the cooling design of the E46 supercharger system.

        Thanks for the feedback.
      1. THATDONFC's Avatar
        THATDONFC - 04-07-2011, 04:34 PM
        I like air to liquid better than air to air because of the cooling potential while cruising and idling. Then when you get on it, the cooling is there. No waiting for your intercooler to cool down.
      1. Sonny's Avatar
        Sonny - 04-07-2011, 04:36 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by THATDONFC Click here to enlarge
        I like air to liquid better than air to air because of the cooling potential while cruising and idling. Then when you get on it, the cooling is there. No waiting for your intercooler to cool down.
        I think that's a really good point. And especially when you live in hotter ambient climates.
      1. THATDONFC's Avatar
        THATDONFC - 04-07-2011, 04:36 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sonny Click here to enlarge
        Thanks. That's what I was thinking.

        My last car also had a water-to-air heat exchanger up front. I had a twin screw on top of the motor.

        The difference between our cooling designs, though, was my top mount aslo had intercoolers I believe under the blower's rotors? I'm not 100% sure on that. The intercooler blocks could have been on top of the rotors. It was a Kenne Bell.

        I'll admit, I'm confused on this topic. Just trying to better understand the cooling design of the E46 supercharger system.

        Thanks for the feedback.
        There is a core inside the manifold. It runs liquid through it which is cooled by the heat exchanger in the from on the car. The air is cooled by the liquid in the core in the manifold.
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