[ruthenium]

Ive been lurking for a while now and this is my first post.
I recently purchased a silver 08 Sti and started looking for some mods to make it a bit livelier.
You might be able to tell at the end of the post that I like numerical comparisons as opposed to intardnet forum comparisons so here is my story...
I searched online and evaluated a few exhausts, but ended up in torrance at Harman Motive. I drove there and first, baselined the car on their dyno. Then, their turboback and COBB accessport were installed and the tooning began.
First, Dan's shop is amazing and the dyno cell is superb!
I was already familiar with eddy current Mustang dynos and roller type Dynojets and I know how different they read, so for that matter, I had them baseline the car before so we can compare apples to apples.

Bone stock 3 week old 08 Sti:
235 @ 3300 WTQ
225 @ 6400 WHP (305HP factory reported motor)

Harman Motive Turboback
243 @ 3300 WTQ +8 wTQ
236 @ 6400 WHP +11 wHP
+8% area under the power curve

HM Turboback and COBB ACN 91 map
287 @ 3400 wTQ +52 wTQ
239 @ 4900 wHP +14 wHP
+17% area under the power curve

HM Turboback and HM protune 91 oct
297 @ 3300 wTQ +62wTQ
260 @ 5800 wHP +35wHP (equivalent to a calculated ~352HP at the motor)
+28% area under the power curve

Comments: Ive driven it for a little more than 1000 miles with no codes and no problems. Driveability is absolutely stock-like. The exhaust note is not too loud (catted) but with a nice subtle rumble. Boost is 19psi peak and 14 at redline. Throttle response is much improved as a consequence of the much earlier enrichment.
The best part of the protune is that the powerband is fat all the way to redline (the COBB base map falls on its face at 5K rpms). You can see that the HM protune power curve remains almost flat to redline and peaks at 5800rpms (900rpms after the COBB base map). This adds a significant amount of power area and hence the 28% increase vs. 17%!
Even though the peak numbers are nice for both tunes, the amount of power available for almost 1K rpms up top in the HM protune would make a huge difference in how the car performs on the road.
It is super smooth and ballsy. Dan did a great job with the part-throttle and with all the transitions.
Car really came alive with Harman's turboback and especially the protune. I am really happy I did both, thanks Dan.

[GhoSStRyda]

those are nice numbers

[HRCboy]

ProTune is the only way to go! Very nice graph... surprisingly similar to my graph and gains on my Protune done by Rocket Rally which is a very good thing!

[1day]

Awesome write-up!!

Interesting.
It looks like even the Cobb map tries to lean out a bit like the stock map around 5200-5500...


This has been the 3rd or 4th HM setup that has left with the EXACT same numbers. I'm wondering if each car is that much alike, or if that is Dan's "safe-zone".

[Mikael1052]

Thanks. We need more posts like that with straight same-day comparisons. That's very useful info. However, to achieve true post-awesomeness, you need to add a couple more numbers.....the ones accompanied by the $ symbol.....????

[paikman]

Originally Posted by Mikael1052

Thanks. We need more posts like that with straight same-day comparisons. That's very useful info. However, to achieve true post-awesomeness, you need to add a couple more numbers.....the ones accompanied by the $ symbol.....????

That's pretty easy..
1548 Harman motive turbo back
695 Cobb AP V2
Dynotime baseline + a custom Protune = probably around $600-ish
Labor to install turbo back = probably around $130-150

Thanks for the post, OP

[wy4tt]

Originally Posted by Mikael1052

Thanks. We need more posts like that with straight same-day comparisons. That's very useful info. However, to achieve true post-awesomeness, you need to add a couple more numbers.....the ones accompanied by the $ symbol.....????

More importantly...ET numbers.

[EpicWagon]

Originally Posted by Mikael1052

Thanks. We need more posts like that with straight same-day comparisons. That's very useful info. However, to achieve true post-awesomeness, you need to add a couple more numbers.....the ones accompanied by the $ symbol.....????

+1

[titsataki]

Now would the stock axle back fit with the HM TB?
What would be the noise change from stock?
What would be the performance penalty?

Cheers

Nick

[Harman Motive]

The stock axleback will fit with our system and our axleback will also work with the stock midpipe; however, we are not offering the kit peicemeal, only as catbacks or complete turbobacks. That may change in the future, but for now we are only offering the complete systems. As for noise, the downpipe with 1 high flow cat as opposed to 2 standard cats like on the stock downpipe will likely create a louder exhaust note through the stock muffler but its hard to say exactly. Maybe someone on here with our exhaust would be willing to bolt up the stock muffer to our kit? Performance will likely be reduced with the stock muffler, not only becuase of its more restrictive design that utilizes baffles, but also becuase of the reduction in pipe size from 3" to 2.5".

[Wales Garage]

did they play/tune with the avcs?

[kaz]

Hey Dan -

it's not for a bit of time but when my car is there on the 26th to get all the work done you guys are more than welcome to throw on the stock muffler and take videos, sound levels, etc.

[STI 08]

only 3hp gain from tbe to a stage 2 tune? and 21hp gain w/ protune?

was that cobbs off the shelf stg 2 map or HMs? before the pro tune

[RFFG]

Nice #'s

[Turninconcepts.com]

What kind of dyno was it tuned on? I'm surprised there is not more torque.