Hennessey Performance
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Here's a thread about one.
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/new-2014-chevy-ss-pictures/9169-my-hennessey-001-hpe600-2014-ss.html
http://www.ssforums.com/forum/new-2014-chevy-ss-pictures/9169-my-hennessey-001-hpe600-2014-ss.html
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I've been thinking about this type of upgrade and am speaking with a couple companies about options. I called Hennessey last week and was transferred to Blake. I asked him about the HPE475, HPE550 and HPE600 and he said no one gets the 550 since it won't pass inspection in a lot of places. He recommended if you choose one it should be the HPE600. I'd give them a call if you're interested, Blake was extremely helpful and answered all my questions.
2014 PBM, Stainless Works long tube, 3” exhaust into stock mufflers, Rotofab, dyno tuned @400 RWHP
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I have the HPE475 upgrade on order. I had the funds to go with the 550 HP upgrade but changed my mind. The way I understand it, each upgrade starts with a cold air intake, long tube headers, new catalytic converters and a tune. That much gets to 475 HP. Change the heads and cam to get 550 HP. Instead of heads and cam you add a supercharger to get 600 HP. Other choices get to 700 HP and more.
I did not go with the HPE 550 because of the cam shaft. I sent Hennessey an audio clip of my '67 GTO with its nice, lopey idle and asked how that would compare to the cam in their 550 package and was told that theirs was much more aggressive, a really hot set up. That's not what I wanted and not having enough money for the 600 HP upgrade I decided to go with the 475.
Now Just waiting for one of Hennessey's suppliers to release production headers. Everything they have built to date used one-off custom built headers. That works great if they have your car to custom tune, but my install will be done by my dealer and needs the repeatability of production parts. Probably be in the May/June time frame.
I did not go with the HPE 550 because of the cam shaft. I sent Hennessey an audio clip of my '67 GTO with its nice, lopey idle and asked how that would compare to the cam in their 550 package and was told that theirs was much more aggressive, a really hot set up. That's not what I wanted and not having enough money for the 600 HP upgrade I decided to go with the 475.
Now Just waiting for one of Hennessey's suppliers to release production headers. Everything they have built to date used one-off custom built headers. That works great if they have your car to custom tune, but my install will be done by my dealer and needs the repeatability of production parts. Probably be in the May/June time frame.
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This is the perfect statement of why I hesitate going with Hennessy for modifications. They outsource everything except the tuning on anything less than their twin turbo setups and tuning applications. Yes, they have a 'warranty' for 1 year/12,000 miles...but that is almost certainly an extension of the manufacturer's warranty for parts...which means it would be a long and very lengthy process if something went wrong.
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With that said, how many tuners make their own headers in-house?
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My experience comes from the AMG side...where most companies who do any sort of fabrication will make headers in house. Hennessey isn't JUST a tuner...if they were only known for tuning that would be one thing...but they are known for their fabrication and full hardware setups along with tuning...and the LS platform is their bread and butter these days with the Venom GT, and their Corvette work.
Call it preference, but I would rather cut out the middle man and buy from the manufacturer. Most of the time it will save money in the long run.
I hold nothing against Hennessey, it's just a personal preference. I can understand those who want a turn key application. For me, the experimenting is half the fun of modifying cars.
With headers becoming available soon, cold airs already available as well as tuning......you could easily get a reputable shop to do this setup for MUCH less than what Hennessey would charge.
With that setup these cars will most likely net approx 60-70+ rwhp (given tune+CAI is already netting over 40 rwhp) while hopefully shaving a few lbs off.....I would think somewhere in the $2500+ range for it all will become a fair price (given the headers are decent).
Cars should go from around a [email protected] to mid to low 12's @ over 116. Nice for a daily driver.
With that setup these cars will most likely net approx 60-70+ rwhp (given tune+CAI is already netting over 40 rwhp) while hopefully shaving a few lbs off.....I would think somewhere in the $2500+ range for it all will become a fair price (given the headers are decent).
Cars should go from around a [email protected] to mid to low 12's @ over 116. Nice for a daily driver.
Oh how quickly everyone forgets that Hennessey was one of the biggest crooks in the tuning world several years back. I would never buy anything from the guy and he is in my backyard.
I know of several former employees of his and they would always tell me stories of John robbing parts off other cars and putting them on other customers cars. Take wheels off of customers cars and put them on his and wearing the tires out, then claiming he was "performance testing" their cars
John Hennessey will always be a crook in my mind.
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Hennessey is known for their 'packages' being BHP and not RWHP. That means a 550hp package would be roughly 451whp with an estimated 18% parasitic drivetrain loss. That means you are roughly 110whp (415bhp*82%=341rwhp) away from those numbers. That means, assuming an intake/tune is netting 40rwhp you will need to find another 70rwhp somewhere.
Honestly, with what HPE has listed under the HPE550 package...you should be getting more than 550bhp...but that all depends on what the cam profile looks like, how unrestrictive (size) the headers/collectors/exahust are, etc.
Either way, I completely agree that it will be less than what HPE charges to get it purchased yourself and installed by professionals...There isn't any pricing on there, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a $9999 price tag on that package...
HPE is saying 475bhp with basically a header back exhaust, intake and tune. That is 60bhp over stock...then the HPE550 adds an aftermarket cam and head porting, as well as a different t-stat...and some sort of 'valvetrain' work...most likely upgrading the solenoids in the valve body for sturdier shifts.
Sorry, now I'm rambling. For those who want turn-key modifications, go for it...but that takes the fun out of it for me. To each their own. Happy hunting.
EDIT: I would not be against going to a shop that knows there stuff for a "packaged deal" when it comes to TT and ultra high horsepower applications...like others have mentioned, HPE has a wishy washy reputation...though I have no personal experience with HPE other than the TX2K events out their way.
Considering all of the posts Livernois has made here and the honesty they have had with us, I'd rather take my car to them and have them do the modifications you want instead of Henessey. I know he offers a warranty on his work, but there is just too much negative about them at this time.
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I actually have been in contact with the OP about the mdos and sent him a quote to add a great deal of power to his SS. I appreciate the kind words as well, we are just now starting to have some fun with the SS and have some big stuff planned for it soon.
Hennesshit has had a **** of a PR campaign in the past couple of years with the Venom and other cars. At the end of the day anyone who has an online presence knows about the GTR he ******, among other cars. Not to mention the numerous occasions he had online breakdowns while drunk calling everyone names.
The only reason I can think why people still give Hennessy money is because they don't know about this ****. You'd be insane otherwise.
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2014 PBM, Stainless Works long tube, 3” exhaust into stock mufflers, Rotofab, dyno tuned @400 RWHP
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1911SS - just wondering if you would be taking your car to Hennessey in TX for the upgrade or have the authorized Chevy dealer west of Atlanta do it? In my case my dealer will be doing the HPE 475 installation using the kit from Hennessey which will have Kooks headers and Hennessey's CAI and their tune. Call people who consider a Hennessey upgrade stupid or insane or lazy, there is something I find comforting about having the service department at my dealer modify my car. Hennessey won't actually touch my car, maybe to some of you that's a good thing. I figure I can always buy a tuner from Andy if I don't like the Hennessey tune. Andy has a great tune for an SS with Kooks long tube and a CAI. Or I can tell Hennessey what I don't like about the tune and have them change it. Yes, I could add headers and CAI myself or by a local shop and save money but this way my dealer is part of the team and that could be beneficial down the road. Then there are probably others out there who would say the only people they would trust less than Hennessey with their car is a dealer. To each his own. My car, my money, my choice.
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Big bore. If we are at all close we need to meet up,maybe on Sat. So you can see my setup with the kooks headers and K and N. You can here the car which answers all questions you have and no interpretations to deal with. PM me and let me know if you want to meet up
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