I'm currently considering a 2008 V8V and the dealer is telling me the car has the engine performance pack installed. The pack apparently brings the car to >420HP. Are there any telltale signs that it's installed? One thing that is different is the engine manifold is black instead of gray like pictured here:

I also read that the performance pack has a switchable exhaust bypass valve allowing it to always be open. Where is the switch?

The only performance pack I could find was from Prodrive that Aston pushed a few years ago. I'm going to look around but if anyone has experience or can help me with telltale signs I'd appreciate it.

TIA

 

Yes the black intake is the give away here. The valves I recall are in the intake boxes not the exhaust. The only other way to tell is to get a car config, but without a aston scan tool, you cant see that.

But looking at the picture. I would have to say no to a performance pack.

The hp is to 400, has the torque gain is to 420.

 

Thanks for the info. That pic was only a reference. I don't have a pic of the engine bay on me and the car isn't posted on the web yet.

 

If you get a picture, look for a vacuum line near the front of the intake. There was a vacuum line added to the black manifolds to control the intake valves.

 

Just found a pic of what the manifold looks like so it seems correct.


On a side note, is the Quicksilver exhaust label visible so if I ask the car to be lifted I can see what version the muffler is and if the cats are stock?

 

Looks right. The only thing not pictured is a ecm reflash that is required. It has to be ordered by a dealer and flashed into the ecm.

The exhaust is easy to see. The quicksilver is smaller than the factory exhaust.

 

Aside from the visual inspection, I would definitely call the dealer and ask for a copy of the service records showing installation of the AM Power Upgrade.

And if for some reason they can't locate such records or don't have them from the original owner, then call the local AM dealer closest to where the original owner lives and speak with the service dept and provide them with the VIN # and they should be able to give you a quick history of the car over the phone.

 

Great point. I will do that today when I'm there!

 

Just to second - all above comments are correct. I have this Performance Pack installation on my car (one, if not the, first system offered here in the US). The black is quite obvious and part of the "deal" is the old manifold is taken by the dealer and shipped back to AM. The new manifold has a unique cut out and from there is the control to open the flaps on the air boxes, no additional exhaust controls. I have combined this mod w/ the RSC flash, RSC 200 cell cats and RSC exhaust (and RSC Green air filters - the AM kit used stock AM filters). Made a nice difference in power.
BTW the AM engine flash is uique to each car by VIN and can not be used by/for other cars.

 

Michael,

What's the reasoning behind adding the RSC ECU on top of the AM power upgrade? It would seem to me that once you add the RSC that it would overwrite the AM ECU upgrade?

 

Not knowing which lines of code were actually changed by the two programs, it is possibly the best of all SW upgrades ... I also installed very open air boxes (many drilled holes) in exchange for the Power Pack "flap" boxes ... some might consider all this "extreme" but I have found the car to be much quicker than stock, esp. up the rev range.

Off topic ...

Changing the springs, adding spacers and a larger rear sway bar also improved the handling.
Custom throttle pedal greatly improved ability to heel/toe.
For that matter going w/ LED interior lights also gives you a brighter interior - you can read a map!
Increasing the visor mirror thickness greatly improved reflective visibility added SatRadio and iPod connection ... sounds great w/o local crap stations

Just some minor changes that completed the V8Vantage experience to match just about anything ...

 

I have the AM performance on mine too but didn't do the additional stuff that Michael 996TT did. I might considering getting RSC Green air filters though.

 

I have an engineering background and I can tell you that, there's a very good chance that what seattle_sun was alluding to was correct. Most software updates are not done on a line-by-line basis. Loading a second software update on top of a previous one will, in most cases, overwrite it.

 

Thanks everyone for the tips. I'm now a proud V8V owner:

 

Very nice....I like the Vanquish there too.