Anyone use the Kirban Throttle performance switch?
I saw it in Ekler's catalog part # 30380.
It is supposed to improve response and performance.
I have a 96 LT1
It sounds good but I want to know if it can do any harm and if it's worth the $150.
Thanks

 

Based on what I've seen, those things are crap. Same with airfoils.

 

It's junk, get a set of gears and if you have an auto a converter.

 

Right up there with the airfoil, tornado, hyper performance chips... another way to get your money... Tuneups, exhausts do more for you.

 

Thanks for the feedback.
I kinda thought it was snake oil.
Interesting that the replies were all from white Vettes.
My 96 is white too so it must be an omen to avoid it.
Thanks again!

 

Black vette owner signing in. They're crap, save your money. I don't speak from first hand experence because I'm not stupid enough to buy one.

 

Just because someone didn't know this product doesn't work does not make them stupid. It makes them ignorant and they probably should have done their homework first. And no, I don't have one.

 

I have/had one (yeah yeah, I bought it before I joined the forum and learned better).


2 things:

1 - they die easily and cause all KINDS of idle and starting issues. It got to where I just put mine on after it was started at the track.

2 - supposedly all it does is trick the computer into thinking its at WOT sooner than it is,and therefore dumps more fuel or air or something into the mix.

there IS a seat-of-the-pants feel from using it, but I was told this was all because of the computer/engine being tricked before you actually had your foot on the floor.

I was supposed to test this thing on the track and all, but I've still not been back to the track in a number of years, so there is still no data on if this actually does anything to track times or not. At most, it might gain a fraction of a second on the 60ft or something, thats about it.

DON'T waste your money on it.

 

I wouldn't say ignorant... Before people (like me) found forums like this and all they have to go on is what a magazine or catalog says, then that is good enough research for some of us.

Look how many people buy that stupid Tornado crap? It's because of the TV commercials, and the magazine ads. If its printed, it must be true right? It takes getting to REALLY KNOW a specific area, such as cars, to learn that all this crap is just snake oil and doesn't do anything except empty your wallet.

I am glad I know this now, but I wished I had know all this information was available beforehand many years ago when I bought my own car.

I not-so-proudly own both a throttle switch AND an air foil. I also didn't know much about cars back when I bought my Corvette (Jan 2000). Now I can tear my own motor down and put it back together by myself. But it's because of people like my friends that know engines, or people like YOU ALL who know what does and doesn't work for these cars.

Ignorant? No... perhaps just not enlightened to the vast resources of the Internet and forums such as this.

You all are to thank for more people not buying this junk. The reason people ask about it weekly is because (well #1, they dont use the search button)...but it's because they don't know. They ask because they WANT to know. Isn't it better that skirby asked about this product instead of buying it and then being ripped apart by the jury here for buying it?

Until one of you "kindly" explained to me that it was a junk product, I had no way to know... it DID feel faster physically, as in you could actually feel it doing something unlike other snake oil products. How was I to know it wasn't really doing anything? It took a LOT of explaining to make me understand what it did and that it wasn't doing what I couldn't do myself by stepping on the floor.

So yeah... while you guys may get tired of answering these questions, think about it... you weren't always in the shoes you are in now.


.... oh yeah... +1... Use the search button and make sure to check the archives when doing so

 

I was just answering the unasked question, "What do you know, you don't even have one." Knowing what I know from reading this forum, I'd have to be stupid to try it, as I no longer have the luxury of being ignorant. I can't believe the price on those things.

 

im ignorant.

 

Sooooooooooooo...this device gives the engine maximum fuel flow and maximum timing at only 60% throttle opening?

Well, since knock sensors are at work here, they are going to cut back the timing to all the advance the engine will take anyway...no net gain there.

And since O2 sensors are at work here also, they are going to cut back the fuel flow to what the ECU is mapped for anyway...no net gain there either.

So, what have you gained by installing this device? Some intangible?
Inquiring minds want to know.



Larry
code5coupe

__________
Not easily impressed....

 

*shrug* ...all I know is when I had one, you could feel a difference. You could take it on and off and run repeated runs down the street and feel the night and day difference.

But again, because of what it actually does, you might as well just stand on the floor and get the same effect, but you won't feel it as much.

The only problem with it was you could much more easily boil the tires over with no effort at all.... and we all know the L98's dont need any help with that.

 

It's the same thing we have all been told since we were kids: If it sounds too good to be true, it IS!

 

White or black Corvette, I would avoid the performance switch.



(Though, for what it is worth, white 'Vettes are far better.)

 

Well said.