I started a thread about this a few weeks back once Soler Performance confirmed that their C8 Throttle Controller would in fact work on the Z06. I just finished the install this morning and put some miles on it today to make sure everything is working fine. Just as I stated before I think this is a no brainer and one of the best "bang for buck" mods you can do. It is completely reversible and does not mess with the ECU at all...it is really a simple plug and play. NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with Soler Performance I have just used their products before and had great results.

Someone asked me to do an install video, but as I said at the time I am kinda a big Dude so there is no way to get a camera in that space with me and get any decent video. Instead I linked a youtube video below of a guy that set his up (on a normal C8) and them some video of him driving around. Just as I experienced previously have a TC on my Modified C7 Grand Sport and C8Z51 it is a significant improvement in Throttle Response and IMO kind of a must for those that are going to track the car. You can almost infinitely customize the pedal response from Wet Weather to instantaneous response (track only).

Because as I mentioned I am bigger than the average Corvette Owner it took me abit longer to install than it will for most of you. All in it was about an hour of work and that included removing the pedal, hooking in the wiring harness and fishing the wiring to the mounting spot. If I were smaller I could have easily completed in 1/2 that time. Below is also a photo of were I mounted the controller but I really use the bluetooth app on the phone with is much easier and precise. On the street for normal driving I find that the setting of "Sport 3" is a good balance, but at the track for Auto-X I used to run "Sport 8" with good results...If I were drag racing (I really don't) but one of the "Ludicrious" modes would be perfect.

Here is some a photo of the mount, youtube video and link to the Soler site if you are interested in learning more.













https://www.solerengineering.com/gen...tors/se0525-tc

 

I never understood this "mod." I think I had a stroke on their website reading the description...

 

Interesting. So you don’t think changing the pedal response and reducing lag does anything?

 

Doesn’t changing the mode do that? Z-Mode allows you to select 3 different levels of responsiveness.

Does it actually change lag? Or just the relationship between pedal position and throttle blade position? Does it change the actual rate of throttle opening, when you go from 0% pedal to 100% pedal as quick as humanly possible? It changes the maximum rotational speed of the throttle motor?

It doesn’t change maximum power.

 

Of course it doesn’t change power, who is claiming that?

 

People believe a lot of things that aren’t true. I have seen other threads where people seemed to think that. “More power sooner” type of statement.

Can you answer any of my questions?

Is the main advantage over changing modes more variations in response, and the change is limited specifically to throttle response?

Do you change the setting often?

The reason I ask you, over just believing the website, is they highlight the device in the most positive way, like everyone needs it, and like there are no other alternatives. Like changing modes, or learning the throttle response and changing how you work the throttle to get the response you want.

You actually have used the device and have no incentive to ignore any alternatives. If your answer is just ease of tailoring the response without changing anything else, great. That is reason enough for someone to buy.

 

I agree, anyone who claims more power simple doesn't understand what a TC does and/or is a liar....that said the "perception" of more power is there. Meaning it feels like it is accelerating more quickly simple because it is getting to the desired throttle position more quickly. So instead of 50% throttle giving you only 25% you can have it set were 50% throttle gives you 100% throttle if you want. That said you (could) certainly be "faster" to some degree when tracking the car because of the adjustability to the course or type of racing.

My experience has been overwhelming positive (for the money) simply because this is the 3rd car I have had it on and you can tailor it to your driving style. Here is the best example I can give. My C7 was highly modified with a Supercharger, headers, cats, exhaust and of course custom tune from Katech of all companies (and we know they know how to tune a car). That said even with all of the mods and ~800hp I could still feel a "lag" for lack of a better word on the throttle response as it felt abit lazy even with trying to tune out the torque management that GM programs in and that was in all modes. When I installed the TC (and this was the first car I used the Soler Brand on) I was honest shocked at the difference in feel. Unlike people that say they can "feel" the 10hp a CAI gives them which is know is BS this you will unquestionable feel immediately.

From that experience I used it on my C8 as again (to me anyway) it felt abit lazy with a sloppy pedal and it was in immediate upgrade. Now, I did just install on the Z06 with limited miles so how will I feel about it in a few months I don't know, but with the tap of the button you can put it in default throttle response and switch back and forth and again it is definitely a different feel not a placebo effect.

When using, it will override all other modes so regardless of the Mode you are in the pedal will feel the way that you have it set. For me 95% of the time "Sport Setting 3" is the sweet spot of more aggressive throttle response but nothing crazy. That said Sport 3 is more touchy/aggressive than the throttle response is "Track Mode". The only times I would change it is when I race (going for a more aggressive Sport Mode) or if it is raining then I would simply put it in one of the softer modes that would mimic the throttle response of "Weather Mode".

Regarding specifically about whether or not it changes lag. I honestly don't know enough about the science to answer that in a factual/truthful manor...all I can tell you is the "perception" of lag is all but eliminated and noticeable. This has been my experience with the last (3) cars I have had it on. Now there is no programing with the ECU so how it is doing it again, not sure.

To be clear this Modification is not for everyone, but for me it is perfect.

 

Thanks, I can see why some would like it. I notice the difference on my car between weather, tour, and track. In terms of pedal movement and actual throttle opening. Given my 17 year old daughter usually drives a diesel Excursion, when she drives the Corvette, she is more comfortable on Tour versus Track. Track is too touchy for her. Maybe tuning it for soft open for the first half of pedal would be good.

Maybe since I have never driven with a Throttle Controller, I am happy with the stock configuration, and choices. Now maybe if I knew it actually changed the maximum rate of throttle angle change, then I would be more interested.

 

Never owned one of these units, I have always believed if you want more throttle response add more POWER, it's what I always have done, really don't care about warranties, if I break it I pay for it, BUT I purchsed my wife a 23' 70th Z51, I drove a forum members 23' with a Pedal Commander, I never heard of a pedal commander or a throttle controller before that, got back in my wife's car and it was like someone stole a hundred hp, toid her about it, she had the dealer install one a week later, HUGE difference in normal driving. Can't say I will put one in my Z06 as it's still weeks away. This unit give you no more power, it just changes how much throttle is required to to get to speed. Made my wife happy, that's a job in it's self

 

From the TC webpage:

The same amount of throttle opening (25%) was achieved with both setups (Stock and Soler Prf.). The difference is that with the Soler Prf. setup it required less pedal input thanks to the TC.....
TC Only: Less pedal application can be made to open the throttle body the same amount. Feels more responsive by itself by scaling information/voltage to the ECM. Zero power addition.

 

Thank you for posting your experience as it mirrors my own and I was absolutely in the same mindset as you years ago. All of my previous Corvettes (and most of my Daily's) have had power mods to one degree or another. I specifically mentioned my 800+HP C7 as even though I kept throwing more power at it with custom tuning there still seemed to be some type of "sloppiness" or "lag" in the throttle response. I was blown away after installing a TC....I know it did not give me more power, but it certainly FELT like it did because of how the power came on instantly. You mentioned better feel on the street and I definitely agree with this, however the bigger improvement and relevancy IMO is on the track. For Auto-X especially where there are times when you definitely all the way off the throttle then have to get back on it immediately. That slight hesitation multiple times in a session can make a significant difference in time.

I don't have any specific data to support this, but having owned several Corvettes IMO it feels like in the past 20 years as their base models have become more powerful I think (...again no proof) that GM makes the first 25% of Throttle Pedal input basically irrelevant so people don't do stupid stuff with their cars and also makes them easier to drive on the street. This is what is perceived as "lag" (if that is the right term) and a TC can eliminate or at the very least improve that part.

Last example. A TC would be kinda the equivalent of being able to control the Brake Pedal feel. If I have better "feel" when I hit the brakes does that equivalate to better braking? Maybe not, BUT it certainly makes the brakes more predictable and that is important the more spirited driving you do. :Cheers:

 

Funny you're talking about "lag" in throttle response I just picked up my Z06 and noticed that over my C8 SR there was this lag when pushing down on the gas peddle.
It seemed I had to push down more on the gas peddle to get the car moving when trying to start off slowly as I'm still breaking her in. Whereas in the SR I never noticed this.

 

What mode?

 

you know I’m not 100% sure I believe it was either tour or sport. I just picked up the car and noticed it.

 

I know I will probably be laughed at, but here goes. I have a GoPedal throttle mapping device on my 2009 smart Brabus. As stated, no more power, but the response can be tailored to the driver's input. It really does make driving it more fun and if 70HP can be entertaining, I am sure 670HP will be incredible. I do not have pedal mapping on my 2004 Z06. Here is what a Brabus prepped smart looks like.

 

There is noticeable “lag” in each Mode but to be fair you will notice it more during break in because they limit torque in the first few gears during break in. Also lag is not as bad in Track mode compared to the others.

As I said previously I think they initially have some
lag (again for lack of a better word) dialed in on purpose as it is easy to drive and less prone for an inexperienced driver to do something stupid.

 

Please explain how why this is needed? There is a problem with stock throttle mapping in Race mode?

 

IF I am wrong about this, please fill me in, I am NOT an expert but my throttle was remapped by a tuner on my C7 with heads and cam (respected tuner btw) when I was doing HPDE days at autobahn instructors were getting frustrated with me re issue described above. AND THEN they drove the car and APOLOGIZED to me that it wasn't me. Katech was there and throttle mapping had been changed and resulted in the problem I described above. When reset to stock I did much better on track and car was stable, if this device works different than perhaps I am wrong, this was just my personal experience and I want to avoid someone else having to go thru that learning experience for me... You milage may very...

 

Final thought, after re reading OP orig post more carefully (apologies) it looks like this unit may allow you to change the settings dependent upon usage more easily then having to repogram the ecu? If that's the case it now makes sense to me. Question though, on the new Z in track mode, is the mapping superior to the GM mapping for track situations. If so, that is a big fail for GM with all the shared data between the race team and the gm track drivers, crazy to me this would be a thing but you learn something new everyday!

 

I think you have a misunderstanding of what a Throttle Controller does. It is not 0-100% instantly...unless you programed that in but of course that would be stupid and irresponsible. I have been doing HPDE and Auto-X for almost 25 years now and of course (as I have mentioned several times now) you can dial in the throttle progression YOU want...that suits your driving needs and change instantly...it is NOT an on/off switch type of device so not sure where you are getting that assumption from? So to your point, YES if a person is an idiot and they are programming it to give 100% throttle with only 25% pedal travel then yes that is a bad idea.

Again as I have mentioned several times now and proved by Solers own research that the first 25% of the throttle does not give you 25% of the power in stock configuration. So in that sense it is really not "progressive" in stock form it more like 100% throttle happens over the last 75% of pedal travel. That said with a throttle controller you can make it more progressive/linear/precise it you would like.