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I bought this car last year, 180k miles, driven under a fence, obviously has lived a hard life, but it was cheap, 3k.
I purchased a "hot cam" to put in over next winter, so I figured I would get a baseline as to where I am starting before. As far as I can tell the engine is stock, glass packs in place of the stock mufflers, and someone messed with the computer to get the radiator fans to turn on at 185-195deg (car came from New Mexico), so figured to loose some HP from it not getting warm.
Came out with a very flat 330torque and 290.1hp at the wheels! This adds up to 340hp and 390torque at the crank with 15% drive train loss's. The dyno guy said it looks like a chip since the AF mixture wasn't acting like a "stock" would, but that's a HUGE gain over stock if its ONLY a chip.
Car has Cats, no headers, very smooth idle, 180k miles. If it had head work but no headers/cam that would seem silly.
Any other possible "hidden" performance upgrades to explain the performance over stock?
Any other possible "hidden" performance upgrades to explain the performance over stock?
Did you buy it at auction/dealer or individual? I don't think the stock cam would make that much power without help. Increased ratio roller rockers, maybe? Still seems like a lot. You can get cams that do not have too much overlap and tune them to run smooth like stock. Sounds like a good score on the car. Does it have a "Power Programmer" or was the computer reflashed?
Any smoke on startup or deceleration? That's a lot of miles if never touched on those valve guides. My car certainly didn't make it that long, but maybe different driving styles yield different results (I've certainly never driven my car into a fence thought... )
That is solid for a factory rating at 300 at the crank, no doubt. Especially when some LS1 automatic Vettes were putting down 290 or so in stock form (some are more I know) but that is what I have witnessed on LS1 automatic Vettes; my mom and dad have one so I am familiar.
Nice especially considering the miles; the torque numbers are telling as well; the motor is still healthy......
Is it just me or does the torque curve look way flat? I don't think peak torque is around 3500 rpms and I don't think it's going to make that much at 2k RPM either.
3400 or 3500 RPM for peak torque is not uncommon on a small block Chevy with a good flowing intake ; I think my miniram peaks out around 3900 RPM BUT the torque is flat from 2800 RPM all the way to 5000 RPM when tuned with the right a/f ratio and timing. It's over 350 ft. lbs. all the way through; peaks around 371 at 3900 RPM. The LT1 intake has a nice similar torque curve, so it actually provides more torque throughout the RPM range (to redline).
The only thing that jumps out to me is the max. a/f ratio......over 15:1?????? I hope that is not at WOT.......that's too lean.
Understood, but it is making 330+ rwtq at 2250 RPM.....that's not indicative of an even remotely stock LT1. For that his car needs more than a chip. And the dyno used is referred to as a "Heart braker" dyno. They read considerably lower than a Mustang or Dynojet. Figure another 20+ hp/tq (give or take) if on a Dynojet.
For that power I would think a cam and tune and most likely exhaust too.
OP, the chip takes 5 minutes to take out if it had one. 1994s don't use a chip. That should be your first indication the dyno guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Someone may have done some work to that car years ago to give it that power.
Last edited by TLS_Addict; 07-27-2015 at 11:34 PM.
Understood, but it is making 330+ rwtq at 2250 RPM.....that's not indicative of an even remotely stock LT1.
I was only commenting on your comment about the shape of the TQ curve and the amount of low end TQ. My stocker is doing 300 RWT by 2000 RPM. Therefore, I feel it's possible for his to do the ~330....but I agree with you; not in stock form.
His has substantially more low RPM tq than mine, but only 10 more HP....maybe it has a storker crank in it?
I was only commenting on your comment about the shape of the TQ curve and the amount of low end TQ. My stocker is doing 300 RWT by 2000 RPM. Therefore, I feel it's possible for his to do the ~330....but I agree with you; not in stock form.
His has substantially more low RPM tq than mine, but only 10 more HP....maybe it has a storker crank in it?
He has me intrigued. Lol
Maybe he has a cam upgrade with a stockish idle. With stock manifolds it wouldn't sound much different.
As for my comment regarding the torque curve, you're right, I should have worded it differently.
On a Dynojet his car would have an extra 20 hp/tq as the one he used is a hear breaker dyno.
I would pull a valve cover and look for doing and rocker upgrades. People sometimes don't do everything all at once, like exhaust.
My 2013 was supercharged for a year before I put headers on it. Lol it sounded bone stock but went like hell. Haha Had a nice guy in a 5.0 2014 Mustang ask me why I smoked him because he couldn't hear my car running
Lol I showed him the TVS2300 under the hood and he laughed and said he will never judge a car by how it sounds ever again. Lol nice guy.
Those are some pretty good numbers because that's about what my 95 A4 ran on a mustang dyno AFTER the hot cam kit, headers, and a tune were done. More importantly to me .... before and after results on the same dyno showed a 40+ gain in RWHP after the hot cam kit (including new springs & roller rockers).
ill bet it has an airfoil installed in the throttle body, and maybe some MSD spark plug wires. (joking of course)
Exactly what I was thinking!
Sorry for slow responce everyone, was busy with family.
The Dyno operator thought it had a chip since it the AF went to 12 and stayed there. I haven't opened the computer to look for a chip yet.
I did have the valve covers off last year for gaskets, and didn't notice anything odd, looks every stock, but I wasn't LOOKING for anything either. Could have had 1.6s maybe?
When i start the car, everyone says "wow that sounds healthy" but I always attribute that to the glass packs in place of the stock mufflers.
Car does not smoke at all, but has a bad rear main leak, and other oil, leaks, so it hasn't been rebuilt recently, if at all.
Car was purchased from a random kid (25ish), he was just hot rod/thrashing it. Im sure he got it cheap somewhere. Seats are not great, interior isnt great, suspension is really squeaky, FX3 adjustable shocks didnt work.
So maybe I just check compressions on it, slip the hot cam in, and replace the rear main.
And I have taken it to the track lots of times, but to the road course, never the drag strip.
I'm surprised any track let's you on with any type of fluid leaks.
3-4 drops a day isn't going to stop you from getting on track. Haven't even lost 1qt in the last year. it just adds up to a bit of a mess under the car when the wetness blows down the tunnel.
Ah, the last rear main (94) in a Vette I changed was shot.
You sure yours its the rear main? They generally get progressively worse and I have never seen a rear intake only leak a few drops. Lol as you mention it has various leaks, a few drops is small.
I just had my intake gaskets replaced on my miniram....I think it was the back side of the intake....there were no immediate signs of oil leaks when looking under the hood and engine bay but you could see smoke coming from the firewall when it sat and idled....it left a lot of oil drops, that's for sure! I am hoping these Fel Pro gaskets do the trick! I hope it's not a rear main!
07-24-2015, 04:46 PM
Took my 94 LT1/ZF6, 180k miles to the Dyno
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I was only commenting on your comment about the shape of the TQ curve and the amount of low end TQ. My stocker is doing 300 RWT by 2000 RPM. Therefore, I feel it's possible for his to do the ~330....but I agree with you; not in stock form. 
