TopFuelVette

Hey guys. I am new to the forum. I have a 1994 LT1 Corvette with 20,000 miles. I am looking to make roughly 400-500 rwhp in the $5k range. What is the best way to accomplish that without using nitrous.

95wht6spd

$5k for parts only, and you do all the work?

TopFuelVette

Yes. I'd like to perform the disassembly and assembly.

dizwiz24

Afr 195 comp ported heads (you might be able to get them in smaller cc sizes to increas comp ratio - be advised i have no idea how much you can gain and still be pump gas friendly),

A big nasty smelly idle cam, long tube headers (no cats), an exhaust, spin it > 6000 rpm hope it lives.

Oh and obviously you need to tune it

Its not gonna be pretty, but you could do it on a stock bottom end in good shape

Come to think of all this ...will (rklessdrver ) built a motor for 93ragtop that made this kind of powr n/a on e85.

Id recommnd a blower if you wanna do more but that would cost you more

Dr_Shakalu

He, like I, live in the great state of California and must pass smog every year. Limits what we can do to our cars.

95wht6spd

Will you need to pass emissions, have cats, and CARB parts?

cv67

He will have to have everything
Doesnt mean he cant find an EO supercharger, heads stroke etc.
Even headers for the LT1 have an EO# (dougs)
can always hide a nitrous system if hes creative

95wht6spd

Yes, but will limit him on part choices (probably only new parts that cost more vs used), and will be difficult to do, unless FI, but that will be over budget. He doesn't want nitrous.

cv67

tpi421vette did a 409 ltx for someone here recently that was emissions legal and moved out real good maybe he can pipe in

edit nevermind not for 5k

Heads cam headers tune could be done on budget easily and get high 3xx at the tire smog legal

aklim

Prayer, if you want to stay under $5000. Fast, reliable and cheap. Pick 2. That or go with the "I'm not building a race car" mantra, cut corners and build cheap today and pay more tomorrow.

I am making about 420 RWHP. 383 with different heads, intake, headers, cam, exhaust, trans, rear end and tuning ($600). If I blow my engine today, it will take another $6000 for a new long block even if I did all the R&R HERE. With what will you rebuild the trans to hold the power? See Post 6 back in 05. What about the rear end? You going to do all the porting work and engine work? $5000 is really optimistic.

TopFuelVette

Hi everyone. Thanks for all your input. My goal is to use the original bottom end as it only has 22,000 miles on it. I do not want to use nitrous to build power. I'd just like to run 91 pump fuel. I have to use the cats because of our great broke (emission friendly haha) state of California... I'd like to begin with cam, heads and throttle body with the eventual goal to supercharge it down the line. I am not afraid to cam it up as I believe the cats will do their job of getting it to pass emissions.

TopFuelVette

Do I just bolt on a supercharger or go with heads, cam and throttle body? I've hear the superchargers will push 400-450hp?

DanielRicany

Better off with a super charger.

The most hp I've heard of on a stock displacement n/a LT1 is 400 rwhp which was really squeezing it. I talk with a lot of guys who build LT1s. They say usually they can spin em up to 6800 RPMs no problem on a stock bottom end, and they some occasionally one of them blows up.

But I would go with a supercharger. Cheapest, easiest way to get to 400-500 rwhp. And you will need to change the pulley on the supercharger as any aftermarket factory-style supercharger will probably only gain 100-150 hp over stock.

TopFuelVette

My budget is flexible but spending more on the car just doesn't make sense. Am a bit too ambitious? With what ever choice I go with, I'd like it done right. The car is in like new condition. It is a 6 speed manual I've been told this gearbox will have no problem receiving more power.

TopFuelVette

Thank you DanielRicany. This is what I have been thinking.

95wht6spd

With your restrictions, this is what I would do: install CARB headers/hi flow cats, X pipe, Corsa, a small blower cam that will pass, get a basic port/polish of heads, with bigger valves, better springs etc., larger TB and injectors, then a tune. Enjoy it, and get used to it while you save for a blower, the parts will all help in making more power once/if you add the blower. Talk to Blower Works. Of course this will all be way more than $5k.

DanielRicany

Best bet is to see if you can find a used supercharger. Or you could LS swap...

illenema

http://www.advancedinduction.com/LTX...adsCamKits.php

95wht6spd

Yes AI does nice head work, but he is not going to get even 400whp on a H/C 350 and pass emissions, with cats, and I think all they have is 91 fuel.

illenema

.I read 480 rwhp with head cam package. have a t trim vortech on mine with about 410 rwhp.
Id like to do my next one with a package from AI. Good luck