Help me increase my H.P.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Heres What I Would Do,
Read up on a 1970 LT1 and set your course on something similar. All stock, reliable and fast. A slight downgrade would be the GM 151 camshaft to go with a set of LT1 heads instead of the solid lifter LT1 cam. Good for about 350 HP, not bad, right,, A Z28 intake and carb and you could be the toast of the island. ....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Thanks everyone for all the ideas. One question that comes to mind is this: with everyone suggesting duel exhaust and headers should I just go ahead and throw side-pipes on there? Do side-pipes have added benefit or is it just for looks? I wouldn't mind the look, but if it is JUST for looks and costs more money to run side-pipes then i'd rather just run regular duelies with the headers.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock TX
Side pipes do sound nice if you like them loud. they can be quiet but that will definetly hurt performance. toss up between sweet thunder or max flow mufflers.
For price they should run you a little over $1000 plus a little more for shipping out there. Most people will agree that the best coating is jet hot. The look great and sound sweet. Or you could go a little cheaper with under the car exhaust and spend the rest for other mods.
Do you know if hawaii requires you to keep your cats? If not then i would toss them.
For price they should run you a little over $1000 plus a little more for shipping out there. Most people will agree that the best coating is jet hot. The look great and sound sweet. Or you could go a little cheaper with under the car exhaust and spend the rest for other mods.
Do you know if hawaii requires you to keep your cats? If not then i would toss them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
here is what i did, and it cost me just under a thousand dollars and now the engine makes about 30 hp. if you have any questions let me know.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1928754
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1928754
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Minnedosa MB
If you are determined to spend the $1500 then the obvious answer is new heads, cam, intake and Corvette central true duals with magnaflows all this can be purchased with $1500
If you don't know much about the engine it would be a good idea to tear it down and see if you have dished pistons or flats measure the piston to deck height so you can calculate the combustion chamber size needed for your desired compression ratio. Look at your crank if you have a four bolt main and steel crank you might want to plan an engine with a peak hp between 6000 and 6500RPM
If you have a 2 bolt main and cast crank you should plan your engine to stay under 6000RPM this is done by chosing the proper cam and intake manifold for you desired RPM levels.
If you don't know much about the engine it would be a good idea to tear it down and see if you have dished pistons or flats measure the piston to deck height so you can calculate the combustion chamber size needed for your desired compression ratio. Look at your crank if you have a four bolt main and steel crank you might want to plan an engine with a peak hp between 6000 and 6500RPM
If you have a 2 bolt main and cast crank you should plan your engine to stay under 6000RPM this is done by chosing the proper cam and intake manifold for you desired RPM levels.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
nice vette welcome to the club. first thing as stated above headers & true dual exhaust. 2.5 pipes and a pair of magnaflow or flowmaster mufflers. then make sure your timing is set right. Put 93 octane in and you should be good for a while. next think about heads and a better carb, the 600 is ok but no performer. I have the 650 thunder series and its makes a big difference when you step on it. G/L post some pic's of the big island..or just girls in bikinis..
You have to focus on exhaust before you make any cam/intake/head swaps or you will be severely limited to what you can do because the system won't flow enough and you'll choke it off. I like the 2.5" pipes if you want to stick to relatively stock look and keep them underneath - but 3" sidepipes are second to none IMHO
Remember that it's a system, one change may force another - or at least should be made with another in mind. It's easy to look past things like ignition system because it's not as glamorous as cam swaps but every bit as necessary. You are doing the right thing -lay out a plan and prioritize. Might be good to identify how much hp and tq you want to achieve so you can pick other components accordingly. Of course, this is coming from a guy who wants to change out his TH350 for a 5-Speed before the brakes get re-installed
We don't have enough hot chicks in bikinis on the forum
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Thanks everyone for all the ideas. One question that comes to mind is this: with everyone suggesting duel exhaust and headers should I just go ahead and throw side-pipes on there? Do side-pipes have added benefit or is it just for looks? I wouldn't mind the look, but if it is JUST for looks and costs more money to run side-pipes then i'd rather just run regular duelies with the headers.
I can not overstate how much I like sidepipes, I've wanted them since I was 17 so I'm a little biased. I have a 3.73 rear end set up and a TH350 with Hooker 3" sidepipes and a ZZ4 crate (355hp/405ft-lbs). It runs way hot right now so I estimate I'm losing considerable performance (40+hp). At 75mph it winds up to 3500-4000rpm - you need earplugs for cruising on the highway and better get ready to invest in an amp or 3 if you want to use the radio. However, most of my driving is slower so not as bad. There is a drone though, but I wouldn't change for the world. Here's the video I asked the guy that I bought it from to send from TX since I couldn't get there to see it before I bought it:
Leg burns are a reality of side pipes too. Assuming they are legal in HI? They aren't everywhere.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
They don't do emissions testing here though, so I might be able to get away with plugging them up somehow.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
I should read on before posting sometimes...
I can not overstate how much I like sidepipes, I've wanted them since I was 17 so I'm a little biased. I have a 3.73 rear end set up and a TH350 with Hooker 3" sidepipes and a ZZ4 crate (355hp/405ft-lbs). It runs way hot right now so I estimate I'm losing considerable performance (40+hp). At 75mph it winds up to 3500-4000rpm - you need earplugs for cruising on the highway and better get ready to invest in an amp or 3 if you want to use the radio. However, most of my driving is slower so not as bad. There is a drone though, but I wouldn't change for the world. Here's the video I asked the guy that I bought it from to send from TX since I couldn't get there to see it before I bought it:
Leg burns are a reality of side pipes too. Assuming they are legal in HI? They aren't everywhere.
I can not overstate how much I like sidepipes, I've wanted them since I was 17 so I'm a little biased. I have a 3.73 rear end set up and a TH350 with Hooker 3" sidepipes and a ZZ4 crate (355hp/405ft-lbs). It runs way hot right now so I estimate I'm losing considerable performance (40+hp). At 75mph it winds up to 3500-4000rpm - you need earplugs for cruising on the highway and better get ready to invest in an amp or 3 if you want to use the radio. However, most of my driving is slower so not as bad. There is a drone though, but I wouldn't change for the world. Here's the video I asked the guy that I bought it from to send from TX since I couldn't get there to see it before I bought it:
Leg burns are a reality of side pipes too. Assuming they are legal in HI? They aren't everywhere.
In terms of a HP goal I'm thinking that if I'm approaching 300 at the rear wheels then I'll be happy.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
here is what i did, and it cost me just under a thousand dollars and now the engine makes about 30 hp. if you have any questions let me know.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1928754
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1928754
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Don't think I've ever seen a cat back side pipe system...
Go Illini!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu HI
Yeah, if I go with the sidepipes i think I'll have to wait until I'm off the island. b/c of this and b/c I might end up doing some long distance cruising later I'm leaning towards regular duelies. Thanks for the suggestion on knocking out the membrane. I'll have to get under my car this weekend and see what I can figure out.
And as for that Illini thing, well....we'll see this fall
And as for that Illini thing, well....we'll see this fall
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
Just an intake and exhaust sytem change will do wonders for the way your car feels. I have a 77, and ceramic headers and an intake change made it seem like a different car. I love the looks of side pipes and I did put them on mine, they are going to come off or I'll just make them dummies. As I got older, I got so I hated the overly loud sound. I think true duals will be better performance wise. If you replace the exhaust with headers, you may have to re-tune the carb. If you want more power later, then go for cam, heads, ect. especially if your budget is only 1500.