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Inexespensive HP

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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 10:43 PM
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Default Inexespensive HP

Have a 1991 with 250 hp. Looking to go to 350 hp . Any Ideas/ Need most economical suggestionns. Wife not happy with additional exp.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 10:47 PM
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It won't be easy, especially for not much $$$. Your intake will definitely not support that kind of HP, so you'll probably be looking at intake, heads, and cam with a full exhaust including long-tube headers. Not sure if that will hit 350hp or not. Mainly just bumping ... someone intelligent will chime in soon
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 10:48 PM
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Bottle feed her (nitrous-oxide) is the cheapest hp you can get but if done wrong it can be extremely expensive
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 10:52 PM
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Headers and exhaust if that qualifies as "inexpensive". Forget about the 350. There is no inexpensive 350 by most peoples pocketbooks.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 10:56 PM
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Originally Posted by The Beep
Headers and exhaust if that qualifies as "inexpensive". Forget about the 350. There is no inexpensive 350 by most peoples pocketbooks.
I have never seen headers and exhaust give you 90+HP
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 11:10 PM
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Those two words are seldom used in the same sentence.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 11:22 PM
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Put the hash marks on it or a big shiny racing stripe
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 11:31 PM
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Originally Posted by tim32920
Put the hash marks on it or a big shiny racing stripe
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 11:32 PM
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100 Hp? Cheap?

Well you might pickup about 30-40 hp with a set of long tube headers and hi flowing cats, And an open air filter mod.

Beyond that we are talking top end work, porting and polishing the intake, Head work etc. Hot cam etc. But that work isnt cheap.

If I may suggest these appears to be a pretty good deal for the top end

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...e-for-l98.html

This plus the headers, High flowing cats and open air element will bring you to about the 75Hp range minimum. GC

Last edited by Goldcylon; Jan 6, 2009 at 11:37 PM.
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Old Jan 6, 2009 | 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by C4happy
Bottle feed her (nitrous-oxide) is the cheapest hp you can get but if done wrong it can be extremely expensive
NOS is the way
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 12:04 AM
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what do you define as "cheap?" $200 won't get you there if that is what you mean unless you go NOS....well north of that otherwise...the TPI set up is a torque happy intake; does not flow enough at higher RPM's for high hp numbers...

Last edited by 856SPEED; Jan 7, 2009 at 12:07 AM.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 08:13 AM
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What you could do is track down a 350hp car somewhere. Then wait nearby in your 250hp one. When the owner is about to get in his 350hp machine, run him down. Then grab the keys off his corpse and you are set.

Otherwise, GM didn't leave 100hp on the table that can be cheaply added. You might want to define a budget, and then see what is the best way to spend that.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 08:25 AM
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100HP won't happen for short money unless you consider a couple of grand short money. If you do your own wrenching that would give you exhaust, cam, and heads if you shop wisely.
The problem with NOS is that you put it in and never use it because you are not racing. How often do we really run at wide open throttle for more than a few seconds on the street.

My $.02

Save your $$$ for a cool sounding set of mufflers and drive it. Later on if it is an auto go up to mid 3s in the rear. That should givr some nice SOTP gain. I don't think a converter on a stock motor is a big deal but there are those here that swear by it.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by lcormier
Have a 1991 with 250 hp. Looking to go to 350 hp . Any Ideas/ Need most economical suggestionns. Wife not happy with additional exp.
The cheapest way to get to 350hp is sell your 91, and buy a 96 LT4, (330hp, but probably a bit more). Next option, sell your car, and buy a C5, (340hp).

It sucks, but those are the best options. I have an 87 and I'm in your shoes. The mileage on your car would determine what you can do to it. If it's higher miles, say, above 80k, I'd look at refreshing the bottom end before adding performance goodies. I'm no expert, but as far as I can tell, good starting points for an L98 are:
Headers
Catback
Intake
Cam
Heads
Shift kit, high stall converter (for an auto).

I'm not sure how much all that would cost, but it's in the thousands.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 09:38 AM
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The cheapest way to get to 350 is going to be NOS.
/thread
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 12:50 PM
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Sticky tires and exhaust.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 01:07 PM
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It all depends on what you call inexpensive and how able you are to do the work or at a minimum willing to learn.
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To Inexespensive HP

Old Jan 7, 2009 | 01:08 PM
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Click my name and have a look at my website for some ideas, but it won't be cheap if you want 350hp at the crank.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 01:47 PM
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Cheap, fast, reliable. Pick two.

I agree with the other guys. The best way to gain 100 HP is to change titles.
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Old Jan 7, 2009 | 03:05 PM
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If it's fast and cheap, it ain't reliable.
If it's cheap and reliable, it ain't fast.
If it's fast and reliable, it ain't cheap.
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