best HP gain for $300?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 0
From: GA
Originally Posted by OdinsRage
its safe to say anyone who noticed a difference with just a K&N filter..... its all in their head.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by wolverine1967
i have a stock '95 LT1 and am looking to start upgrading the horsepower gain. right now i only have around $300 in my "toy" fund and i was hoping for suggestions on ways that will give me the biggest gain for the least money, or a stage 1 in upgrading idea. i was looking at cold intake systems (slp tri filter w/k&n) or is it wires, plugs, tpi's?
any thoughts?
thanks
any thoughts?
thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by wolverine1967
i have a stock '95 LT1 and am looking to start upgrading the horsepower gain. right now i only have around $300 in my "toy" fund and i was hoping for suggestions on ways that will give me the biggest gain for the least money, or a stage 1 in upgrading idea. i was looking at cold intake systems (slp tri filter w/k&n) or is it wires, plugs, tpi's?
any thoughts?
thanks
any thoughts?
thanks
Or--R&D has camber brace on sale. Nice for twisties.
If you really just mean hp--I'd use the entire $300 for roller rockers. That was my first mod after the K&N, which did nothing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
Found this in forum tech tips.
Five cheap mods to give your C4 up to 70 added HP -- 1 of 1
Date Published: 2002-02-12
Submitter's Name: Nick Riale
Email Address: nriale@hotmail.com
Corvetteforum.com Member Alias: 1991C4
1) First, relocate the the intake air temperature sensor to the air clearer duct. The heat load where it is located on a stock C4 gives the ECM (Electronic Control Module) a false reading and the ECM responds by cutting back on the fuel/air mixture to a leaner value than is actually required. Mid-America sells a kit for this project for around $45 dollars for 85- through 91 models (L98 in other words) which includes a new sensor. The LT1 version costs approximately $35 dollars and you reuse the old sensor. This is a plug in modification after you drill a 7/8 inch hole in the air cleaner shroud and does slightly increase horsepower. There is a reported 3-5 horsepower increase but there are no published dyno runs to back this up. 2) Another change involves the air filter. The stock filter and air cleaner lid restrict air flow. Discard the stock filter and replace it with a K&N air filter. At the same time, either open up the stock air cleaner lid with a pair of tin snips or purchase the K&N package. The claimed horsepower increase is 3-5 for the filter and another 3-5 for the opened up air filter cover. The change is relatively inexpensive and very easy to do. 3) The air foil for the TPI throttle body is marginally effective. It's claimed horse power increase is around 12 and a claimed 12.8 ft/pounds of torque. You aren't going to see much difference in horsepower until around 4400 RPM and that is about where the restrictions in the intake runners start to limit performance on the L98. 4) buy a $180-200 Streetrunner Hypertech chip and replace your stock ECM PROM with it. The advertised increases are 15-20 HP and 20 ft/pounds of torque. 5) if you can stand the noise you can also spring for performance mufflers and obtain a 30-50 HP increase plus a torque increase you can feel.
Five cheap mods to give your C4 up to 70 added HP -- 1 of 1
Date Published: 2002-02-12
Submitter's Name: Nick Riale
Email Address: nriale@hotmail.com
Corvetteforum.com Member Alias: 1991C4
1) First, relocate the the intake air temperature sensor to the air clearer duct. The heat load where it is located on a stock C4 gives the ECM (Electronic Control Module) a false reading and the ECM responds by cutting back on the fuel/air mixture to a leaner value than is actually required. Mid-America sells a kit for this project for around $45 dollars for 85- through 91 models (L98 in other words) which includes a new sensor. The LT1 version costs approximately $35 dollars and you reuse the old sensor. This is a plug in modification after you drill a 7/8 inch hole in the air cleaner shroud and does slightly increase horsepower. There is a reported 3-5 horsepower increase but there are no published dyno runs to back this up. 2) Another change involves the air filter. The stock filter and air cleaner lid restrict air flow. Discard the stock filter and replace it with a K&N air filter. At the same time, either open up the stock air cleaner lid with a pair of tin snips or purchase the K&N package. The claimed horsepower increase is 3-5 for the filter and another 3-5 for the opened up air filter cover. The change is relatively inexpensive and very easy to do. 3) The air foil for the TPI throttle body is marginally effective. It's claimed horse power increase is around 12 and a claimed 12.8 ft/pounds of torque. You aren't going to see much difference in horsepower until around 4400 RPM and that is about where the restrictions in the intake runners start to limit performance on the L98. 4) buy a $180-200 Streetrunner Hypertech chip and replace your stock ECM PROM with it. The advertised increases are 15-20 HP and 20 ft/pounds of torque. 5) if you can stand the noise you can also spring for performance mufflers and obtain a 30-50 HP increase plus a torque increase you can feel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by RAGOVET
Found this in forum tech tips.
Five cheap mods to give your C4 up to 70 added HP -- 1 of 1
Date Published: 2002-02-12
Submitter's Name: Nick Riale
Email Address: nriale@hotmail.com
Corvetteforum.com Member Alias: 1991C4
1) First, relocate the the intake air temperature sensor to the air clearer duct. The heat load where it is located on a stock C4 gives the ECM (Electronic Control Module) a false reading and the ECM responds by cutting back on the fuel/air mixture to a leaner value than is actually required. Mid-America sells a kit for this project for around $45 dollars for 85- through 91 models (L98 in other words) which includes a new sensor. The LT1 version costs approximately $35 dollars and you reuse the old sensor. This is a plug in modification after you drill a 7/8 inch hole in the air cleaner shroud and does slightly increase horsepower. There is a reported 3-5 horsepower increase but there are no published dyno runs to back this up. 2) Another change involves the air filter. The stock filter and air cleaner lid restrict air flow. Discard the stock filter and replace it with a K&N air filter. At the same time, either open up the stock air cleaner lid with a pair of tin snips or purchase the K&N package. The claimed horsepower increase is 3-5 for the filter and another 3-5 for the opened up air filter cover. The change is relatively inexpensive and very easy to do. 3) The air foil for the TPI throttle body is marginally effective. It's claimed horse power increase is around 12 and a claimed 12.8 ft/pounds of torque. You aren't going to see much difference in horsepower until around 4400 RPM and that is about where the restrictions in the intake runners start to limit performance on the L98. 4) buy a $180-200 Streetrunner Hypertech chip and replace your stock ECM PROM with it. The advertised increases are 15-20 HP and 20 ft/pounds of torque. 5) if you can stand the noise you can also spring for performance mufflers and obtain a 30-50 HP increase plus a torque increase you can feel.
Five cheap mods to give your C4 up to 70 added HP -- 1 of 1
Date Published: 2002-02-12
Submitter's Name: Nick Riale
Email Address: nriale@hotmail.com
Corvetteforum.com Member Alias: 1991C4
1) First, relocate the the intake air temperature sensor to the air clearer duct. The heat load where it is located on a stock C4 gives the ECM (Electronic Control Module) a false reading and the ECM responds by cutting back on the fuel/air mixture to a leaner value than is actually required. Mid-America sells a kit for this project for around $45 dollars for 85- through 91 models (L98 in other words) which includes a new sensor. The LT1 version costs approximately $35 dollars and you reuse the old sensor. This is a plug in modification after you drill a 7/8 inch hole in the air cleaner shroud and does slightly increase horsepower. There is a reported 3-5 horsepower increase but there are no published dyno runs to back this up. 2) Another change involves the air filter. The stock filter and air cleaner lid restrict air flow. Discard the stock filter and replace it with a K&N air filter. At the same time, either open up the stock air cleaner lid with a pair of tin snips or purchase the K&N package. The claimed horsepower increase is 3-5 for the filter and another 3-5 for the opened up air filter cover. The change is relatively inexpensive and very easy to do. 3) The air foil for the TPI throttle body is marginally effective. It's claimed horse power increase is around 12 and a claimed 12.8 ft/pounds of torque. You aren't going to see much difference in horsepower until around 4400 RPM and that is about where the restrictions in the intake runners start to limit performance on the L98. 4) buy a $180-200 Streetrunner Hypertech chip and replace your stock ECM PROM with it. The advertised increases are 15-20 HP and 20 ft/pounds of torque. 5) if you can stand the noise you can also spring for performance mufflers and obtain a 30-50 HP increase plus a torque increase you can feel.
Yea if you gain 15 hp with those 5 things you'd be lucky. I say 15 because the exhaust may get you there.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
Really the best you can do for that amount of money is put it in the bank and draw interest while adding more money to it. I know this is gonna sound kinda harsh, but real HP costs real money. You might could install a set of roller rockers for that kind of money, should net you about a 15 hp gain and get you acquainted with working on the car.
Serious stuff though like heads / cam / headers usually cost more than that. Even if the parts don't you've always got to add in the costs of gaskets, etc, etc.
You didn't mention if it was an auto or 6-spd. If its an auto you can look into a different rear end gear ratio, you MIGHT be able to get it completely done for $300, might not. That won't give you anymore HP but it will certainly make the car feel faster, at the cost of some top end speed (who needs 170 MPH anyway?) and possibly some gas mileage depending on your driving habits.
The one thing you absolutely want to avoid are the gimmicks like air filters, etc. They have a place but on an otherwise stock car they are worthless. You're in the right place to learn how to get real performance for your money, welcome aboard. While you're waiting for others to give you their $.02 on your question you might want to visit my LT1 performance pages and look around. http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h...rformance.html
It's not the end all solution for LT1 performance but it gives a lot of good background information to help you understand where you want to go with the car and help you make a plan.
Serious stuff though like heads / cam / headers usually cost more than that. Even if the parts don't you've always got to add in the costs of gaskets, etc, etc.
You didn't mention if it was an auto or 6-spd. If its an auto you can look into a different rear end gear ratio, you MIGHT be able to get it completely done for $300, might not. That won't give you anymore HP but it will certainly make the car feel faster, at the cost of some top end speed (who needs 170 MPH anyway?) and possibly some gas mileage depending on your driving habits.
The one thing you absolutely want to avoid are the gimmicks like air filters, etc. They have a place but on an otherwise stock car they are worthless. You're in the right place to learn how to get real performance for your money, welcome aboard. While you're waiting for others to give you their $.02 on your question you might want to visit my LT1 performance pages and look around. http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h...rformance.html
It's not the end all solution for LT1 performance but it gives a lot of good background information to help you understand where you want to go with the car and help you make a plan.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 7,996
Likes: 0
From: McAlester Oklahoma
I've got a better deal than that. I have about a hundred stickers that I've collected from goodie bags given out at car shows. Each sticker should be worth about 10 horsepower. If you can find a place to stick all of them you should see a net gain of about 1,000 HP.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by Perfusion
Listen to Nathan... He knows what he's talking about. Your best bet, as he said, is to sit on that money and keep adding to the kitty. Pick a mod you really want to do, and then save for it. You can save yourself a ton of bucks if you do the install yourself (depending on the mod), and you'll feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of it all in addition to the fresh kick in the pants from the increased HP/Tq.
If you want to do the K&N w/ open lid now to "quench your thirst" for a mod, it'll be the least expensive route you can go. I seriously doubt, however, that you'll feel a difference. Your best bet is to save for either gears or exhuast work (i.e., catback & headers). After that, it's time for heads/cam work.
If you want to do the K&N w/ open lid now to "quench your thirst" for a mod, it'll be the least expensive route you can go. I seriously doubt, however, that you'll feel a difference. Your best bet is to save for either gears or exhuast work (i.e., catback & headers). After that, it's time for heads/cam work.
right now it seems best to save up
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by boulderlt4
Plus this will give you some time to think about what you really want to do, because when you start it isn't easy to stop. Like that stupid pringles commercial. Once you pop, you can't stop!
But if you are as inpatient as i am, than do the gear swap to give a little seat of that pants improvement!
Oh...and welcome to the end!
i'm a huge muscle car fan and love the tire ripping torque feel. seeing how the speed limit is 65 top end isn't as important
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by redvette6spd
If you must and YES you must. 
As mentioned two things you can start with are the roller rockers and open your air box (thats free)and get a K&N air filter and you will be heading in the rite direction. The K&N was the first thing I did on my first vette. It was cool. Be careful HP is like dope 
As mentioned two things you can start with are the roller rockers and open your air box (thats free)and get a K&N air filter and you will be heading in the rite direction. The K&N was the first thing I did on my first vette. It was cool. Be careful HP is like dope
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by Gary96LT4
Maybe a suspension upgrade. With a 95 it might be time for all new poly bushings, better sway bar, shocks, tires, etc. More Hp won't do any good if you can't plant what you have.
Or brake upgrade, gotta stop when you add more power, be ready for it. or even a driving school to learn the best way to handle the car, to getthe most out of it. I thought I needed more HP til an instructor drove my car and I saw how much faster he was driving. Just some thoughts.
Or brake upgrade, gotta stop when you add more power, be ready for it. or even a driving school to learn the best way to handle the car, to getthe most out of it. I thought I needed more HP til an instructor drove my car and I saw how much faster he was driving. Just some thoughts.
thanks
already did the brakes with power slot rotors and hawk street pads. big difference in stopping
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by ClarenceT
Save for now 
I have this feeling that 300hp is still within your learning limits.. Enjoy the car for what it is as far as power. However itchy money in small amounts are best spent on other areas. Do you have any bad weather stripping? How about a camber brace? Need new shocks? Little non motor related stuff like this will probably benefit you the most. Save the big $$$ for the motor and do it right all at once, whenever you get around to it.
I have this feeling that 300hp is still within your learning limits.. Enjoy the car for what it is as far as power. However itchy money in small amounts are best spent on other areas. Do you have any bad weather stripping? How about a camber brace? Need new shocks? Little non motor related stuff like this will probably benefit you the most. Save the big $$$ for the motor and do it right all at once, whenever you get around to it.
thanks
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by ClarenceT
It is a hell of a hobby.. I mean unlike stamps and yayo, this stuff is never ending.. You think you tried some aspect of it, but then there's more. Even some dude who's been drag racing for 30 years can discover handling. Or forced induction. Or a different form of forced induction. Or blah blah blah. I just wish I was rich
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
I know you said hp but my favorite mod for that money has been rear tires. You could have a blast with some BFG drag radials if you like launching from a stop or soft road racing tires if you like the twisties.
Or--R&D has camber brace on sale. Nice for twisties.
If you really just mean hp--I'd use the entire $300 for roller rockers. That was my first mod after the K&N, which did nothing.
Or--R&D has camber brace on sale. Nice for twisties.
If you really just mean hp--I'd use the entire $300 for roller rockers. That was my first mod after the K&N, which did nothing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by LT4BUD
160 stat plus reprogram, especially if it is automatic...consider PCMfor Less..
you will noitice a SOTP improvement with those 2 mods,but how many miles are on the car?I would first change things like plugs,wires,fuel filter,& O2 sensors?I would just make sure,before you start to throw parts at it,otherwise I would go with the thermostat($20)reprogrammed PCM($100)K&N($70)cut lid($50)and a fresh oil change with Mobil 1,or royal purple and K&N filter.Thats right around $300.like was said,these cars come pretty optimized from the factory,real power increases only comes when you change the cam,heads,and headers.If you wanta "quick fix"try the fisrt ones I listed,otherwise,wait and save for the others.
Last edited by vette&f-bod lover; Jul 6, 2005 at 04:47 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by wolverine1967
what would i be looking to gain with the roller rockers? any brand?
I dyno'd my car 2 years in a row, stock, then with 1.6 rr's and K/N filter, and hyper chip. The later probably don't help at all--car dyno'd 11 rwhp higher. So that's what I'd expect to gain.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by sothpaw2
Change to 1.6 or even 1.7 rr's. LT1 did not come with them but LT4 did (so GM acknowledges the perf. benefit).
I dyno'd my car 2 years in a row, stock, then with 1.6 rr's and K/N filter, and hyper chip. The later probably don't help at all--car dyno'd 11 rwhp higher. So that's what I'd expect to gain.
I dyno'd my car 2 years in a row, stock, then with 1.6 rr's and K/N filter, and hyper chip. The later probably don't help at all--car dyno'd 11 rwhp higher. So that's what I'd expect to gain.
i also noticed you're from MD, do you know where i could get a dyno test in VA i'm near fredrick MD
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From: Lovettsville VA
Originally Posted by vette&f-bod lover
you will noitice a SOTP improvement with those 2 mods,but how many miles are on the car?I would first change things like plugs,wires,fuel filter,& O2 sensors?I would just make sure,before you start to throw parts at it,otherwise I would go with the thermostat($20)reprogrammed PCM($100)K&N($70)cut lid($50)and a fresh oil change with Mobil 1,or royal purple and K&N filter.Thats right around $300.like was said,these cars come pretty optimized from the factory,real power increases only comes when you change the cam,heads,and headers.If you wanta "quick fix"try the fisrt ones I listed,otherwise,wait and save for the others.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,414
Likes: 404
From: Lakeville MI
For $300 you could put in a hot cam ($190) and LT4 valve springs, shims, retainers and seals (for about $100 more).
Then upgrade to 1.6 rockers, chip, headers, heads, gears, whatever, later on.
This should be worth 30-40 hp. I think its the best bargain for hp/$.
Then upgrade to 1.6 rockers, chip, headers, heads, gears, whatever, later on.
This should be worth 30-40 hp. I think its the best bargain for hp/$.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by tequilaboy
For $300 you could put in a hot cam ($190) and LT4 valve springs, shims, retainers and seals (for about $100 more).
Originally Posted by wolverine1967
i have a stock '95 LT1 and am looking to start upgrading the horsepower gain. right now i only have around $300
I like the suggestion above to buy a book. Learning more before acting and having a coherent plan for the car will get you more power for less money in the long run.