*help* upgrade to my LT1
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 214
Likes: 6
From: West Valley City UT
*help* upgrade to my LT1
It's almost time for me to pull the engine out of my 94 for a good rebuild. and after thinking for a while i decided that i'd like to put a little more "get up and go" into it. I'm on a pretty tight budget and have been browsing the forums about what everyone is doing to get a little more power out of their LT1's but i figured I'd just ask for help in my particular situation.
I have brand new Heads I believe they are LT4 but i have not had a chance to measure the port sizes, but from the looks of it..they look a little bigger. (ebay purchase)
I'm not looking for anything extreme, No superchargers etc.. (that will come later
) But does changing the Cam and lifters make much of a difference. I'll swap over to roller/rockers later but i wanted to use the stock stuff for now.
I'm unsure if i need a bore job or not. I'm turning 120k miles right now but the engine is still really strong. Had a chance to go through 3 or 4 gears against my Dad's 2004 Mach 1 and i kept right with him so i know i have a strong engine. Just not sure if i will have to replace pistons etc..
I guess my question is... whats worth the money to do to these LT1's without having to get really extreme and burn my budget.
I could probably spend around 400 on upgrade parts
Thanks for any help!!
-Jeremy
I have brand new Heads I believe they are LT4 but i have not had a chance to measure the port sizes, but from the looks of it..they look a little bigger. (ebay purchase)
I'm not looking for anything extreme, No superchargers etc.. (that will come later
) But does changing the Cam and lifters make much of a difference. I'll swap over to roller/rockers later but i wanted to use the stock stuff for now.I'm unsure if i need a bore job or not. I'm turning 120k miles right now but the engine is still really strong. Had a chance to go through 3 or 4 gears against my Dad's 2004 Mach 1 and i kept right with him so i know i have a strong engine. Just not sure if i will have to replace pistons etc..
I guess my question is... whats worth the money to do to these LT1's without having to get really extreme and burn my budget.
I could probably spend around 400 on upgrade parts
Thanks for any help!!
-Jeremy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 0
From: RI
If you plan on pulling an engine to rebuild it for $400, you might want to increase that price. Depending on mileage, I would at the very least replace the gaskets,opti and waterpump. If you are interested in some get-up-and-go, look into a cam package.
A good cam and a tune will probably run around $600. I pulled my 93 LT1, upgraded to an LT4 hotcam, new waterpump, newer style opti, new gaskets, electric waterpump, headers, exhaust, new clutch (and a few nex sensors)... I would venture to guess I paid around $4000 for all this, about $2000 just with the motor.
If you only have $400 to pull a motor, leave it in. It cost me double what I anticipated to spend because once you dive into a project, you notice worn parts that you don't want to put back in.
A good cam and a tune will probably run around $600. I pulled my 93 LT1, upgraded to an LT4 hotcam, new waterpump, newer style opti, new gaskets, electric waterpump, headers, exhaust, new clutch (and a few nex sensors)... I would venture to guess I paid around $4000 for all this, about $2000 just with the motor.
If you only have $400 to pull a motor, leave it in. It cost me double what I anticipated to spend because once you dive into a project, you notice worn parts that you don't want to put back in.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 214
Likes: 6
From: West Valley City UT
Oh sorry i guess i should have went into more detail haha. I have enough money to pull the engine, replace all the gaskets (it has a brand new water pump) I was talking about 400 for just Upgrades from stock stuff that will actually make a difference. mainly internal work that is easier with the block out. External stuff can be put on while the engine is still in the car. and some internal head work.
Hopefully that makes a little more sense
Also one of my dad's old friends opened up a speed shop in utah. I've known him my whole life so he is letting me use his shop to do most the work and he will assist on it so it is done correctly. So i'll be saving a TON in labor costs and i can get a bunch of parts wholesale. Plus you gotta love ebay! hahaha
Hopefully that makes a little more sense
Also one of my dad's old friends opened up a speed shop in utah. I've known him my whole life so he is letting me use his shop to do most the work and he will assist on it so it is done correctly. So i'll be saving a TON in labor costs and i can get a bunch of parts wholesale. Plus you gotta love ebay! hahaha
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Originally Posted by 94Z07
I have brand new Heads I believe they are LT4 but i have not had a chance to measure the port sizes, but from the looks of it..they look a little bigger. (ebay purchase)
I could probably spend around 400 on upgrade parts
I could probably spend around 400 on upgrade parts
