Getting an LT1 to 400hp
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Getting an LT1 to 400hp
I am getting too many different setups from mechanics for this question. I have had some tell me to do cam/headers/roller rockers ect...and some tell me small mods, then go twin turbo (which in nearly imposible).
My question is this: what is the best bang for the buck, reliable setup, to get my LT1 to 400hp? The car is at almost 96,000 miles and I want to do a rebuild anyway so why not upgrade while it's apart?
I don't know which cam to use, and it sounds like many people here have different ideas about the best way to get to the 400hp mark. Any setup ideas would be great.
It's a 1995 Auto LT1. Stock except for a muffler eliminator kit, K&N filter and air foil (which I think is worthless).
My question is this: what is the best bang for the buck, reliable setup, to get my LT1 to 400hp? The car is at almost 96,000 miles and I want to do a rebuild anyway so why not upgrade while it's apart?
I don't know which cam to use, and it sounds like many people here have different ideas about the best way to get to the 400hp mark. Any setup ideas would be great.
It's a 1995 Auto LT1. Stock except for a muffler eliminator kit, K&N filter and air foil (which I think is worthless).
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
http://www.wku.edu/~nathan.plemons/h..._corvette.html
read. memorize. do.
He is putting out about 450chp.
read. memorize. do.
He is putting out about 450chp.
Last edited by vader86; Jun 21, 2006 at 01:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
I too, am running the hotcam, (see signature) and with a tune by www.pcmforless.com I pass emissions inspections with no problems. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,679
Likes: 1
From: South Amboy NJ
with everyone. Get your heads ported and get the hot cam kit. That's a sure way to get you to 400chp. Precision Porting and Polishing does great work for a great price. PCMFORLESS = GOD when it comes to tuning these cars.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
My suggestion is to cam it and then register your car in a state that doesnt have emissions laws - like FL.
See if you have a friend/relative that lives down there that will allow you to use their address.
Maybe you can do that too thru mailboxes, etc ?
See if you have a friend/relative that lives down there that will allow you to use their address.
Maybe you can do that too thru mailboxes, etc ?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Thornton CO
I don't think you'll have much to worry about for emissions with the Hot Cam and a good tune. Larger Cams, maybe. Even if you were to have issues, I believe you could register it outside of the Denver Metro area (Weld County?), and be ok. About 10 years ago, I bought a new Camero from a dealer in Windsor CO...there was no emissions sticker on the car's windshield (because that county Windsor is in didn't require emissions, from my memory). Now if anything has changed since then, best to look at the www.state.co.us web pages (or county/city specific) to find out what are the exact requirements are.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,695
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Originally Posted by sempermarine29
I am getting too many different setups from mechanics for this question. I have had some tell me to do cam/headers/roller rockers ect...and some tell me small mods, then go twin turbo (which in nearly imposible).
My question is this: what is the best bang for the buck, reliable setup, to get my LT1 to 400hp? The car is at almost 96,000 miles and I want to do a rebuild anyway so why not upgrade while it's apart?
I don't know which cam to use, and it sounds like many people here have different ideas about the best way to get to the 400hp mark. Any setup ideas would be great.
It's a 1995 Auto LT1. Stock except for a muffler eliminator kit, K&N filter and air foil (which I think is worthless).
My question is this: what is the best bang for the buck, reliable setup, to get my LT1 to 400hp? The car is at almost 96,000 miles and I want to do a rebuild anyway so why not upgrade while it's apart?
I don't know which cam to use, and it sounds like many people here have different ideas about the best way to get to the 400hp mark. Any setup ideas would be great.
It's a 1995 Auto LT1. Stock except for a muffler eliminator kit, K&N filter and air foil (which I think is worthless).
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
If you are looking for 400 hp at the flywheel like the 300hp factory rating is now. You would be very close with the LT headers and hotcam. If you have the heads reworked you will be over the 400 hp mark.
If anyone is telling you to turbocharge a LT1 motor to get 400 hp. , ignore them. They obviously dont know anything about LT1 corvettes. Dont get me wrong, turbos are great, but no one makes a kit for the LT1 and the few that are out there are generally designed by the owner. Also, for the cost of design etc, these owners are looking for much more then 400 flywheel hp.
If anyone is telling you to turbocharge a LT1 motor to get 400 hp. , ignore them. They obviously dont know anything about LT1 corvettes. Dont get me wrong, turbos are great, but no one makes a kit for the LT1 and the few that are out there are generally designed by the owner. Also, for the cost of design etc, these owners are looking for much more then 400 flywheel hp.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Originally Posted by sempermarine29
Oh and one other thing...it needs to pass emitions...(I live in Denver so this should be fun anyway)
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
My Cartek stock short block head and cam package made 362 hp to the rear wheels and wasn’t emissions legal. I’ll be interested to follow your progress. Good Luck.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by scranage
BTW, A 400HP in Denver will be a ~500HP engine at sea level. I live in Colorado Springs, I think our correction factor is 28%
So I am getting port the pistons, get the GM hot cam, roller rockers, obviously the headers (which is the best since not many companies make them for C4's), Tranny rebuild w/shift kit. Did I miss anything?
Oh, the objective here is to hang or beat my buddies 2002 Z06.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by sempermarine29
Oh and one other thing...it needs to pass emitions...(I live in Denver so this should be fun anyway)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,639
Likes: 326
From: Greenville SC
Your going to need more than 400fwhp to hang with a 2002 Z.
They can run high 11's if in the hands of very skilled driver. I would guess you would need around 380 rwhp and good gears, 3.73.
They are lighter, have better gearing, and put down around 360rwhp if tuned correctly, stock!
They can run high 11's if in the hands of very skilled driver. I would guess you would need around 380 rwhp and good gears, 3.73.
They are lighter, have better gearing, and put down around 360rwhp if tuned correctly, stock!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Bradford Pa
really **** him off...get a forged rotating assembly...take the oppurtunity to bump the compression to about 11.5:1 (still runs on 93 just fine), and build it for spray...a very healthy 383 or 396 will lay down 400 to 450rwhp (sometimes much more) and easily handle a 200hp shot (if again...built right)...the Z won't stand a chance...neither will your drivetrain...at those power levels, you'll need a D44 and built trans of some sort