Performance mods
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57
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Performance mods
Recently purchased a 96 LT1 in excellent shape. Im looking for advice on performance mods that I can do to gain a few extra horses. With out going to crazy and spending a ton of money.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Regina Saskatchewan
Hi
I would look at going with a cut lid. My 96 had a very restrictive breathing space. After minor cutting it was able to breath.
My car had a cover over the air filter housing as well as the normal cover. Two seconds with a drill got rid of the cover and 2min with a cutting tool opened up the lid.
Search for cut lid and it will show you some pictures. That is as far as I have gone with mine.
I would look at going with a cut lid. My 96 had a very restrictive breathing space. After minor cutting it was able to breath.
My car had a cover over the air filter housing as well as the normal cover. Two seconds with a drill got rid of the cover and 2min with a cutting tool opened up the lid.
Search for cut lid and it will show you some pictures. That is as far as I have gone with mine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 6
From: Gainesville, FL
Removing the spare tire and jack is another worthwhile freebie you can do... -- Since you have an auto I'm sure some people will chime in with torque converter and gears.... But I'm not sure what you consider a "ton" of money -- most real performance mods that will make a difference will cost money on these cars... And make sure that you know once you do one such mod you will be addicted and have to keep buying/installing more... eventually you'll find that you have in fact gone crazy and spent a "ton" of money 
EDIT: Please fill out your profile too... might be good for a couple ponies
EDIT: Please fill out your profile too... might be good for a couple ponies
Last edited by 4REGT4; Aug 29, 2006 at 02:06 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
A new set of gears will give you more "seat of the pants" bang for the buck and will only cost you 1 to 2 mile per gallon. Thats a place to start.
Get more air in and more exhust out. Cut lid for your air box, so you can breathe and a cat back exhust system.
Good luck.
Get more air in and more exhust out. Cut lid for your air box, so you can breathe and a cat back exhust system.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
If you make less than a 10% increase in hp, frankly, I doubt if you'll feel it. Just my opinion. You may still feel "good" about it, but that's about it. And 30 real hp is not easy to gain.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by 96 lt-4
maybe some 1.6 roller rockers and a computer tune.gears or tc will get you quicker ,but at a larger$$$.
Originally Posted by 96 lt-4
unless you go with headers exhaust won't do a whole lot other than change the sound.
Another misconception: cat backs by themselves make power.They may make a little, but nothing like headers and hi flow cats
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,918
Likes: 51
From: Angier nc
Originally Posted by edcmat-l1
1.6s and a tune, probably best bang for your buck.
Another misconception: cat backs by themselves make power.They may make a little, but nothing like headers and hi flow cats
Another misconception: cat backs by themselves make power.They may make a little, but nothing like headers and hi flow cats
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Originally Posted by DonM77
Recently purchased a 96 LT1 in excellent shape. Im looking for advice on performance mods that I can do to gain a few extra horses. With out going to crazy and spending a ton of money.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
The PCMforless chip is a no-brainer for less than $200 -- I have no idea about the HP but it will make your car feel noticeably quicker and more responsive.
I put Corsas on my LT1, but that's roughly $1100 installed (thank God it was a gift). I think they look and sound nice, and probably make some power at the top, especially with the cut lid. But, I bet those who recommend long-tubes have the better bang-for-buck approach (I assume you can get good ones installed for roughly the cost of Corsas). If had it to do over again I think I'd have done that instead.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by DonM77
Im looking for advice on performance mods that I can do to gain a few extra horses. With out going to crazy and spending a ton of money.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
The only thing I've done thus far is, installed a K&N air filter.
you could do the nitrous thing, but be sure you've got the right setup and someone who knows what they're doing on the install. problem with that is when the bottle's out, so is your fun; it ain't a 24/7 thing and its refill time.......over and over and over again.
if no nitrous, sorry, but if you want a kick in the butt you'll need $5k for heads, cam, and headers on your LT1, assuming you're not doing the work. and yes of course a custom chip (see pcmforless.com on that gig) f you don't want a kick in the butt, then modifications aren't for you. you either do it, or you don't.
Last edited by Red Tornado; Aug 29, 2006 at 06:54 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Congrats on your '96. just to break it to you...There aint no cheap mods to do to your Vette that will give you a real seat of the pants boost in performance. Yeah, a good tune from PCM for less will impove it, but not very much. Rear end gears will give you a nice boost but they aren't that cheap. The only way to go fast cheap is a good N2o system. An extra 100-125hp...now that would be noticable!!! By the way, check my sig for my mods....It wudn't cheap #%$&#@ ouch!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Nitrous. Before you discount it because of all the rumors and other BS associated with it, do some research on it. Adding nitrous, fundamentally, is no different than adding any other mod that increases power. Every single mod you can make to an LT1 that adds horse power does it by adding oxygen to the engine, which allows the engine to burn more fuel, and make more power.
I wrote a long write up on nitrous (check it out sometime when you are bored) and Vader was kind enough to host it on his site:
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vader86/nitrous.html
I wrote a long write up on nitrous (check it out sometime when you are bored) and Vader was kind enough to host it on his site:
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vader86/nitrous.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
I have a '96 LT-1. The Corsas sound better and add power as they are straight pipes. The SLP intake is also straight thru. The re-tune of the ECM (the silver box on the drivers side with quadrillion wires going in) made a big difference because of the formerly mentioned changes and recal of the air/fuel curves and timing, and most of all radiator fan temp on-off.
Of course don't forget the throttle body air foil for tire shredding horsepower.
But seriously, mods for me don't always mean more hp. There is a diminishing return. Concentrate on keeping it 100% top to bottom. That keeps me busy.
Cheers.
Of course don't forget the throttle body air foil for tire shredding horsepower.
But seriously, mods for me don't always mean more hp. There is a diminishing return. Concentrate on keeping it 100% top to bottom. That keeps me busy.
Cheers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Congrats on your 96
The truth is that these engines are already in a fairly high state of tune from the factory. There is almost nothing that you can do in "the cheep" to gain noticable HP or torq.
Spend your $$ on changing all of the fluids from front to back & make sure that your pads & rotors are in good shape.
The truth is that these engines are already in a fairly high state of tune from the factory. There is almost nothing that you can do in "the cheep" to gain noticable HP or torq.
Spend your $$ on changing all of the fluids from front to back & make sure that your pads & rotors are in good shape.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas