How much does HP cost?
Thread Starter
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
But, if the shortys (the magazine didn't tell us what kind of headers they were!!
) were a wash, then just rockers made for a 8hp LOSS.We can interpret the result to mean that rockers alone will cost hp, bigger injectors alone will neither gain nor lose (makes sense, that), but both together can net 12hp.
rockers: $300
injectors: $250
Cost to Benefit Ratio (CBR): $45.83 per hp.
That's not too bad.
By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, most of the heads/cam packages I've looked at are in the range of $4000-$5000 and claim a 40-50hp increase for a CBR of around $100/hp. Ouch!
Supercharging and nitrous have fairly low CBRs, but nitrous is hard to figure since the ongoing costs of refilling the bottle can take the CBR figures higher for N2O if you squeeze a lot.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Jan 8, 2007 at 03:08 PM.
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From: Metairie Louisiana
Safety Car
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From: VA
If one is stupid about choosing mods (for instance putting 30# injectors on a car that just has bolt ons), then, certainly, the $/HP will be high.
Intelligent choice of mods can yield $/HP much lower than $50. I'd be hard pressed to spend $50/HP unless I was paying for labor or making really dumb choices.
For moderate power goals N/A on an LT1 you're looking at $25-30/FWHP if you spend wisely.
The vast majority of the H/C packages purchased for LT1s are in the $1000-2000 range.
An LE2 package plus supporting mods on an F-body will run around $3000 and provides about 400 RWHP. That's about $22/HP. Might be a little more expensive for a vette since headers are more expensive. Call it $3500 and you're still at $26/HP.
Intelligent choice of mods can yield $/HP much lower than $50. I'd be hard pressed to spend $50/HP unless I was paying for labor or making really dumb choices.
For moderate power goals N/A on an LT1 you're looking at $25-30/FWHP if you spend wisely.
By the way, if my memory serves me correctly, most of the heads/cam packages I've looked at are in the range of $4000-$5000 and claim a 40-50hp increase for a CBR of around $100/hp. Ouch!
An LE2 package plus supporting mods on an F-body will run around $3000 and provides about 400 RWHP. That's about $22/HP. Might be a little more expensive for a vette since headers are more expensive. Call it $3500 and you're still at $26/HP.
Le Mans Master
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The thing that the article doesn't show you which is the most important part is the dyno chart. If a rocker and spring swap only netted an addtional 5 more peak horsepower yet the car was making an additional 15 horsepower from 2500-4500 then it's a great swap.
I've seen dyno pulls on rocker and spring swaps before and the last one I remember the peak rwhp only increased a couple yet the LT1 was making an additonal 15 horses almost across the chart and an addtional
17 ft lbs. of torque.
I've seen dyno pulls on rocker and spring swaps before and the last one I remember the peak rwhp only increased a couple yet the LT1 was making an additonal 15 horses almost across the chart and an addtional
17 ft lbs. of torque.
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From: Jennings LA
The thing that the article doesn't show you which is the most important part is the dyno chart. If a rocker and spring swap only netted an addtional 5 more peak horsepower yet the car was making an additional 15 horsepower from 2500-4500 then it's a great swap.
I've seen dyno pulls on rocker and spring swaps before and the last one I remember the peak rwhp only increased a couple yet the LT1 was making an additonal 15 horses almost across the chart and an addtional
17 ft lbs. of torque.
I've seen dyno pulls on rocker and spring swaps before and the last one I remember the peak rwhp only increased a couple yet the LT1 was making an additonal 15 horses almost across the chart and an addtional
17 ft lbs. of torque.
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Burning Brakes
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From: Port Orange FL
I am with Vis on this one. I cant imagine spending what some people around here seem to be able to blow on HP. Smart shopping seems to have been replaced by Stupidity or the desire to be able to brag about how much they spent for this or that.
I picked up about 60 HP on my LT1 with about $1500. And if I hadnt wanted such a mild camshaft (213/219) those numbers could have been considerably higher. Its all about intelligent shopping and doing the work yourself.
Going fast doesnt have to cost a fortune. Some folks just seem determined to make it so.
Roy
I picked up about 60 HP on my LT1 with about $1500. And if I hadnt wanted such a mild camshaft (213/219) those numbers could have been considerably higher. Its all about intelligent shopping and doing the work yourself.
Going fast doesnt have to cost a fortune. Some folks just seem determined to make it so.
Roy
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Horspower isn't cheap but one thing to keep in mind especailly with an LT1 Corvette is the factory 2.59 rear gear that came in thousands of them is the problem. Take the same car they did the rocker swap on and instead of doing that go with a 3.73 rear and you'll still have the same c.h.p. you did before you started but the car will be alot quicker.
Thread Starter
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
I have to ask the obvious: is that 60hp measured on a dyno or is it what the parts manufacturers said they (whatever "they" were) would give you?
Big difference....which is the whole point of this thread.
True enough, but the subject of this thread isn't quicker quarter-mile times, but increased engine output.
Larry
code5coupe
Big difference....which is the whole point of this thread.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Jan 8, 2007 at 06:05 PM.
Burning Brakes
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From: Port Orange FL
I cant believe you would even ask me that.
255 to 316 on a Dynojet.
Roy
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
You deserve a prize for that! (..but, I guess, 316hp is a nice award!)Larry
code5coupe
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http://www.eportworks.com/LT1LE1.htm
http://www.eportworks.com/LT1LE2.htm
Last edited by rickneworleansla; Jan 9, 2007 at 11:03 AM.
Forrest Gump said it best.
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Where in the world can you find two GOOD heads and a DECENT cam for $1000??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (unless you are talking about bare iron heads and just a cam w/ no springs, etc.)
Being ignorant of the available options, and not paying attention to the results (good or bad, expensive or cheap) gained by the thousands of people who have gone before you.
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Unfortunately there is a learning curve when adding HP to a C4. I had the opportunity to gain some experience on my TPI IROC-Z before tackling the '88 Vette L98.
Before the A4 mods I had about $3,800 to go from 240chp to 297chp or about $35/HP (at the crank). These consisted of a few "freebie" mods along with exhaust work, RRs, underdrive pullies, AFPR, low temp T-stat and the like. The intake work was mostly hand porting so cost was neglibible.
Though the A4 work dropped my 1/4 mile time it did not add any peak hp.
Doing a cam would run around $700 and net 30chp gain for $23/HP, porting the stock #113 heads with new valves might run $700 and net 30chp gain for $23/HP, adding FL headers with true duals would run say $1,500 and yield 15-20chp gain for $100/HP.
So for another $3k I could be running close to 380 HP at the crank for a net cost of $49/HP, not far from a figure I saw earlier in this thread.
It's really all about knowing your goal, your engine (and drive train) and how to achieve the ends most efficiently.
One advangage the L98 guys have is that these engines respond so very well to mods though the intake does limit max HP.
Before the A4 mods I had about $3,800 to go from 240chp to 297chp or about $35/HP (at the crank). These consisted of a few "freebie" mods along with exhaust work, RRs, underdrive pullies, AFPR, low temp T-stat and the like. The intake work was mostly hand porting so cost was neglibible.
Though the A4 work dropped my 1/4 mile time it did not add any peak hp.
Doing a cam would run around $700 and net 30chp gain for $23/HP, porting the stock #113 heads with new valves might run $700 and net 30chp gain for $23/HP, adding FL headers with true duals would run say $1,500 and yield 15-20chp gain for $100/HP.
So for another $3k I could be running close to 380 HP at the crank for a net cost of $49/HP, not far from a figure I saw earlier in this thread.
It's really all about knowing your goal, your engine (and drive train) and how to achieve the ends most efficiently.
One advangage the L98 guys have is that these engines respond so very well to mods though the intake does limit max HP.
