$3,000 for LT1 mods........HELP!!!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
$3,000 for LT1 mods........HELP!!!!!
I have $3,000 from x-mas money. I want to use it on my 96 LT1. The car is a daily driver, so i dont want track mods, just some more power for the stop light grand prix. Its bone stock minus a open air filter lid and K&N filter. I want to free up some horses. Im thinking about a whole new exhuast from headers back. I dont really want to install a new cam or heads. Anyone have some suggestions on how 3 grand could be spent wisely?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 1
From: Santa Maria CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,935
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
If you want to make a difference via seat of the pants do 3.75 gears, 2500-2800 stall converter and Long tube headers. You will be smiling every day after that, and buying new tires soon!!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 51
From: Angier nc
i suspect you would lose 3-5mpg and some top speed.not that you can safely run anywhere near top speed on the highway.
3.07 would be a good gear(you may already have it),or look for a 3.36(right?)out of a dana 36.
3.07 would be a good gear(you may already have it),or look for a 3.36(right?)out of a dana 36.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
IMHO The best bang for the performance buck on an LT1 is gears.
I'd love my 3.45s.
If your going to drop in a cam a converter would be a good mod too.
I love my LT headers however, the gears provided a better $$$$$ to performance ratio.
If your budget was double what you have right now
I'd suggest,
Gears/ or D44 swap
2800 or higher stall
Ported heads
Cam
LT headers
EWP
I'd love my 3.45s.
If your going to drop in a cam a converter would be a good mod too.
I love my LT headers however, the gears provided a better $$$$$ to performance ratio.
If your budget was double what you have right now
I'd suggest,
Gears/ or D44 swap
2800 or higher stall
Ported heads
Cam
LT headers
EWP
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 2
From: San Angelo TX
I agree with gears, stall convertor, and longtube headers. The stock exhaust is good for up to about 400hp and it should sound pretty good with the headers. Provided you can do some of teh work yourself you might even be able to squeeze in 1.6RR or a tune.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I'm saving up for this but I currently have most of the supporting mods.
Head/cam package will pull from 2,300 to 6,500 RPM and should make *400 - 420 RWHP with 30/36 lb. injectors, 58 MM T.B., 1 ¾ LT’s, no cats, good tuning, etc. This will have
an idle similar to the CC306 cam but will make more HP & TQ across the board. The REAL
difference is the amount TQ this cam makes in the 2,500 – 3,500 RPM range compared to
the cc306.
The LT1 LE2 heads consist of:
Ferrea 200/1.56 Valves
CM Retainers & 10° Locks
Comp Bee Hive Springs
205 CC Intake porting
Milling. Cleaning, Assembly
Flow about 275/190
Ready to bolt on
LE2 Head/Cam Package - $1,750 plus shipping. $1,400 for Heads only.
Head/cam package will pull from 2,300 to 6,500 RPM and should make *400 - 420 RWHP with 30/36 lb. injectors, 58 MM T.B., 1 ¾ LT’s, no cats, good tuning, etc. This will have
an idle similar to the CC306 cam but will make more HP & TQ across the board. The REAL
difference is the amount TQ this cam makes in the 2,500 – 3,500 RPM range compared to
the cc306.
The LT1 LE2 heads consist of:
Ferrea 200/1.56 Valves
CM Retainers & 10° Locks
Comp Bee Hive Springs
205 CC Intake porting
Milling. Cleaning, Assembly
Flow about 275/190
Ready to bolt on
LE2 Head/Cam Package - $1,750 plus shipping. $1,400 for Heads only.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
So the stock exhaust has little restriction and back pressure? If I install headers, and keep the rest of the exhaust stock, wont the stock components have more restriction?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Downriver Mi.
If you do your own work,nitrous ,exhaust,rockers,converter,and gears should be possible. The only other way to make more power would be supercharger/turbo,heads or cam.
Last edited by MR NICE; Dec 26, 2007 at 11:15 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I have $3,000 from x-mas money. I want to use it on my 96 LT1. The car is a daily driver, so i dont want track mods, just some more power for the stop light grand prix. Its bone stock minus a open air filter lid and K&N filter. I want to free up some horses. Im thinking about a whole new exhuast from headers back. I dont really want to install a new cam or heads. Anyone have some suggestions on how 3 grand could be spent wisely?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Noticed a 1-2 mpg loss tops going to 4.09 gears, totally worth it.
Id recommend the gears/converter/LTs first.
If youre still hungry port the heads, intake, and a cam. It will stand up and run real hard with those mods.
Id recommend the gears/converter/LTs first.
If youre still hungry port the heads, intake, and a cam. It will stand up and run real hard with those mods.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 2
From: Tyrone PA
Since it is a daily driver I'd consider shopping for a used supercharger. Or if you don't need the power all the time, nitrous. I have a zex nitrous kit and I love it. Stay at 100 to 125 hp shot and you shouldn't have any problems. You will have enough money left over for headers, 1.6 roller rockers and maybe even a converter. I honestly would stay at a 2000 (or 2200 max) rpm stall speed converter since it is a daily driver. 2800 stall is great but your gas mileage will go down the toilet. I have a 2800 and my gas mileage went down the toilet. If you do gears, I'd stay at 3.45's. 3.73's or 4.10's are great but again gas mileage down the toilet and cruising rpm's are much higher than stock. So for me, I'd do it in this order:
Zex 125 shot
Converter
1.6 roller rockers
Headers (I wouldn't eliminate cats since it is a daily driver)
Gears
I don't know your mechanical abilities, but I'm sure you can install the nitrous kit and the rockers yourself. The converter and gears should be done by a tranny shop or professional if you don't have a lift and major mechanical abilities. Headers are a pain and I would suggest a garage do them, but if you can get the car up high enough and you are patient with exhaust work (I AM NOT!) then you could do them yourself.
Zex 125 shot
Converter
1.6 roller rockers
Headers (I wouldn't eliminate cats since it is a daily driver)
Gears
I don't know your mechanical abilities, but I'm sure you can install the nitrous kit and the rockers yourself. The converter and gears should be done by a tranny shop or professional if you don't have a lift and major mechanical abilities. Headers are a pain and I would suggest a garage do them, but if you can get the car up high enough and you are patient with exhaust work (I AM NOT!) then you could do them yourself.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
Thanks for your advice! I wont replace the converter. But headers and complete exhuast system are a GO! I probally wont go with a supercharger. New heads and cam, maybe. Yes I am a mechanic, 15 years now. Just dont have the time anymore. I like to discuss my options with other modders first! Thanks.........
Since it is a daily driver I'd consider shopping for a used supercharger. Or if you don't need the power all the time, nitrous. I have a zex nitrous kit and I love it. Stay at 100 to 125 hp shot and you shouldn't have any problems. You will have enough money left over for headers, 1.6 roller rockers and maybe even a converter. I honestly would stay at a 2000 (or 2200 max) rpm stall speed converter since it is a daily driver. 2800 stall is great but your gas mileage will go down the toilet. I have a 2800 and my gas mileage went down the toilet. If you do gears, I'd stay at 3.45's. 3.73's or 4.10's are great but again gas mileage down the toilet and cruising rpm's are much higher than stock. So for me, I'd do it in this order:
Zex 125 shot
Converter
1.6 roller rockers
Headers (I wouldn't eliminate cats since it is a daily driver)
Gears
I don't know your mechanical abilities, but I'm sure you can install the nitrous kit and the rockers yourself. The converter and gears should be done by a tranny shop or professional if you don't have a lift and major mechanical abilities. Headers are a pain and I would suggest a garage do them, but if you can get the car up high enough and you are patient with exhaust work (I AM NOT!) then you could do them yourself.
Zex 125 shot
Converter
1.6 roller rockers
Headers (I wouldn't eliminate cats since it is a daily driver)
Gears
I don't know your mechanical abilities, but I'm sure you can install the nitrous kit and the rockers yourself. The converter and gears should be done by a tranny shop or professional if you don't have a lift and major mechanical abilities. Headers are a pain and I would suggest a garage do them, but if you can get the car up high enough and you are patient with exhaust work (I AM NOT!) then you could do them yourself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I would suggest that you check out the PNW section. You are with a r3easonable drive time of Tom Wong's shop in Portland. He is the top tuner on the PNW and will give you straight up advice about what you can do with your car.
PS if you're putting on new LT headers there is no need to waste $$ on a new cat back system.
PS if you're putting on new LT headers there is no need to waste $$ on a new cat back system.