Looking for Tips on Mods.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Joliet Illinois
Looking for Tips on Mods.
Good day to everyone! I have a 96 LT1 Collector Edition 18,000 mi and with spring here I am looking for more hp and aggresive sound without blowing the wife out of the car going down the highway. I have already added (possibly foolishly) SLP air intake, Machined MAF and stock throttle body enlarged to 52mm with air foil. I am kind of new at this so its a learning process. What are some avenues I can take that will achieve my goals in the range of $2500 to spend? I do have a local shop willing to do a dyno tune once the mods have been installed. Any and all tips or recomendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time and help in this.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: College Station Texas
Exhaust is a relatively cheap and easy mod. Long tube headers and catback exhaust or just headers and some highflow mufflers.
Want more? Go with a new cam and tune and some new rear end gears.
Headers + Gears + Cam + Tune = fast C4
Want more? Go with a new cam and tune and some new rear end gears.
Headers + Gears + Cam + Tune = fast C4
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,915
Likes: 48
From: Angier nc
New cam,springs,1.6 rockers,and dyno tune should take care of the hp.
For the sound I would consider some long tubes running into the factory catback or a corsa exhaust off your manifolds.Doing both would likely exceed your price goal unless you plan on doing the engine work yourself.
For the sound I would consider some long tubes running into the factory catback or a corsa exhaust off your manifolds.Doing both would likely exceed your price goal unless you plan on doing the engine work yourself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I would install LT's headers, a cam, and a tune, especially if you already have the 3.07 gear. If you have the 3.07 I would do a torque converter before new gears anyway. You could also go with N2O instead of the other stuff, gain 100+ hp, and have some $$ left over.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
for $2500? Your exhaust is actually pretty free-flowing, so blowing $1,000 on a nice cat-back won't really net you any hp gain, just sound.
That being said, if I were you I'd focus on the exhaust first. Long-tube headers (LT for short), high-flow catalytic converters, and either an exhaust or replace your mufflers with straight pipes.
If you still have money left over (depends heavily on exhaust vs straight pipe), go for the GM Hot Cam kit and a dyno tune.
All that exhaust work might get you 20hp, but the main focus will be sound. It will be MEAN. Go to my PhotoBucket website if you want to see video clips of mine (LT4 with LT headers, cats, Corsa exhaust). Putting the cam in might get you another 30hp, depending on the tune.
That being said, if I were you I'd focus on the exhaust first. Long-tube headers (LT for short), high-flow catalytic converters, and either an exhaust or replace your mufflers with straight pipes.
If you still have money left over (depends heavily on exhaust vs straight pipe), go for the GM Hot Cam kit and a dyno tune.
All that exhaust work might get you 20hp, but the main focus will be sound. It will be MEAN. Go to my PhotoBucket website if you want to see video clips of mine (LT4 with LT headers, cats, Corsa exhaust). Putting the cam in might get you another 30hp, depending on the tune.
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
Good day to everyone! I have a 96 LT1 Collector Edition 18,000 mi and with spring here I am looking for more hp and aggresive sound without blowing the wife out of the car going down the highway. I have already added (possibly foolishly) SLP air intake, Machined MAF and stock throttle body enlarged to 52mm with air foil. I am kind of new at this so its a learning process. What are some avenues I can take that will achieve my goals in the range of $2500 to spend? I do have a local shop willing to do a dyno tune once the mods have been installed. Any and all tips or recomendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time and help in this.
Next I would look at gears. Once the cam is in you could go to a 3.45 rear set.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Joliet Illinois
The car is automatic with the 3.07 rear end. The car is a weekend car (<2000 mi. per year, garaged and stored winters). Once I start playing with it I would like to show it, but still take it on the road.
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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
1) GM Hotcam Kit with cam, 1.6 RR's, springs, small parts = nice power and sound
2) Corsa Catback = Sound + low resonance
3) 3.45 Gears = SOTP stoplight speed
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Crosby Texas
I just picked up my first Vette, 94 with a 6-speed. However, I do have alot of F-body experiance. I have 02 SS "cam only" car that runs 10.7 and I've owned a couple LT1 cars.
If the Vettes respond to mods like the F-bodys, I can assure you a stall converter will net you more gain than anything besides a power adder. I put a Vig 2800 in my sons 96 Formula and dropped the 1/8 mile ET from 9.07 to 8.60 with no other changes. And his car has 2:73 gears. If you do get a stall I would go with a Yank or Vigilante only. You'll be happy with either
If the Vettes respond to mods like the F-bodys, I can assure you a stall converter will net you more gain than anything besides a power adder. I put a Vig 2800 in my sons 96 Formula and dropped the 1/8 mile ET from 9.07 to 8.60 with no other changes. And his car has 2:73 gears. If you do get a stall I would go with a Yank or Vigilante only. You'll be happy with either
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque NM
Yep, after all I've done I wish I wouldv'e just done full exhaust. If the car is an auto a good Tq mult (2.5) 2400 stall would be nice as well,