Recommended Mods for a 96' LT1

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Mar 12, 2011 | 07:30 PM

Ensoniq

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 323

Likes: 4

From: Cary NC

Recommended Mods for a 96' LT1

I want to retain the reliability of my daily driver but need more Tq/HP

1) What can the stock (auto) trans and rear handle in the way of HP

2) What's the consensus on the weakest link(s)

3) What's the most reliable way to get to a higher HP without sacrificing reliability.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Mar 12, 2011 | 09:30 PM

tblt44

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 1,615

Likes: 3

From: Tampa Fl

Do you want small cheap increases or do you want to dump a lot of money in it for a larger increase of Hp/tq ?
Can you do the work yourself?

Your trans is probley the weakest link,second being your D36 rear.
unless your going to dump big money in the car for over 50 hp your ok.

Mar 13, 2011 | 08:03 AM

Ensoniq

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 323

Likes: 4

From: Cary NC

I can do the basic bolt ons myself. I was hoping to get another 100 to 125 HP but if the rear and trans would need to be replaced or beefed up, it's probably going to be too expensive to justify

Thanks for the reply

I want to reserve my primary mod budget for my C6Z06 but was hoping for a noticeable bump on my daily driver

Mar 13, 2011 | 09:52 AM

tblt44

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 1,615

Likes: 3

From: Tampa Fl

Her you go this is what I would do
You should be ok,just don't take it to the track on a regular basis.
also do a K&N filter and the throtlebody bypass

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TFS-K304-430-400/

Mar 13, 2011 | 10:36 AM

cv67

Team Owner

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 81,241

Likes: 3,062

From: altered state

St. Jude Donor '05

100-125hp?

Nitrous
Supercharge
STS turbo
Head/cam would be the last pick, usually a disappointment for the money if thats the amount of power youll expect unless you stick a real nice head./cam and do some intake work. Headers injector, tune, etc etc.

Mar 13, 2011 | 08:15 PM

Ensoniq

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 323

Likes: 4

From: Cary NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by tblt44

Thanks for this link, this seems about the right level of cost/power

I appreciate your time

Mar 13, 2011 | 09:28 PM

racebum

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 16,027

Likes: 169

From: oregon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ensoniq

Thanks for this link, this seems about the right level of cost/power

I appreciate your time

not a bad choice but you can can create power without spending a lot if you shop smartly. if i had an LT1 auto and was after more hp i would

1. stall
2. cam
3. port the stock heads myself
4. install matched springs and retainers
5. headers and cat back
6. good air filter
7. tune

that's easily somewhere in the 12s and could get near stock mpg and live quite a while on the guides and springs if the ramps on the cam are tame

Mar 13, 2011 | 11:08 PM

96 lt-4

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 1,913

Likes: 48

From: Angier nc

Depends on how you want to go about it.
Some suggestions would be;
new valve springs and 1.6 RR
cut lid and filter of your choice
catback or just replace mufflers and resonator(factory 2 3/4 pipe is sufficient)
electric waterpump
headers and hi flow cats
dyno tune
If you have 3.07 gears go with a stall converter and shift kit.
Cam/heads is a lot more intrusive but where the big power is.
If you want awesome power and driveability go with a set of heads(or heads and 1.6 rockers with the stock cam) and a mild cam with a tune.All of the previous mods will only enhance that.
There are three awesome shops within 30 minutes of Cary.One did my 383 build and the other handled the dyno work,If you want some info pm me.