I recently bought an automatic 96 hard top collectors edition with about 52k miles. Im not all that technical with cars so Im looking for some opinions on performance upgrades. Im willing to spend about $4000 for now, possibly more in the future. What would be the best things to get first? Will an intake like the "slp claw" and and exhaust alone give noticeable performance? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Need to really know more about what you want from the car, power upgrade? how much more power do you want?

Generally the best bang for the buck on LT1/4 engines is gears, so a 3.54/3.73 change and a higher stall torque converter would give you the best feel of the power the engine makes.

 

yes more power. Im not looking to race the car, I just drive it for fun. What would be a price estimate on what you said. Not really sure how much more power, just trying to get the most out of the about $4000 I can spend.

 

depending on how much you can get everything installed for- http://advancedinduction.com/LTX/AiLTxHeadsCamKits.php

 

The 'claw' and exhaust upgrades won't generate much, if any, power upgrades. But if you combine them with 1.6 rockers and a cam upgrade then you will feel a difference. Then add your longtube headers, hi flow cats, etc.
Check for a local shop that will work on the LT1 first, not many out there that will.

 

[QUOTE=a fminnich;1589104196]The 'claw' and exhaust upgrades won't generate much, if any, power upgrades. But if you combine them with 1.6 rockers and a cam upgrade then you will feel a difference. Then add your longtube headers, hi flow cats, etc.
Check for a local shop that will work on the LT1 first, not many out there that

Thanks for the reply. I do happen to know a place where I live here on long island.
So would exhaust and headers such as this be worth getting now or should what you said be done first? What would be the difference in getting one over the other first? http://www.parts123.com/corvettecentral/dyndetail.pta?catalog=0000050f&ukey=2549 7

 

TC would cost anywhere from 300-400 to $800 depending on who you buy from. Figure about $300 for installation at most shops.

Gears can vary because of the labor, which will be high, but the parts should be had for $3-500 or so. You do need to find a shop that will do this and do it right. I would expect to pay $800-1000 total.

 

Honestly, i would start out small. Nice catback exhaust or muffler eliminators and cut air cleaner lid. Tune from PCM for less and a 160 degree thermostat. No huge improvement in power but you'll gain a nice sound and set yourself up for future mods. I would save most of the money and focus on making yourself a better driver. Lots of people come on here and build a real strong motor and they'll never use its full potential. Most people that just drive on the street don't make use of all the power a stock LT1 puts out. No need to make it a ZR-1 eater just yet. Have fun with the car first, get to know it, and fix any small repairs along the way.

 

There is always the Forced induction route.
keeps stock drive ability and should pass emissions.
On my 95 with a stock engine i have 400 rwhp + - Kicks in a 2500 rpm and there is a big power bump.
or go the Advanced induction route.
I would just do it right the first time.

 

I would do a LT4 hot cam kit; http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...oductId=753463 can be done with the engine still in the car and LT headers; https://www.tpis.com/parts/view/57 that would be good for a proven 50-60 hp increase which you will really enjoy and keep you below you 4000 budget. I did the hot cam, LT headers from exotic muscle and trick flow heads. You also need to check about emissions in your area, that will effect your decision weather to tear in to the motor or stick with TC and gears. Good luck.

 

hey thanks...after a lot of reading ive been thinking about the hot cam and headers, for now at least. From everything ive been reading I see a lot of people saying the stock exhaust on the lt1 is actually very good and practical up to about 400hp (unsure of how true this is). If I were to get only the hot cam and headers for now, would my stock cats and exhaust be enough for that or would there be a major difference if I went with a catback exhaust at the same time? Also, im guessing the car needs to be tuned to manage the hot cam and headers? Are there really any downsides to applying this to the stock engine? Im also planning on getting the k&n filter and the "performance" lid before I do any of this, seeing as the car is at 52k miles and im assuming the air filter has never been replaced anyway.

 

I plan on changing my stock air filter and lid to the k&n air filter and "performance" lid since it is only about $100 for both and im sure my air filter hasn't been changed anyway. Im guessing there would be no reason to cut anything after I did this? Ive also had the car for about a year now and its not like im really looking for over 400hp right now. Realistically id like about +50hp or so for now.

 

Instead find an SLP Claw, and maybe the smooth couplers.

 

The stock LT1 Corvette exhaust is very good, stock it has huge cats and 2 3/4" true dual exhaust all the way to the back of the car. If you do long tube headers you will have to ditch the cats or buy aftermarket ones to replace your stock ones because you will not be able to reuse them, the just physically won't fit behind the new long tube headers. If you have to meet emisions then you may just want to keep your motor stock and go with gears and TQ converter. If you don't have to worry about emissions you could run the stock tune with a hot cam and headers but to get it to run best you would need a retune from PCM for less or someone like them. I got a good tune from PCM for less.

 

I have a 95 auto which is basically the same engine and drive train setup as you have.

The very first thing that you want to do is determine if your rear end ratio is 2.73 or 3.07. The cost difference was only $50.00 at time of order. The 2.73 was for mileage but just changing over to a 3.07 will give you a huge SOTP difference.

I had the LT4 hat cam kit installed in mine at 70,000 miles ... that was 60,000 miles ago and I love it along with SW long tube headers.

What was mentioned above about the cats is correct. With long tube headers you have to use bullet cats which are much smaller however.........as your car is a 96 you have the OBTII software and they don't stick the probes up the exhaust pipes so you should not have a problem passing emissions inspection.

I also had a Yank 3200 TC installed and that really made a huge difference.

With the cam and the TC the car is a blast to drive.

Just installing headers does not require a retune however if you install the LT4 hot cam kit you absolutely will need a retune.

All of the above added approx. 40 rwhp on the same mustang dyno.

Your car is not going to benefit from a new (cat back) exhaust system the stock dual exhaust is pretty free flowing up to about the volume you need for 400 hp. Use the money instead for long tube headers.

Best of luck

IMG 1352

 

thanks for the great reply. Headers like this would be good then correct? And I could keep my stock exhaust for now? And out of curiosity...would new headers with or without the hot cam make the car sound any different? http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...headerssw.html

Also with the hot cam kit, do I want just the hot cam or the hot cam complete kit? What would be the benefit of the complete?
http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...53463/10002/-1

 

Well im not done(should be done before the green grass gets here) but i did the lt4 hot cam, headers, ported heads, 2400-2800 stall, shift kit and rebuilt trans, 3:54 gears and a pcm for less tune.

I know it would be down for a bit and a learning curve but if it was me... I couldnt tear into that car with out going all the way. Save your money, drive it for a bit and when your ready do it once the right way and be done. Just my opinion

 

would it be bad to do the hot cam and headers without porting? (sorry for my lack of knowledge, im not entirely sure what porting is). Would porting just provide more power or is it needed for the hot cam/headers? I will probably have to put off working on the transmission since the cost of that would equal the parts and labor of the hot cam and headers alone.

 

if you had the heads off ... kinda would be the time to do the porting. everything I've done was right around your budget. i did most of the work my self and with the internet and these types of forums... no reason you couldn't figure out anything you need to figure out. i had a local shop do a "bench top rebuild" for the trans. if you pull the trans and bring it to them they will usually knock off some $. it cost me $1128 for a built to the hilt 4l60e.

if your not looking for all that much maybe just do what others have suggested. gears, headers and a tune and i think you would be extremely surprised with the results. and all of that shouldn't run you more then $1500

 

Yes headers like my stainless works would be good for the car. Yes you can keep your stock exhaust . You will have to get bullet cats (they can be ordered with the headers) and you then keep the rest of your stock exhaust from the cats back to the mufflers.

Oh yes... with just the long tube headers your exhaust will sound different, much lower and a bit louder But because you are retaining the stock resonator and the stock mufflers you will not get drone in the cabin.

If you are getting the LT4 hot cam you really DO want to get the entire kit and have it installed and here is why. First of all the kit will include a complete set of roller rockers and this is going to remove a lot of friction from the valve train. Next the kit will include a new set of valve springs. The springs along with the rockers will allow the tuner to modify your tune so that you will safely move the red line up an additional 500 rpm.

And because you will gain some horse power and will be able to rev higher you really should at the same time install the LT4 HD timing chain and sprocket kit. The engine is open so now is the time to do this.

Hope this helps