turbo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI
Do you want it to be good as well as cheap? That probably won't happen. Think of it this way. If you were worth $15 an hour and I offered you $10, would you work for me? As they say, "Cheap, Fast and Reliable. Pick any 2.".
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
This is my 15 yr old son's car. It needs carpet, seat covers, front bumper, weatherstripping, tires, paint and a few other things. we want to add some performance, but the budget doesn't allow a procharger or a full build.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI
Maybe it would be a good idea to hold off on the performance stuff till the budget allows. I have done and seen a lot of cheap mods and good mods. Rarely if ever they turn out to be good AND cheap.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Having had one of these when I was 16, I found that in stock form it was fast enough to do stupid ****. In stock form its still capable of 150+ mph. mine was an 85 with less HP than the LT1
Last edited by Pwnage1337; Dec 7, 2018 at 03:01 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,277
Likes: 32
From: Mission Viejo California
yes, it can be done if you know how to weld and keep the boost low. If you want a decent helping of boost, it'll get more and more complex. Yes, packaging is an issue. I'd buy a used supercharger kit since they're off the shelf and once in a blue moon, you can find one at a decent price.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Sometimes these mfrs have used/refurbished units for sale. Love superchargers the tq is awesome at any rpm
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
This is my 15 yr old son's car.
A turbo car and a kid that hasn't reached the age of best decision making yet is not the best combination.
Worn parts, inexperienced driver and the sudden onset of boost can lead to tragic consequences.
That is my opinion for what it is worth.
Caveat: if this is strictly a track car, then I would partly change my thoughts.
Last edited by drcook; Dec 9, 2018 at 09:40 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Idk about boosting an LT1 Corvette for a 15- 16 year old driver. I would focus on rehabilitating and maintenance coming from a parent's perspective.
if you look at how the Callaway was done it should not be that hard. LT1 does have higher than recommended compression for forced induction.
if you look at how the Callaway was done it should not be that hard. LT1 does have higher than recommended compression for forced induction.
Last edited by Kevova; Dec 9, 2018 at 10:15 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Vehicle safety and dependability should be project #1 before anything else. Tires should be a high priority if the tires on the car now are over 6 years old. Next would be brakes. How much pad material left and what condition are the rotors in?? Replace all 4 of the flex lines and do a complete fluid flush. Other good projects are replacing all of the fluids.
Your C4 (when running right) in stock form will provide a whole lot of fun and probably moments of "Oh ****!". Get the car running and then look for some driving schools that will provide some basic skills for performance driving. In time, you can start a list of performance upgrades that will fit in your (and his) budgets. I don't think a turbo will be a good upgrade. Go with the traditional stuff like headers, dual exhaust, cam, head work, and a tune for the computer.
One thing that would be a "must have" is the Factory Service Manuals for the specific year of the car. These manuals were used by technicians at dealerships and have very good step-by-step repair procedures, wiring diagrams and lots of pictures. They turn up in the C4 Parts For Sale section of the Forum and you cn also check eBay.
Your C4 (when running right) in stock form will provide a whole lot of fun and probably moments of "Oh ****!". Get the car running and then look for some driving schools that will provide some basic skills for performance driving. In time, you can start a list of performance upgrades that will fit in your (and his) budgets. I don't think a turbo will be a good upgrade. Go with the traditional stuff like headers, dual exhaust, cam, head work, and a tune for the computer.
One thing that would be a "must have" is the Factory Service Manuals for the specific year of the car. These manuals were used by technicians at dealerships and have very good step-by-step repair procedures, wiring diagrams and lots of pictures. They turn up in the C4 Parts For Sale section of the Forum and you cn also check eBay.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI
Vehicle safety and dependability should be project #1 before anything else. Tires should be a high priority if the tires on the car now are over 6 years old. Next would be brakes. How much pad material left and what condition are the rotors in?? Replace all 4 of the flex lines and do a complete fluid flush. Other good projects are replacing all of the fluids.
Your C4 (when running right) in stock form will provide a whole lot of fun and probably moments of "Oh ****!". Get the car running and then look for some driving schools that will provide some basic skills for performance driving. In time, you can start a list of performance upgrades that will fit in your (and his) budgets. I don't think a turbo will be a good upgrade. Go with the traditional stuff like headers, dual exhaust, cam, head work, and a tune for the computer.
One thing that would be a "must have" is the Factory Service Manuals for the specific year of the car. These manuals were used by technicians at dealerships and have very good step-by-step repair procedures, wiring diagrams and lots of pictures. They turn up in the C4 Parts For Sale section of the Forum and you cn also check eBay.
Your C4 (when running right) in stock form will provide a whole lot of fun and probably moments of "Oh ****!". Get the car running and then look for some driving schools that will provide some basic skills for performance driving. In time, you can start a list of performance upgrades that will fit in your (and his) budgets. I don't think a turbo will be a good upgrade. Go with the traditional stuff like headers, dual exhaust, cam, head work, and a tune for the computer.
One thing that would be a "must have" is the Factory Service Manuals for the specific year of the car. These manuals were used by technicians at dealerships and have very good step-by-step repair procedures, wiring diagrams and lots of pictures. They turn up in the C4 Parts For Sale section of the Forum and you cn also check eBay.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
All good advice and I appreciate it. We have a lot of horsepower amongst my sons and me. I have a '17 Zl1, one son has a G8 GT and the other has a camaro SS. Both of my older sons have done significant motor work to their cars. My daughter drives a Lexus IS350. My 15 yr old is my Baby and I just don't want him to feel left out lol. Motor work will come last in the equation, but I was trying to plan for the future.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI
I'd do motor and trans and rear end with the idea of forced induction to be added. That way I can drop the hairdryer in and maybe cam and things won't break as much after tuning. You will need a good tuner so start looking first.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
This is a manual w/ stock diff. Those handle hp pretty well don't they?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,424
Likes: 3,276
From: Hartford WI