I have a 96lt4 6 speed vette. The only mods I have done already are a corsa catback, and the hypertech prgrammer. Now this is what I can do over the next few weeks, and you guys here seem to be very helpfull. So I will spit out what I would like to have done next.
Money, nor labor is an issue. The money is burning a whole in my pocket, and my brother and I can do all the work. My brother owns his own machine shop, so head work is not a problem either, as a matter afact its free.
So basically I need some advice on what produts to use, and tell me your opinions on how a certain product works better than the other.
Here is a list of what mods I was gonna do. Tell your opinions please.
1) Forced air induction, through the fron license plate.
2)52mm throttle body.
3)Ported, and port matched intake.
4)Fully cnc'ed and ported lt4 heads.
5)Move the mat sensor forward.
6)Headers, preferably full lengh, but not sure about getting rid of my converters. If I do get rid of them I think that part can be removed from the ecm, correct me if Im wrong please.
7)Possible clutch and flywheel replacement. Ripper shifter. Im not sure if I have a dual mass or not. If I do I wanna get rid of it for the lightweight steel one. Not sure what brand and so forth, need help on what brand to get.
8)Strut brace, and I already have the dana44 in the car, 3.55 gears. Im leaving the gearing alone.
9)Add in the lt4 hotcam, and 1.7 7/16 roller rockers in stead of the factory 1.6's. I would possibly go alittle bigger on the cam, but the 1.7 rockers will add me another 35thousandths lift, so the hotcam maybe fine.
10)I already have the gs wheels with the 315's on the rear.
11)Customize the ecm for my application.

I will leave the bottom end completely intact with no mods yet. Anyhow what do you guys think about the mods will be doing. All opinions will be gladly accepted. And please help me out with what other brands of these mods might be better for me. The faster the car is the better. Last but not least, what kinda of 1/4 et's do you think it will turn with these mods? Thanks guys!

 

welcome...

I am not an LT4 expert by any stretch... but the thought of 1.7:1 rr's on a SBC is kinda scary...

As for the clutch... just stay away from SPEC. I am one of a rather large number of Corvette people who had nothing but problems with their clutches.

The flywheel is a bit more complex. The crank and dual mass are balanced together, so installing an unmatched single mass is going to result in some vibration.

For drag, the dual mass is better, whereas on the roadcourse, single mass is better.

same applies for shifters... the B&M is better for drags, the Hurst is better for roadcourse.

I hope this helps....

 

I didn't think the 1.6 rr would be an issue. Some LS6 owners run 1.8's, and small block ford owners run 1.7. So why would me running a 1.7 be an issue?
And about the flywheel, I wasn't sure what to do about it. I thought it would give greater power to get rid of the dual mass, however if that is not true will then I will stick with it? Any other opinions out there, please gimmie some insight on all these mods I will be undertaking in the next 2 weeks?

 

Looks like you have apretty good plan. Once done with these mods you may want to throw in some 4.10 gears.

 

So what do you guys think about the forced air induction system. Is that one or the vortex better. And what about this mat sensor relocater, is that even worth doing? It seems to me pulling air by the license plate is better than underneth the car then traveling upwards back towards the front of the car is better(which is what the vortex does).

 

The forced air thru the license plate works much better than the other type that pulls it from underneath the car...that's for sure.The Mat sensor relocator does a fairly good job of telling your computer that you have much cooler air so it does help, not sure that you can tell the difference though. I read somewhere that the 1.6s were much better matted for the LT4 than the 1.7s, not sure why but I did read that. Also I don't think I understood the reasoning why but they did give a good explaination. Its just that I am not that mechanically inclined to listen to engineering terms. :lol:

Good Luck

 

Any other advice out there on where to send my ecm too? Or maybe a better camshaft than the hotcam? The whole top of the motor will be apart so now is the time to do anything and everything. Also what about fuel pumps or fuel presure, will I need to do anything with that running that setup I stated above? I am just looking for the best possible combination possible for what I am doing. I remeber using underdrive pulley's and throttle body air foils years ago. They didn't help for sh##t. Now I will just opt the the bigger throttle body. And should I do anything with the afs?

 

Don't send the computer out to anyone. Bring the car to someone, they can tune it better if the PCM is in the car rather than guess and let you deal with it.

Quite a few people I know that sent out their PCM had problems, someone who is hundreds or thousands of miles away can't tell what your car is going to do.

Ask around in your area for someone with tuning capabilities.

 

Welcome, Correct me if I am wrong, did you used to drive a mustang? You sound like a mustang driver. The 3.55s and 1.7s kinda gave it away! I don't think 1.7s are even avaliable for Gen II SBCs.


To answer your question, making your LT-4 quick is really really easy. It just depends on what your goals are. If you just want a low 12 or high 11 sec street car then look no further than the tried and trued Hot cam and CNC setup.

Street setup would be this: 3.73s, long tubes, 52mm t-body, HOT cam, CNC LT-4 heads.

Race setup: 4.10 or lower, 52mm, long tubes, 3" exhaust, CC306 or GTP 6 cam, AFR 220 race ready heads.

Good luck,

Paul

 

The only Ford I ever owned was a convertable mustang I bought for my x-wife. I only drive chevy's. I probably am wrong on the gear ratio, something is telling me 3.45. And as far as the 1.7 stuff, why not try! But yes I am going with the cnc lt4 heads hotcam version of my engine. Not sure on what long tube headers are best, and should I also delete the airpump. Then again what about the cats, and the o2 sensors? As far as what et I am looking for low 12's.

 

You can run low 12s very easily, you can probably do it with just a Hot cam and 3.73s alone. If you don't have to deal with smog I say dump the cats and go with straight pipes. I wouldn't recommend gutting the cats because the velocity loss with the exhaust gases is passing through a big empty chamber. Just put in 2 1/2" pipes in place of the cats and you will be fine. If you go with full lengths then that will get rid of the pre-cats.

For Headers I would recommend 2149 Hookers or TPIS both are basically the same. If you go with Hot cam you should step up to 3.73s, but it is not absoutely necessary, it will just be more fun to drive.

 

sounds like a good plan but i'de also add 4.09/4.10 gear and stick with the LT4 HOT CAM kit 1.6 roller rockers.

 

I've got everything you listed except the 1.7 RR's never heard of those. I use Comp Cams Pro-Magnum 1.6 rockers. I have the A-O Engineering cold air intake kit, it is the large tube one used for racing, and it has a grommet built into it for the MAT sensor. You can see the MAT sensor thru the duct that replaces the front license plate area. I use the Fidanza 13 Lb Alum SM flywheel & the Spec stage 2 clutch setup. I've heard other people complain, but I've yet to have a problem. It's a little noisy but IMHO that's what you get when you go to a single mass 13 LB flywheel on a Trans that is designed for a 35-40 Lb dual mass. My car will run 12.80's on a G-tech easily the best 0-60 I have got was 4.20 the average of 5 runs was 4.27. All numbers are on 275 series street tires no "R" compounds. The toughest part of getting good times is traction for me. I did get a 116 MPH reading for the ¼ mile on the G-tech I’m in the process of refining a few things at the moment. The car is a blast to drive :D

 

for headers the exotic muscle pieces are a specific design for the lt4 so no mods are necessary and they arent that much more than the hookers

 

See sig for mods. Not bad for the little bit of work done to the car. I still get 25-28mpg on the highway, much less stop and go driving :D

 

I am looking to get the same out of my car RichS. So where is the best place to purchase the DRM coated long tube headers. And how do I get in touch with Ed Write for the program. Thanks for the info. By the way who is sig?

 

sig is his signature, he has the mods listed there.

Rich has a strong running car, I've run against him many times, only beat him once since he got the GS, but it was bracket racing, his car is a full second quicker than either of mine.

 

Sig, are running the shorty or full length DRM headers, what part number headers did you use? Did you do away with your front o2 sensors? And last but not least how to get in touch with Ed Wright? Thanks, I like the impresive number your car gives, and thats exactly what Im looking for!

 

fastchip.com

 

Correct me if I am wrong here but you keep mentioning getting rid of the air pump? I didn't think LT4's used air pumps since there is no egr system?!?!

if you have code GM3 on the sheet under the console then you have 3.45 gears.

Not sure on the 1.7's either, but you seem to be setting yourself up for a low 12 sec - high 11 sec ride.