New Engine, or work on old?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill NJ
New Engine, or work on old?
Any Pro's and Con's to consider for making my LT1 faster? Should I upgrade what God and Chevrolet gave me with the '92 convertible, or should I put in a new engine (from where/whom?) ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
IMHO, it depends. If you're going for 600HP and the motor has 200K miles, go for all new. If you're going for 400HP, you can get there without ever pulling the block.
What are you looking to do?
If you have an A4, you'll what to think about upgrading the trans and D36.
Eric
What are you looking to do?
If you have an A4, you'll what to think about upgrading the trans and D36.
Eric
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Originally Posted by jimbomill
I have the 6-speed. I'm not looking for 600 HP, but 400, or a little better would have me grinning 
Long Tube headers with cats ($1200)
pull the heads and have them ported ($1000)
LT4 HOT cam or CC 305 ($300)
CC or GMPP roller rockers ($350)
Catback ($800)
4.10 gear ($300)
That should get you close to 400HP (flywheel) 350 RWHP. If you do your own work, it'll run under $5000....
Eric
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,264
Likes: 88
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Originally Posted by silver & red CE
If I was looking for 400Hp on an LT1:
Long Tube headers with cats ($1200)
pull the heads and have them ported ($1000)
LT4 HOT cam or CC 305 ($300)
CC or GMPP roller rockers ($350)
Catback ($800)
4.10 gear ($300)
That should get you close to 400HP (flywheel) 350 RWHP. If you do your own work, it'll run under $5000....
Eric
Long Tube headers with cats ($1200)
pull the heads and have them ported ($1000)
LT4 HOT cam or CC 305 ($300)
CC or GMPP roller rockers ($350)
Catback ($800)
4.10 gear ($300)
That should get you close to 400HP (flywheel) 350 RWHP. If you do your own work, it'll run under $5000....
Eric
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by silver & red CE
If I was looking for 400Hp on an LT1:
Long Tube headers with cats ($1200)
pull the heads and have them ported ($1000)
LT4 HOT cam or CC 305 ($300)
CC or GMPP roller rockers ($350)
Catback ($800)
4.10 gear ($300)
That should get you close to 400HP (flywheel) 350 RWHP. If you do your own work, it'll run under $5000....
Eric
Long Tube headers with cats ($1200)
pull the heads and have them ported ($1000)
LT4 HOT cam or CC 305 ($300)
CC or GMPP roller rockers ($350)
Catback ($800)
4.10 gear ($300)
That should get you close to 400HP (flywheel) 350 RWHP. If you do your own work, it'll run under $5000....
Eric
Add maybe $2,000 for labor, for a good job that's done correctly.
Last edited by Red Tornado; Oct 3, 2004 at 09:21 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by bradvette
I agree very much, plus this is one of the more realistic budgets I've seen posted here. This will assume top quality components and parts, which is the only way to go
Add maybe $2,000 for labor, for a good job that's done correctly.
Add maybe $2,000 for labor, for a good job that's done correctly.
Don't forget to port the intake manifold to match the new ported heads. Otherwise your intake is going to be a restriction.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
Get the GM crate 383 with fastburn heads from Pace. Top it off with their TPI Vortec intake manifold and use your TPI system. I believe the engine is about $4,800.00 and the intake is $399.00. I would add Tpis Exhaust maniforl $750.00 and hi-flow cat $220.00
Your looking real close to the 600 HP and have a very streetably car.
Your looking real close to the 600 HP and have a very streetably car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Any fuel system mods or chip programming recommendations to go with that? I was hoping to keep cost closer to 5 to 6 K, any more and I'd be tempted to just buy a second '92 not a bad thought either ....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
With any serious engine upgrade, you should probably upgrade the fuel pump, and I would select the TPIS level 5 chip. Do yourself a favor and Check with Pace Performance and TPIS prior to any decisions.
For the engine refer to part number 12498772 and manifold part number 12498060SD.
For the engine refer to part number 12498772 and manifold part number 12498060SD.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Whoa whoa whoa....
You are recommending a TPI to go on IN for an LT1???
They are different systems, I would not recommend going down to a TPI. Now buy a lt1 crate 383, and you're good to go.
I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that would be more headaches than the reliable simple work mentioned above.
Disclaimer: I own a TPI 86, my new stroker will be a TPI run car, I love TPI
You are recommending a TPI to go on IN for an LT1???
They are different systems, I would not recommend going down to a TPI. Now buy a lt1 crate 383, and you're good to go.
I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure that would be more headaches than the reliable simple work mentioned above.
Disclaimer: I own a TPI 86, my new stroker will be a TPI run car, I love TPI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
You are recommending a TPI to go on IN for an LT1???
They are different systems, I would not recommend going down to a TPI.
They are different systems, I would not recommend going down to a TPI.
Get the GM crate 383 with fastburn heads from Pace. Top it off with their TPI Vortec intake manifold and use your TPI system. I believe the engine is about $4,800.00 and the intake is $399.00. I would add Tpis Exhaust maniforl $750.00 and hi-flow cat $220.00
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3
From: Seattle Area WA
Originally Posted by silver & red CE
Gonna be tough to make this engine work in an LT1 car. The opti, PCM and ASR are all tied together. There's no way to put an opti on the GM 383. So you'll be forced to rework a bunch of systems....
Minus that leaky comment....
