Engine Upgrades
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Bonita Springs FL
Engine Upgrades
My car is a bone stock 91'. I'm going to get my engine refinished after the BG rally. The problem is this: "If I have my plenum off to get PC'd, I might as well get it Ported & Polished while its off." I have looked into a few engine upgrades as well and I wanted to get some feedback from some other owners on what they had done and what kind of power to expect. What is the best order of steps to take to get a little more power out of the car and keep the stock look? What is the best package out there? I would be happy in the low to mid 400 hp range is within my budget!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 301
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From: las vegas nev
yeah if you are going to get it pced then b y all means port the inj housings and plenum. Get ahold of jeff a pnwzr1.com . he does the porting as well as the powder coating . and does an awsome job on both. i would get headers and a better exhaust also . then have the car tuned on a chassis dyno to get the air fuel right . these mods will get you between 380-410- rwhp. I believe that porting the heads get one 30-40 more hp . above that you nee to add cubic inches and the cost goes way up QUICK . Mark hiabeck has a price list on some of the mods also. I would call jeff to see what his price is . he is a deffinate gear head owns a really nice and fast 91 zr1. hope that helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
Likes: 9
From: The Old Dominion
Certainly you'll be doing all the labor it would take to get it P&P'd. If you don't care about stock, go for it. It's probably the cheapest first step in power, ~20whp for $1-2k.
Refinishing the engine won't keep the stock look though.
Are you talking low-mid 400 RWHP? Because you likely will be nowhere near that with just that mod.
Another first mod to consider as an alternative would be the exhaust. Some ponies to be had there I believe, especially the '90-92s with that puny resonator. This also would probably be the way to go if you aren't budgeting a tune or chip yet.
My two cents.
Refinishing the engine won't keep the stock look though.
Are you talking low-mid 400 RWHP? Because you likely will be nowhere near that with just that mod.
Another first mod to consider as an alternative would be the exhaust. Some ponies to be had there I believe, especially the '90-92s with that puny resonator. This also would probably be the way to go if you aren't budgeting a tune or chip yet.
My two cents.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Bonita Springs FL
Here's the set up I was thinking - B&B triflow - P&P and PC with the silver color...close to stock...and I'm not sure which chip or to tune. Headers and the flywheel maybe but not right now...I was reading about the flywheel and Findaza clutch making it a rougher drive...is that true?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Most guys here Ive talked to who have the strokers, etc have all said if they had to do it over again (looking at it from hp per $$ spent) they would port the whole top end, headers, a good tune and call it a day.
Thats exactly what I plan to do..Ill throw a 160 stat and reprogram the fans for good measure, I dont need a heater out here.
Thats exactly what I plan to do..Ill throw a 160 stat and reprogram the fans for good measure, I dont need a heater out here.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: las vegas nev
on the aluminum flywheel, it doesn't hurt the drive at all. I have had one in for 20k miles. i just love how quick she revs up. another mod would be 3.90 -410 gears makes for tons of fun. although your rear tires don't last very long . but I like that
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,053
Likes: 69
From: This city NEVER sleeps! Frank's back yard!
Most guys here Ive talked to who have the strokers, etc have all said if they had to do it over again (looking at it from hp per $$ spent) they would port the whole top end, headers, a good tune and call it a day.
Thats exactly what I plan to do..Ill throw a 160 stat and reprogram the fans for good measure, I dont need a heater out here.
Thats exactly what I plan to do..Ill throw a 160 stat and reprogram the fans for good measure, I dont need a heater out here.
As for bang for the buck, porting and polishing the plenum and injector housings is by far the best bang for the buck. With headers and an exhaust system, this is good for about 400 rwhp. Doing the heads too will get you to about 430-435 rwhp, but for a whole lot more money, so bang for the buck is less obvious.
BTW - a 160 stat will not negate the heater - I drove my Z home from chicago in the middle of december and the heater worked great.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
None of them said they didnt like the stroker, they were talking money spent per power gain the P&P was a good bang for the buck.
Who would complain about 500+rwhp...Hey if you can afford it go for it.
Who would complain about 500+rwhp...Hey if you can afford it go for it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,727
Likes: 16
From: Town of the cow
There are a lot of guys out there that have had the intake/injector housings, heads ported and headers that are only putting 410 at the tires.
The range for the top end + headers, exluding the heads is 375-400 rwhp. With the heads ported it is 400-430 rwhp.
Plus, I would spend the money again for another 415 anyday. Although more expensive than lets say a LS1/6 stroker, most people would be surprised that it is only 5-7K more than doing an LS6 427 that puts out 550 at the tires.
The range for the top end + headers, exluding the heads is 375-400 rwhp. With the heads ported it is 400-430 rwhp.
Plus, I would spend the money again for another 415 anyday. Although more expensive than lets say a LS1/6 stroker, most people would be surprised that it is only 5-7K more than doing an LS6 427 that puts out 550 at the tires.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 75
From: Maryland
Haven't "yet" had any top end machining but the original owner had it extrusion honed in 1993. While this process opens and smooths internal cast passages, it does not remove material in specific and known locations the way machining does. Regardless, and with headers, Triflows, and a 160degree thermostat, it puts out between 370 and 380 rwhp depending on who's dyno and the time of year. Mine is also a 91.