(seriously though
Top 10 modifications that really make HP
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Top 10 modifications that really make HP
I'll start with the obvious:
Superchargers
Heads/Cam
N2O
Let the discussion begin
Superchargers
Heads/Cam
N2O
Let the discussion begin
Original Founding Member!
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,037
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From: Granby, MA
Cruise-In 1, 3, 9. 10 & 11 Veteran
I did a post like this not too long ago
Headers
Tune
Vararam Intake
Gears (wont' give you hp, but you will feel like it does)
Turbos
Roller Rockers
Larger/Better Intake and thottlebody (FAST, Ported LS6)
Keep in mind, just as I learned from my post. HP gainers are different from car to car. 1 guy might get 5 hp from porting his throttlebody vs another guy will get nothing. It works like this across the border. I think to make your thread more fair and give actual results, your going to have to give your baseline engine setup. Are you talking about starting stock and trying to increase HP or are you talking about a car that has already had some stuff done to it. As mentioned, HP is relative to the combination you use and what amount of money you want to spend. Oh one more big thing. Keep in mind increasing HP is only a small percent of the battle.
1. Once you increase HP enough you will have to.....
A. Get a tune.... ($500 and up)
B. Get a new clutch to handle the new HP ($500 and up)
C. Upgrade other systems such as suspension and tranny if the HP proves to powerful for them ($1000 and up)
Its really as many have mentioned...a never ending catch. Once you get the HP bug you really have to control yourself or you will find yourself broke in the wallet as well as a broken car.
As I have heard over and over again. Find out what your goals are, find out exactly everything involved, keep in mind all the repercussions your going to create by what your about to do to your car, and most of all make sure you have plenty of money to cover everything plus some.
Tune
Vararam Intake
Gears (wont' give you hp, but you will feel like it does)
Turbos
Roller Rockers
Larger/Better Intake and thottlebody (FAST, Ported LS6)
Keep in mind, just as I learned from my post. HP gainers are different from car to car. 1 guy might get 5 hp from porting his throttlebody vs another guy will get nothing. It works like this across the border. I think to make your thread more fair and give actual results, your going to have to give your baseline engine setup. Are you talking about starting stock and trying to increase HP or are you talking about a car that has already had some stuff done to it. As mentioned, HP is relative to the combination you use and what amount of money you want to spend. Oh one more big thing. Keep in mind increasing HP is only a small percent of the battle.
1. Once you increase HP enough you will have to.....
A. Get a tune.... ($500 and up)
B. Get a new clutch to handle the new HP ($500 and up)
C. Upgrade other systems such as suspension and tranny if the HP proves to powerful for them ($1000 and up)
Its really as many have mentioned...a never ending catch. Once you get the HP bug you really have to control yourself or you will find yourself broke in the wallet as well as a broken car.
As I have heard over and over again. Find out what your goals are, find out exactly everything involved, keep in mind all the repercussions your going to create by what your about to do to your car, and most of all make sure you have plenty of money to cover everything plus some.
Last edited by XtremeVette; Jul 27, 2008 at 11:27 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,194
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
I agree with most of this based on my limited experience. However I would also add any true CAI (vararam is one of them) and I would put cam, heads, heads and cam ahead of better intake and throttle body. If you have an LS6 intake, you probably won't need a Fast or such till you add heads and cam. Forced induction Turbos, superchargers) should obviously be on the list but majority of folks will do the other things 1st. Just my .02.
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
Likes: 2,061
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Headers
Tune
Vararam Intake
Gears (wont' give you hp, but you will feel like it does)
Turbos
Roller Rockers
Larger/Better Intake and thottlebody (FAST, Ported LS6)
Keep in mind, just as I learned from my post. HP gainers are different from car to car. 1 guy might get 5 hp from porting his throttlebody vs another guy will get nothing. It works like this across the border. I think to make your thread more fair and give actual results, your going to have to give your baseline engine setup. Are you talking about starting stock and trying to increase HP or are you talking about a car that has already had some stuff done to it. As mentioned, HP is relative to the combination you use and what amount of money you want to spend. Oh one more big thing. Keep in mind increasing HP is only a small percent of the battle.
1. Once you increase HP enough you will have to.....
A. Get a tune.... ($500 and up)
B. Get a new clutch to handle the new HP ($500 and up)
C. Upgrade other systems such as suspension and tranny if the HP proves to powerful for them ($1000 and up)
Its really as many have mentioned...a never ending catch. Once you get the HP bug you really have to control yourself or you will find yourself broke in the wallet as well as a broken car.
As I have heard over and over again. Find out what your goals are, find out exactly everything involved, keep in mind all the repercussions your going to create by what your about to do to your car, and most of all make sure you have plenty of money to cover everything plus some.
Tune
Vararam Intake
Gears (wont' give you hp, but you will feel like it does)
Turbos
Roller Rockers
Larger/Better Intake and thottlebody (FAST, Ported LS6)
Keep in mind, just as I learned from my post. HP gainers are different from car to car. 1 guy might get 5 hp from porting his throttlebody vs another guy will get nothing. It works like this across the border. I think to make your thread more fair and give actual results, your going to have to give your baseline engine setup. Are you talking about starting stock and trying to increase HP or are you talking about a car that has already had some stuff done to it. As mentioned, HP is relative to the combination you use and what amount of money you want to spend. Oh one more big thing. Keep in mind increasing HP is only a small percent of the battle.
1. Once you increase HP enough you will have to.....
A. Get a tune.... ($500 and up)
B. Get a new clutch to handle the new HP ($500 and up)
C. Upgrade other systems such as suspension and tranny if the HP proves to powerful for them ($1000 and up)
Its really as many have mentioned...a never ending catch. Once you get the HP bug you really have to control yourself or you will find yourself broke in the wallet as well as a broken car.
As I have heard over and over again. Find out what your goals are, find out exactly everything involved, keep in mind all the repercussions your going to create by what your about to do to your car, and most of all make sure you have plenty of money to cover everything plus some.
I'm talking about starting from stock.
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Race Director
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From: Schaumburg IL
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
You pretty much hit it with your own answer.. Heads/cam, Supercharger, NOS
The only thing you left out is a CAI, Longtube headers and a Professional Tune.
The only thing you left out is a CAI, Longtube headers and a Professional Tune.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 33
From: Morristown TN
I noticed a very good increase in power when I installed a set of Borla Stingers.
I also noticed a difference when I installed new Bosch fusion plugs.
(this may not be the fact that the new plugs were better than other new plugs as much as they were better than the worn out ones I removed)
I also noticed a difference when I installed new Bosch fusion plugs.
(this may not be the fact that the new plugs were better than other new plugs as much as they were better than the worn out ones I removed)
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Cruise-In V Veteran
Forget the little stuff. If you are into modding you might as well start at or near the top. I ebayed all the little stuff off this winter after I realized a big blower was the way that I really wanted to go all along. There's nothing like a nice, big FI setup. You can't light them up at 60 MPH with only a CAI and Borlas. http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c5/esc...//drivings.gif
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
I guess the skeptical icon was a bit strong
Yes ANY CAI will let more air in than the stock intake. However, at the stock HP level the bump in HP is not very high and motor get all the air it needs for THAT power level.
I view CAIs as a first step to something bigger or in conjunction with mods that will require more air. No doubt, a CAI will give you a HP bump and some of the better ones will give you a slightly bigger bump than that. Sorry for my lack of clarity
Yes ANY CAI will let more air in than the stock intake. However, at the stock HP level the bump in HP is not very high and motor get all the air it needs for THAT power level.
I view CAIs as a first step to something bigger or in conjunction with mods that will require more air. No doubt, a CAI will give you a HP bump and some of the better ones will give you a slightly bigger bump than that. Sorry for my lack of clarity
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
I guess the skeptical icon was a bit strong
Yes ANY CAI will let more air in than the stock intake. However, at the stock HP level the bump in HP is not very high and motor get all the air it needs for THAT power level.
I view CAIs as a first step to something bigger or in conjunction with mods that will require more air. No doubt, a CAI will give you a HP bump and some of the better ones will give you a slightly bigger bump than that. Sorry for my lack of clarity
Yes ANY CAI will let more air in than the stock intake. However, at the stock HP level the bump in HP is not very high and motor get all the air it needs for THAT power level.
I view CAIs as a first step to something bigger or in conjunction with mods that will require more air. No doubt, a CAI will give you a HP bump and some of the better ones will give you a slightly bigger bump than that. Sorry for my lack of clarity
I don't recall if a dyno tune was mentioned but I gained 29 rwhp in three hours - $350. Stock car (at that time) btw with the exception of a K&N filter, X pipe, and Corsa Pace Car.
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From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
But it is an increase in HP. That's the thread question. Now if we're talking 500+ rwhp, for sure FI.
I don't recall if a dyno tune was mentioned but I gained 29 rwhp in three hours - $350. Stock car (at that time) btw with the exception of a K&N filter, X pipe, and Corsa Pace Car.
I don't recall if a dyno tune was mentioned but I gained 29 rwhp in three hours - $350. Stock car (at that time) btw with the exception of a K&N filter, X pipe, and Corsa Pace Car.
We are in agreement. I think a CAI with a tune is essential. CAIs indeed increase HP just not to the extent that some people (not you) claim