If I gave you a task of building my 28k mile LS6 to produce ~500 safe RWHP (naturally aspirated, w/out NOS, & tuned for 92 octane), what would your parts list look like, and what all would you do???
What are your MUST DO, SHOULD DO, and DON'T DO things???

There is a "budget" so to speak, so keep in mind I cannot just go and spend spend spend....let's start with $3k and go from there.

Here is what I have already: Magnaflow catless mid pipe, full Corsa cat back, Vararam CAI, and a MGW shifter. I need this motor to be able to run well around town in ALL weather conditions hot or cold, and be something I could drive coast to coast if I desired. I'm not concerned about getting great MPG's, nor am I scared of a lumpy idle, just so long as the thing isn't stalling out all of the time. I MUST be able to use my A/C, cruise control, OE PCM, and enjoy driving the car as I do now in basically stock form. Coming to the Z from a 700 RWHP Cobra, has left me wanting more power in a bad way! I feel like ~500 RWHP in this weight of car would keep me happy for a while, and not have the motor running on the ragged edge all of the time. Initially I wanted to do a blower of some sort, but I've been there...done that several times. This go around I'd like to have a cammed, high compression (11.4:1) motor, that runs on premium pump gas. Please be very specific with what parts you would use, and your reasoning for suggesting what you did. I'm not brand loyal to any, so run with it.

Have fun, and thanks for the info!!

 

With stock displacement that is going to be hard to pull off without a monster (unstreetable) cam and some expensive heads. And even then you end up with your target peak number while the car is a turd down low when you aren't banging it off the rev limiter.

 

Funny post

Its not going to happen with $3K or anywhere close to $3K.. that might cover your heads alone.

 

3k no way.. 500whp is possible on stock bottom end but will require a very meticulous, detail oriented build. My short list would be: halltech 103 intake, fast 102/102, CNC trick flow heads, roller rockers, Manton pushrods, underdrive pulley, maybe electric water pump, its gonna need lots of overlap and prob high 240's duration cam that will make power to 7k revs or a smige over 7k. Drivability will suffer. And don't forget a nice header / exhaust combo.

And that's just the short list that may fall short of 500whp

In reality u need more cubes to really do it comfortably

 

Friend of mine had his 01 Z built at a local performance shop and with ported stock heads, LT headers, Ported intake/TB and the largest cam they have put in a stock displacement LS6 and it was only squeeking out 450 WHP. It was still streetable but it was lumpy.

500WHP and 3K you need to find a used A&A SC kit. or set your goals lower like 450-460HP. I can tell you his car was fast/fun at that power.

 

For what you want sounds like boost is going to be your choice...

 

I started reading that thread and I'm thinking which crank, which rods and some of the those fancy forged pistons, then I saw the $3k part. Of well, it was fun for a moment.

 

You'll need to...at the very minimum - triple your budget. Then you'll need parts that go well together.....and you can use your 28k mile bottom end w/o rebuilding it.


Mimic this combo:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...1rwhp-fti.html

 

Everything sounded good until I read budget and 3k. Even my 1.8 Honda motor to push 500 was more than that. I agree atleast triple the 3k and that still may not be enough.

 

Budget is at least $10k short (and that's with getting $4-$5k out of your LS6).
LS3 block, CNC'd LS3 heads, LS3 intake, somewhat mild cam with .600 lift, 1 7/8 headers and 3" exhaust, 90mm TB, good radiator and oil cooler to make it live (416 stroker)-viola, 525 rwhp. And $15,000 out of pocket.

You could get 425-450 rwhp out of the LS6 NA, but even then you won't have the drivability of a stroker nor the power. If you really were used to 700rwho cobra, you'll not be satisfied with what you can reliabilby get out of the LS6 and you will use $3K just to get some heads to get started.

425rwhp with the LS6 and steeper gears MIGHT make you happy for awhile, but it will NEVER feel like 700whp.

 

Budget and 500 to the wheels don't go together... It's kind of like Peanut Butter and Spam....

 

Pete... I have $2600 in my TEA's... just sayin!

 

I had 540 RWHP with my LS1 but the heads cost me $3K. With headers, a FAST intake, 90mm TB and cam it was up to $9K.

I've since added a magnacharger and I'm up to 623 RWHP ($68/HP).

 

But they will be worth it!

 

U made 540whp on a NA 347ci? Trap speeds to back it up?

 

With drivability being a concern I don't see how you'll ever reach 500hp at the wheels. Double your budget and you could have the 243 heads CNC'd, a little more cam, a good set of LT's and a quality cai and you MAY see 500+ at the flywheel. Go to 4.10 gears and it will FEEL like another 25-35 hp.

And I too would like to see a real honest to goodness 540 RWHP LS1 with ANY kind of street manners and no nos. And of course see the recipe. Tony Mamo, the guru at AFR couldn't make that happen, so I'd be interested to see how it was done. That's around 630hp at the flywheel, so let's hear how that LS1 got there!

 

Sorry it was 445 for the $9K. The $20K gave me a Magnacharger and 623. And I'm 59 years old so I don't even speed must less race.

 

That's a little more believable, although that is still 520 crank hp BEFORE the sc, which I guess is doable, but very hard to do with just an LS1. On top of that is a 40% gain with the SC. Again, doable but it's either pushing the ragged edge or a very happy dyno.

That's why trap speeds were requested. You have a given weight at x mph and you know what you've really got. And I'm right behind you at 58, but I have to confess...with the 525rwhp (on a conservative mustang dyno) from my 416 I was all about mashing it at the track on a regular basis. And maybe just a few times at the freeway on ramps...oops.

 

The 445 was done on 2 different dynos. After the first build and before the SC. It was doable with $3K heads and a very aggressive cam. The big jump was due to a blower cam were a lost a bit on the non-SC build but gained a lot with the SC. My favorite drive is the on ramp at I-26 where the speed limit goes from 35 to 70 mph. Only problem is that the neighbors have asked me not to start it before 9am. I have 2" Kooks headers, no cats and XSPower catback.

 

I agree with the comments about needing great heads and a very large cam. Yet, there are plenty that will tell you a giant cam is not streetable. If you have gears and an excellent tuner, then these concerns are minimized.