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High altitude HP

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Old Jul 26, 2025 | 11:47 PM
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Default High altitude HP

I have a 99 vert, only mods to the drive train are a bb exhaust and a honker intake. I live at 6000 feet , altitudes around the area in utah go from 5 to 7k feet.
So im down at least 15% in hp. A very experienced tuner advised me that nothing short of a super charger or turbos will do much for hp gain. He is going to dyno it and see if a tune can get me at least back to stock hp..it is running lean as the recent plug change shows. But that's a lot of hp to throw at a stock clutch, torque tube and diff.
I would be happy with a 100 hp gain and leave it at that..
Just don't know what will work up here.
​​here.Anyone with first hand actual knowledge of what I can do. He said even a cam and headers will not warrant the cost. I like his honesty as ..like he said..I can sell you stuff..but I don't think you will be happy.

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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 05:22 AM
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You can go to forced induction. Or move to sea level. It’s science, bro. Your air is less dense so you have less oxygen per volume.
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 09:38 AM
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Anything you can do to increase the HP at sea level you can do at altitude, just with similar comparable HP loss due to the higher altitude.
Even forced induction would make less HP at altitude, at a given boost level.
​​​​​Heads, cam, intake, throttle body, every mod works at any altitude.
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 01:21 PM
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I'm at the same altitude as OP. I heave a heads cam car and it does just fine. The cost of heads and cam will be more expensive these days but to tell people it won't work at altitude isn't accurate. A super charger will give more power but also likely cost more.
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 02:28 PM
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I think his point was that while a sc costs more it delivers way more bang for your money. But its a lot of money. I figure a bigger radiator, clutch and headers are needed. Looking at around 14 k for all that.
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 08:50 PM
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Looks like I can get away with the stock exhaust..
clutch..maybe a year..who knows
If it can put 400 to the wheels..ide be happy
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by mfi2000
Looks like I can get away with the stock exhaust..
clutch..maybe a year..who knows
If it can put 400 to the wheels..ide be happy
I doubt you'll get there on a stock exhaust.
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Old Jul 27, 2025 | 09:24 PM
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Can always change it later..right now I'm down 15% so I'm at 300 at the crank...car feels like a camry
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The object is to get more air and oxygen in the cylinders and under pressure.

Superchargers and turbos will do it but so will a higher lift cam and heads with bigger injectors.. The Turbo SC is just the easiest way.

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Old Jul 28, 2025 | 12:32 PM
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How do you plan to use the car? It's 26+ years old. Definitely a cost vs. benefit vs. risk equation. Torque tube and rear end will be fine. But you absolutely need a clutch upgrade. Full HCI on mine, now over 500HP, and first thing I had to do was put a clutch in it. (Went with LS7 OEM)
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Old Jul 28, 2025 | 01:11 PM
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It only has 46k miles on it. I'm not going to race it but I hang out with a lot of people ..most driving c7 and 8's...I feel like a slug out there..we go on road trips and while I'm not into speeding too fast..just trying to catch up to them..is impossible!
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