I have a bone stock LS1 motor in my 6 spd 2004 convertible and am just looking to wake it up a little by getting the most bang for my buck.

I come from the world of Harley Davidson motorcycles and the quickest and most inexpensive way to get a few more horses out of the big twin is to get more air in (larger intake) and more air out (freer flowing exhaust) and then reprogram the ECM.

Does this hold true for Corvettes too?

If so what combo would you recommend?

Thanks,
Doug

 

Same thing with an LS1. Improved air flow will get you 20-30 ponies along with a tune. People swear by the Vararam but it works best over 45mph. Headers will get you a lot of responces but XS power makes a good set for low end cost and a lot use LG.Search tie wrap mod for a cheap improvement.

 

You can cut the air box lid to increase flow potential. - free
Replace the stock filter with high-flow panel filter. - around $80
Open up the black plastic area next to the fog lights. - free
Borla straight pipes - around $300
Handheld tuner - around $150-200 used
Remove cats (Magnaflow off-road pipe) - around $300

There are lots of air intake options out there, but if you decide to simply mod the OEM box, you can keep things clean by just cutting the lid versus removing it and zip tieing the box together. Also, I have a relatively new (less than 3k miles. I bought a Blackwing) Green brand filter that I'd sell for $50 shipped (clean, oiled, ready to install).

Lots of options with cat-back systems as well. If you area Harley guy and like things a bit loud, straight pipes are low cost and not really as loud as you'd expect (thanks to the cats).

 

Do it the right off the bat and add A bolt on supercharger will give you 150 Hp

 

Or at a 1/5 the price, at least do a cam install and gain a quick 50hp. (cost is similar to a typical cat-back system, but the power gain is throughout the entire powerband)

Hey illenema, I see your avitar is a Lambo. If you know anything about them; I have noticed that the Audi R8 and the Lambo look very simlar in the engine area; you know if there is something up with that?
Sorry, don't mean to thread-jack

 

50 HP increase with a cam only? I'd like to hear more about that.

 

Yes a ls1 is a larger version of your v twin. The more efficient you make the "air pump" the more power can be made. A cold air intake (personally prefer the vararam for max performance) and Headers(Texas Speed are a great bang for the buck, although they only come catless) along with a tune should net you ~50hp. Chris, 817-750-2000

 

Yes,More in more out=more power.

 

intake, exhaust, 160' thermostat, headers, converter and cam. should give you what you want, and nothing to radical. will retain the vehicles reliability. you will feel headers as soon as you put them in. also definetly get it tuned. you will feel a difference. if your running an a4, have them increase the tranny pressure. it will give you the feel of a shift kit. its crazy how much a difference the tune will make. but plan ahead to get the tune when your done modding for the time being so your not having to keep retuning the car. also have them lower the temp the fans kick on at. have fun and keep everyone posted

 

Mods are up to your usage and likes, some love a big cammed car, some really dislike it. As a Harley guy, my guess is you might like the cammed sound.

my list of recommendations are;

1. Vararam intake-American Racing headers-160 stat and a tune.

2. Add a cam- heads if you have the means- intake from there if you want more. A cammed car is noticeably louder, shakes at idle, some low end surging-but not bad if tuned correctly. You need to be aware of the drivability differences before going this route. The other down side is lack of expandability from there. Positive sides are the sound- the power curve, if you like that package they are great.

3. Supercharger, you will retain your stock like driving characteristics while just increasing the power substantially. You can increase power at any time by adding meth injection- a blower cam- and if you want more you can forge the engine with that same blower and really make a ton of power while still keeping the driving characteristics like stock.


Do not waste money on things like ported throttle bodies-intakes-MAF sensors ETC. The dollar per gains are a terrible investment, and the MAF sensors usually just make the car run worse while not gaining any power to boot.


hope that helps.

 

Thanks Doug. The Vararam, 160 stat and tune are a given.

Don't know if I want headers, and certainly don't want a cam.

What else can I do exhaust wise to increase the flow? Please list in order of effectiveness: A) Cat Back system B) X pipe C) Hi flo Cats

Thanks

 

This is what I did. On a stock LS1, six speed and stock exhaust manifolds in place I picked up 220rwhp.

Darion

 

Well, having tried just about everything short of resorting to headers, I feel uniquely qualified to answer your exhaust question.

The bottom line is there is not a whole lot to be gained in the exhaust area without going to longtube headers.

- You have some of the best factory exhaust manifolds made. A set of good short tube headers might get 6-8 HP, probably not.

- You do have 4 cats on the midpipe, and there is certainly a bit of power there waiting to get out.
- deleting or gutting the small cats will get up to 5 HP.
- replacing all 4 cats with 2 hi-flows might see 10 HP.
But, you'll have to fab these into the midpipe, or pay $800 for a
Random Tech midpipe with cats. And you may set O2 efficiency
codes.
- Removing all 4 cats and replacing with an off-road pipe will net
up to 15 HP, but lose about that much midrange torque.
AND, it will stink really bad, and fail most state inspections.

- All of the aftermarket catbacks are only good for maybe 5 HP on a stock engine.

And, as always, all the above increases do not add up to the final total if you do them all.

Best option: buy a used Z06 or 2000 midpipe without the pre-cats, and put on a Z06 Ti catback, or the louder mufflers of choice - but watch out for unbearable resonance with most choices.

DG

 

Buy a C6, you'll get another 100 HP built in already.

 

All depends how hands on you are or how much money you wanna spend…
Since your car is an 04 you already have a LS6 intake

Id start with….

Vararam ($350)
160 Stat ($50)
Catback (browse the classifieds they usually come around for $5-600)(I have a corsa and like it, very quiet idle and not loud cruising, with the slight decal poping )
X-pipe (delete cats if emissions and the smell doesn’t bug you)

Then….
Headers (Texas speed or XS power longtubes for Bang for your buck approx 750 with X-PIPE)

Cam Swap (TUNE NEEDED AT THIS POINT so add another $500 to the bill)
Texas Speed 224r, 228r etc ($370) (proven cams and very tame)
Patriot Gold Valve Springs ($225)
TrickFlow Pushrods 7.400 ($85)
Ported LS6 oil pump or Melling($130-160) (id do this if your going through the hassle of a cam)
LS2 timing Chain ($40) (same as above)
Timing cover gasket kit and a new balalncer bolt ($50ish)

The list can go on but then your getting into heads, etc

Jay

 

LS motors just loves cams. That is a bang for the buck!

 

A cat back system is more for looks and sound then added performance, especially on a stock engine anyway. Shorty headers are a waste of money, and just adding high flow cats are not worth the cost. Dollar per HP gained, it's headers or dont bother in my personal opinion and experience.

Any reason why you are against headers?

 

Good article on exactly what you are looking for:

http://eastcoastsupercharging.com/do...sy_article.pdf

 

That was a great article

Looks like headers is the way to go

 

There is a theme, that I agree with, running through all of the responses in your post More air in = more power.

It is my experience that you can bolt on all of the popular mods pre-engine and all post engine and it will really do little more than empty your wallet. I did all of the popular bolt-ons when I first got my 99 Coupe.

I think a great suggestion would be to open up your heads. Even if you do nothing else you will have removed what I think is the biggest restriction in the process. You can have a great intake to suck a lot of air and a large capacity exhaust system to allow the air to exit but if you cannot get all that air through the engine then what good does it do you?

You might also consider bigger rear gears.

Good luck with whatever mods you decide upon!