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I'm big into N/A power, and on top of that my C6 is my daily. What is my path and cost involved to hit a driveable 500hp naturally aspirated. It's just a number I've always wanted and I'm curious how close I really am. So far just a Corsa Sport axleback on the car.
At minimum to pick up that power your gonna need a good size cam , headers and a very good tune. Cost is gonna very depending on who does the work or if you do it yourself. I'd say set aside at least 3-4k for parts and labor
Cam will get your there quick, but the trade off is that lower RMP power/drive-ablitly is the trade off for upper RPM power when you are making larger numbers with a cam.
So on that note, might want to back it up, and state what you want the power for, and how much of it as lower RPM power.
Flat out, to out make more power across the entire board in N/A, it comes down to more displacement.
On the other hand, the stock LS2 and LS3 motors are good for 600HP with out touching a thing, by simply supercharging them.
If you want more power across the entire RPM range (read from idle up), the roots blower (good for about 650 with an e-force running a 2-2/2" pulley).
If you are looking for more of just mid to top end (3k and up), then centrifugal force blower instead, and the sky is the limits in regards to the amount of boost they can make once the motor has been upgraded for the plus 600 HP).
To be blunt, the LS2 and LS3 are rock solid motors that love to be super charged up to 600hp, and pound for pound, the least expensive way to get to that amount of HP on the stock motor; all the while CARB legal so you don't have to worry about failing a smog test.
Cam will get your there quick, but the trade off is that lower RMP power/drive-ablitly is the trade off for upper RPM power when you are making larger numbers with a cam.
So on that note, might want to back it up, and state what you want the power for, and how much of it as lower RPM power.
Flat out, to out make more power across the entire board in N/A, it comes down to more displacement.
On the other hand, the stock LS2 and LS3 motors are good for 600HP with out touching a thing, by simply supercharging them.
If you want more power across the entire RPM range (read from idle up), the roots blower (good for about 650 with an e-force running a 2-2/2" pulley).
If you are looking for more of just mid to top end (3k and up), then centrifugal force blower instead, and the sky is the limits in regards to the amount of boost they can make once the motor has been upgraded for the plus 600 HP).
To be blunt, the LS2 and LS3 are rock solid motors that love to be super charged up to 600hp, and pound for pound, the least expensive way to get to that amount of HP on the stock motor; all the while CARB legal so you don't have to worry about failing a smog test.
I have to admit I do absolutely love and cherish the low end hit of torque and would hate to lose much of it. I know there are stroker kits out there but that seems like massive money. Forced induction seems the route I go, I've just always been obsessed with naturally aspirated power. Besides a daily, car will be used for occasional track days, road and autocross events, no drag racing. I want a well balanced car with the handling, braking and weight distribution to handle any incremental increase in power.
You can do heads, mild cam and bolt ons and get there...without losing any low end.
I'm thinking too, any loss in low end power delivery can be made up for with 3.90s or 4.10s out back. This all sounds reasonable though. Are we talking 500 wheel with bolt ons, cam and heads?
I'm thinking too, any loss in low end power delivery can be made up for with 3.90s or 4.10s out back. This all sounds reasonable though. Are we talking 500 wheel with bolt ons, cam and heads?
No, I made a 450hp to the wheels...Z06's dyno in the 440 range to the wheels stock and the make 505hp at the crank from the factory.
Headers, xpipe, exhaust and a mild cam + tune will get you there without sacrificing too much down low or drivability. If you really miss the lower end torque, 3.73 or 3.90 gears will get it right back to you and about $500 including install, and with those gear ratios you won't lose a whole lot of top speed either. You might be rev limited to 180 mph or so, then again, with that kind of power, 6th gear also comes into play.
for some, a tune alone before mods has yielded 20+ rwhp. Headers are usually good for another 25+ rwhp, cam should be good for quite a bit more than both of those depending on specs. Even 500 rwhp isn't too terribly difficult to hit on an LS motor. With headers/exhaust, A mild cam, and a tune you could see 475ish rwhp, which would be roughly 550 bhp without even breaking a sweat.
If you're a cheater, slap on a supercharger kit and call it a day.
Last edited by ProfessorDeath; Sep 30, 2014 at 01:29 AM.
exhaust/tune only for me netted 428rwhp/445rwtq. That's a hair under 500hp at the motor. Throw in a cam and it would have been near 500rwhp (likely around 480-485rwhp).
That would do it.
As the guy above me states, I cheated and slapped on a supercharger. I'm a boost junkie. Previous car had turbo and once you go boost, you never go back to N/A.
exhaust/tune only for me netted 428rwhp/445rwtq. That's a hair under 500hp at the motor. Throw in a cam and it would have been near 500rwhp (likely around 480-485rwhp).
That would do it.
As the guy above me states, I cheated and slapped on a supercharger. I'm a boost junkie. Previous car had turbo and once you go boost, you never go back to N/A.
I'm at 450 rwhp with mild cam, z06/ls7 exhaust manifolds and cats, halltech and tune. Great low end and very drivable. Drove Chicago to Florida and back in it, no issues
F/A will run you around $8k to make 600hp, and be CARB legal!!!!
Do the math on the cost of mods to make less than this, the increased maintenance that may be needed like changing valve springs more often from a high lift cam, then check to see what will not be CARB legal on the car (hence may need to be pulled before you sell the car).
The one think that I can tell you , E-Force carries a Carb #, and it one of those things that you don't have to rip off the car to sell it/ actually increases the selling price when you do go to sell the car with it still on.
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