I posted this up over in the general discussion area but I didn't get a whole lot of responses.

"As a kid growing up I have always wanted to buy a corvette and recently that seems to become a reality. I have spent the last few years browsing the forum for ideas and modifications. I know I want something that stands out and makes more power than the average build. I have had two basic ideas that I came up with but I cant decide which way to go. I originally planned on picking up a used 08 and going with a cam only setup which I figured would get me around 600rwhp. But recently I have been leaning more towards something like a higher milage 05 (to save a little money), forging the bottom end and going with a supercharger setup. What do you think? The car will be my semi daily driver for about the next year, then it will be a weekend fun car only. Im looking to build a really fun street car with big power (I love low end torque). My total budget including the car is just a little over $40k."

So I found a 05 M6, Z51 with about 65k miles that I am about to pull the trigger on. After all is said and done I will have about $20k left. Im looking for ideas for a nice reliable high hp build. Im thinking somewhere in the 800rwhp range if possible on my budget...?

 

2008 ls3 is good base to start with

 

for that price range we can get you 800 easy! where are you located! you will need the DIF for starters. give us a call! we will make it worth your while!

we could do pistons and rods, stu the heads and put a A&A kit on there and turn that bad boy up!!!!!

 

800rwhp is easy with that money. You can even get it to be pretty reliable at that power level with that budget. Feel free to give me a call and i can put together a qoute for you. Where are you located?

 

Located in northern Nevada. I just threw out the 800rwhp as a rough guess. I don't necessarily have to go that crazy. Im just looking for a fun street car that I can occasionally take to the track and never look back and say I wish I would have went with more. I definitely know that I need to go the blower route to get those kind of numbers but I am torn between the tvs and a centri. I love low end torque for fun on the street but I think a tvs build with those numbers would be out of my price range.

 

Ok so after spending the last few days searching through old threads and seeing what other people have done, I came up with two different ideas. I could either go with a forged 402 and run an ecs kit or go with a stock cubed ls2, forge it and go with the tvs. What you you guys think?

 

To throw in another twist, I would go with a stock cube ECS kit. The car would easily make in the 800 range, and low end will not be an issue, trust me on that!
I talk more people out of additional cubes then into! The reason why is that more then 800 on the street is just a waste, so unless the owner is tracking the car and can use the extra power, there's no point in taxing the drivetrain for something that will most likely make you slower on the street since it is unmanageable.
As it is traction will always be a fight, and too much down low just makes the "lose traction here" point easier to find, so I do not think a high HP TVS is the way to go in a Corvette. Just my opinion, and mind you I finished two this week on Camaro's, but the HP levels were lower, and with the car being heavy they work out well. In a light Corvette they just spin then drop off IMO, and heat soak.

Feel free to call the shop if you would like to discuss this further, 609-752-0321.

 

 

The reason I was thinking about going with more cubes, like with a stroked 402, was go gain a little low end torque not necessairly top end. Anybody correct me on this if I am wrong as I am not all that familiar in this area. That is why I was sort of leaning towards the maggie for their low end, however I has wondering if I could get close with a centri as I am not excited about having to change the hood. As far as traction goes I was planning on running 345/35R18 MT ET streets so im sure that would help out a lot.

 

Some good advice to all.......


BEFORE going for the ULTIMATE HP number....Consider the rear diff and the integrity of the drivetrain....


A guy cam in the other day NEEDING 1,000HP....

After a short conversation, he seemed more interested in 600hp that he could actually use reliably and with good traction.

Horsepower makes cars wanna go fast....

and a properly set up "system" MAKES CARS GO FAST.

Chuck CoW

 

You need to also look at the A&A corvette kit. We have installed MANY of these and have gotten GREAT results out of them.

 

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet but I suggest forged and twin turbo. Your budget can make it happen.

You get all the torque you can handle and then some all the way to redline. If you want a few more cubes, bore it out. I suggest not stroking it with TT. As Doug said, you can get too much torque down low and usually have to end up tuning it down, porting turbos, etc to drop some of the early torque.

You can get 800+ rwhp and 800+ rwtq with TT.

 

402 + YSi =

 

Getting to 800hp is easy for the money budgeted. Having all the supporting mods to handle the power safely and reliably is going to be more expensive. My suggestion to you is to do it in stages and select components that you do not need to replace as your power increases. I took my time, did my car in four phases (600hp, 750hp, 900hp and 1000hp) and was able to enjoy the car along the way. Unless you want a max effort build, I would start with a forged stock cube 2008 LS3. If you decide to go with an SC, upgrade to a head unit that will support your power goal.

 

Thank you all for your input. I understand all of the comments about the drive terrain however I was already planning on having it upgraded by RPM to whatever level I need. My questions were geared more toward the engine build. Like I posted earlier im torn between a stock or 402 cubed ecs package or a roots style blower, possibly the new Kenne Bell setup which looks like it will be available in a few weeks. Does anybody have any dyno graphs of a stock cubed ecs package and an 402 one? Im looking for how much difference there is in the low end.

 

Not to hi-jack this thread, but I will eventually be in the same boat as the OP, in that I will be doing an engine build, and know for certain that I will go forced induction. My question is how much would a forged 402 + drivetrain + FI + tune come out to be (approximately of course), and which vendor can supply all the necessary parts?

 

$15K to $50K depending on the parts and vendor you choose.

 

Good luck to you and to whatever you decide on!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUeTlBF62Cw

This is a dyno sheet on a LS3 416 with the ECS 2200 package. The ls3 was about the same price as a 402, you will notice how soon the torque comes in.