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I just purchased a base 2017 convertible and would like to hit 500 - 525 hp with minimal investment. Is this possible? I am thinking a VARARAM cold air intake and a tune.
Is this is a reasonable & achievable goal or is my hp hopes too high?
On a LT1 N/A build to hit 500-525 rwhp you are going to need to add long tube headers,cam, heads, intake, throttlebody, and cai plus a tune and throw in E85 and you will be at the number you want. And look to spend anywhere between 8000 to 15000K
I hit 500 RWHP with both C7 LT1s I have had
one had intake, DOD delete cam, Headers, off road X.
One had stock intake, DOD delete cam, headers and off road X.
But a tune and intake are not going to do it.. ha will nee cam, and headers
I suspect that the OP is looking for 500 - 525 flywheel hp...which shouldn't be too difficult to attain. Thinking CAI, LTs, intake manifold, and tune should be fairly close to 500 hp at the flywheel.
If you're looking for 500rwhp a cam is needed for sure. Check out our stage 2 package. We can generally run this package from 485-525rwhp depending on cam selection. With E85 and some ported heads/manifold we can close in on 600rwhp.
CAI and a tune won't net you much on an LT1 without other supporting mods. E85 flexfuel sensor and a tune alone will get you pretty close if you are talking about 500 at the flywheel on the cheap, assuming you have E85 available around you. The flexfuel sensor and tune will be around $1k installed. I'd add a CAI at the same time for another 10-ish flywheel horsepower. LTs will take you closer to 530 flywheel horsepower with the flexfuel and CAI but they are $3-6k installed, depending on what you pick. For that money you could almost add a Maggie 2300 to your stock car and forget about it with way over 500 flywheel horsepower.
I have E85, long tubes, x pipe and mine only made 451rwhp. Which is 510-525 at the crank. You'll see a little more if you have a Manual Trans. Doesn't matter what it makes on the dyno its at the track that shows the most.
Last edited by 99vetteran; Dec 8, 2020 at 03:38 PM.