Need help gaining HP
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Galax, VA
Need help gaining HP
Well guys i have a 99 auto coupe. Only mods i have right now are the Vararam intake and the SLP Loudmouth catback. I'll have about $3500-4000 to spend. I need to get my car to at least 460hp or better. Any suggestions? Power adder? Or can some one make a head/cam reccomendation for me? I need ideas.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,752
Likes: 3
From: Bethlehem PA
Originally Posted by mdhmi
Either N20 or a budget H/C setup. A power adder is closer to $10K.
Mark
Mark
And you'd have to install the H/C yourself more than likely.
The other thing to consider is breakage. Not sure if you're drag racing or doing road courses, but your tranny isn't gonna last long if you're racing it. A HD output shaft should be on the list as well if you're drag racing.
You can probably get away with agressive street use for a while, but if you've got some miles on that '99 already, you may want to consider suspension upgrades + long tube headers and a tune.
It's one thing to increase your power, and its another to make sure it'll get you back home.
I figured for every $1000 I spent on increasing power, I spent $400 preparing it to handle the increase.
If you're looking for more zip off the line a converter and gears would be in the budget with $$ to spare.
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 13
From: Knoxville TN
Need help gaining HP
I agree. If you are going to add that much HP you will need to add strength to the drivetrain (trans and diff). The cheapest gains will be from a higher stall torque convertor and lower gear. Engine wise, NOS will give you alot of power per dollar but you will have to keep refilling the bottle. It all depends on what you want to do with the car (drag race, street race, road race, performance driving, etc.). And don't forget sticky tires too.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Wernersville PA
LT headers and a middle of the road cam(230/232 .578 114) and an LS6 intake will probably get you to 410-420rwhp and stay close to budget. NOS is the easiest and cheapest way to get there and I agree that a 3.73 or 3.90 rear will "feel" like 450hp. But as the gents above has said, be prepared for problems unless you fortify the rest of your car i.e. driveline, brakes, suspension. Why the 460hp number? Is that rear wheel hp or at the flywheel? If you go with the LT, intake & cam, the difference will be incredible. Add some tranny(at least a hardened output) and suspension upgrades, and if you are a competent pilot, you can smoke guys with 50-100 more hp that don't really know how to handle it. Some of the best advice I have ever heard is to first become the best driver you can be and then mod. Knowing what you are doing(I am not saying you don't) is infinitely more valuable than hp increases will ever be.
