550 rwhp a legitimate stopping point?
 

So, I have a c5 with the following mods: ls6 Intake, bigger throttle body, long tube headers, A&A blower kit, and a tsp cam. I’m making 550 rwhp but I wanted more. Oh, the car does have A&A’s upgraded fuel system and Kennebell boostapump. That said, I was told I shouldn’t bump up the power by adding a heads, cam package, or more boost because of the stock bottom end; do you all think that is sound advise? The car passes emissions tests and I want it to continue too and I want it to remain streetable; I just thought the ls1’s were reliably capable of way more power than 550 rwhp. Actually, I thought with the setup I am running I’d make more power than the tuner gave it.
Just curious if I should be happy and take what I have. Or, if I am getting bad advise and should crank the old girl up? Only if it won’t be a ticking time bomb, I mean.

These engines will handle around 650 rwhp and be reliable and streetable . But with that being said depending on the tune will only dictate how long it will last. I've seen stock bottom end cars well in the 800's and last a long time while others in the 500's go boom in a few hundred miles .. Its really the tune and supporting mods plus a whole lotta luck LOL. I think 550 is a good stopping point before you have to add the supporting mods to handle the power beyond that . I'm at 693 rwhp now and while I love the power I wonder how much longer?

Ha ha I know that feeling. I built a stock bottom end foxbody 5.0 mustang and pushed the the hell out of it: heads, cam, headers, giant turbo, Etc..., and I made 850 on the stock bottom, yes, internals. Finally popped it and rebuilt for a complete race car. I don’t want to pull the same stupidity with the c5. It is a blast and I have a great handling suspension, 6 piston brakes, and strong pulling motor combo right now that is very reliable. I am a horsepower junky and just always think I can get more.

if the tune is good, good fuel (pump/meth or e85), and the rest of your setup will support it, then yeah you can add more... they can blow just as easily with 500 as they can with 800 so you are already playing the game so to speak lol, I'm sure you already understand this judging by your last post so if anything were to happen you can't get mad

Definitely would not get mad. I’ve owned race cars my whole life, so I get the game. I just wanted to ditch the bone stock c5, not z06, heads for something that could breath, a cam that could churn, and some more boost. I’ve got a c7 Z that just moves. So I kind of wanted to c5, with the setup currently on the car, to run and sound like a raped ape. I figured if I blew the motor I’d just go ls3 motor and go from there. Like a said, for no more than I have done to the car, it runs alright, I just like more.

the cam you have now might be fine, stock port 243/799 heads will work fine for 800... do you have a meth kit already?... if not you will need that or even better e85 if you have it available around you and your fuel system will support it or you don't mind building another one... speaking of that Bret just released a badass dual pump hanger if you have the pre 03 fuel system

im stock bottom with 155k miles. lasted all last year with me putting around 10k miles on it with Si blower (3.4 pulley), cam, e85, ect. This year ill be running Ti blower with 3.25 pulley.

I would add a cam and ported stock heads. you should see 600 plus no problem. I assume its stick. If it were an auto then it would be less. You driving habits have a lot to do with how long this engine last. If you are going to the strip regularly and ragging this car out, it will not last as long as if it were a street car every once in a while getting hammered on etc.. If you are a boy racer forget about it, it wont last. My z06 made 698 stock bottom end. I never hammer it nor does it go to the track. if its your daily driver I would not up the power. It should be just a play mobile for weekend drives etc..

No, I’m not running meth or e85 on my vette. I have 93 octane everywhere. If I want to crank the timing, I use 110 race fuel. To answer your question, no, the car is automatic. I’m no raceboy; I simply wanted a car that would be streetable, safely handle high speed cornering, stop really well, and accelerate hard enough to need those big ass brakes. I have not put this car on a drag strip. Finally, this c5 nor the c7 z06 are daily driven; the wRX STI on e85 is the daily, lol.

especially being a centri, you've got more room to turn that up if you're looking for more horsepower... provided you've got a good tuner & fuel to support it (as everybody else has said).

it's when you're making that much torque all the time that stuff starts getting a little dicier.

Only you can answer the question of whether or not to add power. The 550rwhp myth shows up around here on a routine basis. Usually people mention the rods are what can't take more than 550rw. My car made over 800rw and dipped into the 9s with a stock engine and 6 speed trans. The main changes were valve springs, pushrods, intake, camshaft and turbo kit. The supporting parts to deliver the fuel required and a solid tune are obviously a given. The rest of the engine was as built by the workers at the GM factory.

I personally would not add aftermarket or ported heads if you are looking to make anything less than 850rw. Add boost, meth, and fuel to get to where the power level is reliable and meets your level of satisfaction.

I know this is a slightly older thread but can you point me in the direction of this dual hanger you mentioned?
Thanks in advance.

i believe he's talking about this one
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-is-here.html

Thank you, I'm going to take a look at this.

yeah that one, just pm Bret

Thanks, will do.

i will say as fair warning to help gauge where you're at... we just did a single 450 on mine & ended up making about 78psi at the rail on a 650whp engine because the stock FPR couldn't keep up. swapped to an aftermarket FPR with a big return line & all's good now. it just ended up costing more than simply doing a smaller pump to start with.

Im pretty much in the same boat as you..... I have A&A kit on my head and cam C5 and it dyno’d 584rwhp but rev limiter is set to 6300 where it made 558rwhp. It looks to be going lean right before 6500 which is probably why they set rev limit so low. I’m at the point I’m thinking like you, should I be happy with 550-ish??? I am considering smaller pulley & I am having a reputable tuner retune it for me because the tune from the shop seems pretty off (bucking/surge on decel and when going slow speeds). I hope the new tune makes me a happy camper, otherwise I’m not sure what to think ;-/

Big cam? Cam surge?

550 is for sure a good number. However I’m just not satisfied until I know my c5 will dust a c7. All for a 1/3 of the cost.:thumbs: