pb4life55

I would like to build up an LS1 in 98-02 Trans Am or Camaro but I am on a pretty tight budget. I have the time and the tools to do all the work myself but I have very little experience. I was planning on maybe getting a high mileage LS1 that could be bored out and built back up. Ideally I would like to make 400+ HP in the end and I'm fairly confident I can achieve this with just a cam and bolt-ons. I would like to keep the whole build around 10-12K including the car, no more!

Would this be possible or am I just dreaming?

ybaslo1

iTrader: (10)

Depends on how much you get the car for. But the actual answer to the question is yes. You can find LS1 Camaros for 6K, but is that the Camaro you want. Pick a car, find out how much money you have left over, then re-evaluate.

pb4life55

I was thinking a '98 z28 with 200k would go for around $4000.

ybaslo1

iTrader: (10)

If you have 6-8K to play with, then 400+ RWHP should be easily achievable.

2002 SS HUGG

Why not buy a LS1 Camaro or Trans Am that already has the work done and spend the 10-12k at one time...? You can find good buys in the Vehicle section.

pb4life55

I am really interested in learning while I build the car. And I don't want to buy a car that the mods were not done properly on.

matt3383

iTrader: (3)

only problem with buying a higher mileage car ( only thing your going to find cheap enough to have money left over to mod with ) is your going run in to everything else aside from the engine that can go wrong. Trans, rear end, clutch, AC, PS, radiator, waterpump... and so on.

Dom

iTrader: (2)

My car is supposedly worth $6k. 2000 Z28 with 120k miles. Runs like new and it's mint inside out. I would never sell it for that little hence I'm keeping it for a while. Someone else who isn't a gear head or needs money might sell a car like that for book price. Look for something like that and do headers, cam and you're going to be very close to 400rwhp. I see manual 224/224 cam only cars make 400 or very close to it. With good heads you can definitely see 400 and probably mid 400s if you get great heads and FAST 92 intake with 92 TB. A LS6 intake is a must if the car is not a 01/02. I noticed gains everywhere on my almost stock car so the LS1 intake is the weak point even with stock heads/cam.