97SUPERFORMY

Ok so i sold my 2002 dodge ram and got $12,500. I sold it because when i went up to the local hang out of all the TA guys, i said, "I HAVE to get me one of those". Many of the guys said to use all 12,500 and buy a nice LS1. I wanted to have left over money so that i could have some fun modding it. So i went out and bought a Black 1997 Formula and I LOVE IT. It is bone stock, automatic, so i want to do some stuff so i dont get laughed at. So i have 7,500 dollars left, i know if i ask one of them TA guys they would say just sell that POS lt1 and buy a ls1. So its useless to ask them. So im going to ask a theoretical. IF you had 7,500 left over after a sell, what would you do IN ORDER to it with 7,500 dollars, and IT BE TOTALLY STREETABLE(wont EVER see a dragstrip unless im doing a run for my ET's) So has to pass emissions(a missing cat i dont care about) so if one of you guys got some time on your hands give me some advice. this is what im thinking about doing so far...(GAS MILEAGE IS NOT A FACTOR)
1.New Air filter
2.exhaust
3. 4.10 gears
4.rebuild tranny with bigger trq STALL and stage 1 shifty
5.Motor rebuild(bore of .030) w/ LE1 package
6.Suspention

So what would you guys do if you could go nuts with 7500?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Give me the $7500, and I'll show you... lol I am coming back from Iraq in a couple of months with about $14,000 to play with.....

I would get gears, get a new Posi Rear if you are going to do bigger tires and engine upgrades, cause you will blow the stock one apart. I did on my A4, and that was before the Cam. Get some LT Headers, and Intake mods. Get a Tune, and a Cam, good Heads, Eibach Pro Kit for the Suspension, and the LS1 Big Brakes if you can get them. Shift kit and Stall is a good idea. Getting the engine bored .30 and rebuilt will cost around $6K easily, I would rather have all the little stuff to play with. If you get it all together and running, it will beat them LS1's.

Chopstix

iTrader: (1)

12 bolt w/3.73 $2500
LCA $125
TQ Arm $500
CAI $200
Long Tubes $500
Y-Pipe $100
Cat-back $3-700 depending on taste
QA1 adj Shocks $600
52mm TB $500
2800 Stall $5-700
CCA-07-466-8 $245
Comp Pro-Mag 1.6 Rockers $325
918 Spring $180


Leaves you $325 to race the LS1's

97SUPERFORMY

link where i can get the 12 bolt with 3.73, thanks man!

EDIT: i am illiterate, whats a LCA?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

Lower Control Arms

97SUPERFORMY

i would see why i need those, seems like i loose ALOT of power just taking off and then when it shifts it slides all over the damn place as if it was on water! lol

Heatmaker

Well now... you want to shut up LS1 owners do you?


1. Long tube headers
2. Good flowing exhaust kit, your sound of choice High reccomend Borla
3. Good Mild cam nothing over 230 in exahust or intake though if your dead set on DD and emissions problem free
4.upgrade Posi unit Eaton perferred upgrade gears 373
5. Suspension, Shocks,Subraframe conectors, LCA's, Panhard
6.Electric water pump
7. CAI of your choice.
8.good Tires... for DD Nitto perfered.
9. Go back to local LS1 hangout spot

10. have fun.

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

You can have all the power in the world, you just have to get it to the ground. Get you some 17x9's, and some 275/40's on them, and some gears, and you will notice a big difference.

Chopstix

iTrader: (1)

www.thunderracing.com

Greenfire

iTrader: (2)

Show those LS1 boy's up, seriously they think the LT1 is a dog. Really the odds are not even with a stock LT1 and a stock LS1, put some goodies on it as stated above, definatly get the car dyno tuned. You should bust some LS1 ***, but get use to your car first before you go lookin for trouble. You'll need to re-learn you car again after all of the mods, it will move, shift, and grab different. It's fun learning though

97SUPERFORMY

yes indeed man, most of them are stock they just dont look it because they buy the new vette wheels every year they come out i think its retarded, WOM(waste of money) but yes there are only two out of the 10 in the club who are modded, one has stock motor on 150 shot(hes retarded) and one has a cam swap, new heads and full boltons. but the guys with them mods are actually helping me, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? the stock LS1 guys are actually the ones talking MUILATE TRASH!

EDIT: whats the differnence in a 30 and 33 spline axle?

Greenfire

iTrader: (2)

I'd just roll my eyes at them, and put my motivation into the car. They'll have LT1 envy when you get done rolling past them. Open mouth insert foot. I get so tired of being ragged on b/c I have a LT1 yeah its not the fastest but definatly not stupid slow. It's not what you've got that counts its really a question of can you drive your car to its potential. I'm a chick by the way...LOL not many in the car scene these days. I have beat a few LS1's at the track just b/c they couldn't drive their car well at all. So yeah you can have a LS1 and still get beat. Doesn't really matter what you have as long as you know what you have and can drive it.

97SUPERFORMY

yea its definatly fast compared to my old truck and my daily driver(a 94 V6 mustang) this car is strictly weekends...lol Would some one mind giving me a link to a good TQ arm and LCA's? i plan on ordering them RIGHT NOW if there good. o also them shocks/struts would be good, just on stock power i still lose alot. i am going to put new shoes on her today, hopefully nitto's!

Chopstix

iTrader: (1)

www.thunderracing.com

link to their LT! suspension section
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=4&pcid=16
select the type in the box on the left



They have everything you are looking for...

crAzy95Z28

iTrader: (3)

just get full bolt ons.

headers, gears, stall, rebuilt tranny, wheels with good tires, ehxaust, cutout, no cats.

engine= cam, 1.6 roller rockers, maybe some ported heads if you have the money.

thats all, unless you want to drop on a nice rebuild.

camar0corey

iTrader: (22)

Sts turbo, 12 bolt, and a suspension package. That ought to burn up your $7500.

Honda Hunter

iTrader: (8)

I dont agree with what alot of people in this thread told you to buy. With 7500 there is so much you could do to be fast before even having to address some of the things reccomended. For example, someone said a 12 bolt? Lets be serious. A auto car can make alot more power before needing one, (I'm still on the stocker) so why through that money away so fast?

Camaroguy22

iTrader: (12)

Especially since the original poster said he never plans on taking it to the track, hence probably not beating the hell out of it from the hole on a consistent basis. A larger concern of mine would be the 4L60E vs the ten bolt on his automatic car. I would get longtube headers, ORY and a nice muffler. Not sure where you live but in most areas of the country OBD-II vehicles do not need to get on a roller. Thus you do not need emissions equiptment to pass, rather just somebody to delete the codes. After that a nice cold air kit, and possibly an LE2 package. You do not need to spend your money on such things as a torque arm or 500$ towards a 52 mm throttle body as another member said. Get a torque converter.

Edit - the original poster does deserve some props for coming on here with a decent clue as to what he should do and he didn't even mention the LT4 conversion

Honda Hunter

iTrader: (8)

Exactly

infinitebird

iTrader: (11)

Not bad, but I don't think you really need a 12 bolt for a cam only auto lt1.

I would do (in this order):

CAI- $150-$200
catback - $400-$600
headers/y-pipe -$500-$700
Sub frame connectors $200-$300
stall - $500-$800
17-18 wheels and sticky tires $1000-$1500
suspension (shocks, lca, phr, sway bars) $1000-$1300
fuel system (injectors, pump) $800-$900
TB - $400
LE2 package - $1700
dyno tune - $400-$500

That should give you close to 400rwhp and what you need to hook it up, enough to stomp LS1s that are not also decently modified. With an auto the stock rear should be ok (it is for a lot of other cars at least) as long as you don't launch it too hard, but I would definitely get a 12 bolt if you want to add any more power.