Budget Minded 500whp (LT1)
Budget Minded 500whp (LT1) Hey Guys.
How would YOU build a 500whp (through an M6) boost car, with a budget mindset.
I know boost isnt exaclty budget friendly but, I mean build it right but not overkill for the power level. For example I doubt an F1 is needed for 500whp.
Forget "room to grow" just think about 500whp, and something relatively reliable.
How would you do it? S/C or T/C? Enigne Size? Parts? Tuning?
Once I finish up what Im working on now, I want to do a motor and was thinking spray, but I want to price out boost to and see if its worth the additional investment.
What do you think it would cost to get it done?
How would YOU build a 500whp (through an M6) boost car, with a budget mindset.
I know boost isnt exaclty budget friendly but, I mean build it right but not overkill for the power level. For example I doubt an F1 is needed for 500whp.
Forget "room to grow" just think about 500whp, and something relatively reliable.
How would you do it? S/C or T/C? Enigne Size? Parts? Tuning?
Once I finish up what Im working on now, I want to do a motor and was thinking spray, but I want to price out boost to and see if its worth the additional investment.
What do you think it would cost to get it done?
You will need to al least upgrade the pistons to make 500 rwhp reliably. You can make 500 whp with a 383 and a 100 shot, or you can uprade the rods and pistons, put arp main bolts in, and get a d1sc tuner kit. I made 450 rwhp on my stock lt1 with the twin highflow d1sc 8 psi kit, and ended up having to rebuild due to blow by. The rings couldnt seal the cylinders. Im sure anyone on here is going to recommend you to get at least a new set of forged slugs and rods, but while youre at you might as well splay the block and run a forged crank. IMO there is not a budget build for 500 whp with an lt1. Ls1 is a different story.
Not neccesarily a budget build, but I dont want to be spending money where its not neccesary.
I was hoping stock crank, some good I beams (and rod bolts) and some good forged pistons, and possibly studded mains (2 bolt) would be enough, bottom end wise.
I was hoping stock crank, some good I beams (and rod bolts) and some good forged pistons, and possibly studded mains (2 bolt) would be enough, bottom end wise.
im making 650 whp with 2 bolt studded mains with arp bolts, stock crank, and eagle forged h beams and srp forged dished slugs ~9.0:1 compression. But ive aslo got ported heads and a 224 236 cam. Who knows how long it will last for, but id say if you ran a similar short block, got a d1sc head unit and fabbed up a ebay fmic youd make 500 pretty reliably.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
I've seen LOTS of people run the stock crank and rods at that power level. Turn the stock crank, ARP bolts in the stock rods and then get a good forged Blower piston and you should be fine on the bottom end. Most of the reliability is going to come in the form of your tune. Don't get too greedy and be relatively conservative on the tune.
You should be able to make 500HP and drive it with no problems.
You should be able to make 500HP and drive it with no problems.
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Catoosa Ok
I made 500 hp with stock crank stock heads cheap forged pistons 230 236 cam and stock Throttle body with long tubes on a 200 shot and I spray my car everytime I drive it LOL very reliable I sprayed 125 dry shot withstock everything for over a year just deceided to rebuild it for the hell of it and everything looked awesome in the motor for being stock with a cam and nitrious
Not really. There is ALWAYS room to grow on engines, wether you purposely build it in or not.
For example, I want to go relatively stock bottom end, so I could easily change the top end to gain some power, and then if the rotating assembly becomes the weak point, then my room to grow lies in a new motor.
But really I should be happy with 500whp.
Ive driven 600-700whp cars on the street and although they are fun, they are pretty much fun when you have someone to race, or play with, I think I would have much more fun in a STREET car with 500-600whp.
I dont think I would want more than 600whp for a street car, and anyways I dont have the money right now for it anyways.
Oh and I prefer to not go with a rear mount, although I will consider it, im really just not a fan of rear mounts, although Id rathrer not turn this into a rear vs conventional mount arguement.
anyone else have any comments?
Also what turbo would you use, Im worried that the common T76 may be too big for the powerlevel and have nothing down low.
Id prefer myt powerband to be similar to a cammed car, smooth power delivery that just keeps coming and coming, with lots of midrange and top end.
I would prefer it not just HIT right in the midrange.
id look up a board member by the name of Realquick on here. he pretty much is the turbo LT1 guy.
if it was me, id go with a budget built 383, stock ported heads and a tc-76 with one of jons log manifold kits through if i remember right "skinnies" was running high 10's with a 76 and a 355 with a stock crank.
if it was me, id go with a budget built 383, stock ported heads and a tc-76 with one of jons log manifold kits through if i remember right "skinnies" was running high 10's with a 76 and a 355 with a stock crank.
Well, I helped a friend do a simple T76 set up 2 years back. LT1 with forged rods/pistons, comp pro mag rockers, guide plates, push rods, EWP, and only a ALT and that was it, no heads, no cam, no intake work. Log manifold turbo kit with a 3" DP, stock TH400 with a nitrous 4000 stall, on 11lbs for most of the pass it went 10.80s at about 127.
id look up a board member by the name of Realquick on here. he pretty much is the turbo LT1 guy.
if it was me, id go with a budget built 383, stock ported heads and a tc-76 with one of jons log manifold kits through if i remember right "skinnies" was running high 10's with a 76 and a 355 with a stock crank.
if it was me, id go with a budget built 383, stock ported heads and a tc-76 with one of jons log manifold kits through if i remember right "skinnies" was running high 10's with a 76 and a 355 with a stock crank.
lol yep skinnies is the guy
lol i totally forgot about the stock heads too! that car was my inspiration to do up my old 95 Z28 but that damn ls1 bird came along and i fell in love. so funny we posted at the same time
Could someone like ed wright tune a build like this or am I more limited to sell tuning stuff.
Im not really sure Im comfortable enough to tune this. I may have him do it and slightly tweak it later down the road to accomodate weather or other things.
Im not really sure Im comfortable enough to tune this. I may have him do it and slightly tweak it later down the road to accomodate weather or other things.
id say that depends on how much boost your running, MAF or Speed Density, how much you want/ need to play around, methanol injections, etc. id say for sure that you'll be able to handle at least 7-8 psi safely on a mail order with 60# injectors from my personal experience which may or may not put you were you want to be...for alittle while before the boost bug bites again 
like stated above once you get to 500hp your gonna want 600hp and keep going on from there thats why i went and purchased a street bike now i want to put nitrous on the bike 
my goal is 500 rwhp with my procharged lt1 im going to stop there for now and save up for a forged bottom end and some other goodies 
let us know how it goes i will post my dyno results in a few weeks good luck 
my goal is 500 rwhp with my procharged lt1 im going to stop there for now and save up for a forged bottom end and some other goodies let us know how it goes i will post my dyno results in a few weeks good luck