Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

STS turbo vs H/C?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 03:19 PM
  #1  
philaeagle51's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: PA
Question STS turbo vs H/C?

I want my car to have 400 to the wheel. long story short, what option (H/C) or (STS Turbo 5psi basic setup) would be cheaper to reach 400rwhp (atleast). What do I lose by chosing one over the other? will my car wear faster if i run the sts turbo (at 5psi)? Will my car last longer with H/C?

MY CAR HAS 21,000 MILES- just so you keep that in mind

mods: new tires, new brake pads all around, new front rotors, slp cold air intake, slp lid, slip bellows, slp loud mouth exaust, diablo sport predator tuner (dyno tune)

Mods to come before purchase of STS or H/C: bilstein shocks, hollow sways, poss sfc's, poss stb

thanks for any suggestions/help

Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 03:20 PM
  #2  
philaeagle51's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: PA
Default

my car is a 2002 z28 camaro ((A4)) 21,000 miles btw
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 03:37 PM
  #3  
lt1pwr1's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 618
Likes: 1
From: Oakland Township, MI
Default

I'm sure you will get a ton of different opinions but I like the STS turbo route. As long as you don't boost too much your motor should have no problem lasting a long time. The STS is pretty much bolt on without really any engine teardown. The downside is you have a 60E trans which you will blow up in no time with either the STS or H/C combo.....not to mention the 10 bolt rear. I would invest in upgrading those first.

Also when the time comes to sell it, the STS is easy to take off and turn back to stock. Then you can sell the turbo separate. However, I will tell you there is no sweeter sound than that of a cammed LS1
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 03:52 PM
  #4  
old motorhead's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 246
From: SE TEXAS
Default

I'd always vote f/i over heads/cam....unless the f/i involves a plumbing nightmare running oil/air from the front to the back and back to the front of your ride. Don't mean to **** in anyone's Cheerios that likes the STS, but I wouldn't fool with it.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2010 | 06:51 PM
  #5  
The Fugitive's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Reno, NV
Default

here's the thing that would make the price of one or the other a factor. Are you doing the work on the head and cam or is someone else? Both have to get tuned and is the STS used or new? I would also say do the STS because it will leave room for improvement later on, I don't know if you can change a h/c to work with a s/c but there are plenty of options either way. I would say find someone on here local that has one or the other and ride in them to see what you prefer
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2010 | 05:20 AM
  #6  
venom ws7's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,965
Likes: 1
From: EARTH
Default

if your only looking for 400rwhp then finish the boltons and get mild cam..
Not really worth buying STS turbo if you want 400rwhp..
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 12:16 AM
  #7  
93camaro_zzz's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,211
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

Yeah, and your basic question was which is cheaper. Thats a no brainer. Go H/C.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 02:30 AM
  #8  
The Fugitive's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Reno, NV
Default

that's why I asked if he was going to do the work himself place here where I am at want $1800 for head work alone then you need to add in the price for them to do the cam gaskets and etc then you still need to add in whatever h/c he goes with. Good heads range from $1500 and up avg cam cost $380 and up. You can get a used STS on here for about $2000+ both would need tuning injectors etc. So for me I would just say STS or custom rearmount just for room to grow
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 09:48 AM
  #9  
GMCBURBAN's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Default

Im a fan of H/C myself. Like it has already been stated. There is not alot of money in H/C vs FI....

But you should def. get the tranny issue shorted out first... Take it from experience, 3
4l60e's later, just wish i would went with th-350 or 400 to start with...
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 11:47 AM
  #10  
hawk584's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,786
Likes: 43
From: earth
Default

i'm with the guys above, not worth the price and headache..58mm /tb, ported/polished intake and heads, cam, long tube headers and tune
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 12:34 PM
  #11  
IWGF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
From: Aztec, NM
Default

If you only want 400rwhp, H/C is the way to go. You'll make that easy with a mild H/C setup.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 03:34 PM
  #12  
philaeagle51's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: PA
Question Thanks for the input, now...

Ok, i feel convinced I should go the heads and cam option, for those of you who suggest going with a "mild" H/C setup, what would that consist of (parts, price) and what other mods should i do first, new tranny and rear? (where do they sell upgraded rear ends?).

And for those who managed to make the STS setup seem worth it, if running at 5psi do i need new injectors? how much would it cost for a new tranny t-300 or t-400 as someone suggested?
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2010 | 06:20 PM
  #13  
IWGF's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 0
From: Aztec, NM
Default

Originally Posted by philaeagle51
Ok, i feel convinced I should go the heads and cam option, for those of you who suggest going with a "mild" H/C setup, what would that consist of (parts, price) and what other mods should i do first, new tranny and rear? (where do they sell upgraded rear ends?).

And for those who managed to make the STS setup seem worth it, if running at 5psi do i need new injectors? how much would it cost for a new tranny t-300 or t-400 as someone suggested?
My H/C setup is pretty mild. TEA Stg 2.5 5.3 Heads and a TSP 228r cam... I got my heads for $1500 (used) and got the cam brand new from TSP. A Rossler TH400 to meet your goals goes for $1200ish. I am running a MWC 9". I paid like $3700 for all of the stuff (tq arm/driveshaft/lca's/phb/etc) but you could pick up a Moser for way cheaper.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:16 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE