Thinking of Ebay-Turbo over HCI
u less those kits are remove front end and exhaust and bolt up add fuel,oil lines and tune?
Rear by plugs are tight too and and some kits look work to massage?
But if turkey all the parts are there for $1500 and I can give a good speed shop 20hrs of shop time to truley bolt up and I add fuel pump injectors and tune that might be the same $5k budget
u less those kits are remove front end and exhaust and bolt up add fuel,oil lines and tune?
Rear by plugs are tight too and and some kits look work to massage?
But if turkey all the parts are there for $1500 and I can give a good speed shop 20hrs of shop time to truley bolt up and I add fuel pump injectors and tune that might be the same $5k budget
u less those kits are remove front end and exhaust and bolt up add fuel,oil lines and tune?
Rear by plugs are tight too and and some kits look work to massage?
But if turkey all the parts are there for $1500 and I can give a good speed shop 20hrs of shop time to truley bolt up and I add fuel pump injectors and tune that might be the same $5k budget
Sorry guys. I am not some cheap f**k trying to build on a shoestring budget but I also want to not match what I spend to my wants. It is a toy and I am not doing the labor myself unless it is top end under the hood stuff. Intake swap, fuel rails, front accessories, springs, electronics.
I also obviously cant spell worth a dam!
This did thread did take a turn. You guys have answered my questions but the discussion has grown legs.
OK Budget is $5k, Goals are mid 400hp/low-mid 11sec auto car on streets or street DR.
I can get there with NA bolt ons I get that but looking at my budget:
I am not doing most of the work. My cars is a solid running 02 trans am, ls1, stock, ls6 intake, lid. Runs great, no smoke, good power, tranny good, just an oil pan and rear seal leak.
So while I have some things accessible, I will fix them and not duplicate labor $. For this leak repair I will upgrade the stall.
The stall brings me back to the motor. I was going HCI but for $5k I keep seeing turbo and SC builds and for a DD 550-650hp range as easy to hit. Within a budget of $5k which FI setup can I DIY or have others install for $5k maybe $6k all in.
I like the HCI since I can phase my spend in. Do the cam only now, intake myself heads later and be at $5k and at my goals. But after $5k and just NA would be a letdown to a stocker with FI blowing my doors off.
Or after this stall swap, leave engine alone and plan the FI build. Turbo kits are $1500 ebay or $3k from huron. They look like plug and play can they be DIY without welding or pulling the motor? If it is plug and play and easy I might be ok paying someone the 20hrs and $2k in labor to do and hence I am at my $5k budget. Looking here on ls1, many are into the turbo kits like $5-$7k without install! Which for me is now $8k-$10k build.
Prochargers are steep at $6k but they appear to be DIY I can do that install myself.
And they get me into the DD goals
I am not to worried about the engine, the mods will travel if she goes. She has 140k if it breaks I will fix it into an LS2

That's why I'm waiting to make a thread in the Auto section, and probably a sticky. The car has seen the track plenty when it was stall/cam only, haven't been yet with the blower. That said, it ONLY rolls around on 295/50/16 M/T drag radials and pulls are made whenever the car goes out so at a minimum the 2-3 shift is being exercised and staying alive like the Bee Gee's. After all the research I did, I came to some conclusions about what you can and cant do to keep the 4L60E alive. After I go to the track with the blower, I'll post up. I live in FL so its still hot as crap down here.....when there's not a hurricane.
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I read the Huron speed install and man it is straight forward.
I assume there are plenty base turbo tunes to start with or by frost to get up and running quickly too.
Cam Only: $1500 kit+install 50hp
Heads Cam (keep LS6intake): $2500 installed with PRC 2.5 +90 with cam
So a 430HP car, simple solution but probably $4k into it and within my goals but just keeping up with newer modern muscle and no where to go up except add NOS. maybe its fine and simple and it will sound great and be a solid 11 sec car. And I can do it in phases. Add a Fast myself too.
Or leave motor alone: Add a $2500 kit plus $1000 in fuel/oil/gaskets plus labor? $2000? I am at $5500 for small turbo but can dial in at 550hp If I want more I can or start breaking stuff. Probbaly leave alone but still more then HCI car in power, not sure if more complicated and as good for DD and resale ?
Supercharger: They seem pricey at $6k for a kit but simple DIY bolt on as is and I am at 550 hp range as well. Little more limited to go up without doing HCI and bigger procharger and more $. Probably more street manners then a turbo?
Anyway I am leaning towards a cam only (plus my stage 2 tranny going in now with 3200 stall) Maybe get a FI style cam that doesnt fall on its face NA so I have options for DIY bolton. It depends on cost to install. If its $2k with parts not worth it. Might wait for turbo/SC setup. I am shopping labor now.
I have a Procharged LS2, a H/C/I LS1 (w/spray), and I am in the process of building TT 4.8L. I can tell you this before even getting the turbo car on the road: Naturally aspirated the HCI engine is the biggest performance disappointment of my life for the money and time spent. But, it sounds awesome!
Get a used Procharger kit and some headers and call it a day. The hardest part is pinning the crank in the car.










