Should I or Shouldn't I??
 

Ok, so here's the deal. I have a 97 Z28 with 113k on it and a salvage title. I would like to someday have a supercharged camaro making somewhere between 400-500hp. Would I be better off looking into a supercharger now and start modding it or should i just wait and try to get rid of it in a couple years and try to get a hold of an ls1. By the way, my Z28 is an A4. The transmissoin part doesn't bother me so much, i can drive both but I am just throwing around the idea of lt1 vs ls1. Can i get what i want with my car now or should i look for an ls1? Let me know. Post any pics if you have them. Thanks!

http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com...tCar.php?car=7 '95 Formula - This should give you a good idea of what the car can do with an ATI ProCharger. Bob

I know i can do quite a bit but would it really be worth it on an engine that has 113k? For the money, could i better just look for an ls1? Or should i just stick with what i have? I am not looking to spend a whole lot of money. I know i am going to be spending a good amount but dollar for dollar, would i be better off with the ls1?

anyone??? any pictures or advice would be helpful.

Dollar per dollar in my opinion, you are going to make more power with an LS1 based vehicle. You can take an LS1 f body, throw a cam and exhaust on it, and make the same power that an LT1 does with forced induction on an otherwise stock engine. Bob

Ok. Thats kind of what I was thinking too. I unfortunately don't have the money for a ls1 right now but maybe in a few years. I also think i might want to go to a m6 instead of an A4.

Where are you located? Theres a good shop in the south east that does LS1/T56 swaps routinely. I went to them for my 88 bird. PM me if you need details.

I am the very southwest tip of MN but I am a college student so right now there is next to nothing in the bank account. This sucks because there is nothing I want more than to start modding my car but I think I am just going to have to wait for a while. But thanks anyways. I Am pretty sure if I am going to get an ls1 I am just going to get a new car because my car has a salvage title and 113k.

well if its a good condition 97, the high miles wont matter with a new motor/trans. My 88 has over 200K and its 10 years older as well. Just gotta start saving or look for that loan. If your in school maybe a big fat school loan and slip a few $$ towards some horsepower :devil:
Not that I would promote that.....stay in school

I would go with a turbo setup.. it seems people are netting hi 380s at the wheels compared to the superchargers 350s...

EDIT... but 11.314@ 118.24 mph with a 1.543 sixty foot is pretty impressive... matched cam and heads with lower compression and more boost would yield a low 10 second car easily... till the bottom end let loose... lol

Im jsut doing everything before i go back to school (college)... dumped 6k into turbo... then gotta do tranny swap... then this and then that.. you all know how it goes...

I am just wondering if a ls1 would be a better long term investment? If i do start to put alot of money into my car, i want to be able to keep it for a long time and i just want to make sure that i can do what i want with a high mileage salvage lt1. If not, i think i can get 5500 out it yet if i would decide to sell it.

How much other engine modding would i have to do with an lt1 compared to an ls1 if i wanted to produce somwhere around 450hp?

Both motors can make 450hp. Just depends on how you want to get there and what your willing to spend.
If you plan on high HP then you may want to consider the LS1 or at least getting that LT1 block checked over.

Its like the guys that own 3rd gens who convert the whole car to a 4th gen (spoiler/tran/engine/hood/interior) and in the end they spend $25k or more. Meanwhile theres nice low mile '02 fbods selling for $20k. If you want an ls1 4th gen then get one from the get go. I understand if you like doing the work and spending the time. But some guys think theyll start with less and make more out of it. It just doesnt work (most of the time). You spend years building the car just to look good or support the power you desire. Then you finally get into the real mods, at which point your burned out.
Just some .02 from my own experience. I did it with my 88 bird and after a few years decided it was time for an ls1 4th gen. I love the car, but its no LS1 and i realized what I had been missing

thats what i am thinking about and i would take a trans am or a camaro but i just think that if i am going to turn the car into something that i will have until i am old, i might want to get something with less miles and a few more options. But the only shitty part is that i am going to have to wait a while before i do any of that becuase i am rather poor

Ha... no one in their right mind would pay $5500 fpr a slvage title car.. let alone one with that many miles...

I say build the car. Use the LT1... get some heads (like afr heads) to lower compression. Put some ARP hardware in. And see what she can do. You could make a lot of power out of the LT1... dont let all the LS1 guys get to you. You aint after 1500 hp... and even if you were think about it, how many SBC are out there with that much hp (the LT1 is the same motor in essence) the LT1 is fine for your goals.

so you think i should just start modding the one i have. How much other stuff would i need to besides the supercharger or turbocharger. What would be better, a SC or a TC?. All i have done to the car is SLP LM2 and an off-brand CAI. Other than that, it is bone stock. If i wanted to reach around 450-500 hp, what would i all have to do to it and how much would it cost?

if you think i can reach around 450 hp just as easy with an lt1 vs an ls1 then what is a good place to get decently priced parts? What else would i need to do besides just the supercharger to my engine to make everything work? How much should i be looking at for boost?

450 can be a lot on an old motor when you don't know its history. Your putting faith in the fact that it was taken care of properly. A 100k+ mile lt1 with bolt ons is fine. A forced induction car is different. You can go with procharger and keep boost low at 6 or 7 lbs. You should make around 450 and keep the car safe. EPP had a hugger car with procharger for couple years and it had 120k+ and ran great. You could also go with a lt4 or H/C package but you'll lose some drivability. Again you'll have to decide what kind of direction you want. A complete lt4 concersion should get you in neighborhood of 400rwhp.

what area would i be in if i went with the factory setup and ran just a supercharger with about 6lbs boost?

The LT4 kit (which they dont make anymore) is only good for 400 flywheel hp maybe. I owuld go with a LE package or Advanced induction package and that will yeidl about 410-430 at the wheels with supporting mods (of course)


Factory motor with a supercharger is about 350-360 hp at the wheels (far as i know). Spend a little time getting more of the bolt ons like long tube headers, roller rockers, and the like (a blower cam would bea big help) then you could make more.


I am going to tell you, if you jsut stuck a supercharger on a factory ls1.. the ls1 is going to make more power. But by the time you bought a ls1 car or made yours a ls1 car.. you could have had a bottom end and heads and been makeing a TON of power out of the LT1.... keep the lt1 man.. lol (or buy the ls1 motor in my garage.. lol)

I have a ls1 and im keeping the lt1... enough said