oxymoron: good mpg in trans am
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ok i have a 2000 trans am, with 130k, m6, long tubes, ram air, and smaller bolt on's for 353 hp 358 tq... i know i will be rebuilding within the next year or hopefully two and i want to build up around 450- 500 hp/tq max.
because its a dd i most importantly want good mpg, with a few track days per year, and i also do a lot of road trips, whats the best way to get there? of course the cheaper the better too, but i know... dont be too cheap. i am lowered, if that matters much, and im trying to go with a throwback theme to the earlier trans ams... (spun metal dash, snowflakes, etc...)
-nitrous with heads/cam? turbo? blower?
- or do i go with an ls3 or save forever for an ls7?
(along with more suspension and a different rear end)
thoughts??? and thanks!!!
because its a dd i most importantly want good mpg, with a few track days per year, and i also do a lot of road trips, whats the best way to get there? of course the cheaper the better too, but i know... dont be too cheap. i am lowered, if that matters much, and im trying to go with a throwback theme to the earlier trans ams... (spun metal dash, snowflakes, etc...)
-nitrous with heads/cam? turbo? blower?
- or do i go with an ls3 or save forever for an ls7?
(along with more suspension and a different rear end)
thoughts??? and thanks!!!
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Last edited by rabbit320; 07-08-2010 at 05:45 PM. Reason: brainfarts
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IF you want to retain your MPG's then I would consider them in this order:
1. N20 because when your not using it its going to be the same
2. Turbo b/c if you drive it normally I've heard there suppose to help MPG, the key part is NOT flooring it and staying out of boost.
3. Supercharger should not hurt too bad if you dont push the car, but will probably hurt MPG's more then a turbo would
4. Heads and cam- depending on the size of the cam your going to see a change in your MPG, b/c the basic principle of a cam swap is to keep the valves open longer to allow more air in the engine, with the additional air you have to have more fuel which is what makes the additional power. Unlike a turbo or S/C there is no way to "turn the cam off" unless you get VTEC
1. N20 because when your not using it its going to be the same
2. Turbo b/c if you drive it normally I've heard there suppose to help MPG, the key part is NOT flooring it and staying out of boost.
3. Supercharger should not hurt too bad if you dont push the car, but will probably hurt MPG's more then a turbo would
4. Heads and cam- depending on the size of the cam your going to see a change in your MPG, b/c the basic principle of a cam swap is to keep the valves open longer to allow more air in the engine, with the additional air you have to have more fuel which is what makes the additional power. Unlike a turbo or S/C there is no way to "turn the cam off" unless you get VTEC
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IF you want to retain your MPG's then I would consider them in this order:
1. N20 because when your not using it its going to be the same
2. Turbo b/c if you drive it normally I've heard there suppose to help MPG, the key part is NOT flooring it and staying out of boost.
3. Supercharger should not hurt too bad if you dont push the car, but will probably hurt MPG's more then a turbo would
4. Heads and cam- depending on the size of the cam your going to see a change in your MPG, b/c the basic principle of a cam swap is to keep the valves open longer to allow more air in the engine, with the additional air you have to have more fuel which is what makes the additional power. Unlike a turbo or S/C there is no way to "turn the cam off" unless you get VTEC
1. N20 because when your not using it its going to be the same
2. Turbo b/c if you drive it normally I've heard there suppose to help MPG, the key part is NOT flooring it and staying out of boost.
3. Supercharger should not hurt too bad if you dont push the car, but will probably hurt MPG's more then a turbo would
4. Heads and cam- depending on the size of the cam your going to see a change in your MPG, b/c the basic principle of a cam swap is to keep the valves open longer to allow more air in the engine, with the additional air you have to have more fuel which is what makes the additional power. Unlike a turbo or S/C there is no way to "turn the cam off" unless you get VTEC
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thanks for the replies... sounds like N2O or turbo, i know turbo is expensive as hell to do right, but a 150-200 shot could be done properly in what 1500-2000 $ range?
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Just remember how long it will take you before you actually start saving on gas:
Assuming you get 20mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 750gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,972.50 a year.
If you bump up to 25mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 600gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,578.00 a year.
1,972.50-1,578.00 = 394.50
Not very much. I dont know much about pricing No2 or a turbo kit, but I've seen No2 go for about 700 in Summit.
So, it will take about 2 years to get your money back....
Turbo/Supercharger: BIG BUCKS. It will take years to start saving on your investment, even if you got up to 30mpg (this is the average of city and highway).... thats 500gal, so assuming the same 2.63 a gal= 1,315.00 a year or a savings of $657.50
I would just build what you want, and stick with it. I love the 12 mpg I get in my Monte....
Assuming you get 20mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 750gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,972.50 a year.
If you bump up to 25mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 600gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,578.00 a year.
1,972.50-1,578.00 = 394.50
Not very much. I dont know much about pricing No2 or a turbo kit, but I've seen No2 go for about 700 in Summit.
So, it will take about 2 years to get your money back....
Turbo/Supercharger: BIG BUCKS. It will take years to start saving on your investment, even if you got up to 30mpg (this is the average of city and highway).... thats 500gal, so assuming the same 2.63 a gal= 1,315.00 a year or a savings of $657.50
I would just build what you want, and stick with it. I love the 12 mpg I get in my Monte....
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Fuel pump- 100$
Tune- 300$ (unless you know someone)
Kit (depends on what all you want)- 400-800$
That will be the "correct" way. Other than that you might think about injectors but you shouldn't need them on a pretty much stock car. If you had a cam you would probably need injectors.
Nitrous is the only way for you IMO.
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Just remember how long it will take you before you actually start saving on gas:
Assuming you get 20mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 750gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,972.50 a year.
If you bump up to 25mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 600gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,578.00 a year.
1,972.50-1,578.00 = 394.50
Not very much. I dont know much about pricing No2 or a turbo kit, but I've seen No2 go for about 700 in Summit.
So, it will take about 2 years to get your money back....
Turbo/Supercharger: BIG BUCKS. It will take years to start saving on your investment, even if you got up to 30mpg (this is the average of city and highway).... thats 500gal, so assuming the same 2.63 a gal= 1,315.00 a year or a savings of $657.50
I would just build what you want, and stick with it. I love the 12 mpg I get in my Monte....
Assuming you get 20mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 750gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,972.50 a year.
If you bump up to 25mpg (average), you drive 15K a year, thats 600gal a year X 2.63 (average in my hometown for a gal of gas) = 1,578.00 a year.
1,972.50-1,578.00 = 394.50
Not very much. I dont know much about pricing No2 or a turbo kit, but I've seen No2 go for about 700 in Summit.
So, it will take about 2 years to get your money back....
Turbo/Supercharger: BIG BUCKS. It will take years to start saving on your investment, even if you got up to 30mpg (this is the average of city and highway).... thats 500gal, so assuming the same 2.63 a gal= 1,315.00 a year or a savings of $657.50
I would just build what you want, and stick with it. I love the 12 mpg I get in my Monte....