Picked up another f-body this weekend. The block in it is bad. Everything else seems to be ok and has 145k on it (1999 model).

I also got a 100k LS1 longblock in working condition that came with the purchase.

What should I do? I really like forced induction but have never done so before. What will be my best bang for the buck?

Should I buy a 408 iron shortblock, and install the 100k mile top end & accessories to it... along with a cam & stock heads? Should I put the 100k longblock in the car & put heads/cam in it? Should I put the 100k longblock in the car with upgraded connecting rods & buy a complete turbo system off the classified section?

Hmmm... let's hear some opinions!

 

whats your budget?

 

Best bang for the buck would be the 100k motor with a nitrous kit

 

budget is if one of those options is way cheaper than the other(s)

sorry, nitrous would be the last thing I would ever use

 

your last option sounds like it would be fun. Heads and cam wouldn't be too bad either though.

"100k longblock in the car with upgraded connecting rods & buy a complete turbo system off the classified section"

 

Spray is alot of fun! You have yet to pop your nitrous cherry right?

 

My vote would be to either go heads/cam or go with a D1SC ATI procharger.

 

This is what I'd do as well, you can get great deals in the classifieds.

 

make sure to think of the 145k tranny and rear end. unless it has already been upgraded

 

+1. my vote = rearend first. then do whatever mods you want. b/c ether way rearend will have to come in sometime.

 

The motor is already messed up get that the way you want it and then run the old rear til it goes

might as well get the most use out of the 10 bolt....just have funds ready for when it breaks haha

 

electric supercharge the stock longblock! on a more serious note if you can afford it get the forged 408 shortblock from tsp and then install the stock heads/cam for now. and then when u can afford that upgrade that **** and do FI like you wanted and youll have a good bottom end!

 

you guys aren't making this decision any easier! lol. yes, the t-56 I'm going to rebuild... the previous owner said 3rd gear is kinda messed up in it. the 10 bolt will last as long as possible. I don't do burnouts or hard launches so I'm not too worried about it right now.

I've lately seen a couple of complete, yes, complete turbo kits go for about $3000 in the classifieds. and the Prochargers (the man) go for around 3800-4500. I'd want to get compression a little lower than stock if I went FI though. what's the cheapest way to lower compression? head gasket thickness won't change much without another big change. keep in mind I can, but I won't want to push over 8psi if I'm on a stock shortblock with that many miles.

 

How about do what YOU want. There is a million and one ways to doing it and I changed my mind so many times I was worse than a women. Jsut do allot of research and think long and hard before you decide. Whatever you decide on, make sure if you don't have everything built that you have money aside or you can wait a bit while the car is parked. Everything adds up and FI is the worse for that but the best for max hp, etc. A nice built H/C combo would be kick *** to, and if you get bored of it you could bottle feed it. Or save up for the money in the long run.

I say, take your chances on a D-1 kit with your stock block. Get some 317 casting heads to lower CR to about 9.5with some nice dual springs, and a used 02+ Z06 cam and you'll be set for some fun. Try to find a rear as well. Another option is to keep upir eye open for great deals and pounce on them when you get the chance. You can gather up all the parts and when you have the PA, rear, built powertrain,etc throw it all together. Unless there is low milleage on the stock stuff, even than, there is no way of really know how long it will last. Its killing me to stare at my accumulation of parts lying in my garage right now but it will pay off this summer when I have a nice, solid and complete foundation.

 

great opinion!

I think FI might be too expensive for me. What would be my next best option without nitrous?

 

H/C/I, LT's,

 

I once had a 98 TA with a mid sized Comp cam (.581 lift, 114LSA, etc), ported 241's, LS6 intake, LS6 throttle body, and LT's but I didn't feel as though it were fast enough for me. Although I will be driving this car daily so I don't know if I can expect more on those stock cubes with H/C/I.

 

more yes, but you had a pretty good setup before hand on your 98 too, I cant say for 100% sure since Ive never owned one with those mods but theres tons of people on here that have done that

 

hmmmm

edit: I done some researching and noticed I can make 450rwhp and over 400 torque on a LS1. but I know that some smaller HP cars can outrun some bigger HP cars in the 1/8

 

If you didn't feel H/C/I was not fast enough you need more cubes or some bottle... But you've made it clear you don't want to be on the bottle for whatever reason. So I'm going to have to suggest more cubes and a more aggressive cam.