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Old May 31, 2013 | 06:48 PM
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Default Budget performance.

I've recently bought a '99 T/A and really is my first time dabbling into the performance aspect of a LS1 I've worked on a few over the years just basic what the factory had got put back on after an issue occured.I would like to be steered in the right direction of having a decent power plant I'm pretty pleased with it being all stock the way she is,but would like to have more power I read somewhere don't qoute me on this,but factory they were running 13.3 or 13.4 some where in the that range I would really like to be ideally in the 12's is that possible on a budget without really digging inside the engine internally such as swaping cams and rocker ratios and things of that matter just kind of want to do a simpe poor mans build and are 12's achevieable without spending a lot of bread I'm sure sooner or later though as my skills grow I'll have a fortune sunk into it.As of right now what are some good parts to add such as intakes,headers,and tuners.Thats the thing that has my stumped are tuners such as hypertech and brands like that.It throws me off cause if they increase power and mpgs why wouldnt that factory have that program preset into the ECM already just not cost effective or not enough supply and demmand.Are they worth the money or they kind of hoax deal?Any expertise and knowledge would be greatly apprciated.Thanks.
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Old May 31, 2013 | 07:08 PM
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Okay first of all how much would you like to initially spend here? You could probably hit a 12.9 with a drag radials and a good driver mod
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Old May 31, 2013 | 07:17 PM
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Are you auto or stick? Depends on how deep in the 12's you want to be. Get a good tune up and run it at the track and report back with your numbers. You may find out you are closer to 12's than you think.
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Old May 31, 2013 | 07:33 PM
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It's an auto I'm unsure of the ratio in the diff looked for the tag on the diff,but either the previous owner had the diff fluid changed and the tech didn't put it back or it fell off. I may sound like a moron by saying this but whats a good driver mod never herd of it?I'm looking really just do it part by part mostly starting with the exhaust and possible cold air intake and a tuner then go from there hard to say maybe somewhere from $1000-$2000 for starters,but only time will tell.
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Old May 31, 2013 | 07:51 PM
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Driver mod meaning knowing how to drive your car to it's full potential basically. That can make a huge difference as i'm sure you probably know You could start out with a good stall and some sticky tires...that would really help your track times. Some exhaust work, ram air mod, etc...
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Old May 31, 2013 | 07:55 PM
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as said above a good stall and some mickey Thompson et streets will more than likely throw a good running ls1 into the 12s easily !!!
my experience from my friends auto cars the stall is the best mod !
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Old May 31, 2013 | 09:09 PM
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When I had my old ws6, I was on a budget too. I wanted to retain all drivability and try to keep all the MPG's I could while having good power/times (I was driving a good distance to college everyday). I had an auto and kept my stock stall in but had my tuner change my shift points, etc. I got eBay headers & a TSP Y-pipe for Christmans , and bought a used TSP Rumbler cat back for the exhaust. For the intake I bought a used FTP 85mm lid, used FTP ram air, a used truck 85mm MAF, used SLP smooth bellow, and ported my throttle body myself. A friend gave me his ls6 intake off of his 04 GTO for installing his FAST. Another buddy of mine had a Powerbond 25% underdrive pulley he had taken off and I bought that from him too. Suspension I went with Founders products since they're pretty cheap and work very very well. Tuned and Dyno'ed it laid down 345rwhp & 353rwtq on Texas Speeds dyno and Boost Performances dyno in Amarillo. With Nexen n3000's (like I said prior, I was balling on a budget lol) I ran consecutive 13.1's in the quarter mile (bolt-on f-bodies rarely break 13.5's in Amarillo's DA). Just be patient and search the classifieds and you can have a killer, fun ride for very very cheap. $420 for the performance parts, $400 for the tune, and $200 in suspension pieces. Of course there's little parts here and there I bought, but this is a rough estimate. I wasn't this fortunate with my c5 though that rides expensive for Corvette specific items!
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Old May 31, 2013 | 09:22 PM
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Everybody is saying do a stall, I on the other hand simply put headers and a UD pulley on my car and instantly went 12.7's with nothing else...and that was over 10 years ago when header technology wasn't as good as it is now.
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Old Jun 1, 2013 | 06:57 AM
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dude, buy a stall. you have not enjoyed your car, untill you have a stall. mines 3800 could be bigger. I did tsp headers, good price, slp lid, cheap, then I did a mail order tune from frost. then the stall. then it started snowballing.

dont neglect suspension and a tranny cooler.
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Old Jun 1, 2013 | 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 1BAD98LS1
Everybody is saying do a stall, I on the other hand simply put headers and a UD pulley on my car and instantly went 12.7's with nothing else...and that was over 10 years ago when header technology wasn't as good as it is now.
and you would have done 12.3s or better with a stall!
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Old Jun 1, 2013 | 06:59 AM
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yea my friends bolt on TA with Yank PT4000 stall was running 11s
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Old Jun 3, 2013 | 09:38 AM
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converter and drag radials. I run an SS3600 and toyo tq and on the street its fun.
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