$Cost$ per HP
$Cost$ per HP Very few of us have unlimited budgets when it comes to car mods. IMO we lose track of that fact and chase HP at all costs or wind up spending money unwisely. Something that helps is to objectively take a look at how much money per HP can be gained with different mods. For example ASSUME the following costs and HP gains on diffrent mods and take a look at the $ per HP:
MOD...........................HP Increase............Cost...........Cost per HP
Set of Ported heads..........45HP...............$2000.00........ $44.45
LS6 Manifold over LS1.......12HP...............$ 350.00........$29.16
Cam (installed w springs)...50HP...............$1100.00........$22. 00
Headers and Duals............25HP...............$1200.00...... ..$48.00
Air Lid aftermarket............10HP...............$ 199.00.........$19.90
Stroker over Stock............50HP..............$4000.00....... ..$80.00
Nitrous (initial cost ONLY).150HP...............$ 800.00.........$ 5.33
LSX manifold over LS6.......12HP...............$ 875.00.........$72.91
(preliminary on above)
So if one had say $2500 to spend on mods, where might the money be spent most efficiently (assuming NO juice)??? If one had an A4 it could be argued that a torque convertor would be the best first mod because while no HP is added, a reduction in times of .3 to .5 is done routinely. The same thing can be said of suspension mods in that while no HP is added a reduction in times are easily acheived with the right setup. But disrearding that, it seems to me a lid (199.00), cam (1,100.00) and headers and duals (1,200.00) would be money very well spent. At some point in time you may do ALL these things but in my opinion it is useful to see what the HP gains are costing you.
MOD...........................HP Increase............Cost...........Cost per HP
Set of Ported heads..........45HP...............$2000.00........ $44.45
LS6 Manifold over LS1.......12HP...............$ 350.00........$29.16
Cam (installed w springs)...50HP...............$1100.00........$22. 00
Headers and Duals............25HP...............$1200.00...... ..$48.00
Air Lid aftermarket............10HP...............$ 199.00.........$19.90
Stroker over Stock............50HP..............$4000.00....... ..$80.00
Nitrous (initial cost ONLY).150HP...............$ 800.00.........$ 5.33
LSX manifold over LS6.......12HP...............$ 875.00.........$72.91
(preliminary on above)
So if one had say $2500 to spend on mods, where might the money be spent most efficiently (assuming NO juice)??? If one had an A4 it could be argued that a torque convertor would be the best first mod because while no HP is added, a reduction in times of .3 to .5 is done routinely. The same thing can be said of suspension mods in that while no HP is added a reduction in times are easily acheived with the right setup. But disrearding that, it seems to me a lid (199.00), cam (1,100.00) and headers and duals (1,200.00) would be money very well spent. At some point in time you may do ALL these things but in my opinion it is useful to see what the HP gains are costing you.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis
I like to keep mine around $10 per HP. I have a $300 cam springs and install. Some of those prices were pretty high.Like the headers, thats why i have waited on them. And lids are under a $100 now not 199. Just my thoughts
Originally Posted by 98SS Blackattack
I like to keep mine around $10 per HP. I have a $300 cam springs and install. Some of those prices were pretty high.Like the headers, thats why i have waited on them. And lids are under a $100 now not 199. Just my thoughts
