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LS1 HP Increase ?

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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 12:34 AM
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Default LS1 HP Increase ?

First let me say ive been looking at this website for a very long time and refused to register until i got the Camaro ive been wanting, after several years i finally decided to kick the bucket and buy a 98 Z28...so here comes my ?'s..

I did not realize how pricey performance parts are for this engine, mainly im wanting something for a daily driver but something i can play with on the strip... what would be the best steps to take to get some more power out of this engine without spending some ungodly amount of money... I would really like to shoot for around 400hp, nothing crazy.... any input would be great!

Thanks
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 12:37 AM
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Parts actually arent too expensive for our cars. If you want cheap easy power, spray it!
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 12:41 AM
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the last cam and head package i looked at was around 2500 ... and id figure another 1000 for installation .... i was hurt at work, so dealing with workers comp, certainly limited on funds! ....

Realistically if i put on a set of long tube headers, y-pipe, good exhaust...and some sort of cold air induction, what range would i be in power wise?
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 02:33 AM
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With a full full bolt on setup on pump 93 your looking at 36x-37x through a manual trans and stock rear. With E85 ive seen 380ish whp.

To achieve numbers close to that you would need 25% under drive pulley, LS6 intake (atleast), Ported TB, free mods, Lid, Longtubes, exhaust, and a tune ofcourse, Electric waterpump, 1.8 rockers would help aswell.

The bolt ons ive bought so far have been cheap as hell.

Im sure you could break 4xxwhp with these same mods listed above and 243/799 heads and LS6 cam.

Last edited by adamantium; Jan 4, 2013 at 02:47 AM.
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 03:45 AM
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bottle full kit is like 1200 bucks
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 04:50 AM
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cam, exhaust, bolt-ons dont worry about hp numbers
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 07:04 AM
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you could do a cam only to meet your goals ,but it would be a bigger cam .check Texas Speed for a head/cam combo,get some 5.3 ported heads with a 228r cam.get ls6 intake and a good flowing exhaust system.
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 09:41 PM
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While the spray might be cheaper up front, it's a temporary fix.
If the 98 is something that can 'sit', until you get the mods together, why don't you consider porting your own heads (check out YouTube), then get a valvejob, replace the gaskets. Buy a used cam from the forum on this site.
While the video shows 243 heads, you have the 806 heads. The principle is the same.

continue watching parts 1>9...if I can do it, anyone can.
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 09:52 PM
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If you are looking at 400 hp at the crank then just the usual list of bolt ons will get you there just fine. Exhaust, intake, udp, and tune. Realistically, you could by most of these parts used without too much worry, and keep the price fairly low
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 11:03 PM
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400 wheel is a tall tall task for just bolt ons. Full bolt ons and a mild cam like the 228r cam will put you right in the range youre looking. My car with pacesetter headers, lid, tsp duals, and dyno tune put 352hp 357tq to the wheels.
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 11:29 PM
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honestly i would be content with 350-400hp. This is a daily driver so i would like so save the engine as much as possible as well as my gas mileage. Thanks alot everyone!!
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 11:34 PM
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1) LS6 Intake
2) 1-7/8 headers
3) Good exhaust/cutout
4) 9"/12-bolt/S60 rear with 4.10 or numerically higher gears
5) Quality clutch and master or converter
6) Tune
7) Slicks
Go from there. Without touching the engine you'll probably run faster than a lot of folks who dump a ton of money into the engine before the rest of the package.
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Old Jan 4, 2013 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
If you are looking at 400 hp at the crank then just the usual list of bolt ons will get you there just fine. Exhaust, intake, udp, and tune. Realistically, you could by most of these parts used without too much worry, and keep the price fairly low
im not sure if just bolt ons will get OP to 400whp .. cam only i sat at about 391whp.. disregarding the dyno numbers, i think OP needs a cam only,Full bolt on set up to be a "400hp" street car. except i wouldnt get a cam smaller than a 228r
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Old Jan 5, 2013 | 12:07 AM
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Originally Posted by bestlude
im not sure if just bolt ons will get OP to 400whp .. cam only i sat at about 391whp.. disregarding the dyno numbers, i think OP needs a cam only,Full bolt on set up to be a "400hp" street car. except i wouldnt get a cam smaller than a 228r
Well if you read my post again you'll see that I mentioned 400 at the crank Since the op never specified I though i'd just throw that out there. I totally agree with you if we are talking rwhp though
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Old Jan 5, 2013 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by CaptObvious
honestly i would be content with 350-400hp. This is a daily driver so i would like so save the engine as much as possible as well as my gas mileage. Thanks alot everyone!!
Are you speaking of at the wheels or at the flywheel? They are very different things. With full bolt ons (full exhaust, LS6 intake/ported TB, 25% UD pulley, a few other things here and there) you can get to 350WHP no problem - which is over 400 at the flywheel.

If you want 400WHP then you have a bit taller of an order. You will need a camshaft which it sounds like you are on a pretty tight budget, so I would not do it. Are you planning on tracking the car at all? IMO this sounds like the perfect build for you:

TSP LT's
TSP ORY
(Some sort of cat-back, magnaflow is probably your best bet for a budget build)
LS6 Intake
Ported TB
Powerbond UD pulley
Tune

I would also recommend putting 4.10 gears in the rear end. I have 470WHP and have ran 11s at least (5) times, and probably (40) 12 second passes on my 10 bolt with 4.10s in it, as well as hundreds of street pulls. 4.10s will make the car a completely different animal.

EDIT: Added tune to the list.
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Old Jan 5, 2013 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1T56FTW
Are you speaking of at the wheels or at the flywheel? They are very different things. With full bolt ons (full exhaust, LS6 intake/ported TB, 25% UD pulley, a few other things here and there) you can get to 350WHP no problem - which is over 400 at the flywheel.

If you want 400WHP then you have a bit taller of an order. You will need a camshaft which it sounds like you are on a pretty tight budget, so I would not do it. Are you planning on tracking the car at all? IMO this sounds like the perfect build for you:

TSP LT's
TSP ORY
(Some sort of cat-back, magnaflow is probably your best bet for a budget build)
LS6 Intake
Ported TB
Powerbond UD pulley
Tune

I would also recommend putting 4.10 gears in the rear end. I have 470WHP and have ran 11s at least (5) times, and probably (40) 12 second passes on my 10 bolt with 4.10s in it, as well as hundreds of street pulls. 4.10s will make the car a completely different animal.

EDIT: Added tune to the list.
Sorry i didnt clarify, i would like to be around 350 to the wheels, ill take it to the track from time to time, but mainly just a daily driver
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Old Jan 5, 2013 | 02:38 PM
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I second the notion for 4.10 gears! With around 350 rwhp it would not be too much gear at all in IMHO. As long as you don't mind a tiny drop in mpg's of course
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Old Jan 6, 2013 | 01:03 AM
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A cam in the 228 - 232 range will get 400 on a dyno jet. Prob not on a md dyno tho
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Old Jan 6, 2013 | 06:45 AM
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First thing I did was did a lid and headers. I just bought car 2 months ago. I dynoed whats in sig on mustang dyno so I am at like 340 rwhp on dynojet. Get some tsp headers. The 1 3/4 are so cheap and the 1 7/8 are a little more but still great price for ss headers. I got there ory and the fitment is awesome. My tuner said they fixed any fitment issues they had a few years back. That is your best bang for buck to start off. I am still deciding on what exhaust and am runnig stock exhaust still. I just picked up a ls6 intake for 380. My goals are similar to you 400 rwhp or so. next step is I am saving for a cam. I will install cam , ls6 intake and exhaust at same time. I should pickup 70 rwhp or so and man that will be sweet.
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Old Jan 6, 2013 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by dhctss
First thing I did was did a lid and headers. I just bought car 2 months ago. I dynoed whats in sig on mustang dyno so I am at like 340 rwhp on dynojet. Get some tsp headers. The 1 3/4 are so cheap and the 1 7/8 are a little more but still great price for ss headers. I got there ory and the fitment is awesome. My tuner said they fixed any fitment issues they had a few years back. That is your best bang for buck to start off. I am still deciding on what exhaust and am runnig stock exhaust still. I just picked up a ls6 intake for 380. My goals are similar to you 400 rwhp or so. next step is I am saving for a cam. I will install cam , ls6 intake and exhaust at same time. I should pickup 70 rwhp or so and man that will be sweet.
I dynoed on the same dyno as you. I have friends that went to Slowhawk as well and from all the numbers I have seen his dyno seems to be right on.
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