i have a 2000 trans am with an a brand new ls1 346 motor i plan on moddin it soon i first want to know from my fellow fbody members which one will be more reliable and have the overall performance.

 

depends on goals and how much $$$$ you want to spend.

What mods do you have already? And what sort of new motor?

Running a mild boost setup will only yeild a little more HP than a good h/c setup but cost way more. Generally you won't need as many bolt ons for FI but a built motor is a requirement if you really intend to push the performance envelope.

Reliability is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. High revs from h/c can be a PITA but detonation and other issues are more problomatic with boost.

Also remember if you plan on BIG HP you will also need all the supporting mods, brakes, suspension, chassis, built rear, built tranny, etc.

Best thing to do is set a budget and setup some initial goals. Then do some research and see whats possible and what isn't. And alter your budget and goals as you go.

 

if you plan on forced induction, visit the section on this board. you will see that 9 times out of 10, it will end up costing way more than you initially thought. Once you add in the tuning, fuel system, upgraded parts.

Not saying its, bad (I would love a procharger), but it's not for the faint of heart either!

 

yup, yup - with power comes responsibility.....like upgraded fuel system, rear end, etc...

I'm thinking $10,000 for a reliable FI system+supporting "must have" parts.

 

Forced induction is nice but, nothing beats the appeal of a nice sounding H/C car at the drive through!

 

u can always have both......... also there is a good $4500 difference between H/C and forced induction

 

I believe that the whine of an FI car is much more appealing than the loud, ungodly sounding H/C setup. I am actually leaning towards an FI setup over a H/C setup. You will keep a lot of your drivability and have more power than you could ever achieve with a H/C only setup.

 

Personally, I'm leaning towards a camshaft and procharger in the near future.

 

I would have to say heads and cam. Gives you more bragging rights if you have your stuff dialed in. Plus N/A is respected. Not saying that FI is not though, because I will be leaning that way in the near future.

 

Budget LS6 heads and MS4 cam with a fast 90/90 setup can give you up to 480rwhp NA, id go with the heads and cam unless you want to spend big$$$$$

 

..............and flycutting.....

 

Not according to TSP you won't.

480rwhp - no chance, not on a 346ci and not on a Mustang Dyno corrected to SAE.

 

Don't pee on their parade. Patrick G made 48X/47X with the CheaTR setup or TRak....I don't remember.

 

Yes he did, but that was with a host of other goodies also (ported FAST 90/90). I think it was with the Trak cam and he only managed the headline number once, other runs where ~10rwhp lower. Also they where on an inertia Dynojet.

480rwhp Dynojet would be in the region of 449rwhp on a Mustang Dyno.

As for peeing on there parade - nah, I intend to get the MS4 and PRC LS6 heads myself. However if memory serves TSP showed some dyno results for the setup (~480rwhp) but it was on a 05 GTO, so a LS2 not LS1.

480 / 6 litres = 80bhp per litre specific output.

On a LS1:

80 x 5.7 litres = 456rwhp

 

Where the hell did Mustang dyno get put into this conversation?


I say throw a set of 317 heads on the car to lower compression, get a custom turbo or supercharger (which ever you choose) cam, and then go with something like a D1SC. Once you get things like the fuel system and driveline straightened out, turn up the boost and make 600+hp all day long.

 

i did both. H/C is so simple and very fun and not super expensive and still pretty quick. the turbo route is BIG TIME expensive and complicated and lots of stupid BS. but when the turbos kick in...you'll know why people say turbos are the best. plus with the turbo you can drive it on a 2 hour cruise without having a headache. im stay with the turbo route.

 

Not true.... I am making more power than most guys under boost...


I made 513rwhp and 457 rwtq with my H/C setup.

H/C with every bolt-on is about the same cost as a procharger.


I love my ungodly sounding H/C setup.... Sounds like good ol' fashioned American Muscle!

 

 

My opinion here:

On a budget, heads and cam.

Disposable income, Procharger and the supporting cast (5 digits easily-just to get started).

Just my opinion after being in the FI game for almost 2 years.

 

TSP told my buddy (crazy camaro) the MS4 requires flycutting