LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Finally got started on the mods!

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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 10:59 AM
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Default Finally got started on the mods!

Well, I was off yesterday, so I decided to stop slacking and get started modding the LT1. Nothing crazy, but I swapped the stock 2.73 rear end out for a 3.42 rear end from a 2002 Z28. I also swapped in an LS1 driveshaft and a 1LE elbow. Changed the oil with Royal Purple and used Royal Purple in the rear.

Like I said, nothing crazy, but the fun factor just went through the roof with the car. It actually does a burnout like a real muscle car should and even kicks the *** out sometimes on the 1-2 shift.

I was worried that the shift points might be off (I've heard that that can happen when gear ratios are changed on these cars). The car seems to shift about 200 or so rpm higher (around 6000 or 6100) but doesn't hit the limiter and feels strong, hitting the next gear with a kick.

The only thing is that the speedo is quite a bit off since I have no way to fix it as of yet. That should be fixed in the next couple weeks.

I also have a set of Nitto drag radials ready for the next time I go to the track (I'd have them on already, but they are on 16" wheels and I don't want the car to look rediculous).

My previous best time is in my sig and I don't think the car will have any trouble cracking into the 13's on the Nittos now.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:26 AM
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From: Oregon Grown
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I bet them gears feel a lot better then those crap 2.73's The LS driveshaft is a nice upgrade too. Lighter and free's up some ponies.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:39 AM
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Yeah, I wouldn't be suprised if I saw 10 more rwhp with the current mods.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:51 AM
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I would prob say that's a safe guess. You should really like then Nitto's too. Nice tire for the buck.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:03 PM
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Yeah, I hear a few people saying bad things about them, but I've been using them for years and I love them. Some people just need to figure out that the big draw is that you can get alot of miles out of them and still pull a decent 60'. Some people seem to think that they are junk because they don't provide "slick" type traction.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:06 PM
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Also, I'm gonna try to line this car up against my G8 again real soon. Last time the G8 put about a car on the Z28 up to about 90 mph and then the G8 just pulled away hard. I'm hoping the Z28 can fare better next time
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:28 PM
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Good stuff, surely you'll be in the 13's with your new gears and a tire lol. Any other plans for mods on the ol lt1?
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:32 PM
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This is great; I can just keep selling you the stock parts from my Z28 to put on your LT1. It's a win/win situation. I think the LT1 will fare a lot better against the G8 now from a dig up to about 100, assuming it can hook up since those 3.42s are probably gonna cause traction issues with street tires. I'm curious to see how the gearing helps out with the powerband up top. I suppose being an auto, it should really help get the car into the powerband sooner once you hit third. That coupled with the extra hp you should have will help it out, but I still think the G8 will walk pretty hard over 100.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ScreaminRedZ
Yeah, I hear a few people saying bad things about them, but I've been using them for years and I love them. Some people just need to figure out that the big draw is that you can get alot of miles out of them and still pull a decent 60'. Some people seem to think that they are junk because they don't provide "slick" type traction.
Well they are better then the BF DR's and a lot less the MT's..for what they are they are a good tire.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 02:26 PM
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^Yeah, especially on an auto car they've always been great for me!

WhitePhoenix99, I've definitely got plans. I was gonna wait to start, but I got sick of driving a car that was slower than a stock LT1 should be (due to the gearing, lol). I deifnitle have plans. Someday I'd like to put a supercharger on it, but that's way down the road. For now I'm gonna go with bolt-ons that will be compatible with the blower (ie, not a CAI). I'll probably go with a hotcam at some point also.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by ScreaminRedZ
^Yeah, especially on an auto car they've always been great for me!

WhitePhoenix99, I've definitely got plans. I was gonna wait to start, but I got sick of driving a car that was slower than a stock LT1 should be (due to the gearing, lol). I deifnitle have plans. Someday I'd like to put a supercharger on it, but that's way down the road. For now I'm gonna go with bolt-ons that will be compatible with the blower (ie, not a CAI). I'll probably go with a hotcam at some point also.
Yeah, i'm glad I have 3.23s at least lol. Stall and long tubes is first on my list, then a cam and some nitrous to top it off. . pretty standard build. I'm too cheap for a supercharger haha but thatd be sick. Are you gonna go all out build up your shortblock and run some high boost? Or keep it stock and on a conservative level of boooost
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 04:16 PM
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once you start youll never stop!!!
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 08:37 PM
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I'm gonna keep the stock shortblock and run the basic boost level until it blows up when I finally put the blower on it down the road. I'm not looking for this car to be anything crazy. I thought about going the nitrous route, but I'll be installing a nitrous kit on my LS1 Camaro over the winter so I want to plan something different for this car.

Definitely be glad you got the 3.23's. If I had those I would have left them in and spent my money elsewhere, but as my underachieving ET's show, the 2.73's weren't helping me, lol. The car is alot more fun to drive now.

I did end up setting up a race between my LT1 and my G8 again and the LT1 definitely hangs better down low, but the G8 just runs away once the LT1 hits 3rd gear. We did 2 1st gear rolls and 2 2nd gear rolls. With the street tires it just blows them off from a dig in the cold weather. Once I get the drag radials on I want to do it again from a dig and I think the LT1 will pull the G8 out of the hole. I'll be curious to see where it catches up again.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:18 PM
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Wow, going to be modding 3 cars at once? Or just leaving the g8 stock? Sounds like some good runs with the g8. . can't beat that lsx top end lol. Well a supercharger might take care of that. . I'm really hoping to get a 13.xx when I go next year but we'll see I guess. .
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:41 PM
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congrats! its always nice to start modding!
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Old Dec 17, 2008 | 08:23 AM
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The G8 will be staying stock for a while. At the very least it will stay stock until it's my slowest car

I'm gonna just take my time and plan out the mods as best I can. It's the only way to go about modding so many at once. After the N2O the LS1 will be set for a good while.
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Old Dec 19, 2008 | 06:13 PM
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Well, I'm sure plenty of people have done it before, but I weighed my LT1 driveshaft and my LS1 driveshaft that I just installed in my car. The LT1 shaft weighs 16.5 lbs and then LS1 driveshaft weighs in at 11.5 lbs. That's gotta be worth a couple rwhp.
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Old Dec 19, 2008 | 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by ScreaminRedZ
Well, I'm sure plenty of people have done it before, but I weighed my LT1 driveshaft and my LS1 driveshaft that I just installed in my car. The LT1 shaft weighs 16.5 lbs and then LS1 driveshaft weighs in at 11.5 lbs. That's gotta be worth a couple rwhp.
A buddy of mine picked up 4rwh with a LSx driveshaft
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Old Dec 19, 2008 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by AChotrod
once you start youll never stop!!!
this is true i just started and it is to late for me
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Old Dec 20, 2008 | 01:48 AM
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Originally Posted by ScreaminRedZ
Well, I'm sure plenty of people have done it before, but I weighed my LT1 driveshaft and my LS1 driveshaft that I just installed in my car. The LT1 shaft weighs 16.5 lbs and then LS1 driveshaft weighs in at 11.5 lbs. That's gotta be worth a couple rwhp.
I replaced the steel one and put an aluminum lsx driveshaft on my v6 firebird. . . didn't gain anything at the track lol. . go figure. .
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