$3000 to drop on mods
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 304
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From: Stow Ohio
$3000 to drop on mods came across 3k to drop for mods on car. cars an A4 lt1Z. mods are cai, LTs, custom catted y with cutouts, GmmG.
what should the 3k go to?
i was thinking LE head cam but i need car to be some what economical. in college, its my DD.
maybe spray?
what other good options?
Posted from LS1Tech.com App for Android
what should the 3k go to?
i was thinking LE head cam but i need car to be some what economical. in college, its my DD.
maybe spray?
what other good options?
Posted from LS1Tech.com App for Android
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: Apopka FL
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You have to factor in a stall converter either way, and a good one of those is 700-1000, then you gotta install it.
If you go with a head/cam package you will need to rip your car apart first, then send the heads out. Your car will be down longer this way. Then you will need a tune to go with it, mail order gets it running and driving but a dyno tune can be anywhere from 300-750 depending on how the lt1 community is doing near you.
Or you can get a good stall converter, say a vigilanti ss3600 which is gonna be about 1000$ all said and done after YOU install it, do fluids and a good transcooler to go with it. You may be able to get a different brand for cheaper. But as always, you want to over estimate.
Then you can get a CC503 cam, 1.6 rockers, valve springs, pushrods, lifters, gaskets, timing chain, fluids, tools, all the BS you forget that you need, Maybe a Electric water pump. Figure 1200 for that, once again over estimating.
Then that leaves 800 left over for oddball parts, and a mail order tune. The reason I suggest the cc503 is because alot of mail order tuners do alot of these cars. Its also a proven cam to get 20-25mpg, and have good driveability. Also in the future you can add a 100 wet shot and have a low 12/high 11 second car.
It may be doable for 3000$, I dont see heads and cam happening, but hey ive been wrong once today already. Youll need gears then too. Could always hold off. I dunno depends what kind of hookups and people you know. IF its your only car then Downtime is probably pretty important.
EDIT: just noticed you already have headers, thats a plus!
If you go with a head/cam package you will need to rip your car apart first, then send the heads out. Your car will be down longer this way. Then you will need a tune to go with it, mail order gets it running and driving but a dyno tune can be anywhere from 300-750 depending on how the lt1 community is doing near you.
Or you can get a good stall converter, say a vigilanti ss3600 which is gonna be about 1000$ all said and done after YOU install it, do fluids and a good transcooler to go with it. You may be able to get a different brand for cheaper. But as always, you want to over estimate.
Then you can get a CC503 cam, 1.6 rockers, valve springs, pushrods, lifters, gaskets, timing chain, fluids, tools, all the BS you forget that you need, Maybe a Electric water pump. Figure 1200 for that, once again over estimating.
Then that leaves 800 left over for oddball parts, and a mail order tune. The reason I suggest the cc503 is because alot of mail order tuners do alot of these cars. Its also a proven cam to get 20-25mpg, and have good driveability. Also in the future you can add a 100 wet shot and have a low 12/high 11 second car.
It may be doable for 3000$, I dont see heads and cam happening, but hey ive been wrong once today already. Youll need gears then too. Could always hold off. I dunno depends what kind of hookups and people you know. IF its your only car then Downtime is probably pretty important.
EDIT: just noticed you already have headers, thats a plus!
Last edited by trilkb; Jun 25, 2012 at 08:34 PM.
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The chances of building a more reliable car for 3k is very slim, if you don't have a DD then you can wind up with a non driving money pit. If you are still dead set on doing any mods, I would look into suspension and better two piston brakes. Then you can look into gears and a converter. Then you will have to see if the trans is up to it.
The motor is one of the last things I dug into. I figured the stock motor is good for so many miles why not get as much enjoyment out of it as possible. You can always rip into the motor when it fails you or when you get the funds. Honestly you will need a big pile of cash to do the motor right. If you only want to get into the heads yea you might pull it off on the first try, but that depends on your experience.
If you think that you need 5k to do the motor it will take at least 7-8K. Times 1.5 with what you think your parts and labor will cost and I've found that is pretty close to what it will cost you. Most people will tell you that you can find lots of deals on parts, but I have mixed feelings on why people sell their parts. Most of the time if you don't get a steal on the parts they aren't worth it.
The motor is one of the last things I dug into. I figured the stock motor is good for so many miles why not get as much enjoyment out of it as possible. You can always rip into the motor when it fails you or when you get the funds. Honestly you will need a big pile of cash to do the motor right. If you only want to get into the heads yea you might pull it off on the first try, but that depends on your experience.
If you think that you need 5k to do the motor it will take at least 7-8K. Times 1.5 with what you think your parts and labor will cost and I've found that is pretty close to what it will cost you. Most people will tell you that you can find lots of deals on parts, but I have mixed feelings on why people sell their parts. Most of the time if you don't get a steal on the parts they aren't worth it.
May not be the answer you want to hear, but I'd find a cheap DD as well.
I remember the one weekend I brought my 97 WS6 up to college, it got keyed. College towns are rough on these types of cars. Be ready for the potential of more dings, dents, and key marks
I remember the one weekend I brought my 97 WS6 up to college, it got keyed. College towns are rough on these types of cars. Be ready for the potential of more dings, dents, and key marks
Though I will add, if you have no options and have to do one or the other, keep the toy.
I miss my Trans Am sometimes, especially now that I'm still in college and only driving a boring truck now
I miss my Trans Am sometimes, especially now that I'm still in college and only driving a boring truck now
Im going to agree with everyone here in that you should save the 3 gs if you are graduating soon, and get a reliable DD or bike, even if you only drop $2000 on the dd for something ugly. Nothing would be worse in this shitty economy than to find a decent first job then get fired because you didnt make it to work because you dd your modded camaro and it didnt start one morning. Save the other $1000 and wait for a signing bonus on your first job or that first huge paycheck and start modding. What is your degree in?