My name is Daniel and I am just your average stupid teenager. But anyways I am swapping an Lt-1 (out of a 1996) into a 1976 Chevy nova. I wanta make it have a nice choppy idle, and have a little more power over stock.... What do you suggest I do.? (Funds are pretty limited so yeah...)


It will have a turbo 350 trans with a 10 bolt rear..

 

Do a cam swap with a tight lobe separation angle, headers, bigger torque converter and tune.

 

Do I have to do all at the same time.? That sounds like a lot of money. As far as cam swap, should I get the hot cam kit.? I kind of plan on using this as my daily driver so I don't want anything to crazy. I just wanta a little more power and a choppy idle..

 

The hot cam kit would be ok for what your after..

 

Do I have to get it tuned.? And what else should I do besides the hot cam kit.. I've been reading that you have to do other things for it not to grenade it's self. I won't be reving it above 5000 RPM for now....

 

Go back and read post number 2

 

I understand that. But will the engine still run and have a little more power with just the hot cam kit.?

 

Yes it will

 

Okay. For the cam, what all would I need to change (timing chain, rockers, pushrods, etc.), and would effect fuel economy.?

 

The hotcam does not have a choppy idle. A cam swap is going to cost around $700-1000. There's nothing cheap about modding these engines correctly.
Camshaft/Valvetrain sticky from top of page:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ion-guide.html

 

I think at this point, just get the motor in the car and get it running. Making power costs money and if you are leary about just doing a cam swap, you need to take a step back and save money and do some reading first. When I was your age, I was plenty fine with my stock 305 '87 Trans Am.

You're average cam swap will cost you $1K+ and that's not counting supporting mods like a stall and headers etc.

 

Generally cam swaps for most include 1.6 or 1.7 RR's, springs, rods, timing chain, lifters, and of course the cam. It's pretty damn easy to throw out at least 1k+ on a cam - it adds up fast. I don't know your mechanical background, but it sounds like you should take a step back and just get this thing running before you start tearing apart the engine. Save your money, do good in school, go to college, get a well-paying job, THEN start tearing apart this motor. At this point if you do want to work on the car and go a little faster get all of your boltons done. That way by the time you do have a career you have all your boltons done and can immediately start getting into the motor, and not have to worry about cash to do so.