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

Upgrading valve train for big boost

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 26, 2007 | 12:12 AM
  #1  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default Upgrading valve train for big boost

Well im nearing my finished turbo setup and im already planning the next project.

I am going to play with it and learn to tune a bit on the stock motor and start saving a bit of money, My LT1 only has 10,000 miles on it right now so everything is new.

I want to pull the motor and do forged dish pistons with hellfire rings gapped accordingly for boost. Eagle H beam rods and ARP hardware/studs.

With that stuff I will be able to run a lot more boost... so i will need new springs and everything else. Im not sure of these motors weak links and what not so what all do I need to buy? I need to know what its going to cost to upgrade the valve train to handle lots of boost.
Reply
Old Feb 26, 2007 | 09:54 PM
  #2  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default

bump?
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2007 | 12:47 AM
  #3  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default

So no one could tell me what all would need to be replaced to hold a fair amount of boost?
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2007 | 09:59 PM
  #4  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default

ttt --->bump
Reply
Old Feb 27, 2007 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
gemballa996t's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Default

forged crank, forged rods, forged pistons. contact bret bauer for valvetrain suggestions, his email is bret@bauer-racing.com
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 09:07 AM
  #6  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default

well i know what i got to do for bottom end and hardware... forged crank aint really needed though (i have a few threads of eveidence to argue that point)...

just springs, retainers, push rods.... in that area im not sure what i all need to upgrade to handle boost... lol.. im sure the more that is replaced the better.
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 10:14 AM
  #7  
gemballa996t's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Default

in that case just email bret he can set you up with a custom cam,springs, locks and retainers. for 500
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 11:00 PM
  #8  
otherwhitemeat's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
Default

it depends on your power goals.......and yes a good crank is needed if you make lots of power...and also you should put aftermarket mains all the way across, not just the middle three, because the main problem with lt1's and sbc's is with 1000 plus hp the blocks start to twist and the cylinders start to wear egg shaped and your motor with need rebuilds alot sooner... also if possible.. don't bore out the block at all have it hone to 5thou over or the next poss. size. it will help the integrety of the block, and the power you get from a bigger bore is not much anyway..... oh i forgot...i would go with soild roller valve train and shaft mounts... when turbos come on the motor revs very fast and you might like the extra rpm and time solids and shaft mounts give you.

Last edited by otherwhitemeat; Feb 28, 2007 at 11:12 PM.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 06:43 PM
  #9  
Dragframe's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 67
From: wyoming @ 12000 DA...
Default

Maybe in the big picture... but this point we are talking 500hp.... So mains and crank will be fine. Good rods and hardware with the forged pistons lowering the compression... 500 hp should be fairly easy. Biggest problem would be finding a good STRONG forged dish piston that will get me good low compression with these small CC heads... and i don't want to drop a lot of money.

I have never had a car really of this caliber and of course... im not very old. lol. So i will start with stock heads (possibly port matched) with the goods in it. Forgerd dish pistons and H-beams with good hardware (head and main studs too)... and then my turbo kit on top for hopefully around 500 rwhp at least

Plus with the turbo i'm limited to the magical number 1000 anyways. So somewhere is the 800whp is probly all i ever will attain.

I know you have a insane camaro.... but I think without spending a fuckton of money i couldn't do much to get past 800rwhp... and that cost a lot in the first place. You know im doing a SBC... just got to find the right combo of parts for the right amount of cash to make good power.. (with the good stuff.. half fill... splayed mains...forged everything... Pro Darts? lol)

Last edited by Dragframe; Mar 1, 2007 at 07:25 PM.
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 07:01 PM
  #10  
otherwhitemeat's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
Default

gotcha.....i would suggest the soild roller and shaft mount stuff though....it will be alot easier to drive
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2007 | 03:18 AM
  #11  
gemballa996t's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Default

no need for a solid roller for a turbo'd car
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:54 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE