Budget 12 second LT1 engine
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From: Cornfields near Pontiac, IL
Budget 12 second LT1 engine First off, my goal is low to mid 12s for my 94. Right now the engine runs, but has a major oil leak (guessing rear main-have to still pinpoint it) and 130000 miles. Has the usual stuff, MSD opti and wires, shorties (which i will change to LTs), Moroso CAI, and a built 4l60e trans thats rated to 550 rwhp that will go in once the engine is completed.
For cost reasons and seeing as bolt ons will get you in or near the 12s, using the basic rebuild kit, boring if needed or just honing the engine, reusing stock rods/crank, would this be a good idea or is the rods and crank too weak for a 12 second car?
What would be the most aggressive cam i could then use using this configuration? Basically the engine will be a fresh stock block and the heads will have as much work done as i can afford.
Looking for 3.73s to 4.10s in the rear, may go either 12 or 9 inch rear and somewhere near a 3200 stall convertor, subframe connectors will go on also to help with the suspension.
I ***MIGHT*** throw a nitrous kit on at some point, whats the limit for a stock bottom end?
So long story short...Budget LT1 Rebuild for 12s...Whats needed for the shortblock...
For cost reasons and seeing as bolt ons will get you in or near the 12s, using the basic rebuild kit, boring if needed or just honing the engine, reusing stock rods/crank, would this be a good idea or is the rods and crank too weak for a 12 second car?
What would be the most aggressive cam i could then use using this configuration? Basically the engine will be a fresh stock block and the heads will have as much work done as i can afford.
Looking for 3.73s to 4.10s in the rear, may go either 12 or 9 inch rear and somewhere near a 3200 stall convertor, subframe connectors will go on also to help with the suspension.
I ***MIGHT*** throw a nitrous kit on at some point, whats the limit for a stock bottom end?
So long story short...Budget LT1 Rebuild for 12s...Whats needed for the shortblock...
Bolt on's w/ LT's, and a nice lil peppy cam.........Im running a XFi 230/236 in my stock bottom end car with a 100shot on top, havn't had a run at the track since the cam but with just bolt ons and a YankSS3200 it went 13.22...sooo, I'd say, a decent sized cam, have the heads worked a lil with all the supporting mods, you should be there or further
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From: POULSBO WA.
Go with good ARP rod bolts...good valvetrain...cc503 cam, headwork...or just go with the LE2 setup...I would not spin the motor over 6400 rpm without a solid bottom end, you could start spinning bearrings at that point.
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Except we have people on here who I think spin 7K for a couple years on the stock bottom end. Our stock bottom end is quite well done.
Yeah not hard to do. If I were you and this is a true budget car, just fix the leak, shove a cam in there, buy a stall, maybe put LT's with cutouts or a good catback and call it a day. (Don't forget to buy valvesprings for the cam.)
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When i was first hungry for twelves I put Zex wet 75 shot ran 12.50 @ 110. with stock converter, exh man. borla catback and 373. in the area of 550.00 it doesn't no cheaper than that, oh I didi change the plugs and this was on an 80,000 motor. But some people shy away from the spray, and with LT's, high stall 373 and weight loss it shouldn't be thath hard.
With CAI, LT's, Catback, 3.73's, a 3200-3600 stall, and a good cam for stock heads such as the cc503 which the 3600 stall will love, along with Lower Control Arms, maybe Subframes, Torque Arm etc., a tune, and some Drag Radials's will get you running dead bottom-mid 12's
instead of porting the heads, spend the money on suspension. then get cc503 with the supporting valvetrain and a good dyno-tune. also take out as much weight as you feel comfortable with. oh and a good 3600 stall. this exact set-up got me to 11.70's on motor and 10.70's on a 150 shot. also very street-friendly.
