Yes I do have to agree with boostedinaz to a certin extent. A lot of people do come on these message boards expressing nothing but a pipe dream. It is nice to dream once in awhile though isnt it
I'd say a handfull of us have experienced just about every problem with these cars and know what its like working your way up to a 1000hp car. Pipe dream or not im always willing to speak what I do know and help anyone that is on their way up. I've had my camaro since 98' and been moding it since then. I wanted to be where Im at 2 years ago but I had nothing but problems with the car, "if it ant one thang its a motha Fin other". Hands down a fast car is expensive; if you cant labor it yourselfyour not only out a lot more cash, but down time because you cant labor it. Around here that sometime means your out the rest of the summer.

Good luck on your project. I can say it took a lot of stressful nights and many talks regarding selling the car before I got to where I am today. This is the part of the story that most dont talk about, but im pretty sure everyone has said it

In the end I say its all worth it

 

sleeperz28 hit in on the head.
I have struggled with my TT iroc-z project for over a year because I'am building it myself and learning on the way. I have only recently been succesful with the progress of my project and have thought about selling it in the past. Keep in mind these magizines and others don't mention all the BUGS and unforseen issues you will certanly have. I started with heads cam intake and loved it for a year but quikly became very ambitiuos. I have only been messing with these cars since 99 and have gained alot of knowledge from board members on here and else where so do your homework. If you have a ton of money to waste then don't worry about it much but for me I have to balance my hobby with my future investments since alot uf us are young we need to keep are hobbies in perspective.
If your truly serious then do alot of research and be patient and in the end it will be worth it.
Oh yeagh what ever you budget just figure on blowing it and needing to spend alot more of the green stuff.

 

I agree, start smaller. You obviously picked 150 mph traps out of nowhere for a goal. Not a bad goal, but way out there since you have no experience. I think I'd be happy building a 130 mph car myslef.

Ask any of these guys, the cars get faster by themselves from breaking parts and needing rebuilds. Enjoy racing and driving a 120 mph car, and it will break the rear, tranny, or the engine will blow up. Then you can upgrade, and go 130 mph. Then more stuff will break and need upgraded, go 140, etc.

It's much more fun to go faster and faster too. For example, if you drive around a stock LS1, it gets boring after awhile, so you mod it. Keep modding it, it keeps getting faster and maintains your interest. Same with a 150 mph car, not saying it would be boring, far from it! But once you mastered that then you'd get bored and want it faster. As pointed out, building up speed also helps you get used to the car, etc. And won't initially cost as much either.

You will eventually hit 150 mph traps, just keep that in mind the whole time. Whats the hurry? What I would do, is pick a power adder, or 2, go with that and then find out what you would need to trap 125 or so. Build it, race it, upgrade it.

 

Just an example of what everyone is trying to get across. I set out about 12 years ago with the goal of running 9's in a truly streetable (A/C and all), pump gas car. This would "only" require 135 - 140 mph in the quarter. Since I didn't have the money to do it all at once, I started buying parts I knew would be necessary and installed them on a slower car. This is how the process went:

Starting point: 1989 305 TBI Firebird - 16.20 at 87 mph

Add TFS heads, 208/221 cam, headers, converter, exhaust, bolt-on's - 14.30 at 96 mph

350 conversion - 13.30 at 105 mph

B&M 144 supercharger and slicks - 12.10 at 114

Carbureted no blower 8.5/1 forged 350, AFR 210's, 234/242 cam, Vigilante 3200 converter - 11.96 at 114

Carbureted no blower 11.3/1 383, same heads/cam as above - 11.33 at 121 mph

Switched cars to a '95 Z28 since a carbureted car will never be truly streetable. New car had 10.8/1 355, CNC heads, 210/224 cam, AS&M headers, Vigilante 2800 - 12.20 at 113 mph

Add Vortech 9 lb blower - 11.90 at 120 (street radials)

Switch to AFR 210's and raise boost to 14 psi - 11.60 at 126 (street radials)

8.3/1 383 conversion with 224/236 cam, Hooker LT's, Aftercooler - 10.40 at 133 mph

I'm still not there.

Some problems I've encountered along the way:

- 3 broken 7 1/2" rear ends (it's amazing it was only 3)
- 2 broken 4L60E's, 1 broken 700R-4, and 1 broken TH-350
- 6 broken pistons from a lean condition (TBI days)
- 2 broken pistons, 2 destroyed TFS heads, 1 destroyed B&M blower from a bolt falling out the carb.
- 1 blown head gasket
- 1 new motor that knocked like a diesel
- 1 new motor that had 200+ psi oil pressure (oil filters don't stay on the engine)
- 1 broken piston from a lean condition (LT1)
- 2 cars caught on fire at least once
- 2X being stranded on the side of the road due to ignition failure
- Countless burnt plug wires, oil leaks, bent or broken spark plugs, header gasket leaks, etc. . .
- I'm sure that I forgot many, many things I've run across.

And I've only managed to barely break 130 mph at this point.

Mike

 

Again, unlike the vast majority of users at this site or on this thread, I have actually built and currently own at Gen 4, LS1 Camaro that will run 150 mph in the 1/4, and is street legal (passing emissions is a problem though).

Such a car is a huge and expensive undertaking that pushes the limits of LS1 technology. You need at least 900 rwhp in a car that weighs 3600 lbs. How many such cars currently exist in the U.S.? I would guess 5 or so.

My advice is to build a LS1 car in the 500 rwhp range that will do hot laps at the track all day for a lot less money and hassle, and you will have a lot more fun.

Or buy my car.

 

I'm starting to understand how this works now. I think what I will do is do EVERYTHING myself, all the way down to the most complex tasks. Hell, that's why this board is here, right? JK, but I'm sure you guys would have no problem diagnosing problems for me. I know I said I didn't have time to do it but I don't have to have the car running 150 right now. I think I'll start with rebuilding and beefing things up and then go from there as I have time to do it. I'm sure that with 130,xxx miles, things are going to break like crazy once I quit babying it. Plus, doing everything myself will give me great experience that I wouldn't have otherwise. Thanks for the help and I look forward to utilizing your expertise in the future.
TJ

 

To many different ideas of "streetable" to answer your question. My idea of a "streetable" 4th gen is gonna weigh enough that somewhere around 1000rwhp would be needed for 150mph. And since "streetable" means (among a lot of other things) that it runs on pump gas (my definition) I'd say that, in practical terms, it is "impossible".

Rich Krause

 

I live about 3.5 miles from the track, where I buy 104 unleaded, but I will only drive a few hundred miles on the street this year. I am being very liberal when I say my car is streetable.

 

it's plenty "possible", just not in your budget...

check out http://www.montygwilliams.com

granted, it's not an LT1 or LS1, but it's everything else and more.. (including $$$)..

 

Monty supposedly lives like 10 miles from me and in the last seven years I have never seen this car or heard of anyone seeing it on the street but I don't doubt the numbers the drivetrain put out Brady.

 

I know this is a old post but I had to post because I came across this and it is to funny to me. The fastest thing you have driven is a STOCK ls1 and you want a low 9 second car that will hit 150 in the 1/4. You need to find someone that will let u ride in even an 11 sec. car on slicks and see how fast it is. When the guy said most people don't have the ***** for that kind of car LISTEN TO HIM. I have ridden in many mid 9-low 10 sec. cars and it is insane. There is a diffrence between "fun fast" and "HOLY **** SLOW THIS THING DOWN BEFORE WE FLY OFF THE DAM ROAD AND DIE...LOL" Why do you think racetracks put so many safety restrictions on cars that fast. Because it is VERY dangerous. I know you are probably brave and love adrenaline rushes,but I can almost guarantee you with me being an ex-motorcycle racer that I am a lot harder to scare than you in a vehicle. 9 secs (especially on the street) is alot faster than u realize. Its easy for people to pick up magazines or watch movies and go I want that. When in fact they don't realize how brutal the car is. You need to crawl b4 you can walk. Gradually make your car faster and faster. If you just jump into a 900 horse monster and expect to "LEARN" how to drive it it WILL bite you. I have lots of friends that went out and bought hayabusas and r1s (against my advice) for their first bikes because they just had to have THE BIG DOG. You know where they are now...DEAD. Not to mention a 9 sec car is more difficult to control and stop than a 9 sec. bike. Nothing like patience and experience. Babysteps and you will get there. (safely)

 

I would buy one of those 835 598 ci shafiroff motors, and throw a healthy dose of spray on it (200+shot). Minimum of 94 octane required all motor. The same motor for 92 octane is 705hp.

I would think you'd have no prob getting your way down the 1/4 in 150mph with the spray on with enough hook, and enough weight reduction. The other 10k+ can go towards a nice gear vendors overdrive th400, a stall, roll cage, ford 9 inch, suspension, etc. I don't think I'd run that much spray without adding race gas myself tho.

Theres a guy on the board whose running a shafiroff motor in his, seems like it was sort of a pain to put in. Perhaps you should just buy an old nova or sumfin to be a sleeper


www.shafiroff.com

Josh

 

The cheapest way to run 9s with an 4th Gen F-body is to sell the engine and buy a 700 or 800 hp SBC engine from various builders such as Reher Morrison, which will cost around $13,000. You can use the GM PCM to control lights and stuff, and a MSD ignition system to control the motor.

You could put a 200 shot on it and run 8s.

 

I liked the idea of SBC, but thinking about what kinda streetability is in 400-450 ci to make 700hp-800hp sorta made me wonder if it'd be more pro than street. Plus.. you know the old saying.. and this will be on my windshield one day when I get a big block drag car.

Big Block..... Big ****

Josh