Hey guys this is my first post here so I wanted to start of with a good Hello to you all

Anyway, I have a few questions regarding boost and where power gains are seen. My current setup is an automatic 94 Z28 mods: Powerdyne 4.5 psi, hooker longtubes 1'3/4 primaries, hooker aerochamber cat back, LT4 knock sensor, accel 8.8 wires, accel coil, cooler plugs (forget brand), LS1 front brakes, slotted rotors front and back, 160 stat and a good tune.

Conceptually its all about flow, not boost pressure so I'm looking for what the major restrictions are with a LT1

My motor has 178k miles on it and ran a 13.0 with the current setup (on 2.73 gears and 18" rims with run flats. Yeah, the gears need to go... I'm starting my research on where power gains are found with boosted motors. I'm currently thinking upgrades will be: bigger throttle body, larger valves, 6#s of boost, and a cam. My budget isn't the largest, I really just want to get the thing rebuilt with a few mods that are the best bang for the buck before this thing grenades on me. Any suggestions?

Oh, and heres my scrap:


-Pete-

 

well with those miles on the engine i wouldn't f... with more boost.If you want something for now i would spend money on things that you'll need in future. Like rearend with right gears in it,subframe connectors, control arms,bla bla bla because when you spin your bearings like every one else does you might stroke it out and then all the money you just spent on motor will go to waste because you'll end up with wrong cam for new set up and who knows what route you'll end up taking when it blows.BTW that thing looks like a brad new car,you must take good care of it.

 

My biggest bang for the buck so far was upgrading to a solid intake and larger K&N cone filter for the supercharger. Second was the 4" thick FMIC which I spent less than $300 on. Both of them increased CFM dramatically.

As far as the engine, just rebuild it with some forged pistons and good head studs. If you want to make some real power its all in the heads and cam. And thats not cheap.

 

Doh, I forgot to say that the engine will be coming out for a rebuild. When its rebuilt thats when I want to put on the mods, cam, more boost ect. It already has all the hard boost tubes and a new air filter will be on the way when I can find out what will fit it. Also things on the menu will be gears, axles, sub frames, strut tower brace, and drag radials for the track.

 

i would pass on the throttle body right now, I dont think they are really necessary with boost until you get the rest of the stuff. im making over 520rwhp at 10 psi with stock TB and heads

 

Look into n2o it the best bang for buck, and if you don't want to go that route and your going to rebuild it then lower the CR and run more boost with some kind of intercooler.

 

This is just my opinion based off of a friends car but, I would skip the Strut Tower Brace. My buddy put one on his 93 T/A and we didn't really notice any difference in handling. I've also heard they are a waste of $. Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong though.

BTW.. I LOVE how your car looks. Z06 wheels look so nice there. I wish mine was in that condition!

 

im sure the strut tower brace does something...... im sure the road race guys could explain more but for me its more of a bling bling and it makes the engine bay look better. id go with some lloyd elliot heads for the cash squeeze and a intercooler. i got my intercooler off ebay for a lil over 200 bucks. i would get a better rear end too dont be like me and toast it on the track and look like a **** tard. BTW I LOVE YOUR CAR.

 

I had a 98 trans am I picked up to flip over the winter and it had all kinds of creaks over bumps, and the strut tower helped get rid of alot of em and made the steering a little crisper. although on a car that wasnt in a wreck, who knows how itd help. Ive got one on my 94 and like it, the body is perfect, but it only weighs maybe 3 lbs and gives me a place to prop myself up when im leaning over the engine bay when the motors warm

 

Stock heads and TB!? What's yar cam specs?

I figured the strut tower brace would keep the car from bending in half when I launch on drag radials and cut down on the creeks/rattles for daily driving. That combined with the subframes should keep torque dimples off my car... I hope.

Nitrous? If this wasn't my daily driver I'd spray the crap out of it. But since I drive this thing every day to work and back I want to keep N20 out of the picture. The final goal isn't to make the car as fast as humanly possible, just fast for what it is and fun to drive.

Is an inner cooler really necessary with 4.5-6 lbs? I know it will help but is it worth the effort with such low boost?

Oh, btw the current setup put 360/435 to the wheels. I figured cam, bigger valves, bigger TB, and rebuilt short block would get me close to 500. Feel free to suggest a good blower cam if anyone has had luck with one.

-Pete-

 

I know your saying close to 500 rwhp but i don't think your going to gain 140 rwhp with out raising boost, and just having a simple rebuild with different cam,and bigger TB. So some intercooling might be necessary. are you sticking with 350 CID, or going 383 like every one else, or maybe 396 all this needs to be put into consideration when picking a cam. If your dead set on 4.5 psi and reach your goal then you know your engine builder's a bad mother f.....

 

My goal is close to 500, sooooo like 450, 475 ish. My question is will I see bigger power gains from porting the heads, or putting bigger valves, and is a TB worth it, stuff like that. My boost limit is 6lbs, I don't want to push that blower any harder than that and I plan on going with a 355. Just looking for suggestions here from people who have done this more than I.

-Pete-

 

Porting will help a lot more than just putting in bigger valves.

 

try loyd elliot @ eportworks.com He will know for sure what you need, and where it will get you, and he's good at porting heads My brother's car made 397rwhp with toasted clutch that was slipping bad with out blower and baby cam. So im pretty sure you can make 450-500 no problem and he will tell you exactly what cam works with his head.

 

well i guess you better buy a new blow cuz once you put big ole ported heads i bet ur boost drops without pulleying it...