Decision on what Powertrain to run
07-05-2011, 09:01 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: I lived in Eustis, FL, 32726
Posts: 8
Decision on what Powertrain to run
The project is a 2002 Camaro V6
1. I have a Lt1 with everything I need to convert it.
2. I want to run with with a T56 Transmission.
3. After engine is built i plane on taking the car to the corvette specialist to have them reprogram the ECM.
4. Drive train will have sub frame connectors, roll cage, 456 comp rear-end, and plus much more so i have that covered.
I am asking for help with a build sheet for a LT base 396 or 409. so i just need to know now what to buy to make this engine a beast. I am a torque monster and can not get enough of it. I don't car about going 200 mph. I need the best band for the buck.
If you would just take these question and tell me the motor you would please. There are just so many option out there and cant make my mind up. Only thing i ask to keep in mind I want this to be one bad a++ camaro rocking the street in fl. Thank you for taking the time to help me and God bless
1. Bore size 396= 0.30, or 409= 0.60
2. Crank type and size?
3. Rods?
4. Piston?
5. Cylinder Head type and size?
6. Cam type and size
7. Intake manifold?
8. Fuel Injector and PSI?
9. Distributor?
10. Fuel pump?
11. Headers?
1. I have a Lt1 with everything I need to convert it.
2. I want to run with with a T56 Transmission.
3. After engine is built i plane on taking the car to the corvette specialist to have them reprogram the ECM.
4. Drive train will have sub frame connectors, roll cage, 456 comp rear-end, and plus much more so i have that covered.
I am asking for help with a build sheet for a LT base 396 or 409. so i just need to know now what to buy to make this engine a beast. I am a torque monster and can not get enough of it. I don't car about going 200 mph. I need the best band for the buck.
If you would just take these question and tell me the motor you would please. There are just so many option out there and cant make my mind up. Only thing i ask to keep in mind I want this to be one bad a++ camaro rocking the street in fl. Thank you for taking the time to help me and God bless
1. Bore size 396= 0.30, or 409= 0.60
2. Crank type and size?
3. Rods?
4. Piston?
5. Cylinder Head type and size?
6. Cam type and size
7. Intake manifold?
8. Fuel Injector and PSI?
9. Distributor?
10. Fuel pump?
11. Headers?
07-05-2011, 09:29 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Woodstown, NJ
Posts: 4,154
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
I suggest you start by finding a car/setup on the forums that does what you want to do and then use that as a guideline or inspiration. What you're looking for has been done countless times. If you plan on reinventing the wheel you'd probably end up disappointed. No offense of course but it looks like you have a lot to learn. These forums are indispensable - don't take them lightly, and USE what they have to offer.
What kind of budget do you have to work with? SPECIFICALLY, what kind of goals do you want (HP, torque, ET, MPH, etc.)? A "bad a++ camaro" is fairly open to interpretation.
What kind of budget do you have to work with? SPECIFICALLY, what kind of goals do you want (HP, torque, ET, MPH, etc.)? A "bad a++ camaro" is fairly open to interpretation.
07-05-2011, 10:39 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: I lived in Eustis, FL, 32726
Posts: 8
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
Yea I know brother,
Well first thank you and all your advice will be very much appreciated. This is actually not my first rodeo in modification, even though it sounds like it (check out my garage picture to see other projects that i have completed); however, it is my first with a fourth gen fuel injection. I am use to second gen and carburetors. Well money is not a very big object but would like to keep it underneath $9,000.00, and the only thing is I need and want to build this myself. I don't want to buy a turnkey motor, I reference a phrase “I built it, I drive it.” I am looking for the highest torque and horse power gain possible and keep it street worthy, however I know you can’t have them both so first would be torque. If I had to put a number on a horse power, who wouldn’t want to be apart of thousand hsp club but Ideally anything over 650 hsp and torque 800 fpt. The next thing is I really want to run with the 409 more so then the 396 set up just because around where I live there aren’t too many of them around. I have looked on a couple of forums, but I have not found any forums that directly relates to what I am trying to achieve. The main reason for me asking is I am trying to cut out the head ache of trying to match up the parts for the best combination and I know there a lot of people on here that can guide me around their mistakes and triumphs.
Well first thank you and all your advice will be very much appreciated. This is actually not my first rodeo in modification, even though it sounds like it (check out my garage picture to see other projects that i have completed); however, it is my first with a fourth gen fuel injection. I am use to second gen and carburetors. Well money is not a very big object but would like to keep it underneath $9,000.00, and the only thing is I need and want to build this myself. I don't want to buy a turnkey motor, I reference a phrase “I built it, I drive it.” I am looking for the highest torque and horse power gain possible and keep it street worthy, however I know you can’t have them both so first would be torque. If I had to put a number on a horse power, who wouldn’t want to be apart of thousand hsp club but Ideally anything over 650 hsp and torque 800 fpt. The next thing is I really want to run with the 409 more so then the 396 set up just because around where I live there aren’t too many of them around. I have looked on a couple of forums, but I have not found any forums that directly relates to what I am trying to achieve. The main reason for me asking is I am trying to cut out the head ache of trying to match up the parts for the best combination and I know there a lot of people on here that can guide me around their mistakes and triumphs.
07-05-2011, 10:56 PM
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Woodstown, NJ
Posts: 4,154
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
Yea I know brother,
Well first thank you and all your advice will be very much appreciated. This is actually not my first rodeo in modification, even though it sounds like it (check out my garage picture to see other projects that i have completed); however, it is my first with a fourth gen fuel injection. I am use to second gen and carburetors. Well money is not a very big object but would like to keep it underneath $9,000.00, and the only thing is I need and want to build this myself. I don't want to buy a turnkey motor, I reference a phrase %u201CI built it, I drive it.%u201D I am looking for the highest torque and horse power gain possible and keep it street worthy, however I know you can%u2019t have them both so first would be torque. If I had to put a number on a horse power, who wouldn%u2019t want to be apart of thousand hsp club but Ideally anything over 650 hsp and torque 800 fpt. The next thing is I really want to run with the 409 more so then the 396 set up just because around where I live there aren%u2019t too many of them around. I have looked on a couple of forums, but I have not found any forums that directly relates to what I am trying to achieve. The main reason for me asking is I am trying to cut out the head ache of trying to match up the parts for the best combination and I know there a lot of people on here that can guide me around their mistakes and triumphs.
Well first thank you and all your advice will be very much appreciated. This is actually not my first rodeo in modification, even though it sounds like it (check out my garage picture to see other projects that i have completed); however, it is my first with a fourth gen fuel injection. I am use to second gen and carburetors. Well money is not a very big object but would like to keep it underneath $9,000.00, and the only thing is I need and want to build this myself. I don't want to buy a turnkey motor, I reference a phrase %u201CI built it, I drive it.%u201D I am looking for the highest torque and horse power gain possible and keep it street worthy, however I know you can%u2019t have them both so first would be torque. If I had to put a number on a horse power, who wouldn%u2019t want to be apart of thousand hsp club but Ideally anything over 650 hsp and torque 800 fpt. The next thing is I really want to run with the 409 more so then the 396 set up just because around where I live there aren%u2019t too many of them around. I have looked on a couple of forums, but I have not found any forums that directly relates to what I am trying to achieve. The main reason for me asking is I am trying to cut out the head ache of trying to match up the parts for the best combination and I know there a lot of people on here that can guide me around their mistakes and triumphs.
My motor in my sig, with all of the bolt-ons and supporting modifications, drivetrain, tuning, etc., cost me well north of $10,000, and that's probably ~550fwhp. Like I said, alot of searching will do you well.
And trust me when I tell you a 409 isn't worth it, not even in the least. If you're doing it for the nostalgia that's your decision, but there is absolutely NO benefit with going so large on the displacement. There's nothing a 409 can do that a 396 can't; those 13 extra cubes mean jack. You're talking about some serious machine work, block fill, custom parts, etc. Heck, your short block alone will probably be in the $5k+ range.
Take a look at www.advancedinduction.com. They have a few very strong running cars using their products on their webpage that might fit the bill.
07-05-2011, 11:37 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ABQ, NM
Posts: 437
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
Sorry, but $9k doesn't go a long way on the 4th gens. With the T56, you can count on breaking that 10bolt, so kiss $3k goodbye for a reliable rear-end. With your power levels, maybe another 7 bills for clutch that will hold the HP. A good dyno tune can run from 200-400 depending on the tuner. This leaves roughly $5k for the motor setup.
Building that kind of power NA isn't going to happen on that $5k budget. Which leaves possibly of FI. Well, a nice capable turbo kit is going to each a huge chunk of that $5k, leaving you maybe 1k to build a motor (not gonna happen). I've seen good used D1SC setups for about 2.5-3k, leaving 2k+ to put some forged pistons, cam, etc; a little more realistic. Option 3: Get a good nitrous setup and have about 4k to build the motor around that. OR option 4 (and what i would do in your boat)... LSX swap! Either find a built motor and put a 100shot on it, or i've seen entire LS cars for around 5k (they are cheap nowadays). Take everything you need off of the car, and part out what you don't need getting some of your $$ back. Only problem here is that its just smarter to build THIS car and ditch your 02 v6, unless you have a special attachment to your car.
Don't forget- you are still on stock suspension and brakes which is a very bad idea for high HP, so you will need to upgrade this too when budget increases.
Building that kind of power NA isn't going to happen on that $5k budget. Which leaves possibly of FI. Well, a nice capable turbo kit is going to each a huge chunk of that $5k, leaving you maybe 1k to build a motor (not gonna happen). I've seen good used D1SC setups for about 2.5-3k, leaving 2k+ to put some forged pistons, cam, etc; a little more realistic. Option 3: Get a good nitrous setup and have about 4k to build the motor around that. OR option 4 (and what i would do in your boat)... LSX swap! Either find a built motor and put a 100shot on it, or i've seen entire LS cars for around 5k (they are cheap nowadays). Take everything you need off of the car, and part out what you don't need getting some of your $$ back. Only problem here is that its just smarter to build THIS car and ditch your 02 v6, unless you have a special attachment to your car.
Don't forget- you are still on stock suspension and brakes which is a very bad idea for high HP, so you will need to upgrade this too when budget increases.
07-06-2011, 12:35 AM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: norfolk ny
Posts: 571
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
sorry man but ill be lucky too hit 500@the wheels with a 150 shot and I've spent at least 15k. Only 2500-3000 was labor and still don't have everything done too withstand the abuse. Good luck though id love too see it done
07-06-2011, 05:16 AM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: The Wild West
Posts: 5,907
Re: Decision on what Powertrain to run
Buy Javier's car and swap the transmission, it'll save you thousands and months or years of your life 
He's already in florida too.
Once you figure out what bottom end you want to run along with goals for the car give Lloyd Elliott of http://elliottsportworks.com/ a call and have him help you out with heads/valvetrain. He is a board supporting vendor as well. We've used him on a few builds with great success.
-Dustin-
He's already in florida too.Once you figure out what bottom end you want to run along with goals for the car give Lloyd Elliott of http://elliottsportworks.com/ a call and have him help you out with heads/valvetrain. He is a board supporting vendor as well. We've used him on a few builds with great success.
-Dustin-
Last edited by Bersaglieri; 07-07-2011 at 09:12 PM.
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