Last summer I did the LS1 front brake upgrade and chose the Autozone Duralast Gold Ceramic pads up front and the Morse Ceramic pads for my stock LT1 rears... I don't race, but the brake performance is very good in my daily driver and I no longer have to wash brake dust off the wheels...

All told, I think the LS1 upgrade plus new pads turning the rotors, new brake fluid, cleaner, synthetic brake lube, etc... It probably cost me about 300 total... New pads were about $100 of that...