Want more power out of my LT1
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Want more power out of my LT1
I have a 1993 6-speed Corvette and I want to bump up the power to at least 350whp. But I want to still be able to DD the car and not destroy the fuel economy, and my wallet. I don't want to have to spend too much. 400+whp would be even better!
What should I do to get to at least 350? I know an exhaust, headers, air intake, throttle body, etc. will improve power. I figured I'd ask you guys since a lot of you know more about this than I do.
Learn me somethin'!
What should I do to get to at least 350? I know an exhaust, headers, air intake, throttle body, etc. will improve power. I figured I'd ask you guys since a lot of you know more about this than I do.
Learn me somethin'!
#2
Drifting
#3
Le Mans Master
You're trying to find at least 100HP.
Cam
Heads (ported or replaced)
1.6 rockers,
headers w/ high flow cats.
Possible bottom end, depending on mileage, at least rod and main bearings to keep DD reliability.
Dyno tune to be sure
Fast
Reliable/daily
Cheap
Pick two.
Cam
Heads (ported or replaced)
1.6 rockers,
headers w/ high flow cats.
Possible bottom end, depending on mileage, at least rod and main bearings to keep DD reliability.
Dyno tune to be sure
Fast
Reliable/daily
Cheap
Pick two.
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
#6
Le Mans Master
Edit to add, if it were mine, for headers I would go to ebay and get a set of the obx stainless headers for your car.
Last edited by 93 ragtop; 09-06-2012 at 03:50 PM.
#7
Tech Contributor
Reality<------------------------------------------------------>Desire
The easiest way to get 100hp with minimum expense and daily driver (DD) manners...add a supercharger.
The next approach that will put you right at 350rwhp...
- Ported Heads
- Port matched intake
- 1.6 roller rockers
- Aftermarket cat-back exhaust
- LT4 HOT Cam or something slightly more aggressive & modern
- Dyno tune
The above will be an easy car to drive daily. You could go bigger on the cam at the expense of mileage and manners...ie you'll battle cam surge, rich exhaust at idle, choppiness, etc.
For a DD that puts 400hp+ to the ground...stroker. You can search for my 383 build thread. It's ~450rwhp. My build was not cheap, but that was primarily driven by the use of lightweight parts, a different block (to retain the original numbers matching block), and AFR heads.
#9
Le Mans Master
Oh and keep in mind, his is a speed density car. Not to easy to get tuned.
#10
lotta high compression stock motors running just a few pounds too get them up in power, SD and boost go together pretty good, if you search you can find a killer deal on a used v1 or something.
#11
Instructor
Member Since: Mar 2012
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For what its worth, I had a 383, not good for daily driving, blowers, turbos, bolt on superchargers just drain your wallet and ask for maintenance. Have a good machine shop port your stock heads add an Lt4 intake, bigger cam which can all be done in the car, and absolutely long tube headers with high flow cat. Ditch the factory mufflers as they are very restrictive
#13
Drifting
Thread Starter
2. For the strip!
3. To take it down to the strip, and to make the car more fun to drive on a daily basis.
#14
Tech Contributor
For what its worth, I had a 383, not good for daily driving, blowers, turbos, bolt on superchargers just drain your wallet and ask for maintenance. Have a good machine shop port your stock heads add an Lt4 intake, bigger cam which can all be done in the car, and absolutely long tube headers with high flow cat. Ditch the factory mufflers as they are very restrictive
I have a 383. 500+hp, 22mpg, idles comfortably at 800 rpm, dead reliable, zero leaks. With a tiny bit smaller cam, it would have zero cam surge vs the minor amount it has now. It would be fine as a DD if not for heavy clutch that doesn't go well with a commute that at times has me spending 60+ minutes in stop & go traffic.
#15
Le Mans Master
[QUOTE=Jay7199;1581764428]lotta high compression stock motors running just a few pounds too get them up in power, SD and boost go together pretty good, if you search you can find a killer deal on a used v1 or something.[/QUOTE]
Jay, no disrespect intended, but how much experience do you have with adding a blower to a LT1 in a Vette? Just a few things to let you know, first off, the blower has to be a reverse rotation. Belt slippage on the vette is a problem, with companys such as Blowerworks doing some workarounds to help, but again not cheap.
The kits are unique to the vette as compared to a f body. They usually are on the pass. side in the vette.
Just a few lbs of boost is not going to give him 350 rwhp on a stock motor. Most of the base kits ($7,000) build around 6lbs and even that is not enough to outrun a decent heads, cam, headers car.
Jay, no disrespect intended, but how much experience do you have with adding a blower to a LT1 in a Vette? Just a few things to let you know, first off, the blower has to be a reverse rotation. Belt slippage on the vette is a problem, with companys such as Blowerworks doing some workarounds to help, but again not cheap.
The kits are unique to the vette as compared to a f body. They usually are on the pass. side in the vette.
Just a few lbs of boost is not going to give him 350 rwhp on a stock motor. Most of the base kits ($7,000) build around 6lbs and even that is not enough to outrun a decent heads, cam, headers car.
#16
Le Mans Master
I am suprised that no one has mentioned these yet. Especially if your looking for straight line performance. The rear end gears may not add horsepower, but they let you use more of what you have, sooner.
With the two overdrive gears in the six speed, these will not take too much from your MPG's at normal cruising conditions
#17
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
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St. Jude Donor '05
Nitrous no engine mods needed
Bring a broom dustpan and bucket just in case though
You cant get without giving
More power usually means less mpg
None of this is cheap youll have to dig into the motor
Budget build....many have tried but lol
lets be real cheap is the buzzword here
just do exhaust/tune/gears get what ya got save your money and slowly build up something you really want on the side while still being able to drive the car.
Bring a broom dustpan and bucket just in case though
You cant get without giving
More power usually means less mpg
None of this is cheap youll have to dig into the motor
Budget build....many have tried but lol
lets be real cheap is the buzzword here
just do exhaust/tune/gears get what ya got save your money and slowly build up something you really want on the side while still being able to drive the car.
Last edited by cv67; 09-07-2012 at 11:15 AM.
#18
Drifting
Thread Starter
[QUOTE=93 ragtop;1581766107]
None taken. Of course whatever I do will include a ton of research before. I don't have any experience with blowers on LT1's.
Plus, I'm sure that I can get a body kit, big rear spoiler, racing stripes, chrome engine parts, lightweight battery, and a FWD conversion for pretty cheap. I heard that stuff breaks dynos!
lotta high compression stock motors running just a few pounds too get them up in power, SD and boost go together pretty good, if you search you can find a killer deal on a used v1 or something.[/QUOTE]
Jay, no disrespect intended, but how much experience do you have with adding a blower to a LT1 in a Vette? Just a few things to let you know, first off, the blower has to be a reverse rotation. Belt slippage on the vette is a problem, with companys such as Blowerworks doing some workarounds to help, but again not cheap.
The kits are unique to the vette as compared to a f body. They usually are on the pass. side in the vette.
Just a few lbs of boost is not going to give him 350 rwhp on a stock motor. Most of the base kits ($7,000) build around 6lbs and even that is not enough to outrun a decent heads, cam, headers car.
Jay, no disrespect intended, but how much experience do you have with adding a blower to a LT1 in a Vette? Just a few things to let you know, first off, the blower has to be a reverse rotation. Belt slippage on the vette is a problem, with companys such as Blowerworks doing some workarounds to help, but again not cheap.
The kits are unique to the vette as compared to a f body. They usually are on the pass. side in the vette.
Just a few lbs of boost is not going to give him 350 rwhp on a stock motor. Most of the base kits ($7,000) build around 6lbs and even that is not enough to outrun a decent heads, cam, headers car.
Plus, I'm sure that I can get a body kit, big rear spoiler, racing stripes, chrome engine parts, lightweight battery, and a FWD conversion for pretty cheap. I heard that stuff breaks dynos!
Last edited by VeryUnoriginal; 09-07-2012 at 02:18 PM. Reason: Forgot to answer question
#20
Safety Car
4:10 rear end gears (assuming the 93 manuals had the dana 44)
I am suprised that no one has mentioned these yet. Especially if your looking for straight line performance. The rear end gears may not add horsepower, but they let you use more of what you have, sooner.
With the two overdrive gears in the six speed, these will not take too much from your MPG's at normal cruising conditions
I am suprised that no one has mentioned these yet. Especially if your looking for straight line performance. The rear end gears may not add horsepower, but they let you use more of what you have, sooner.
With the two overdrive gears in the six speed, these will not take too much from your MPG's at normal cruising conditions
AT the HP levels you are wanting, I'd upgrade the clutch, u-joints, change out the transmission and rear end fluids for something better than stock like Redline or Amsoil.
Before you get bigger ideas than you can support I'd learn how to drive the car STOCK and do it well before adding HP, that way when you do you'll be that much faster.