LS1 upgrades?

[Mike Hall]

I have $5000 to spend on my 02 LS1. Would you build a mild twin turbo setup using a stock engine or upgrade heads, cam, intake, for a NA setup? I know a stock engine with twin turbos can make upwards to 500 rwhp and NA LS1 would not come close to that but it would sound great with a nice cam. I also would like which ever setup I go with to still be capible for getting somewhat good fuel milage. I know that the TT setup would still good good milage but would a moddifed NA engine still get good milage? What would you do?

Thanks
Mike

[slownova]

real good heads/cam/intake combos on them cars have yelded around 500hp. you could do the heads and cam for around 3k. and figure 500 for tunning and save money for other parts of the car. just my opinion.

[Mike Hall]

What heads are working best on stock displacement engines? The Dart heads look nice and are half the price of ARF heads.

Mike

[fatlife]

since a 500hp LS1/2 would be more than plenty on any street car OR track car. I would just do a head and cam swap along with the rest of the basic mods and call it a day. You might be suprised with even more than 500 with a basic combo.

[Mike Hall]

I did not know that heads, cam and other basic mods would net you 500 rwhp. Im looking around now trying to figure out what setup I would want to go with. Im reading up on the Dart heads now but it looks like some of the LS6 CNC heads are damn good for the money. Any chance CNC ported LS6 heads can make 500 wrhp?

Mike

[slownova]

PRCs new terminator heads seem to net some pretty high numbers. if you look on LS1tech just serch for 500rwhp heads/cam cars. not everyones doing it but there are a few combos that will get you close.

[Leadfoot1]

Have you tought about a supercharger? (no oil lines easier packaging, no lag etc...)

I have a '98 LS1 and am really looking forward to a D1-SC or P1-SC model from Procharger with intercooler.

Lead.

[Mike Hall]

I have had a few supercharged cars and I do like them but I have always wanted to build a turbo car if I was going to go with FI. I hope I can start bringing in some extra funds soon so maybe I will go all out and do internal mods as well as turbos.

Mike

[nitrorocket]

I heard turbos make good power for the money. :_paranoid :thumbsup:

[slownova]

how much do you have in your set up nitro?

i have a heads/cam LS1 in my 98 trans am. and i will say it pulls really hard and is fun to drive. i could imagine it in a lighter car.

[nitrorocket]

$13.5 for the entire motor/turbo setup with the "new" turbos. Keep in mind though, this was using the BEST materials. Same power and results can be had for about $10k or less by just using regular materials. :D

[slownova]

whats your motor specs? also i assume you fabbed up the headers or did you use something?

[Mike Hall]

Nitro, What does it cost to upgrade rods and pistons? Would a 32K mile shortblock need to be machined for new pistons or could I get some standard bore pistons? What does it cost to get upgraded rods, pistons and re-bearing the engine? I guess I would need to upgrade the oil pump, rocker arms, valve springs and injectors too.

Mike

[RickM415]

maybe some et performance heads and a big cam can get you close to 500hp on a sd tune but it would have to be a 6 speed to be a daily driver or some automatic with a high stall ...and i doubt you would get a good fuel mileage lol...on forced induction im gettin 24mpg but if i get on it it sucks the living hell out the fuel tank lol through them skinny 60# mototron injectors hehe

for a forged block average pistons are arround 600 so are the rods
then you need arp bolts and blah blah
someone to tune it or tune it yourself

[slownova]

i went from 430 rwhp to 495 and gained a mpg.

[RickM415]

nice numbers ...do you mind sharing your setup

[nitrorocket]

Hey guys, time is your friend. I picked up my complete motor for $2400 bucks.
-I looked long and hard and found a set of new Lunati Billet rods for $600!, I would buy your rods through Competition products, there race billet I-beam rods are among the best for about $750, GREAT deal!
Pistons are Wiseco 2618 25cc dished pistons. They can be had from Summit for about $525, again, this is the best deal on a piston you will find. Diamond, JE are total rip off's! I have been there done that.
Rings are regular Moly standard tension rings 1/16,1/16,3/16. When I built my motor last year knowbody made a 3.905 Hellfire ring yet, now they do. Buy the Hellfires. Otherwise, pick up a standard set for about $90. They are holding in my motor just fine with huge boost in a heavy ass car!
You will have to take the block in and have it bored to 3.905. You will need bearings for rod, mains, Those will be about $130 for both sets if I remember correct. Buy head and main studs at the tune of about $450 bucks. Use a stock 6.0 truck head gasket set for the 4" bore. Use stock cam and valvetrain. This setup with some small turbos will make about 800+ hp on pumpgas real easy. Mpg will not be affected. This covers the motor, obviously you will need some fuel system upgrades.
If you can weld, you will need about (12) 1.75" U-bends and a chop saw. You can build a set of headers with collectors for about $1000 or less. Before I weld high dollar on my turbos, I had $5500 into the entire twin system I have with using the BEST materials.

There is so much I can say and info I can give, I could go on forever. Hope this helps a little.

[nitrorocket]

For valvesprings, go with a 918 spring and be done. Use the stock valvetrain for the rest, except the pushrods. Trickflow are a good pushrod and are far cheaper then the exact same high dollar stuff. Leave the oil pump stock.
Buy the 75lb injectors through R/C. Better to go to big on the injectors for a turbo motor in a street car. They do not affect driveability at all untill you get to the 96+ range with low IMP. Use a Aeromotive A1000 pump and regulator, they are good for well over 1000 hp and are dirt cheap.

[Mike Hall]

Nitro, thats for the info. Your right I should just take my time and do it right. Im about to order $6000 in DSE parts to go ahead and get my suspension finished up first then I will get started on the turbo setup. I missed this turbo setup by $25. :mad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=190033206284&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT I had offered the guy $2400 for the setup and he never got back with me and 2 days later I got beat out by $25 because I was not there to bid. Oh well, im sure another good deal will show up sooner or later.

Mike

[nitrorocket]

How much power do you want to make? Those are some huge turbos! Also, the A/R is WAY to big for an LS1 application. The R's have a water cooled CHRA and it has to be used or the turbos will destruct over time. The oild is restricted in those turbos to .030 feed. not enough flow to keep the cool. Way overkill, those are what I run and have'nt even started to tickle them yet at the 1000 hp level. Figure out your exact intended usage before choosing turbos. You need to get the right ones for what you want to do.

[Mike Hall]

I thought GT35Rs would be a great choice for turbos. Are you saying that the compressor is to big? Its a T3 turbin housing right? I have lots to learn about turbos. LOL

Mike

[nitrorocket]

Those are reall nice turbos, but have safe power capability of 1360 hp! That is way more then most will ever use. The downside to running a turbo that is too large is you typically lose efficiency in the airflow range your engine is requiring. They will also spool slower then a smaller turbo. Those turbos probably have a t4 turbine housing and most likely are a p-trim turbine shaft.You want a T4 housing. He really did not give a ton of info. Those turbos would be best on a real large motor due to the large A/R ratio on the housing. The A/R on a ls1 twin setup should be no larger then .69 AR on the turbine side. A 60-1 HI-FI is a wonderful T4 based turbo that is amazing to about 1000-1100 hp. I would buy through someone like precision or innovative. They use Garrett parts to make a superior turbo.

I thought GT35Rs would be a great choice for turbos. Are you saying that the compressor is to big? Its a T3 turbin housing right? I have lots to learn about turbos. LOL

Mike

[Mike Hall]

Thanks again man. I guess I loosing that auction turned out to be a good thing. LOL I cant wait to start building headers and all the pipiing. I made a intake pipe for a vortech Supercharge on my FFR cobra back years ago and it looked awesome. Im thinking of having everything ceramic coated black and painting most of the engine parts black. That would go well with black interior and black Exterior. The project shall be called Black Out. LOL

Mike