Question about strengthening

First off I just wanna say that I'm new around here, and this is my first actual meaningful post (read: first post not in lounge) haha. but here it is:

On a 1996 Z28 with 110000 miles, and an underbody/chassis that is considered to be in a very good/excellent condition (for the mileage), what sort of chassis/suspension strengthening would be needed if I were to install an LT-4 conversion kit and a pair of headers, putting me around 450(~) HP? Right now its my only car, I'm 16, and have a stupid little job at McDonalds haha. But the mechanic who just put a new radiator in my car keeps telling me that LT1's are built to handle 250K plus when treated correctly, as mine as supposedly been. So I plan to possibly keep this as a spring-summer-fall screamer once I can afford a car thats built for winter. Until then, ive gotta keep this one relatively civilized so i can at least try to handle these BS Cleveland winters. Haha well thats probably all way too much info on my part, but all I'm asking basically is:

1.) How much can a stock 96 Z28 chassis/suspension handle?

2.) What kind of chassis/suspension mods would become necessary after around 450 HP

Thanks guys
-Shawn

450 hp is a pretty optimistic expectation for an LT4 kit and headers. Your stock suspension will not be inadequate for the power levels an LT4 will produce, but that's not to say that the car won't benefit from the usual chassis/suspension/wheel and tire upgrades.

Even on a stock LT-1, chassis/suspension mods can really wake up the car. Some cheaper things to look into would be: lower control arms, a panhard rod, new struts and shocks, and if your budget can allow it in the future, an adjustable crossmember mounted torque arm. I have ordered a few things from Spohn and have been very pleased with the results. I'm sure others will chime in as well with their preferences and ideas.

I would add atleast a Spohn (http://www.victoryracingengines.com/products.php?VENDOR=111) torque arm and subframe connectors.

Would this do the trick?:
http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/inc/pdetail?v=1&pid=6321

-Shawn

Would this do the trick?:
http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/inc/pdetail?v=1&pid=6321

-Shawn

You can do better for the money, so skip that package. If you want to strengthen the chassis, start with some subframe connectors. The weld-in, diamond style ones (such as SLP and Kenny Brown units) would be your best bet. Subframe connectors will make a difference, especially if your car has T-tops. Hardtops are not as much affected by SFCs.

Subframe connectors are pretty much all the strengthening you can do except for putting a roll cage in the car. Do not waste money on a strut tower brace unless you are going for the looks of it; they don't do anything for 4th gens.

Then, if you want to improve your handling, look into some shocks first. After shocks, go for bigger front swaybar, rear lower control arms, and a panhard bar if you have the money. Stock springs work pretty well, but if you want to go lower, you can get some aftermarket springs too. Just don't lower it more than 1.25 - 1.5 in as F-bodies generally don't like being too low from a handling standpoint of view. But if you lower it, you may also need to get an adjustable torque arm, preferably LCA relocation brackets, adjustable panhard rod etc., so keep that in mind.

Good luck, and be safe out there. It might be better for you to learn the limits of your car with the stock HP levels first, so you might want to spend your money on those suspension mods instead of the LT4 conversion kit first. Just my humble opinion.

Good luck, and be safe out there. It might be better for you to learn the limits of your car with the stock HP levels first, so you might want to spend your money on those suspension mods instead of the LT4 conversion kit first. Just my humble opinion.

I wish I had the money to spend on either right now! Haha workin at McDonalds on 16-year-old pay doesn't make it easy for me to pay for anything past my insurance. I'm glad you guys actually responded though, a lot of message boards out there are either dead or full of pricks. But anyway, my parents and I were talkin about what my future plans for the car were from a financial standpoint, because if I'm keeping it for good (and it looks like I may be now), I can't pay them back with the money I would have made from selling the car. So it looks like I'm gonna have to save up first for an FWD beater. Then pay my parents back. Then build up my chassis/suspension. Then either build up the top end or put a blower on my LT1 or even maybe both to make it an all out screamer. Which probably means I'll have to screw around with the tranny too. So unfortunately, this is lookin like a 5+ year project, so I'll probably change my mind a few dozen times anyway haha. Seriously though, thanks for the info guys.

-Shawn