I Have two seperate questions here. I am going to buy an L98 Third gen soon. I want at least 400 rwhp out of it. How would I go about doing this cheaply?

Secondly, how much would a decent 396 or 406 stroker be to build the L98 into?

Thank you for your time.

 

Well, 400rwhp isn't all that cheap if you do it on motor. I think you'll find that a 383 stroker will be your best bet, parts for that are readily available and cheaper than something like a 396.

Sorry I don't know much about the TPI motors, but from my limited knowledge I think you'd want to ditch the intake setup and go with a miniram. Plus that just looks cool!! I'd say get a nice forged 383 kit from summit or somewhere, Accel Miniram intake, long tube headers, and have someone match up a good heads and cam setup for you. Then get a good tune on it, I think you'll see 400rwhp if you do it right. Then, if you don't hit it, buy a used nitrous kit

 

You'd probably get more response if you posted in "3rd Generation Tech".

Rich Krause

 

I guess the first question to ask will be what do you consider "cheaply"?

 

forge the internalsand procharge the hell out of it? That'll be like 5 grand.....

 

First off, you cant make a 406 out of an L98. a 406 is a .030 400 block.

You could do a 396, but I dont think they make cast steel cranks in that size. Therefore you have to buy a forged crank. Thats now cheap.

Really you should post what you mean by "cheap" Getting 400 hp to the wheels is gonna take some $ period.

 

Sorry but 396 = $$ and 406 isn't possible (w/ an L98). 383 would be your best bet for 400 to the ground. The TPI setup isn't all that good. They can be heavily ported and with the right H/C make good numbers. Depending on your budget, a Miniram would be nice. I would think that a Stealth Ram + 383 = . I don't think a stroker motor would enjoy seeing 6k rpm too often. Maybe I'm wrong? So:

383 L98
AFR's
Beasty Cam
Bigger Injectors
Correct Tuning
Longtubes
Heavily Ported TPI or Miniram

I could see that making 400 to the wheels. Good luck!

-Rippin

 

I think the mini-ram runs higher RPMS than a stealth Ram does. Plus you could make a 383 rev that high with a steel crank and full floating rods easily.

 

The only way to get 400rwhp "cheaply" is with a healthy dose of nitrous oxide. Open up the intake (converted LT1 intake maybe?) and get headers and exhaust, stick a forced induction cam in it (they're also very good for nitrous applications) and shoot about a 150hp squirt into it. Then hope your pistons hold up. If they don't upgrade to fakies.

 

Has anyone converted an LT1 intake manifold?? I'm wondering how it's done- there's no coolant passages in it

 

I prefer the Superram. Plenty of low end and enough top end.

 

Are you wanting to get good milage out of this? If not just go carb. Will save hassles over the intake. And shave off a few $ too

Hey Aklim...Iva always wondered what that huge list of engine mods you have there is sat down into? A third gen obviously but what kind?

 

All together I'd like to get the motor completely built for $4000. I figure about $1000 to machine the block, maybe a bit more. I am thinking I might do the scoggin dickey vortec intake and and vortec heads setup. I have no idea how much that is. Then a matching cam.

I might be able to fit that all into $4000 pr maybe not. I am still planning at this point, hell I don't even have a car yet and won't for awhile, but I want a plan of action so I know what I'll be doing. Anyone else have any suggestions?

 

Couple more things, I will be in Phoenix AZ, so I will need to pass emissions.

Also, this will NOT be my daily driver, so I can go slightly crazy with it, but not too wild. I need it streetable.

 

First, I'd say your a little too optimistic. 300 rwhp would more realistic in your parameters. I'd also forget about doing a stroker. For the marginal gain in torque you will pay alot more. I'd look at a solid 350. The money you save not stroking it, put into the heads. You could make 400 with a 350 and a carb but you'll never pass emissions. If it's just a sniffer test you could do it with a carb but you'd have to run a smallish cam to run clean at idle. For $4000 and emissions testing I think it's pretty much impossible. Best bet would be get a complete lt1 used and install it with a new cam and all the free mods and as many others as you can afford. This will get you near 300rwhp. Then you can add a 100 shot and hope it lives a while. 400 at the wheels is alot for a NA small block that can pass emissions.