Hi, I currently have a stock 95 z28 and I'm looking to upgrade it to get some serious horsepower, roughly like 500 - 600, but of course, I live in California so I'm limited on what I can do to the car while still having it pass smog. As of right now, I asked a mechanic at a performance shop about trick flow's top-end kit and he said that he could do it and get it to pass smog but what about the bottom end?

https://treperformance.com/i-2390050...IaAjOJEALw_wcB

I want to make this engine capable for boost later on and I know that I have to change the piston rings because they are only capable of up to like 6-8 pounds until they blow out so what else could I do to make it more powerful. Also, when I do go boosted, I am assuming that I will need to get a new transmission and diff, so what should I go with because I'm a little lost on this stuff and you guys are the experts, thanks in advance.

 

Are you looking for 500-600 HP at the rear wheels, or at the flywheel?

I bought my 94 Formula brand new in CA. The easiest way to add HP at the time was an NOS 5176-EO 125 HP nitrous kit. It was CARB-EO approved. At the time, there were CARB approved cold air kits, catbacks, headers and a few other performance upgrades. But finding CARB approved parts at this time seems to be harder. There is a CA state website that lists CARB approved performance parts. Any part you install has to have a CARB-EO tag with the approval #. Someone might be able to "tune" upgraded heads and cam to meet emissions, but unless the parts are on the approved list and have the approval number, they are going to fail.at any honest station.

As far as the heads, the stock heads can be ported to produce 500 flywheel HP with an aggressive cam, but it isn't going to meet CA emissions at that level. Looking at a Trick Flow "kit", the one you linked only produces 430 HP (doesn't state flywheel or rear wheel). You can easily match or exceed that with ported stock heads and cam from a pro like Lloyd Elliot or Advanced Induction. They can also port the Trick Flows for additional HP.

http://elliottsportworks.com/

http://advancedinduction.com/LTX/AiLTxMain.php

You really need advice SPECIFICALLY from a CA enthusiast who has worked this problem.

 

i look for hp at the wheels more specifically but I want to try and stay away from nos; my friend installed that on his car, had it tuned and everything but it died like 150 miles after it was installed when he took it to the drag strip. That's why I said a supercharger, but the links you said were very helpful, I will definitely take a look at them, thanks.

 

Ran the 125-shot for six years, no problems. Then my Formula survived for another 22 years with a 300-shot on a built motor. Sold it four months ago, still going strong. New owner loves it.

Manual or auto trans? 600 at the rear wheels through a 4L60E requires more than 700 HP at the flywheel. Making that on straight motor, and passing CA smoke is not realistic. And you won't do it with Trick Flow heads, and their cam that is similar to the LT4 HOT cam. Only LT1 I’ve seen at that level (making 626 HP at the rear wheels) was running Nextel Cup (NASCAR) SB2.2 heads on 396 ci displacement.

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/adv...dyno-s-529313/

This is probably the best example of the upper limit for worked stock heads - 530 HP at the rear wheels:

Advanced Induction - 200cc LT1 Competition Head Package

And neither of those was in CA.