Cammed LS1 = or > turbo LT1 @ 6psi. What I am saying is get an LS1 for 7500-$8000 (base Z28 model) and slap a cam and exhaust on the thing and it will make more power than a stock motor'd LT1 with 6psi turbo kit. It takes money to do a turbo setup right. A well setup heads/cam LS1 can push 500rwhp with an M6 and 10 bolt (just ask TTP). If you had $15k to spend, then you could do something serious with the LT1 ($10k in mods), but with only $5k....LS1.

 

Just curious, how much power is big power? From the looks of your budget I'm going to agree with everyone else here. LS1+H/C.

 

Enough power to where I dont have to worry about getting owned on the road. I have about 12,000 to spend, but I need to use 10,000 of that to pay some other things off first. So I am going to guess I will have about 2000-5000 to spend on parts for the engine depending on how things go. I am going to try and get the LS1.

 

a ls1 with full exhaust and a cam will own most things on the road. I'd go that route and later on build the motor for boost.

 

Well, how does this sound for a start?

Hooker Competition Headers, Hooker Cat-Back exhaust, K&N Gen II FIPK, Thunder Racing CheaTR Heads and Cam package with 7.375 pushrods and new head gaskets.

I am looking to get a 1998 Z28 with 99,000 miles on it. The guy is selling it for $7000. It has no mods. I know I will have to get the car tuned after I do all that, but I think it will be worth it.

Does this set up sound like a good start?

 

Sounds like a solid start. Would probably be worth close to 400 rwhp if tuned properly. Also, Thunder can substitube a number of cams for the CheaTR and probably make more power. The CheaTR was specifically designed to have stock driveability characteristics and make power through a restrictive exhaust. Something like the 230/224 cam may make more power, but have a little chop at idle.

Mike

 

You would probably get more bang for the buck if you bought the car already modded. Someone on here is always selling cars with bolt ons.

 

you can buy a lt1 and do a Ai or LE heads and cam and make 400+ at the wheels. Its all in the heads and cam. A lt1 can run hard and for cheap. But remember, you have to take into account fuel system, supporting mods, and tuning.

So after supporting mods and all that junk, you are spending a lot either way you go, and power, believe it or not you will be pretty close to that same power.

 

I think this is going to be your best bet. Be patient and wait until someone needs some money and you can get something that is either a nearly finished project, or a car that has mods already done to it.