I was just curious on what the opinion of everyone is about a full street TA that only goes to the track once and a while. My buddy wants the best handling and horsepower that is still fully streetable. What sugestions would you all have?

 

There are plenty of 9, 10, and 11-second LT1 and LS1 F-bodies and C5's around that are still fully "streetable" . With these cars, it seems like the sky is the limit!

I'd say shy of a camshaft that lopes so bad the car will barely idle, you can get away with a lot of modding before a car isn't streetable. Honestly, that question is almost too broad to answer accurately.

Engine? You can do full heads/cam swap, sleeve/stroke the block, headers and all other bolt-ons, supercharge, turbocharge, spray N2O, do whatever, and car can still be run on the streets.

Suspension? May require upgrades such as sub-frame connectors (stiffen the frame), lower control arms and panhard bars to tighten up the rear suspension, thicker sway arms to help corner better (lowering springs for handling as well) and eventually a heavy-duty 12-bolt or 9" rear end to take the abuse of the higher horsepower engine!

 

Pete is right, there are many cars that can do that. I particularly have a lot more respect for people who get their daily drivers and streetcars to go that fast. It takes more effort and planning than just buying the most hp giving things.

Probably a good idea to prep the suspension and driveline as you increase the power.
Get a bullet proof transmission build, 12 bolt or 9 inch, et streets if you want for street legal slicks, traction and handling mods, then you can go into the engine and probably start with bolt ons and then a power adder.

 

I would say that if you want ~400 rwhp or less, do heads, reasonable cam, headers. If you want more than that just get a turbo setup. If you have an LT1. If you have an LS1 you could probably get 450 rwhp with heads, cam, headers.
In fact, you'd probably spend about the same amount if you went the NA way as if you just put a turbo on a stock engine. And the power curve would look not too different I expect. The bigger cam having not much low end would kind of equal out to the turbo not kicking on until ~2800 but the smaller turbo or stock cam being better than a bigger cam from 1000-2500.