Just got a 98 Z28 Camaro and i got some extra money.. i was wondering how hard and what else i would need to buy to put a bigger V8 in.. How many horses are in the Z28 now? i was hopin 2 go up alot of horses! please help.. thx

 

Factory GM ratings (a joke)

They rate the 98-00 cars at 305hp.

 

yeah the ls1's are rated at 305/310 for '01-'02. but a lot of guys are pulling right around 300 horses to the wheel stock. but anywho....why don't you just bore out and stroke your ls1? i've seen ridiculous numbers being put out with a properly put-together ls1 engine, why put a different engine in there? i figure-- do some research on what your possibilities are with the engine already in the car, and realize that the horsepower your pocketbook will allow you will probably do you ok. if anything, the power you can get out of your ls1 will most likely be cheaper than trying to drop another, more powerful engine in there; or possibly building up an engine to swap.

all in all....do some research, and then decide.

 

will most of the bigger engines.. maybe like 400hp im considering be able to go on my 6speed?

 

good heads and cam, bolt ons and programming can get you to 400 rwhp now adays..


If you want more cubes though there are some pricey options with your ls1/ls6 block

stroke it - about 382 ci
resleeve/bore it - about 382 ci

stroke it and bore it 420+ ci


then there are the 6.0L iron block varieties that you can be used too..

or you have lots of money, the C5R block to easily get the big displacement..

the sponsers, like MTI, can do this all for you. just call them up.. it gets expensive though... but is arguably the "best" way to get the tq and hp, since the extra cubes smooth out agressive cams and produce big tq #'s everywhere...




I've heard some people have modified the stock crank to get a few more ci's out of it...


You might want to consider getting some drivetrain upgrades, like a better clutch, driveshaft, ujoints, rearend if you are serious in putting out big numbers to the ground.. and might want to think about brakes to help you slow down..

 

depending on how much extra money you have, and how much power your looking to gain, you can keep the ls1 and supercharge it. vortec 6lb with aftercooler on a stock ls1 will give you 448bhp at the flywheel. ($5700+installation) add $350 for a flow master cat back system. $400 for msd ignition and 9mm wires. $159-199 subframe connectors. you could have over 500hp. yes they do have a big block that will fit in a f-body. check out www.zl1.com, or look for zl1 on kazaa. they have a f-body with a 502 bigblock running 9.74 @ 149mph. video clip to prove it. as in any major power increase, watch you dont over do it, to where ok, i have a powerful engine, but killed my torque converter, ok, replaced that, but blew out my rear. it will be a snowball effect. personally i wont go higher than 525hp without doing the rest of the car. maybe other members here can attest to the opposite. good luck.

 

i was wrong zl1.com dont work. but just look it up on any search engine. "stock" zl1's had about 440hp. the one with the 502 had 770hp.