LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 67
LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
I was wondering what are some of the Do's when it come to modding as far as a performance gain. (Exam: Lids,Headers,Granetelli MAFS,etc.)
What are some of the Don't's you should not do(Waste of money!) to you.
" These are the bolt-ons and I'm not talking about internal parts like a Head & Cam! Only External parts that you can do in your garage by the avg. Joe"
Bolt on list:
1.K&N fpk
2. Bigger Throttle Body
3.LS-6 Intake
4.Headers
5.High flow bellow
6.Borla Cat-Back
7.TB Bypass
8.EGR Mod
9.K&N Air Filter
10.3500 Torque Converter
11.Hypertech Programmer
12.160 Degree Stat
13.B&M Shift Kit
14.Pulley
15.Lid
16.SLP Y-Pipe
17.SLP Cold Air Kit that goes under the air box (Metal)
18.Free Ram Air
19.Electric Cut-Out
20.Nitrous Kit
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Joined: Jul 1998
Posts: 6,247
From: Charlotte,MI USA
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
Originally Posted by 30thTA
I was wondering what are some of the Do's when it come to modding as far as a performance gain. (Exam: Lids,Headers,Granetelli MAFS,etc.)
What are some of the Don't's you should not do(Waste of money!) to you.
" These are the bolt-ons and I'm not talking about internal parts like a Head & Cam! Only External parts that you can do in your garage by the avg. Joe"
Bolt on list:
1.K&N fpk No
2. Bigger Throttle Body No
3.LS-6 Intake
4.Headers
5.High flow bellow No
6.Borla Cat-Back
7.TB Bypass
8.EGR Mod
9.K&N Air Filter
10.3500 Torque Converter
11.Hypertech Programmer No
12.160 Degree Stat
13.B&M Shift Kit No
14.Pulley
15.Lid
16.SLP Y-Pipe
17.SLP Cold Air Kit that goes under the air box (Metal) there are better options
18.Free Ram Air see 17
19.Electric Cut-Out
20.Nitrous Kit
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 8,319
From: US 1 Mile Marker 52 in the Florida Keys
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
borla.....any exhaust upgrade for that matter...max power go for duals!
TB...not needed...maybe bore it out if you're bored...maybe 1hp gain
bellow...visual mod only 0hp
K&N....arguable...oil has been known to ruin MAF, and the LS1 version doesn't seal well
hypertech....useless unless you get it real cheap and use it for an A4 car
SLP cai....SSRA is 2x as effective
Free ram air...has to be done for either the cai or SSRA
SLP ypipe...not that much of a restriction...just get headers!
how bout a decent shifter if it's an M6? gears? SFC, lca, brackets, stb and sway bars?
Type R sticker??
TB...not needed...maybe bore it out if you're bored...maybe 1hp gain
bellow...visual mod only 0hp
K&N....arguable...oil has been known to ruin MAF, and the LS1 version doesn't seal well
hypertech....useless unless you get it real cheap and use it for an A4 car
SLP cai....SSRA is 2x as effective
Free ram air...has to be done for either the cai or SSRA
SLP ypipe...not that much of a restriction...just get headers!
how bout a decent shifter if it's an M6? gears? SFC, lca, brackets, stb and sway bars?
Type R sticker??
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 134
From: Benson, NC
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
I would put a decent tune in there somewhere. Without that some of your mods are not performing to their potential. You mentioned to list only mods you can do at home in your garage so I'd say you'd have to go to madz28 or any of the other quality tuners for a mail-order tune.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 948
From: In The Engine Room
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
I agree, with the above statement. You can leave a lot of power on the table by not having the proper tune in the car.
The good rule of thumb, is usually to do headers, cat-back, lid, intake, throttle body, and then tune after those mods. That should be your first wave of mods in my opinion. From there do the converter, but one thing for certain I would not do is the Hypertech. Too many times I have seen them hurt a good tune. After its tuned on the dyno Hypertech is no longer needed.
The good rule of thumb, is usually to do headers, cat-back, lid, intake, throttle body, and then tune after those mods. That should be your first wave of mods in my opinion. From there do the converter, but one thing for certain I would not do is the Hypertech. Too many times I have seen them hurt a good tune. After its tuned on the dyno Hypertech is no longer needed.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 775
From: Alexandria, VA
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
Originally Posted by Uthinkso
The good rule of thumb, is usually to do headers, cat-back, lid, intake, throttle body, and then tune after those mods. That should be your first wave of mods in my opinion. From there do the converter, but one thing for certain I would not do is the Hypertech. Too many times I have seen them hurt a good tune. After its tuned on the dyno Hypertech is no longer needed.
I say do the cheap stuff first (lid, cutout, free mods, maybe pulley) then do the 'verter and drag radials.
Then you want the car to breathe better, because you're already getting it off the line, just need to keep it moving. This is when you do headers, LS6 or better intake, get someone to port your TB, and gears to tighten up your verter and make the car a lot more fun to drive.
Don't forget about suspension though, because that should be done along the way. I did SFC's and LCA's right after my lid and cutout.
And finally, the tune will definately be important. I just got done throwing just about every bolt-on at my call all at once, and I can definately tell that there's more left in the car with a good tune to unleash it. Hopefully I'll get it done withing a couple of weeks.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,472
From: South Bend, Indiana
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
What exactly does throwing away the Catalytic Converter do to get you off the line better? The gain can't be that much 
.025 off your 60 maybe? Wouldn't be worth it on a street car.
.025 off your 60 maybe? Wouldn't be worth it on a street car.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 600
From: Delta, BC, Canada
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
GMHTP did a couple page article on the DO's and DONT's for the LS1. They interviewed a 3 people that had alot of knowledge of LS1s, including Brian Reese from SLP(I forget the other two). If you want I can did it up and list what they said were good and bad mods for the LS1.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 67
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
I thank you all for the information on this subject and any more input would be welcomed. Please post the other Do's & Don't's for LS-1's from GMHTP.
So a K&N fipk,bigger throttle body,and high flow bellow is a waste of money!
Will LT headers make your car very loud if you have the GMMG exhaust?
:confused
So a K&N fipk,bigger throttle body,and high flow bellow is a waste of money!
Will LT headers make your car very loud if you have the GMMG exhaust?
:confused
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 8,319
From: US 1 Mile Marker 52 in the Florida Keys
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
the "K&N fipk" is a cold air induction, whihc WILL help out a ton on any car. the concern that some have is if the filter is excessively oiled it can gum up the MAF sensor and cause problems. considering the thousands of people using these filters and not many actually haveing this problem, as long as you are conservative on your filter re-oiling than you should be fine.
but the k&n cai piece, or morosso, slp, lingthfelter for that matter....are all GREAT mods.
but the TB and bellows are pointless
and headers will make any exhaust loud, particularly if you remove the cats. that is the major reason they are so loud, because the cats act as a quasi-muffler to tone down some noise (kindda a side effect). if you keep hi-flow cats on the LTs you won't gain as much noise.
but the k&n cai piece, or morosso, slp, lingthfelter for that matter....are all GREAT mods.
but the TB and bellows are pointless
and headers will make any exhaust loud, particularly if you remove the cats. that is the major reason they are so loud, because the cats act as a quasi-muffler to tone down some noise (kindda a side effect). if you keep hi-flow cats on the LTs you won't gain as much noise.
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Joined: Jul 1998
Posts: 6,247
From: Charlotte,MI USA
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
Originally Posted by teke184
the "K&N fipk" is a cold air induction, whihc WILL help out a ton on any car. the concern that some have is if the filter is excessively oiled it can gum up the MAF sensor and cause problems. considering the thousands of people using these filters and not many actually haveing this problem, as long as you are conservative on your filter re-oiling than you should be fine.
Look about one third of the way down the page. K&N FPIK is a totally different animal. Big oblong filter. Not the same as SLP, FTRA, ect.
It has always been my opinion that a lid and SSRA will out perform the FPIK on the road and at the track.
Registered User
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 501
From: Chesapeake, VA USA
Re: LS-1's Do's & Don'ts
I'd maximize the power that is there first and then add more power. Torque 'vertor, stickies and some gear (3.42s or 3.73s) along with a little suspension work and sub-frame connectors. After that, do all the free mods then look for more power. JMO...