here is what i have been thinking. Either go all out and buy a short block and build it right once or just put a couple of things on the ls1. The last option is to leave the motor stock and just put a 3200 stall and 3.42 gears with headers. can not seem to make up my mind!!! it is a daily driver and i would love to keep up with the other cars around my area and at the shows with the power and times they run.


Maybe i am just being crazy i know that i should not worry about what power and times the others make. But it does suck being last all the time i do have a 02 auto with subframe connectors, strut tower brace ,bmr 1 inch lower kit, air lid. with a ls1 hot cam kit in the box never put it in and under drive pulley sitting with it

what do you guys think should i compete with the others for good times and power or just keep it stock with stall and gears

 

thats all up to you and your budget. if money is no object, do the short block. most people dont realize how quick those mods add up (oil pump, good heads, can you still use your hotcam?, etc) and if you make over a certain amount of power than its going to snowball to the rear and tranny. and how quick we talking? n20?

go over 11.499 not save a couple hundred from a 6 or 8 pt roll bar and hope you know someone to install it cause thats not cheap. driveshaft loop, also.

the sky is the limit with these cars, but its your money and your goals that are going to determine that alone. im competitive by nature and stock piled a series of parts to do all at once. i run 11.87 now but im not happy with that, so i cant wait to put all my toys in. if you can be happy with a decent car, go with the bolt ons.

 

First off what times are you trying to achieve? With your current mods plus a Yank SS3600 and 3.42s you should run middle/low 12s. Add in the cam and it would be very low 12s/high 11s. If you need more than that, then add better cam and heads. But you should only need a new shortblock if you're going to go forged and big power or your stuff is blown up. A stock bottom end will run the numbers in my sig and better, reliably.

 

My car is a total daily driver and I'm modded w/full exhaust, intake, cam etc. If you want to be quicker then just do it. You already have them cam and pulley so why not use them or sell them.

Where you start is your decision, but the converter and gears will give you the most bang and they're building mods in that later mods work better with them.

As for rebuilding the short block...why replace someting that isn't worn out???
Quit sweating the details and start modding and enjoy the car! Once you start you won't stop.