I got a 2002 z28 with intake, exhaust, pulley kit only and it was nice and fast 2 years ago but now I'm so used to its accel it feels so slow. I clocked it at 10.3 for 0-100 and dyno tested so its not the car. I was planning on buying a local 550hp camaro but it sold. What should I do to go from 400hp to 500hp for about $5000 including supporting mods. AND I LIVE IN NY, need cats, no longtubes ect. Thats why I'm asking you guys and don't tell me to move to a different state.

 

If you have to pass smog, that rules out an aggressive head/cam swap. You might want to save up another ~$1k and get a Procharger kit. That would be the best emissions legal build.

 

Another vote for forced induction or nitrous. Building an NA motor that you need to pass strict emissions with is just plain stupid.

 

I was thinking about a procharger or something but then woundn't I have to do a 4l60e tranny kit and beef up the rear if not replace it which would total around double I want to spend. What heads, cam, headers could I do to gain about 100 horse and still pass or its not possible.

 

You simply won't pass emissions with any heads/cam package + supporting modds that will give you an extra 100 horses.

If emissions were out the window, I'd say a set of AFR 205's and an F13/14 cam (there are many choices), LT headers, electric cutout, etc, etc. But again, you'll never pass.

Procharger ftw!

 

I was thinking that I couldn't do anything worth it to the engine and stay legal and now I know its true, so with 6psi on the procharger my injectors and pump could keep up and I should make 500-550hp? So I wound need the 5500.00 kit, tranny kit and a rear though? Thats a lot of money.

 

Where on L.I are yaaa?

 

Procharger kits can be had for ~$6k. The come as a complete kit with a fuel management unit (FMU) and an upgraded fuel pump.
From their website:
LS1 F-Body
'99-02 - 4 psi w/ P-1SC-1 35-40% hp gain
'98-02 - 5, 7 psi w/ P-1SC-1 40-55% hp gain
'98-02 - 8+ psi w/ D-1SC 60%+ hp gain

I would think that as long as you are not clutch dumping every where, with moderate boost, you're stock rear end and tranny will hold up.

 

Given you're budget and everything else here's what I would do.

Get a built tranny (Frank at CPT is very reasonable and well known) - $1,500.00
Aftermarket 9" Rear with 3.42 (thinking ahead for the blower) - ~ $2,000.00
SS3600 Stall Converter ~ $700.00
100-150 Shot of Nitrous to finish her out.

You would be close to around $5,000 dollars. Try to do some suspension mods here and there (LCA, LCA Relocation Brackets, etc... not that expensive couple hundred).

So now you have built your drivetrain to the point that it can handle the power of a blower. Now you don't have the money for a blower, but that's where the nitrous comes in. You've got 100-150hp over stock, with a drivetrain that will actually work for you. Then down the road you can invest in a blower to finish her out.

Hell, with a stock car I think you'd be happy with just a SS3600 converter, it would make a night and day difference. Give that a shot first!!! Best A4 car mod period.

Throwing a Procharger on there and pushing 500+rwhp is cool until you fry your stock tranny and/or blow your 10bolt 3 days later. And then you're 500+hp car is sitting in the garage for the next year or so.

Sometimes it's best to take one step at a time, rather then try to do everything at once. I have several friends who have cars and are dreaming of that ultimate build and never get there. But had they dropped a little here and there, they might actually have gotten somewhere. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Just my opinion. Good Luck!

 

One thing that you need to keep in mind is that it doesn't matter how you make the hp the trans and rear will need to be upgraded.

I agree with the post above except for the 3.42s, I'd go 3.73s.

 

I'm in kings park on LI. I don't really wana do nitrous or a stall convertor. The stall would get me **** milage and it only helps off the line. With a procharger I would figure my gas milage wouldn't drop that bad when I'm being nice and it would be plenty of horse to pull through 2.73s and since 2.73s have more area touching the ring/stronger than 3.73s thats another bonus. I really am shooting for 500hp so I could keep the procharger (if I ever get it) at 4psi and then go up to 6psi after I build the tranny and rear. I already have LCA's too. Thanks for the responses everybody.

 

looks like you have your mind basically set on blower, but if you dont do what chrome383z was talkin bout ( though i would) keep in mind STS. roughly 4 grand and 500hp i dnt see why a mild turbo kit of this kind would prevent emissions passing (not totaly sure) but its slightly cheaper roughly same power and imo a turbo is cool even just soley based on rarity plus it only makes sense that your mpg would stay bout the same instead of drop cuz turbos run on waste energy so im just throwin it out there

 

W/just a converter change you'll be .5 sec quicker. It won't add any power, but it'll change how your car feels during acceleration.

 

others on here have told me with a convertor their milage dropped to hummer levels city and since gas is now 4.09 here I'd like to stay away from one.

 

If you drive a lot under 42-3 mph then yes you mileage will suffer. Anything over that speed and the converter clutch locks up and your mpgs will stay the same.