I think you are right about the rear end, something to consider anyhow. Ill just that my carrier is still "good". Might as well get the gears, spacer & install kit or just get another rear end-actually cheaper.
With the Pacesetter LT's, its possible my friend did not do a good install job. I dont believe Pacesetters are smog legal-thats my biggest concern. Ive talked to smog techs who've said that any part sold in CA that provides aftermarket performance and has a CARB # approved by the State shows that the company and the part have gone to a lot of research to make a quality part.
I know Edelbrock headers are shi***. BBK is decent and is smog legal and comes with Y pipe.
I think I will piece together the BBK's, 1.6's and LT4 valve springs. Gears can wait as I have an exhaust leak right now from the exhaust manifold attached to the head. In addition I have bad wires and coil. The repairs and upgrades are endless.
The only good thing is I have limit. No heads or cam or nothing. Just stock with basic bolt ons.
On a factory car, not requiring that "big" spark, do any of you think that MSD plug wires are worth it? The coil yes, but wires...?
Daniel

 

BBK headers have a bad rap around here as far as I know. The Mac's Mids are VERY high on most everybosy's list. Thats your choice tho...so whatever your happy with will help. MSD coil will probably not give you any gains whatsoever....and various people have had issues with the MSD blaster coils fr our cars. I like MSD wires, they have a very low resistance...and are of very high quality...i have used them on various cars.

 

MSD wires, yes. but as said before, many people have had problems with the coils frying the opti. do some research first, as with everything you do to your car.

 

Since he's an auto his rear is pretty safe. I put my auto car through hell and the rear held up just fine. The transmission on the other hand couldn't hang.

 

Funny about the automatic, it gave with about 10 passes on nitrous. Now I have a built one up to 650 hp (not that Ill ever see that in the present or near future). It has a 2500 stall because its a daily driver. No need for extremes.
So MSD blaster coils fry the Opti's. Im not dropping more money where aftermarket sh** breaks factory stuff. Ill stick with stock then. I am just basic modded right now.
As long as you are sure about MSD blaster coils. But then again you guys say Pacesetter LT's are good and Ive heard the opposite. Installation is a big though. Smog legal is a big deal to me.
My MSD wires did not last all that long which suprised me.
The good thing about A4's is they are easier on the car's parts.
You guys recommended MAC's headers. Smog issues are a big deal.
I am now thinking new stock ignition might be the way I should go for right now. MSD wires did not do anything spectacular for me as my car is mostly stock.
Daniel

 

I have pacesetter LT's on my car and LOVE them, no leaks at all and you cant go wrong on the price. I know your looking for legal headers, so pacesetters will not work for you, but dont listen to one person who had a bad experience with it, listen to the 50 other poeple who are giving them good reputations. For example, if your friend drives a mustang and says camaro's are garbage, are you going to believe him? Hopefully not.

 

IMO if you build a motor with enough low-end torque, for a street car it won't be necessary to rev to 7000 rpm. Thus, a 3.42 rear should be sufficient... i.e. going to a 4.10 10-bolt rear (since you won't be able to get traction on street tires anyway) will only result in tire spin and/or breakage...

if you need more gear, go 3.73 ... upgrade to all ARP components, get a rear girdle, stud the girdle and perhaps upgrade the axles..

 

Yea, 3.73's would be good; I'd even be happy w/ 3.42's, anything but 2.73's. The guy had an LT1 94-97 that put on the Pacesetter's LT's and said they were junk. Maybe the install was bad, who knows. I would do them but for smog purposes BBK's are best. From my feedback, BBk's are better than Edelbrock's, not saying that either of those are better than LT's.
What I am taking into consideration is what you guys said about stock coils. I do not need a monster spark especially one that will risk my opti. I dont even think MSD's are worth it but I will the price diff. $75 for MSD wires can be put toward the 1.6's. I think factory wires will suffice.
Anyone on here work with LT1 edit? I am still trying to figure out stuff.

Daniel 94 Z28 A4

 

headers right now...do it.no emissions =long tubes.

 

A long time ago I made the mistake of not keeping my OEM Cat when I had the test pipe done. I then had to drop some dough to buy another one for a bolt in set up for smog.
considering I dropped cash to make it smog legal, Im not putting in LT's to have wasted that money. Trust me, I do know the gains to be had.
So the conclusion is stock coil is good w/ or w/out MSD wires?
Any suggestions? I want my opti to last.
Daniel

 

Thats a false statement.

 

yes that is a false statement i made 337rwhp with my hot cam kit and edelbrock shorty headers which are supposed to be the worst ones i loved them.

 

Thats a comparable statement. Compared to LT's shorty headers are junk, and I have had plenty of shorty headers to say that plug access sucks. Just like he stated that Pacesetter LT's are junk. I do not believe that shorty headers are worth the time or labor it takes to install them..especially on our cars. If i wasn't going to get LT's I would only consider Mac's.

 

What is the false statement you guys refer to?
Listen, I've talked to a CHP officer who says there is nothing wrong or one is not insinuation guilt by asking officers when you get pulled over why they want to do something.
The reason I say this is because, I dont know what States you guys live in but California is strict on smog. If I did put on Pacesetters then I would would have to be super careful. Also fork out another $250 just to pay off the smog guy.
One can still make good power with shorties I think in comparison with LT's. Of course in the long run, LT's are have much more to offer.
Do you guys think or know that Pacesetter's have quality? I mean for just under $300 on ebay? Does that even include a Y pipe?
I think I will stick with a stock coil and maybe MSD wires?
Any suggestions
by the way I just saw a 98 LS1 SS for sale, $11k, 6sp. Will find out how much mileage. is it worth it? From every car I have bought I have learned so much. Like for a hardtop/t-top you put sfc first then do other stuff.

Daniel
94 Z28

 

Exactly the Mac's have great plug access possibly the best of any header so that voids your statement right there. You guys also saying that shorties are junk is just silly. There have been many people who have made awesome power with shorties. Look at Ai's site and see the guys that have put down over 400 rwhp NA with shorties. I'm actually running the same set of headers Dr. Mudge had on his car when he put down 414rwhp. You are gonna tell me that they wouldn't be worth installing and that stock manifolds would of made that kind of power. I've seen dyno's posted on here of some shortie headers adding 20rwhp on an LT1. To me a gain like that would be worth having on my car.