im 16 yrs old and have pretty much a bone stock lt1 z28. first i wanted to know how much horsepower my car has stock (estimated) and some relative close et's i could expect.i wanted to do some things to add hp but would like to be pointed in the right direction. i was thinking hooker headers, a cut out, and lt4 hotcam. if i bought the headers would i need to but a new y-pipe or off road pipe and would they bolt right up with out the buying of anything else, or do i need flanges, gaskets etc.and could i buy the lt4 hot cam kit from www.summitracing.com and that would be all i needed to install and run off of my stock lt1, or would i need to buy new push rods, gaskets, timing chain & gears, lifters,valve stems etc.and also i was wondering about cutting my cats. my friend with a ws6 said he has the obd-II and he had to use the o2 simulators. i wasnt sure if i could cut them no problem or would i need the o2 simulators too. also i was wondering what people thought of the dual gauge pods for the a-pillar. if you like them what kind of gauges do you think look good and what functions should the gauges have.

thanks alot, craig
metroit detroit, michigan

 

If you go with hooker header, you will need the y-pipe that either they manufacture, or you can get a custom one made at an exhaust shop, your choice. Either way, its going to have to go to the shop to get the y-pipe welded up to the rest of the exhaust. If you want the LT4 hotcam kit, you can get a much better price from either gmpartsdirect.com or a GM sponsor here on this board, I am sure summit overcharges by about $50-100. If you go with that kit, you should get hardened pushrods, new valve stems and seats, just to make sure your valvetrain is properly setup. You will also need all of the gaskets including the intake manifold, timing chain cover, probably a new oil pan gasket since you have an a4, plus the gaskets that are actually in the timing chain cover. I would also recommend the LT4 timing chain itself, because its a bit better than the LT1. With the proper parts, you can easily spend around $700-900 for a cam swap. Thats not including labor, and I wouldn't attempt it unless someone knowledgeable is there to guide you. I would just do the LT's and maybe a torqu conveter, but I would go with Jethott LT's. They are basically the same design as the hooker headers, but are coated and cost about $200 less when you get them on a GP here on the board.

 

much appreciated..any others

i was also wondering since ive had my car for 5 months and my friend just got an a4 ws6 should i be able to beat him or is it normal for his back wheel to be at my front wheel.

 

You'll shoot your eye out kid.

 

hey that's pretty much the respose i got when i was 16 driving a z28 (two years ago)

if i were you i think i would do a cutout, stall, good tune and some DR's That would be a good start i think

 

n20 is all i have to say 100 shot is all u need and will be safe as hell if you get all the good saftey stuff!!

 

I say start off small. Get a feel for your car and do some research on the motor and how to fix things before u start to extremely modify. I never had that option. I had my car for a month and a half and the motor blew up. I was stuck on my own to get it running again and I have learned from it all. No offense, but someone who doesnt even know for sure the stock hp of there car should really start off small and work your way up. I am not trying to be an *** by any means, I am just trying to give u some advice. Good luck with whatever u decide to do and remember we are always here to help. Peace, Dustin.

 

Same here with my trans am. Research what you buy before you buy it. Do things right the first time instead of just buying something to have it. My regrets were getting a hooker cat back, mac mids/ypipe and gutted cat. I should have just thought about it a little more and done LT's and true duals like im doing now.

 

i have known how much horsepower my car has and among the reading and researching i do everyyday i came across a timeslip and dyno sheet of a 94 z28 claiming it dynoed at 225rhp and ran a 15.9 and i know my car is quicker than that. ive had my car 5 months and i know alot about my engine i just was second guessing myself. the problem is there is so many people that know more about the lt1 than anyone around here. so i had always planned on going with longtubes first. and i just wanted input from people that have expierenced this and done things with an lt1 before. i drive my car everyday and know how to drive it very well. amongst running it i have beat many older people in cars like mine and have beat cars that i logistically shouldnt have beat because "i know how to drive" my car

 

You shouldn't race, it's dangerous.

 

I agree with that, unless it's at the track. Don't race, 1) get a VERY VERY nice sized ticket 2) if not a ticket, the car taken/impounded 3) just stupid, could get hurt/die

But now for horsepower, for a cheap starter if you want to add some small power get an SLP Cold Air Induction, couple hundred dollars, a throttle body bypass, like $16 some dollars. There's another 30 HP. And get 1.6 rockers if you plan on getting a bigger cam. I wouldn't get the hotcam set up if i were to get heads/cam. I would go with something a little bigger, you might be dissapointed by the little increase in power. but that's just me.

 

i dont race but a tb bypass will add 30hp? what longtubes would you guys suggest and can i cut my cats without using the o2 simulator. i just want to make sure my car still runs strong. so the things that you all think i should just go with with is a TB bypass, longtubes,....and what else to just give my car that extra bit.

thanks for everything
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