Hey guys this may be a stupid question, but what kind of power can I expect out of an LT1 with some upgrades such as headers, catback, and maybe a cam? An intake too, thats sort of assumed though.

I hear LT1s dont respond as well to mods as the LS1. Any truth in this?


The reason I am asking is I want to get my car ready for the summer, I plan on taking it drag racing at the local strip. I want to be ready because the car is stock right now.

Thanks!

 

The LT1 responds well to mods just as well as the LS1. You have to factor in though that the LS1 is alot further ahead of the LT1 in terms of design and power. With bolts-ons and a cam on the LT1, you can see anywhere from 310-350hp at the wheels. Alot of this will depend on what cam you are using, the extent of the bolt-ons, and the transmission.

 

Can you powerchip the LT1? Ive got a 1996, so its got OBDII, if that makes any difference.

 

There is no removable chip on your PCM. But you can accomplish the same thing with PCM tuning. A mail-order tune is the easy solution.
www.madz28.com
www.pcm4less.com

 

stock = 230-250rwhp
basic bolt ons=285-305rwhp
cam = 310-360rwhp
H/C = 380=440rwhp
h/solid roller = 500rwhp

those are very general numbers to give you an idea of what can be done. Lt1's respond just as well to mods as LS1's aside from cam swaps, but respond very well when you mess with the heads as well as the cam.

 

Can the bottom end handle all that power, say if I put on new heads and a cam, with all the regular bolt ons?

 

I think the bottom end would hold up if you weren't spraying or boosting. Some people may say to do things like studding it or something...?

 

There are plenty of LT1s with stock bottom ends handling 400hp at the wheels with head/cam combos.

 

My car made 262/294 with just a CAI and a 2800 (and a slipping trans) stall if that gives you any kind of answer and then 364/430 on a NX Wet 100 shot.

 

Yeah but nitrous is cheating.

 

A very well tuned bolt on LT1(ALL of them) will put you at the power level of a stock LS1 car....around 305 RWHP with a six speed.


David

 

You can go as fast as your money will take you. Bear in mind though, that things break when you bang on them.

But the first thing you need to decide is just how fast do you want to go?
And how much money do you have to spend?

Priorities man!

 

Bubba has already made my point. However, my favorite philosophical two part question for drag racing is, “how fast do you want to go?” And the second part, “how much do you want to spend?”

I’ve got an 11 second LT street car (N/A) and I spent some money to get it there. However, my kids are all grown and I’m back in my teens (car wise) for a second time.

WD

 

The people that consider nitrous cheating are the ones that just lost to a nitrous car.

And as far as the LT1's handleing power....mine seems to like it.

Ran a H/C, stock bottom end, and a 150 shot for multiple years.

 

I would have to disagree. I think a properly setup and thought out nitrous setup is just as worthy as a forced induction supercharger or turbo setup.