Hi, I recently purchased a 1997 Camaro Z28 SS 6-speed w/LT1. What would be a better choice for an upgrade? The LT4 kit or a supercharger? Which one is more streetable and CA smog legal? What other parts of the drivetrain or engine should I beef up if I place one of these upgrades on the car? Any help would be appreciated. Also this camaro has 85000 miles. What might be ready to break on this car?

 

supercharge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A supercharger..I also have a 97 z28 and I plan on putting a sc on next month.

 

sc is a sure way of gettin kick *** power
i would rebuild the whole motor

 

My advice would be a nice heads and cam package. Unless you plan on rebuilding your motor my suggestion would be against a supercharger.

 

Everybody says that the LT4 kit are not worth the money and that hp can be had for cheaper. But what are the cheaper/better ways?

 

Upgrade the whole top end, port the heads and just make sure you use the right cam and you'll see great gains. The LT4 kit says "425 hp" they don't tell you thats with extra stuff on there.

 

The supercharger bolts on and is there when you need it.
Otherwise the car is stock under 2500 rpm and very streetable.

 

A blower would be nice but a cam would be safer.

 

How about both the kit and sc . My own opinion on the 85000 miles if the car has been well taken care of the miles aren't going to be a problem. Mine has almost 130k and still strong as ever and runs like it's new.

 

You could do both but then you may as well rebuild the engine while you got it apart.
It's those high rpms that kill engines.
With the supercharger and all the torque I have, I'm not planning on revving mine past 5500 rpm so a cam is not needed.
My car is just a daily driver.
A supercharged engine is pressurized so port flow isn't as critical as with a n/a one.
Sure a cam would add more power but would probably help blow the engine sooner if the bottom end isn't beefed up for high boosted rpms.

 

Thanks for the help. Keep it coming. I'm realy worried about the CA emissons.

 

screw the emmisions

with a cam and blower
the law aint gonna catch u

the law will just get the sweet smell of burnt up horse power

 

My buddy '94 Z28 has done this combination-> Vortech & LT4 kit with good tuning....Last month he raced a '01 Z06 with Exhaust & some minor mods...20punch the Z28 got the Z06 up 120ish the Z06 was at his DOOR then Z06 reeled him..At 135ish the Z06 got the SCZ28 by 1 car...that was one of best race i've witness....

Go with SC man....

 

Don't forget that your not just gonna want to bolt a supercharger to the 87k engine. I think the pressure on those stock rings alone from the boost will be a problem within 20k miles.Let alone you should have it checked for cracks in the head or block before adding boost. If you are gonna do it, do it right and take the thing out and double check that everything in the engine that is wearable is replaced before you spend real money on any power upgrade.