Well guys its been over a year since I have been here. I miss the Forum and definitely the trans am. I have a few questions though. I have been considering and early model lt1 Fbody to build up as a track car. I was thinking something in the 4000 dollar range. Is this possible? I am planning on dropping the motor so mileage is really not an issue. I am just curious as to what It will take to hit 400+rwhp. I would think with topend work it would be possible. I am also curious what the max NA power on the lt1 could be with a stock bottom end. As of right now a heads, cam, and lt headers are making 480rwhp on a c5. Could this be done? Well thanks in advance and check out link in sig to view trans am and new vette..

 

most stock stroke LT1s w/ good heads-cam are making between 400-425rwhp. the ls1 heads are amazing because the 15* valve angle layout allows them to get a **** load of flow and keep the port volume low, thus creating very high velocity. its really too bad the stock ls1 shortblock is a piece of ****.

 

I doubt that "most" stock Lt1s w/heads and cams are making 400-425 RWHP NA, unless the cam is really big and peaky.JMHO

 

Also, what does that C-5 have that provides it with 180 RWHP over stock? I want some of that!

 

i said 'good heads/cam'. ive seen some ls1 heads cam cars that only made 380rwhp, but the good heads cam ls1 pkg's are making more then good HC pkg LT1s.

 

 

oh, i forgot, all head porters and cam grinders are created equal. Lloyd and AI both have a number of 400rwhp na stock shortblock heads cam cars. TEA also has a 400rwhp heads cam package. 2 of my friends were making 400rwhp w/ gtp heads-cam pkgs (both cars went high 11s@118). but you guys are right, no lt1 can make any power, ever.

 

The c5 that is making that kind of power was equipped with the lg motorsports head and cam package. The package includes there heads. The G5-x3 cam which is 236 242 duration with .612 lift and 112lsa. They also had longtube headers on it and a ported throttle body. Still the number speak for themselves as for as the package and the companys reputation. When i used to visit here often, the cam to have was supposedly the 306. Is this still the case, I know the technology with the ls1 has expanded greatly in the last year. I guess the overall goal here is to spend 10-12k for a car and mods and hit the 12s here. The altitude is killer at Bandimere. Most 6sp Lti Fbodys are running low to mid 15s here. So I think it will take 450rwhp to hit the low 12s considering what my vette ran with 350hp..

 

There is Steve(SAr2k) from this board who made 450rwhp with the stock shortblock and a bada$$ heads/cam setup. Also there is another guy Gary? who made 452rwhp with a stock LT1 shortblock with a JoeO cam and ported AFR LT4's. My car is making over 420+rwhp and ran 11.6's@117mph on it's first outing wioth my new setup which is a custom Joe O cam and Lloyd Elliott heads and stock valves. So it can be done pretty easily but most guys on this board want alot of of streetabilty and alot of power and you have to compromise a littlefor max effort. A drag car would be easy b/c, gear ratio, driveability, surging, passing emmissions and gas mileage doesn't matter you can go wild with all of the parameters. I have to keep a high gear b/c I like to drive and drag my car so I compromise between max performance and streetability. Good luck Later Clint

 

You should easily be able to find a early LT1 for $4000. I've seen quite a few on here actually.

 

Ai offers a head & cam package that has been proven to make over 400rwhp and is supposed to work well with stock 3:42's in a 6 speed. If it was a big and peaky cam I doubt the stock gearing could be lived with. JMHO

 

I don't know why you guys are ragging on his comment... Most LT1's with a good heads/cam combo and a good tune will hit 400-420 at the wheels. I mean, if you are like everybody else and go get some porting at a local machine shop and use an off the shelf 230/236 or something, you won't hit those numbers. However, with some Ai heads or AFR's, canfields, whatever, and a decent custom ground cam to match, I would be very angry if I didn't make 400-425 at the wheels.

That Ai package that claims to pull in 6'th on the freeway and make over 400 to the wheels is using a relatively small custom ground cam, the 211 methinks. I know that Phil really knows his stuff and I'm sure the reasoning behind that cam is well thought out (obviously since his cars make the numbers).

Back to the question at hand... For NA setups on stock bottom end LT1's, they seem to do very well in terms of reliablity and power. You could get a nice heads/cam setup from Advanced Induction, full exhaust, fuel/ignition, and a 100 shot and you will be well into the 500's and the stock bottom will take that and eat it (as long as your tuning is good and you have enough fuel). It's no LS6 but with the right top end combo, 400 is fairly easy to hit. Those that say it isn't probably haven't had much luck with their car. It's not a simple plug and play but there are combos that have been proven to produce certain numbers with good tuning... That said, good luck. There is a guy selling an LT1 trans-am with 10x,000 miles on it, fresh opti, fresh plugs, fresh waterpump, minor mods like gears and intake. He is asking 4500 for it...

 

Thanks for the heads up on the ta for sale. Sounds like a great deal. I just something like that to dump some money into and be fast at the track. The vettes is getting an ati in a couple months but i plan on that being much more streetable than the fbody..

 

At 5,600 feet elevation I made 360rwhp with my setup. Corrected to sea level was 450rwhp. Here in Albuquerque NM I ran 12.03@116mph. I simple gear change to 4.10's and I would dip into the 11's.

 

Thats exactly what i was thinking. Its amazing what the altitude does to power. I was told around 30% loss here... So what all do you have done with yours besides the 396?