Hey guys I just got back into the lt1 game after 10 years and it’s feels great again. I said I wouldnt buy a lt1 4 gen again but with the deal i got on this 97ss with m6 I couldn’t resist. So here I go I’m gonna start modding this ss so I have a couple of questions. First off how good is the slp totl exhaust? Looks kinda funky to me being it’s only on the driver side but if it’s a good performance exhaust it can stay. How does it compare to a magnaflow or even a Flowmaster Catback? Also how good is the factory cold air intake compared to a aftermarket cold air? My plans for this car is 4.10 gears , drag radials , long tube headers, Ory pipe, small cam like cc503 and nitrous 100 shot. Should make for a solid 11 second car. What do you guys think? Years ago i used Pcm4less for my mail order tune are they still tuning lt1s? I’m also gonna do a basic tuneup, cap ,rotor, plugs, wires, water pump. Car has 100,000 miles but it runs good.

A recent thread on LT1 tuners:

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/com...-exist-886302/

Forgot to mention.... some 2OTL owners found a restriction plate at the muffler inlet, often called … "the cone of silence". General feeling was if you have it, it should be removed. Never heard anything else bad about the 2OTL. SLP advertised it as something like a 5 HP increase, at an added cost of $499.

Any thoughts on the factory ram air? Just might put a k&n filter and let it be. Also how much power does the long tubes add to a bolt on lt1? Thanks

The SS airbox isn't bad, but the plastic is a little brittle. I replaced mine with the K&N CAI mainly because I hated taking off the intake every time I did something with the engine, and even with the SLP strut tower brace made for the SS, the fit wasn't great. EG, performance wise, I wouldn't worry about changing it, but if you want better access to the engine and plan to do a strut tower brace, I would change it.

In regard to exhaust, if I had it to do again, I would do a set of Hooker long tubes and cat back. Depending on emissions where you live, do the race set (I live in Nevada and have no visual inspection), then tune out the rear O2 sensors.

I live in NY and there is no visual. Car will pass as long as there is no check engine light. When you say tune out the rear o2 do you mean the ones after the cat? If I delete the cats and run just the o2 pre cat can I get a tune for the cat delete that will keep the check engine light off? Also I was reading about 02 sims do I need them if I delete the cats. Thanks

Welcome to the 97 SS club one thing I will suggest to you is to get a better rear I have the Strange S60 (dana 60) but a 12 bolt, 9" or 8.8 ford (Hawks Motorsports) will be better because with a 6 spd, drag radials and drag strip launches you will break the 10 bolt. I had Moser axles, billet rear caps with studs, a T/A girdle and every other mod you could do to the 10 bolt and I still broke 3 set's of 4.10 gears and my torsen lsd and a eaton posi before saying screw it and I saved and got the S60 and I have never looked back.

I would also check the parts for sale and try to score some ported heads, intake and a 58mm tb as these will help get you to your goals. Also look in the classifieds I believe there is a forged 383 shortblock, look for a seller by the name of Jason Short, I got my 383 forged shortblock from him on a great deal.
He's selling a complete Vortech supercharger setup with the aftercooler and a full turbo kit.