Hello. It's been a while since I've been here. I have a simple dilemma. I have saved enough $$ from being overseas to either add a supercharger to my camaro or a set of Hooker long tube headers and some Corvette ZO6 18" wheels.

My car's a 97 Camaro Z28 with an auto trans and 75,000 miles. It's lightly modded and still has the stock 16" tires.

I was looking at the Vortech 6psi supercharger kit. I'm wondering if the supercharger would totally overpower the traction and negate a lot of the power gain. Also, will a stock 4L60E withstand another 130+HP?

The wheels/ headers are another Q. WIll 18x9.5 rims with a 56mm offset fit on a 97 Camaro? Also, are there any special considerations for the Hooker headers, such a getting the various emissions tubes, etc hooked up? I know the long tubes technically aren't "legal" for street. There are no emissions tests where I live.

Anyhow, any advice or experience would be welcome. I'd hate to supercharge my car and waste the tranny or lose all the benefit to loss of traction. I'd also hate to get headers and wheels and have fitment probs too......

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28

 

I'd worry more about those pistons than your tranny. Go with the headers/ wheels if those are your two choices. Read around the forced induction section about boost and the stock bottom end.

The headers/wheels combo will make your car sound better, look better, and still give you good hp gains.

 

What kind of hp gains would he be looking at with the hooker long tubes?

 

Headers/wheels. Long tubes are good for 25-30rwhp up top if I'm not mistaken. If you're in an emissions area, take a look at Arizona Speed & Marine midlengths from TBYRNE or Thunder Racing, those headers are on my wishlist. I hear plug access is phenominal and they don't require much to be taken off (especially jacking up the engine or weird crap like that) to be installed. They'll also keep you emissions legal and yield probably 20rwhp or so.

Superchargers kill stock LT1's. Any forced induction will. Read around Forced Induction if you're really curious. My thoughts are, you'll really love life for 15-20,000 miles with that supercharger, but you'll really hate it when you need a complete rebuild. Stay N/A and be happy, get long tubes and put forced induction off for another day.

Bryan

 

go with headers and wheels unless your pocket book is deep enough to fix the bottomend real soon too.

 

Headers and wheels and true duals.

 

Installed my blower with about 50k miles -- Felt great for about 4 months till the blow-by kicked in... Turns out I blew some ring land pieces clear off the pistons.

Another vote here for wheels & headers - Go long tubes if you can.

JR

 

if you got the money for a supercharger why dont you just go heads and cam or heads cam and headers and you will really boost it up. just a thought

 

Out of the options you gave us id vote for the headers/wheels aswell! Your going to kill that stock bottom end with the supercharger! If I was in your shoes is either get a crate motor with forged internals from www.combinationmotorsports.com or do heads and cam with a good tune.

Sometimes I feel as if us F-bodie owners are cursed! If we put money into HP mods then we have to fight with susspension. Once we spend more money on our susspension then we have to upgrade our drivetrain ie. rearend. The list never seems to end!

 

Whoever told you that is smoking. The passenger side plug access sucks. The #2 primary routes up and over the #4 & 6 primaries, and then down between the #6 and 8. It's very difficult to get the plugs out from the top on that side. Drivers side is ok though.

As for installation, the drivers drops in from the top, the passenger goes in from the bottom, no jacking required.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I'm actually a bit surprised at the unanimous feedback against the forced induction. It makes sense though..... and confirms my fears.

I believe headers and wheels it will be. Thanks again.

Schantin
1997 Camaro Z28