Building a "Pro-Touring" LT1, need opinions on combinations!!!
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: West Chester, PA
Building a "Pro-Touring" LT1, need opinions on combinations!!!
I have been in the LT1 game for about 7 years now and am at the point to start planning my "LT1 build."
The car is a 1994 Z28 Camaro convertible that has recently undergone a 4L60E--->T56 swap. The car has the usual slew of bolt-ons including intake, exhaust, PCMforless, Eibach Pro-Kit, and other misc add ons. The back seats have been removed (for good) and plans are for a 6-point cage before anything else.
I have been toying around with the idea of a professionally-built forged 355ci LT1 with an LE3 package and a D1SC supercharger to finish off the performance under the hood, but the combination just seems too "commonplace" to me. I LOVE the power it makes, as 500-600 RWHP is my goal for the initial combo.
So I pose to you my question: I want a rare, head turning, cool LT1 combination that makes good power and turns heads. I will be driving this car for pleasure on weekends as well as drag racing and rare road racing for fun. The car WILL be run hard. I can't stress that enough, and the drivetrain will be built to handle the abuse. I don't care about MPG, but it must be run on 93 octane pump gas. Consider supporting mods a given...but if you had between $10k and $15 to spend under the hood to accomplish my objectives, what could you cook up????
Thanks in advance guys!
If this should be in Advanced Tech, Please move it to that section.
The car is a 1994 Z28 Camaro convertible that has recently undergone a 4L60E--->T56 swap. The car has the usual slew of bolt-ons including intake, exhaust, PCMforless, Eibach Pro-Kit, and other misc add ons. The back seats have been removed (for good) and plans are for a 6-point cage before anything else.
I have been toying around with the idea of a professionally-built forged 355ci LT1 with an LE3 package and a D1SC supercharger to finish off the performance under the hood, but the combination just seems too "commonplace" to me. I LOVE the power it makes, as 500-600 RWHP is my goal for the initial combo.
So I pose to you my question: I want a rare, head turning, cool LT1 combination that makes good power and turns heads. I will be driving this car for pleasure on weekends as well as drag racing and rare road racing for fun. The car WILL be run hard. I can't stress that enough, and the drivetrain will be built to handle the abuse. I don't care about MPG, but it must be run on 93 octane pump gas. Consider supporting mods a given...but if you had between $10k and $15 to spend under the hood to accomplish my objectives, what could you cook up????
Thanks in advance guys!
If this should be in Advanced Tech, Please move it to that section.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,960
From: San Diego, CA
Not to nitpick, but "pro-touring" means a road racer. So if you plan on doing more drag racing, you'll limit your handling capabilities by setting the car up for drag, but I realize you're talking about engine stuff in here.
You want head turning? Big lopey cam, loud exhaust does the trick. Put on some minor appearance mods that not many people have, like an LT1 SS spoiler.
As for 15k, you may go over that a bit if you had the superhcarger, assuming the work is being done at a shop, and not by you.
You want head turning? Big lopey cam, loud exhaust does the trick. Put on some minor appearance mods that not many people have, like an LT1 SS spoiler.
As for 15k, you may go over that a bit if you had the superhcarger, assuming the work is being done at a shop, and not by you.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 420
From: West Chester, PA
Not to nitpick, but "pro-touring" means a road racer. So if you plan on doing more drag racing, you'll limit your handling capabilities by setting the car up for drag, but I realize you're talking about engine stuff in here.
You want head turning? Big lopey cam, loud exhaust does the trick. Put on some minor appearance mods that not many people have, like an LT1 SS spoiler.
As for 15k, you may go over that a bit if you had the superhcarger, assuming the work is being done at a shop, and not by you.
You want head turning? Big lopey cam, loud exhaust does the trick. Put on some minor appearance mods that not many people have, like an LT1 SS spoiler.
As for 15k, you may go over that a bit if you had the superhcarger, assuming the work is being done at a shop, and not by you.
Good idea with the LT1 SS spoiler, and that is already something I've been considering as a niche appearance mod, and thank you for solidifying that as a definite mod to the car!
The car will have a Hooker Cat-Back exhaust with dual electric cutouts custom made at the collectors of each of the two long tube headers.
Last edited by 94Z28rag; Jul 16, 2008 at 10:07 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,960
From: San Diego, CA
if you don't have a smog issue where you live, a single plane intake setup comes to mind, people making big power from those recently with raised runner heads. Using either a carb or fuel injected tb with an old style distributor.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 537
From: Lancaster, Pa
I can tell you I'm having a forged 383 LT1 built with KYB struts and mounts, 4 bolt mains, ported heads, intake and matched cam built for nitrous. Along with a built 4L60E from Performabuilt to handle 700rwhp, and 255 fuel pump, r&r on the gas tank, and some other little goodies basically adding up to a complete engine. This whole setup is costing slightly over 10 grand for parts, labor and tune. The nitrous will be added later. The good thing about nitrous is you have it whenever you want it (assuming you keep the bottle full), but then it doesn't constantly have the motor under that extra stress of a blower. You could however, build the motor for a blower... but that could easily cost you over 15 grand plus the cost of the motor... Not to mention you'll need a rear end that can handle it as well.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 420
From: West Chester, PA
Smog will not be an issue, as the car will soon be registered with a Classic plate.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 420
From: West Chester, PA
I can tell you I'm having a forged 383 LT1 built with KYB struts and mounts, 4 bolt mains, ported heads, intake and matched cam built for nitrous. Along with a built 4L60E from Performabuilt to handle 700rwhp, and 255 fuel pump, r&r on the gas tank, and some other little goodies basically adding up to a complete engine. This whole setup is costing slightly over 10 grand for parts, labor and tune. The nitrous will be added later. The good thing about nitrous is you have it whenever you want it (assuming you keep the bottle full), but then it doesn't constantly have the motor under that extra stress of a blower. You could however, build the motor for a blower... but that could easily cost you over 15 grand plus the cost of the motor... Not to mention you'll need a rear end that can handle it as well.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 420
From: West Chester, PA
True, but I don't initially want the output of those setups, and the D1SC can be upgraded to those easily. I'm not sure if turbo is the option, as I'm unfamiliar with these setups on LT1s for street/strip use.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 420
From: West Chester, PA
15 years old in Pennsylvania for a Classic plate.
http://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/license-plates.phpAntique is 25 years old.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,705
If you want something that no one has build a twin turbo setup. Very few out there. Want to make the TT setup even harder, keep the AC. even less room to work with.
Next would be a 400+ cube LT1, very very few of these around. If you wouldnt be doing the work the budget may be thrown out the window. This is going to be hard to do because of how easy it is to hit water in a LT block.
Lastly, build a sb2 or something with converted heads and intake. The sb2 would the fastest and prolly the most expensive but you could get a set of 15 or 18 degree heads and a victor jr. intake. Throw in a solid roller and spin it to the moon.
Thats about if for out of the ordinary, all will cost way more than a le3/d1 setup.
Next would be a 400+ cube LT1, very very few of these around. If you wouldnt be doing the work the budget may be thrown out the window. This is going to be hard to do because of how easy it is to hit water in a LT block.
Lastly, build a sb2 or something with converted heads and intake. The sb2 would the fastest and prolly the most expensive but you could get a set of 15 or 18 degree heads and a victor jr. intake. Throw in a solid roller and spin it to the moon.
Thats about if for out of the ordinary, all will cost way more than a le3/d1 setup.