More power, Little cash

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Ok, So i have an LT1, Its bone stock besides a K and N air filter (which to me does not even count as a mod). My hours just got cut at work cause we are heading into our slow season, So any one have any tips to pull more power outta my engine? Or am i looking at getting a second job so i can put money into my car lol.

[88WS-6]

Full exhaust.

[sweetbmxrider]

Save your money, things break.

Cheap, Fast, Reliable pick 2. Wanna go cheap and fast? Nitrous is your friend. Stock LT1's can take a 100-150 shot without too much trouble (just get some colder plugs and pull timing accordingly). IMO if you only have a filter, start with some basic bolt-ons. Headers and a full exhaust will sound great and free up some power...

150 shot eh? Isn't that how you spun your rod bearing?

[WildBillyT]

Ok, So i have an LT1, Its bone stock besides a K and N air filter (which to me does not even count as a mod). My hours just got cut at work cause we are heading into our slow season, So any one have any tips to pull more power outta my engine? Or am i looking at getting a second job so i can put money into my car lol.

Basics:

1.) Get a cold air kit if you've only got a replacement filter
2.) Cat back exhaust
3.) Headers
4.) Mail order tune

[Jersey Mike]

I typed out a long response, got mid-way through it & deleted it. The gist of it is: "No horsepower 'til you have a 2,000 to comfortably throw at it." Many will disagree, but many will agree; Bolt-ons are hardly "worth it." Save up and buy the big-ticket stuff. Stall, Cam & valvetrain, quality headers.

Basics:

1.) Get a cold air kit if you've only got a replacement filter
2.) Cat back exhaust
3.) Headers
4.) Mail order tune


I'll spin off of everything that's been said and say: "Don't waste your money." This shouldn't be confused with "Don't modify your car." Rather, spend it wisely.

[sweetbmxrider]

Why does big engine mods without doing little bolt on's first? Talk about choking a bitch....

[WayFast84]

I'm gonna go against everyone here and say that with a small budget full exhaust is out of the question. I would do a cold air kit and try to find a cheap catback in the for sale section. I also recommend doing a panhard bar and lower control arms which you can get used for $50-100. The car will feel so much better after the last 2 mods.

[V]

I know of a catback going up for sale soon ;-)

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

I was thinking intake and exhaust just to get the car to sound aggressive, Im leaving for UTI soon and my car is my daily so i really dont wanna be running to much power on something that has to commute. But the cam is my next project. my friend is selling me his borla full exhaust for 600 so i think i got a good start.

[WildBillyT]

I was thinking intake and exhaust just to get the car to sound aggressive, Im leaving for UTI soon and my car is my daily so i really dont wanna be running to much power on something that has to commute. But the cam is my next project. my friend is selling me his borla full exhaust for 600 so i think i got a good start.

Borla doesn't make headers, so that's not a full exhaust. And IMO you don't need a $600 exhaust system. A $150-$200 used Hooker Aerochamber will be fine.

[Slow-V6]

Also your car is a OBD1 car so it might be a little painfull when you start doing bolt ons to pass state inspection! I know my 95 they sniffed it. It just passed and it was all stock.

If you daily your car then I wouldnt worry about cam. I would get a N20 kit and spray a 75 shot and when your not running your car and just DD it the bottle is off and you have a normal car again.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Well its not headers, its Y pipe back. Sorry lol. And im not really into the N20. I like pure engine power

[LTb1ow]

You didn't say what trans is in it, if its an auto, start saving for a built unit. If its an M6, get a a nice clutch or start saving for a 9inch/S60/12 bolt, either way, start investing in your suspension as DF pointed out. Cheaper and easier than bolt ons, cause they never are just a "bolt on"

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Sadly it is auto, its the 4l60E. But i have a shift kit with a corvette servo in it. I rebuilt it recently

[LTb1ow]

Sadly it is auto, its the 4l60E. But i have a shift kit with a corvette servo in it. I rebuilt it recently

Yea, not gonna cut it for much behind any decent amount of power.

I would highly suggest a decent built 700r4 and a quality torque converter. Best way to feel faster. And before you ask bout cheap converters, well you get what you pay for.

Garbage in, garbage out.

[BonzoHansen]

Well....Save your money, make sure you are doing the proper maintenance and when you have more money you can start moving forward. especially if this is your daily driver.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

a 93 TA with a 4l60e?.... interesting

Alot to respond to... ok lol. The 93 birds are strange, They are hard to find parts for cause gm changed a bit for the 94's. The 4L60E in them is crap, hence i have done my trans twice in the 4 years of owning it.

I agree that the LT's are cheap I know so many kids with them that I just cant wait to see hit a tree so they get scared and go back to hondas cause they have no idea what the car is they just go and swerve in and outta traffic on 80.

Im gonna end up living out by UTI, And I talked to my rep about BMW, The qualifications are pretty insane but i wanna do it so bad because I love BMW. Something about the stance of those cars is so alluring to me.

I have been working on the look of the car, My suspension is pretty blown so I think that may be my route, But i want the car to sound aggressive as well. I really wanted the SLP loudmouth for it but after reading all the negative posts about them on here im not really so sure anymore. Cold air is gonna be a def, But suggestions on exhaust? I would like to keep it the quad tip, I dont like the single tip pipes.

[WildBillyT]

Alot to respond to... ok lol. The 93 birds are strange, They are hard to find parts for cause gm changed a bit for the 94's. The 4L60E in them is crap, hence i have done my trans twice in the 4 years of owning it.

I agree that the LT's are cheap I know so many kids with them that I just cant wait to see hit a tree so they get scared and go back to hondas cause they have no idea what the car is they just go and swerve in and outta traffic on 80.

Im gonna end up living out by UTI, And I talked to my rep about BMW, The qualifications are pretty insane but i wanna do it so bad because I love BMW. Something about the stance of those cars is so alluring to me.

I have been working on the look of the car, My suspension is pretty blown so I think that may be my route, But i want the car to sound aggressive as well. I really wanted the SLP loudmouth for it but after reading all the negative posts about them on here im not really so sure anymore. Cold air is gonna be a def, But suggestions on exhaust? I would like to keep it the quad tip, I dont like the single tip pipes.

Oh whoops.

Forgot, 1993.

So the mail order tune is out. Actually, finding a tuner might suck.

99% sure you have a 4L60, not a 4L60-E.

I'd do a cold air and a Hooker aerochamber or Magnaflow. Pocket the rest of the cash. 1993 was a redheaded stepchild year.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Oh whoops.

Forgot, 1993.

So the mail order tune is out. Actually, finding a tuner might suck.

99% sure you have a 4L60, not a 4L60-E.
1993 was a redheaded stepchild year.

You are correct it is the 4L60 sorry about that. and yea, finding parts in general is terrible.

[zraffz]

Magnaflow for sure. Not too annoying or droning on long commutes. Went with my buddy to Atlantic City this past weekend in his T/A and it wasn't loud enough to annoy me.

[LTb1ow]

Really not following this whole "parts are hard to come by" thing...

[zraffz]

Really not following this whole "parts are hard to come by" thing...

Only differences for 93 only models are intake doesn't have provision for the rail and trans I thought?

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Really not following this whole "parts are hard to come by" thing...

Like body parts for it, Like I need a side skirt and passengers side fender and have not been able to find one. Alot of other things as well, Websites only put up the 98-02 as a majority but if it does come down to my year then its mainly 94 and up or 92 and below

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Only differences for 93 only models are intake doesn't have provision for the rail and trans I thought?

Im really not to sure on all the differences

[LTb1ow]

Oh. Yea I only concern myself with going faster :lol:

And 93s have silly chips that can't be flashed, no MAF, a weird spline drive unvented opti, kickdown cable, and non electonic slushbox.

But other than that, a 4th gen is a 4th gen suspension wise

[Featherburner]

Only differences for 93 only models are intake doesn't have provision for the rail and trans I thought?Ignorance is bliss! lol!

Oh. Yea I only concern myself with going faster :lol:

And 93s have silly chips that can't be flashed, no MAF, a weird spline drive unvented opti, kickdown cable, and non electonic slushbox.

But other than that, a 4th gen is a 4th gen suspension wiseThat's a few of them!

[Featherburner]

Oh whoops.

Forgot, 1993.

So the mail order tune is out. Actually, finding a tuner might suck.Alvin from PCMforless still does mailorder chips and there are a few others.

99% sure you have a 4L60, not a 4L60-E. You are correct.

1993 was a redheaded stepchild year.

Again, you are correct.:nod:

[1320B4U]

All i got from this thread is::

-you have 2k to spend
-are driving a piss load of miles to commute
-Want to get into a program that requires a decent amt of study time and almost perfect attendance=less time to work on a modded car
-hrs are cut back at work..less $ to spend on gas

my 2 cents:
-Go to e/town this weekend, pick up a used catback and buy a cold air system off ebay (together can probably spend $500)
-Buy a used jeep cherokee (4wd for livig up in the sticks or honda for winter commuting to save gas)..keep the bird stock and enjoy it for the next 10 months..then get out, make bank and we will have this convo in a year and your budget will be 10k

[bigz28man]

you can always do what the ricer guys do "put a chip in it" J/K .... start out and work in man. Either start with air going in or exhaust air coming out. You would be surprised with doing gears how much you wake up that lt1. I put 4.11 in mine M6 and it was a completely different car.

[Featherburner]

you can always do what the ricer guys do "put a chip in it" J/K .... start out and work in man. Either start with air going in or exhaust air coming out. You would be surprised with doing gears how much you wake up that lt1. I put 4.11 in mine M6 and it was a completely different car.He is going to have to if he wants a tuned car.

[LTb1ow]

He is going to have to if he wants a tuned car.

He should just throw a new harness on it and embrace non prom chipness

[Featherburner]

He should just throw a new harness on it and embrace non prom chipnessNot disagreeing.

[WildBillyT]

you can always do what the ricer guys do "put a chip in it" J/K ....

Open mouth, insert foot. :facepalm:

[V]

yea, i was just implying that it was a 4l60, without the "e". it still has a TV cable to the trans like the 700r4s had.

I had a 93 TA back in the 2002 era. (had about 45 f-bodies to date)


I will soon be parting out a 94 Trans am so if you're looking for parts and so forth, keep watching the classifieds(give me a week or two)

[Lt1_8U]

Why not gears? Put some 4.11s in it and that will be the biggest "in the pants feel"

[Mike]

Why not gears? Put some 4.11s in it and that will be the biggest "in the pants feel"

Yup. In the pants as in where the wallet is every time it pops a ten bolt.

[BonzoHansen]

Why not gears? Put some 4.11s in it and that will be the biggest "in the pants feel"
IMO way too much gear for an automatic car that is also daily driver. But maybe 3.42s, depends on what he has now.

[Mike]

If you want to spend 2k and the budget dries up after that, and you insist on modding this car, I would reccomend ignoring all power mods for now.

Panhard, lca's, subframe connectors, new shocks and springs, sway bars, and some good tires and you will have a Good looking great handling more reliable car that will be really fun to daily drive

These are also all things you will NEED anyway when you do power mods, so why not start with them rather than have the car laid up when you break **** and have no more money

[Slow-V6]

If you want to spend 2k and the budget dries up after that, and you insist on modding this car, I would reccomend ignoring all power mods for now.

Panhard, lca's, subframe connectors, new shocks and springs, sway bars, and some good tires and you will have a Good looking great handling more reliable car that will be really fun to daily drive

These are also all things you will NEED anyway when you do power mods, so why not start with them rather than have the car laid up when you break **** and have no more money



What he said plus a 125 shot of juice!! Low 12's perhaps?

[WayFast84]

If you want to spend 2k and the budget dries up after that, and you insist on modding this car, I would reccomend ignoring all power mods for now.

Panhard, lca's, subframe connectors, new shocks and springs, sway bars, and some good tires and you will have a Good looking great handling more reliable car that will be really fun to daily drive

These are also all things you will NEED anyway when you do power mods, so why not start with them rather than have the car laid up when you break **** and have no more money

listen to this man please.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

The car is bone stock, So the gears are 3.23? (dont hold me to that.) But I think suspension is the way to go, Besides a quick exhaust switch to make it sound mean.

[Featherburner]

The car is bone stock, So the gears are 3.23? (dont hold me to that.) But I think suspension is the way to go, Besides a quick exhaust switch to make it sound mean.They could be 2.73 or 3.23.

[Mike]

I am going to post this since it will take me several minutes to clean the thread, and don't want to find anything new when I finish


This is the tech section. He asked for advice on the car he currently owns. This is not the "go buy a ls1" section and that is really not productive. People here enjoy all generations and all drivetrain options that these cars came with, get over it.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

I am going to post this since it will take me several minutes to clean the thread, and don't want to find anything new when I finish


This is the tech section. He asked for advice on the car he currently owns. This is not the "go buy a ls1" section and that is really not productive. People here enjoy all generations and all drivetrain options that these cars came with, get over it.

:nod::nod:

[Lt1_8U]

I'm not sure if he will take it to the track or what but I had a ten bolt with a heads cam motor and it didn't pop. Granted I didn't launch at 4 grand but he shouldn't have to worry that much with an auto. And yes 4.11s are too much, I forgot it was an auto. I vote gears or a rear with gears depending on future plans

[Mike]

I'm not sure if he will take it to the track or what but I had a ten bolt with a heads cam motor and it didn't pop. Granted I didn't launch at 4 grand but he shouldn't have to worry that much with an auto. And yes 4.11s are too much, I forgot it was an auto. I vote gears or a rear with gears depending on future plans

1. 10 bolts are time bombs

2. Going into the 4.xxx ratios cuts the life span, the carrier isn't designed for ring gears that skimpy.

3. Limited budget, daily driver, automatic, don't mod the ten bolt

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

In the future I would really like to put a 12 bolt in it, I used to drag race it but with it being my daily I dont take the chance to harm it to much. I miss drag racing and have big plans for it later in life. This plan includes a twin to this car (1 for racing and 1 for street) I have had this car for 4 years and against my family and friends advice I have put money into it and finally have gotten it steady to mod it. Sorry I know that was long but I felt it should be added to the thread.

[Mike]

Not a diesel or uti thread. Next deleted post comes with time off to read and learn the rules

[Lt1_8U]

True about the ten bolt. With what he wants to do now and in the future I think a good option is a rear. Suspension wise or engine wise, if he upgrades he will run the risk of blowing the rear. Buy a rear, it will waken the car up a lot and you will need one down the road anyway

[WSex]

imo dont upgrade anything until you actually break it. bc who knows how long that 10 bolt can last you. just be prepared for it.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

True about the ten bolt. With what he wants to do now and in the future I think a good option is a rear. Suspension wise or engine wise, if he upgrades he will run the risk of blowing the rear. Buy a rear, it will waken the car up a lot and you will need one down the road anyway

Good advice, If I can find one im going to go with the 12 bolt early and wait for the 10 to blow.

[B4C]

Get a 9in, I hate my 12 bolt. I will be rebuilding it and selling it to get a 9in.

[Slow-V6]

The car is bone stock, So the gears are 3.23? (dont hold me to that.) But I think suspension is the way to go, Besides a quick exhaust switch to make it sound mean.

Its the GU code on your door. GU then a number.. GU6 is 3.42 I believe, Gu5 3.23, GU4 3.08, and GU3 2.73. That will tell you what gears came in the car from the factory!

[sweetbmxrider]

Its the GU code on your door. GU then a number.. GU6 is 3.42 I believe, Gu5 3.23, GU4 3.08, and GU3 2.73. That will tell you what gears came in the car from the factory!

But that doesn't tell you what is currently in the car :lol: Damn kids modding their cars!

[creeper]

if I bought another 4th gen:

0) plugs/good tires/basic maintenance/fuel filter/etc
1) lid or CAI (depending on year)
2) 1LE rear control arm bushings, swaybars and GOOD shocks (probably leave the stock springs), maybeeee a panhard bar
3) catback exhaust
4) probably headers and a tune at some point, but not right away

that's it

[Slow-V6]

But that doesn't tell you what is currently in the car :lol: Damn kids modding their cars!


I know but from the way he is describing the car, Its bone stock with a filter, chances are the rear end is stock as well. Now there is chance that the stock POS 10 bolt blew and was replaced in the past, or the people that had the car before had it modded and returned it to stock to sell.

[sweetbmxrider]

I know but from the way he is describing the car, Its bone stock with a filter, chances are the rear end is stock as well. Now there is chance that the stock POS 10 bolt blew and was replaced in the past, or the people that had the car before had it modded and returned it to stock to sell.

Yeah no doubt. Like you said, the rpo code will tell you what was in there from the factory. I was saying that you never know what was done to a car. His best bet would be to count teeth, look for stampings, or count tire to ds rotations.

[Lt1_8U]

I agree with Adam. Count tire rotations to ds, easiest way

[wretched73]

Coming from experience.... Know exactly what you want to do with your car before you do any modifications (except for may a catback, CAI, and chip) figure out what you want to do with the car. I spent several grand on mods that now im not going to need because of the current direction im taking the car in. Since I wasted all that money Im not at one of my many stand stills with the car.

Once you know what you want to do with the car it will be a lot easier to figure out what you should start modding first. IMO start from the ground up, working on suspension first. The 10 bolt should be taken out regardless so I would probably start figuring out what to do there. Having a cool sounding car thats fast and showy is great.... Until it handles like a boat in open water and you look silly IMO

[88WS-6]

Is the suspension all original? Koni shocks and struts make a huge difference but are not cheap.

[RyanDestroysWorlds]

Is the suspension all original? Koni shocks and struts make a huge difference but are not cheap.

Yea its all original, Yea i was checking them out. Been on summit racing alot lol

[greenformula92]

Ok not to beat a dead horse but for bolt on stuff to start off with is a good start. But you have to spend wisely. Theres nothing wrong with buying used stuff for the right price and if it's in the right condition. I would do what WBT said in page 1 of the thread. Although a mail order tune might not be an option for you though since IIRC 93 LT1 cars had a PROM and did not have flash memory

[Featherburner]

Ok not to beat a dead horse but for bolt on stuff to start off with is a good start. But you have to spend wisely. Theres nothing wrong with buying used stuff for the right price and if it's in the right condition. I would do what WBT said in page 1 of the thread. Although a mail order tune might not be an option for you though since IIRC 93 LT1 cars had a PROM and did not have flash memoryWhy couldn't he mail order a tuned chip? There are still chip tuners out there.

[greenformula92]

I know a lot of people do not have the equipment to erase and burn a PROM