I had to remind myself why I bought the VXR...
Discussion
...because I wanted some grunt without turbos and plumbing.
Talking to a friend this morning I realised, although I want more power, I don't want to force-induct the LS2 (at least not in the next couple of years) but I DO want some more grunt.
Anyone know what 500hp is going to cost NA?
It's a given I'm going to get the exhaust sorted, and the air-flow at the front end. So that's a couple thousand off the bat and probably, maybe, sort-of, 420bhp. But is the next 80hp going to cost more than the supercharger install?
Bearing in mind I don't want to do it myself this time round (don't have the time) - it has to be installed.
Any thoughts before I hit the LSX forums? (not really any help over here UK side).
Oh - will a cam, heads and headers get me close?
Feel free just to link me up with a thread elsewhere - the LS1 is helpful but not quite what I'm asking)
Talking to a friend this morning I realised, although I want more power, I don't want to force-induct the LS2 (at least not in the next couple of years) but I DO want some more grunt.
Anyone know what 500hp is going to cost NA?
It's a given I'm going to get the exhaust sorted, and the air-flow at the front end. So that's a couple thousand off the bat and probably, maybe, sort-of, 420bhp. But is the next 80hp going to cost more than the supercharger install?
Bearing in mind I don't want to do it myself this time round (don't have the time) - it has to be installed.
Any thoughts before I hit the LSX forums? (not really any help over here UK side).
Oh - will a cam, heads and headers get me close?
Feel free just to link me up with a thread elsewhere - the LS1 is helpful but not quite what I'm asking)
445bhp from that.. okay, that's a good start. So that will happen regardless as it'll be my first mod come service time (June-ish).
I guess I'm just trying to weigh it all up. Cams, heads etc are smallish costs over time - while any blown item will be a large outlay (although probably only one) in one go...
I guess I'm just trying to weigh it all up. Cams, heads etc are smallish costs over time - while any blown item will be a large outlay (although probably only one) in one go...
You will need to remember the rule of ever diminishing return though....
At first, £/BHP ratio is relatively good lots of BHP for little(ish) money but as you keep going, you need to spend bigger money to get the same increase.
Caspy once said that a 3.9 diff, although does not actually increase the BHP, makes it feel like and extra 50 BHP... good value if you ask me.
At first, £/BHP ratio is relatively good lots of BHP for little(ish) money but as you keep going, you need to spend bigger money to get the same increase.
Caspy once said that a 3.9 diff, although does not actually increase the BHP, makes it feel like and extra 50 BHP... good value if you ask me.
ringram said:
Cheapest way to get 500+ bhp is NOS.
A replacement camshaft is very close behind. Check out guys on ls1gto.com for cam only results. You should get around 500fwhp with cam only and matching cold air intake/exhaust mods.
A replacement camshaft is very close behind. Check out guys on ls1gto.com for cam only results. You should get around 500fwhp with cam only and matching cold air intake/exhaust mods.
Relatively cheap IF you can tune it. If not need to pay someone to produce bespoke tune or take time and expense to learn.
if you go for a cam only type upgrade a number of US suppliers will sell you a complete kit with programmer and tune their particular cam for a few hundred dollars extra. That will work adequately for most cars, but if you want to tweak the best out the car then a custom tune is as caspy says the best way forward.
Cam and heads for my LS1 is certainly the path I'm investigating seriously at the moment though the link last night to that 7l LS2 bottom end is very tempting. I want to push over 400rwhp NA then add the supercharger to that combo. Final target is to break 500hp at the wheels, after that anything extra would be a bonus.
Cam and heads for my LS1 is certainly the path I'm investigating seriously at the moment though the link last night to that 7l LS2 bottom end is very tempting. I want to push over 400rwhp NA then add the supercharger to that combo. Final target is to break 500hp at the wheels, after that anything extra would be a bonus.
Tuning isnt hard, or particularly expensive. The Tune tools can be had from just over £300. Its more the time required to understand how the engine works and the different ways to gain power from the tune. For anyone wanting to learn a scan tool will tell you how the engine works for half that price and you can always upgrade later on to the full tune tool.
A few guys on the forum have their own tools. Im pretty sure Pomona tuned his own forced induction setup too. (Smiler - NAH is doing his with a little help too) So if you like getting the most from your vehicle you can learn loads and have a lot of fun while you are at it.
A few guys on the forum have their own tools. Im pretty sure Pomona tuned his own forced induction setup too. (Smiler - NAH is doing his with a little help too) So if you like getting the most from your vehicle you can learn loads and have a lot of fun while you are at it.
I pretty much assumed it wouldn't be an obvious answer - and having built a turbo'd 2.0 in the Calibra I know how far one can go and at what cost. I don't see this being any different but I don't want to get to a point where I'm thinking "Well, I've gone this far..." and spend the banks money any more than I have to.
I also see me wanting one of these Camaro things in '09 so I'm trying to be overly sensible so I don't end up wasting money.. much. Ish.
Supercharger definitely is the easiest "on-off" method and not too costly as well. Was just trying to avoid the blown element.
I'll do some research - remember, I'm getting the Wortec tune with the pipes (hopefully the switchable system) so is that something that can be further tuned with a cam/head package?
I also see me wanting one of these Camaro things in '09 so I'm trying to be overly sensible so I don't end up wasting money.. much. Ish.
Supercharger definitely is the easiest "on-off" method and not too costly as well. Was just trying to avoid the blown element.
I'll do some research - remember, I'm getting the Wortec tune with the pipes (hopefully the switchable system) so is that something that can be further tuned with a cam/head package?
ringram said:
Tuning isnt hard, or particularly expensive. The Tune tools can be had from just over £300. Its more the time required to understand how the engine works and the different ways to gain power from the tune. For anyone wanting to learn a scan tool will tell you how the engine works for half that price and you can always upgrade later on to the full tune tool.
A few guys on the forum have their own tools. Im pretty sure Pomona tuned his own forced induction setup too. (Smiler - NAH is doing his with a little help too) So if you like getting the most from your vehicle you can learn loads and have a lot of fun while you are at it.
A few guys on the forum have their own tools. Im pretty sure Pomona tuned his own forced induction setup too. (Smiler - NAH is doing his with a little help too) So if you like getting the most from your vehicle you can learn loads and have a lot of fun while you are at it.
Fun, yes - thats the word. Seriously though, it is fun. There's a lot of satisfaction in playing with the tune & tweaking to get better performance if that's your bag. For some it definitely isn't. You will need to have a good tuning tool & access to the LS1 forums (there's a US & an Oz one covering the LS2/LS7 as well). If you use EFi Live, they also have a forum plus people on here like Boosted LS1, stevieturbo & others have a wealth of knowledge. Access to a dyno is also a must for comparing before & after mods.
Good luck.
willisit said:
I pretty much assumed it wouldn't be an obvious answer - and having built a turbo'd 2.0 in the Calibra I know how far one can go and at what cost. I don't see this being any different but I don't want to get to a point where I'm thinking "Well, I've gone this far..." and spend the banks money any more than I have to.
I also see me wanting one of these Camaro things in '09 so I'm trying to be overly sensible so I don't end up wasting money.. much. Ish.
Supercharger definitely is the easiest "on-off" method and not too costly as well. Was just trying to avoid the blown element.
I'll do some research - remember, I'm getting the Wortec tune with the pipes (hopefully the switchable system) so is that something that can be further tuned with a cam/head package?
I also see me wanting one of these Camaro things in '09 so I'm trying to be overly sensible so I don't end up wasting money.. much. Ish.
Supercharger definitely is the easiest "on-off" method and not too costly as well. Was just trying to avoid the blown element.
I'll do some research - remember, I'm getting the Wortec tune with the pipes (hopefully the switchable system) so is that something that can be further tuned with a cam/head package?
Don't forget there are alternatives and not just the supplier(s) that consistently post on this forum so you could potentially get something a bit more unique
By all means talk to us 
If you want engine work, custom modifications etc then we can assist you. If its changing your cam, or a full 7 litre conversion we can do it for you. We can do just the physical work on the engine, through to a turn key package including tuning with our technical partners at Wortec.
If you want engine work, custom modifications etc then we can assist you. If its changing your cam, or a full 7 litre conversion we can do it for you. We can do just the physical work on the engine, through to a turn key package including tuning with our technical partners at Wortec. monkfish1 said:
By all means talk to us If you want engine work, custom modifications etc then we can assist you. If its changing your cam, or a full 7 litre conversion we can do it for you. We can do just the physical work on the engine, through to a turn key package including tuning with our technical partners at Wortec.
If you want engine work, custom modifications etc then we can assist you. If its changing your cam, or a full 7 litre conversion we can do it for you. We can do just the physical work on the engine, through to a turn key package including tuning with our technical partners at Wortec. Alright, I will. I'm in no hurry - in fact, I don't really want to do anything for a while - just sizing up what I can, and cannot do and trying not to walk in to a wall of ££££s and pain first!
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