What's my plan to more HP? Your advice is needed.

[Level300]

I'm interested in upgrading my SS's horsepower however, I don't have a specific performace goal. So rather than slapping on parts, I'm looking for any advice with a plan or approach to either get higher "general" HP or help in defining a better plan/objective.

I do have a "general direction" which would be...it has to be a good all around perfomer...pulls hard at the track (road) and has to be better than stock on the street and pulls hard on the highway. A lumpy cam would also be a nice to have. I have a 1LE that has a stock drivetrain. I like to wrench on my own car so most if not all the mods would be done by me. I think the tune would be done on the dyno (vs email).

As far as what I can't do, theres a lot of that. I have identified the folllowing constraints:

-This is my daily driver so it has to be liveable. My commute is 70 miles/day.
- I run with my NPP open all the time and I enjoy it but I don't think I can do anything louder. I also like how I can make it quite in case I'm near a hospital or there are LEOs around.
-My car has to pass a yearly emission and PA state inspection. Emissions is a must pass. With the state inspection, i have a little bit more lattitude since I know a mechanic.
-It has to be as reliable as stock.
-It can't have gas mileage like a ZL1. It should be close to stock MPG as possible or better?!
-It has to be built in stages (due to limited funds)?


What are your thoughts or advice? Sorry if this is a repost. The different things people are doing is very overwhelming and being my first time doing more HP related things to a modern car is daunting. Thanks!

[Matt@Tick]

The very first thing I would do is headers and connection pipes. They will give you a very good gain in power on these cars. I like using the Kooks headers myself. On top of it all they are easy to install. By far the 5th gen Camaro is the easiest header install I've ever done. I would also consider a Roto-Fab cold air intake for it. Most guys with an M6 trans and these two mods (and tune) are seeing around 420 wheel horsepower.

If mpg is an issue, you may want to look into supercharging the car. MPG's won't change much if you can keep your foot off the gas lmao. And you will be making 500+ rear wheel horsepower without having to go into the engine. But a blower install will be on the expensive side.

[SSkat]

I would look into the turbonetics single turbo kit. Passes smog and would not be much louder than you are now. Would also keep MPGs as long as you stay out of the gas. Only downfall is the price

[acammer]

I think you need to define a more specific goal if you want to choose a path to get there. Based on what you've described so far, I think you may be looking at something like a TVS2300 - just add some boost, keep the rest stock, and have a blast.

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by Level300

I'm interested in upgrading my SS's horsepower however, I don't have a specific performace goal. So rather than slapping on parts, I'm looking for any advice with a plan or approach to either get higher "general" HP or help in defining a better plan/objective.

I do have a "general direction" which would be...it has to be a good all around perfomer...pulls hard at the track (road) and has to be better than stock on the street and pulls hard on the highway. A lumpy cam would also be a nice to have. I have a 1LE that has a stock drivetrain. I like to wrench on my own car so most if not all the mods would be done by me. I think the tune would be done on the dyno (vs email).

As far as what I can't do, theres a lot of that. I have identified the folllowing constraints:

-This is my daily driver so it has to be liveable. My commute is 70 miles/day.
- I run with my NPP open all the time and I enjoy it but I don't think I can do anything louder. I also like how I can make it quite in case I'm near a hospital or there are LEOs around.
-My car has to pass a yearly emission and PA state inspection. Emissions is a must pass. With the state inspection, i have a little bit more lattitude since I know a mechanic.
-It has to be as reliable as stock.
-It can't have gas mileage like a ZL1. It should be close to stock MPG as possible or better?!
-It has to be built in stages (due to limited funds)?


What are your thoughts or advice? Sorry if this is a repost. The different things people are doing is very overwhelming and being my first time doing more HP related things to a modern car is daunting. Thanks!

When you add a cam you will lose MPG for sure, just a fact. My car will average about 16 mpg down from 19 mpg combined and I have a 1LE too. How much you lose will depend on the cam size and tune. The first mods would be a Cold Air Inductions air intake and headers with hi flow cats, with just this stuff your MPG will stay about the same. Look into the Kooks "green cats" if you are worried about passing the e-check also have the tuner turn off all the emissions codes that could get thrown by adding headers before you start it and throw the codes. Also do a V-Max ported throttle body. This will get you to about 425 RWHP.

[Level300]

Originally Posted by Matt@Tick

The very first thing I would do is headers and connection pipes. They will give you a very good gain in power on these cars. I like using the Kooks headers myself. On top of it all they are easy to install. By far the 5th gen Camaro is the easiest header install I've ever done. I would also consider a Roto-Fab cold air intake for it. Most guys with an M6 trans and these two mods (and tune) are seeing around 420 wheel horsepower.

If mpg is an issue, you may want to look into supercharging the car. MPG's won't change much if you can keep your foot off the gas lmao. And you will be making 500+ rear wheel horsepower without having to go into the engine. But a blower install will be on the expensive side.

Thanks! I already have a CAI and the Kooks was my next big purchase. But I started to wonder, what comes after that? Heads? roller cams, etc...which lead to this post.

But I've read that superchargers aren't as good for the track (heatsoak?) ? But it sounds like a SC is great for the street? Does a car built for the track make a "good" street car?

[Level300]

Originally Posted by zz430camaro

When you add a cam you will lose MPG for sure, just a fact. My car will average about 16 mpg down from 19 mpg combined and I have a 1LE too. How much you lose will depend on the cam size and tune. The first mods would be a Cold Air Inductions air intake and headers with hi flow cats, with just this stuff your MPG will stay about the same. Look into the Kooks "green cats" if you are worried about passing the e-check also have the tuner turn off all the emissions codes that could get thrown by adding headers before you start it and throw the codes. Also do a V-Max ported throttle body. This will get you to about 425 RWHP.

Thanks! Is your car a street or track car? Did you just start adding parts or did you have a plan?

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by Level300

Thanks! I already have a CAI and the Kooks was my next big purchase. But I started to wonder, what comes after that? Heads? roller cams, etc...which lead to this post.

But I've read that superchargers aren't as good for the track (heatsoak?) ? But it sounds like a SC is great for the street? Does a car built for the track make a "good" street car?

You will never have it all, you have to decide what you want the car to do and go from there. A great track car (drag or road course) will never be an optimal daily driver with good gas mileage.

I did ported (TB, intake, factory heads), headers, cats and a Texas Speed Stage 1 Cam 225/236 and put down 485 hp and 445 Tq and I think its a great all around car but I drive mine 100% on the street.

Probably the best set up for you would be to get headers and then add a ProCharger and the gas milage will not suffer too bad plus you will make good power, more than adding a cam.

https://www.procharger.com/blog/fuel...prochargerwhat

[Level300]

Originally Posted by acammer

I think you need to define a more specific goal if you want to choose a path to get there. Based on what you've described so far, I think you may be looking at something like a TVS2300 - just add some boost, keep the rest stock, and have a blast.

Yeah, my contraints are dictating my plan lol.

Thanks, that SC looks interesting.

[Level300]

Originally Posted by zz430camaro

You will never have it all, you have to decide what you want the car to do and go from there. A great track car (drag or road course) will never be an optimal daily driver with good gas mileage.

I did ported (TB, intake, factory heads), headers, cats and a Texas Speed Stage 1 Cam 225/236 and put down 485 hp and 445 Tq and I think its a great all around car but I drive mine 100% on the street.

Probably the best set up for you would be to get headers and then add a ProCharger and the gas milage will not suffer too bad plus you will make good power, more than adding a cam.

https://www.procharger.com/blog/fuel...prochargerwhat

Why didn't you go the SC route? Did you keep the 3.91 rear?

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by Level300

Why didn't you go the SC route? Did you keep the 3.91 rear?

I have my original 3.91 gears and I just wanted to do a cam, its a good HP level for the street and so for very reliable.

[nty1234]

I am actually going the supercharged route after debating a lot. However I'm going with the lsa conversion (zl1 blower). Somewhat cheaper than other setups and the fit and finish can't be beat considering its oem. Mine is a daily driver also and I can't have it broken down all the time. Also, if going FI you may want to consider deleting the cats(will be a little louder). The thought of melting a cat and clogging up your motor is just not for me.

[frankwjr]

Get a tune...I have used dynoSteve for over 2 yrs now...started with a tune and shorties/HFC's...added gears and now recently a cam....had 3 tunes pre cam and now have had 3 tunes post cam....and with his deal every update has been free.


Also passed emissions since his tune will pass 50 state....good luck!


peace


btw - and I DD this car...

[christianchevell]

Yes start small you have to pass smog and the only supercharger that's supposed to pass smog is the mild Edelbrock, and if starting small you move up to that you may be OK if you can get by with headers and highflow cats and intake. The whole deal is on if you can fudge things because the more you make it need gas the more it fouls the emssions and you sure don't want to go lean and superchargers most do not use cats because of issues with them if not tuned correctly. And keeping the AFR into a good zone is needed.