best bang for the buck performance upgrades?

[Juiced1]

Best bang for the buck.... Nitrous and long tubes! Nitrous, dollar for dollar is insane for power and headers offer the best gains of any bolt on by far. They also work great together! We have several nitrous kits and header setups you can choose from. Give us a call and we set you up with an extremely cost effective set up!

[Coyotekiller]

Originally Posted by Juiced1

Best bang for the buck.... Nitrous and long tubes! Nitrous, dollar for dollar is insane for power and headers offer the best gains of any bolt on by far. They also work great together! We have several nitrous kits and header setups you can choose from. Give us a call and we set you up with an extremely cost effective set up!

[pavelbarchuk]

Thanks guys.

sounds like alot of work. i thought for some reason that getting to 500 "at the crank" would be much easier cuz i work with guys that are always bragging how they getting hundreds of hp from simple things, but thats maybe cuz they are working on classic cars.

my long term plan with the car? dont have one. i do have a short term plan. i want something quick and fun that looks good and sounds good for a few years untill the prices drop on the camaro ZL1 to like 30-40k's and than i will trade up.

so i dont want to invest too much into it since i wont be keeping it for too long. and my budget? well, i dont really have one, but i wouldnt put more than like 3-4k into it.

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by Coyotekiller

Proo that LS motors run better when they are at operating temp? Why don't you ask anybody that has ever seen an LS motor on a dyno? It's pretty much common knowledge, or so I thought anyway...

And if the motor runs better at a warmer temp, which it does, then there is no need to run a lower temp thermostat.

I have run ls motors on dynos many times. you?

[Coyotekiller]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

I have run ls motors on dynos many times. you?

Many many times Higgs. Why don't you bebop on over and ask Ted Jannetty what he thinks of the 160* thermostat? He's tuned more cars than you've probably ever seen. I believe he would be the subject matter expert here...

[BigRed585Lbs]

Mine's bigger, but I ain't showin' you.

[chappy48]

Originally Posted by Coyotekiller

Many many times Higgs. Why don't you bebop on over and ask Ted Jannetty what he thinks of the 160* thermostat? He's tuned more cars than you've probably ever seen. I believe he would be the subject matter expert here...

Ted talked me out of the Thermostat. These motors make more power when warmed up. With no adjustments made AT ALL, from a cold start with a few minutes of warm up I believe my Camaro went from 328rwhp to 342rwhp in 7 runs on the dyno. Each run as the engine got hotter and hotter it would gain 1-2 hp until it steadied out.

Btw...if you only have $3-4k to spend...500, even at the crank will be difficult to obtain for an L99. A cam package done right with a good tune will cost you at least $4k I'm a little against the hp goal to begin with, because I can guarantee someone could get you to read 500 using dyno tricks and one of those "generous" dynos. I would more look at what you want out of your car. With that little to spend, I would go with intake, LT's, exhaust, and a good tune. It will put you close to 400rwhp, probably a little below, but it will be loud and will be noticeably quicker then it is now A really good tune on these L99's makes them a completely different animal!!

[Higgs Boson]

oh i see what you guys mean. for a dyno pull. i don't use my car on a dyno.

[Coyotekiller]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

oh i see what you guys mean. for a dyno pull. i don't use my car on a dyno.

Then what do you use to measure power?

[Coyotekiller]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

I have run ls motors on dynos many times. you?

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

oh i see what you guys mean. for a dyno pull. i don't use my car on a dyno.

Bit of a contradiction here me thinks....

[Bo White]

I dont always measure power but when I do I use a dyno

[Bo White]

I dont always measure power but when I do I use a dragstrip

[Coyotekiller]

Lol ^^^

[chappy48]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

oh i see what you guys mean. for a dyno pull. i don't use my car on a dyno.

Yes...because all of the internal workings of an engine (fluids, friction, temps, etc.) will be so much different on the street. The only difference is load (only for some dynos) and air flow (again...only for some dynos).

The point here is this...when it comes to making power (which is what a dyno measures, hence why we mentioned it) the thermostat is a waste of time. The proof is in the pudding. These engines make better power at warmer temps. Is there a point at which you get deminishing returns? Of course. Can't very well make good power when your engine is on fire, but there really is no reason to get the thermostat from everything I've seen and been told.