Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

andrew675tt · 11-08-2006, 03:24 PM

Looking at 2 options to get to 500 rwhp...RELIABILITY IS KEY. Budget is 10K. I have a 2001 Z06. Do I:

1. Keep the LS6, add pistons, headers, and a Supercharger, OR
2. Go NA 402 LS2, built with the best stuff (12-14K), and sell the stock engine to recoup 2-4K?

Any input is appreciated!

**MikesZ06** · 11-08-2006, 04:29 PM

As much as I love blowers and other power adders, if reliability is the KEY ingredient, then an N/A car is normally the best.

I'm not sure if you can get 500rwhp out of a 402 stroked engine, but I suspect you can get fairly close. Be very careful where you buy your stroker from. Make sure they back up their work if anything goes wrong.

I'm guessing that if you go with the stroker, you will also have to have a few bolt-ons to get closer to your 500rwhp goal (headers, intake, etc). You might also want to consider a little rowdier cam with the stroker to increase the hp.

Mike

btw, Welcome to the site!

beerkat · 11-09-2006, 08:50 AM

I am new to all of this so I am ready to be laughed at. Could you put a C6 ZO6 engine in for the $10,000 budget you have? You would get the 500 hp you want and the reliability also.

imflyinbiya · 11-09-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerkat

I am new to all of this so I am ready to be laughed at. Could you put a C6 ZO6 engine in for the $10,000 budget you have? You would get the 500 hp you want and the reliability also.

I think the motor alone is something like 13k, plus installation, sorting out the oil system (different for the new z), etc. I am guessing that a swap of that level would run more like 20k buy the time you get everything sorted out...

Could be wrong, wouldnt be the first time...

Good luck with whatever you pick - 500rw is gonna be a blast

MotleyDrew · 11-09-2006, 09:18 AM

If I was you I would go with a blower. They are reliable just get the car tuned properly. A blower will keep all the street manursms of the stock motor which is nice !

Pakisho · 11-09-2006, 10:22 AM

Listen to Mike, excellent advice. A magnusson blower will need quite a few tweaks to get to 500rwhp, the centrifugals will do it without even trying hard, but you WILL exceed your budget.

402 all the way from someone local to you with a good rep who will stand behind their work. DONT shop across the country to save 400, you could get stung hard.

And both Mike and I own supercharged Zs, in case youre wondering.

TT Z06 · 11-09-2006, 10:36 AM

I chose twin turbos and was very happy with it on my stock motor. It was very streetable. I'm not personally familiar with any other turbo kits, but I chose STS (site sponsor) and it's made the car funner than I ever thought it could be. I also tend to favor the turbo solution over the SC's but that is just my opinion. My kit was simple enough to be an end user bolt on that many people do in their own garage. I hit 597rwhp on a during dyno tuning. Only 8psi was about 551rwhp which would be safe and pleny of fun.

Pakisho · 11-09-2006, 12:14 PM

If reliability is key, the last route I would take is a twin turbo system that has been on the market for all of six months.

**MikesZ06** · 11-09-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pakisho

If reliability is key, the last route I would take is a twin turbo system that has been on the market for all of six months.

Well said!

Mike

andrew675tt · 11-09-2006, 03:31 PM

I guess a third option would be to wait for the LSX block to come out in March...

Louis Rivera · 11-09-2006, 04:52 PM

You live in MASS., there are some good tuners in the tri state area. You just may blow your budget real quick. Its Addictive!!!. If you go with a blower Think of forging engine

vinman · 11-09-2006, 05:03 PM

What about the ESC head and cam package they recently posted with about 504hp at the wheels. I would give them a call. Not a far drive from MA.

Over-rev · 11-09-2006, 06:07 PM

the ECS package throws down over 500 hp NA and the whole thing is like $7 installed. if i had the $$ and lived closer to jersey i would be all over that like white on rice.

MislMan · 11-09-2006, 07:14 PM

While you are working out the best route ... make sure you understand the emission laws in your state. I don't know what y'all have up North but the last thing you need is to build a stroker and then not pass a smog inspection. The stroker would be the most reliable on your budget. You may also want to consider driveability if its a daily driver or even a frequent driver. The cams required to make those high numbers usually have quite a lope to them and with the required headers they become something of a cop caller.

No big deal to most of us but still something to consider.

My '04 is also a supercharged monster with forged rods and pistons.

Later ... Larry S.

TT Z06 · 11-10-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pakisho

If reliability is key, the last route I would take is a twin turbo system that has been on the market for all of six months.

I would definitely agree with that. There are a lot of fly by night turbo companies out there. I hounded them all for a year before making my choice. I’m real picky. I heard nasty rumors on forums about other turbo sellers taking deposits and payments but not shipping kits or all the parts. Starting up and using customers’ money for development is a bad idea and I wouldn’t deal with any of those other vendors. I cold called STS over and over interrogating whoever answered the phone to see if the answers were the same and was very impressed.

I decided to drive from So Cal to Utah and see for myself. I got a tour of the manufacturing facility and met the kit designers, fabricators, sales, and management staff. STS is a first class operation. They had a good product, good marketing plan, and started the company correctly using investment capitol. They maintain rows of parts and kits are assembled and packaged from shelf stock. Coincidentally, I got to see a friend’s kit in the shipping area just before it went out. They don’t work on cars or do anything else there; they are a true design & manufacturing company with no distractions. This kit is their sole focus and business model.

As for the six month comment, I called STS today so I can answer your claim correctly. They started four years ago and there are over a thousand kits hammering the pavement. Two years ago they received the GM Engineering award at SEMA for their systems outstanding engineering and design. My kit fits like a glove and I would no longer want my vette without it.

Drivability of the turbo system is also great. It drives just like stock unless I get on it. It’s not always on/connected to the crank, and the car is fully street-able running the stock motor. On the other hand, the car turns into a monster on demand and the fun factor of the turbo system is off the charts. The rear mount has many heat and engine accessibility advantages and the system actually increases gas mileage (when driven sanely!). I monitor the tune with HPT. I’ve been running 10lbs on my stock motor and pump gas with no knock or engine problems whatsoever.

I also seriously compared the turbo solution to superchargers overall. The max power output & overall power curve from a turbo system out performs a supercharger. A supercharger is directly relational to actual crank rpms and only reaches full boost at full/max rpm. I liked the turbo concept because it is at full boost at about 3k and pulls your ride up to 6 or 7k at full boost the whole time.

With what I know from my own research as an end user/customer, and the hands on experience I have gleaned actually owning and driving this particular kit, if I had a vette and 10k, I would put an STS kit on it. Hope that helps.