[jessrayo]

Originally Posted by mjw930

<flame suit on>

Interesting, first sports car you've ever owned and for some unknown reason 455 HP isn't enough..... Odds are that unless you are tracking the car you haven't come close to exploiting the power you already have.

Personally, I would spend the $$$ on learning how to exploit the power you have. The car, as it sits, already out performs 95% of the cars on the road. It's even a higher percentage in the hands of someone who knows how to exploit its potential.

Also be aware that mods needed to reach these numbers will instantly void your entire power train warranty. But hey, it's your money.

Since you got your flame suit on already I'll point a torch your way.

I hear these comments a lot about using all of a cars ability and they always make me shake my head. First off I have done a little bit of racing my self and even though I know I drive more aggressively on public roads than the vast majority of the rest of the public, I seldom push the limitations of my cars on public roads like I would on a race track. Case in point, take that little G meter on the HUD and try to run all the curves on your favorite local curvy road at say .6 G's or more. Can the car do it? yes, but anyone watching you will think you are an absolute idiot if you are driving like that on public roads.

I understand technique and driving education but if your theory was the basis for performance upgrades we would all be driving a Honda Fit or some other tortoise because I doubt most of us could produce say 90% of the perfect lap time an F1 driver could kick out on that Honda Fit. I have seen it first hand, some guys just have an incredible knack at going just a little faster.

Plus saying drivers can't use all of the potential of the 455 hp..., every time a driver pushes the throttle all the way to the floor and holds it there for a second or 2 they are using all of the power the car will give them....period.

I know I'm not as good a driver as Randy Pobst but I would be willing to bet if he showed up at my local track with a Honda Fit and practiced all day he couldn't run a faster lap than I can in my Camaro. Can I use 100% of the capabilities of my car, no, but it is a better piece of equipment (thank you GM) so it helps to compensate for my lack of skill. One way to run better lap times is improve your skill, one way is to improve your equipment. Both are valid in my mind.

I do favor driver education and getting on the race track (road course) to let it all really hang out, it gives you a completely different perspective on performance. The SS Camaro is a very capable car already but the first thing I said when I test drove it was "it just needs some more power".

Like I said in my first post on this thread, the LT1 is a more complex engine and you are going to be happier if you stick with a big name at this point. You are way better off shipping your new car across the country and getting it perfect than having a mechanic in your back yard that just can't get all the little bugs worked out. Bradenton... if you think that is too far then wait a year or two for the experience to roll down to the rest of the aftermarket.