[Kmeleon]

I'm going back and forth on whether to entertain building up my SS 1LE or possibly trading it in and going with a 24 ZL1 when the factory powertrain warranty runs out. There are pro's and cons for both, but lately I've been putting alot of thought into just building up my 1LE. The simple fact is I love the balance of this car, if it had another 100-150hp on the straights it really would be the perfect car to me.

My questions are:

How reliable/dependable can a new road course build be when going with a cam/heads on this motor? I need the car to be completely streetable as well.

It must be able to cruise just like a stock 1LE. I obviously want a big difference on the track as well. Is this obtainable?

As far as loudness goes, I don't want to be much louder than my current factory exhaust in track mode (I do have the Borla secondary cat delete x pipe). Can I go with headers and retain the rest of the factory exhaust? What can be done to keep it fairly reasonable and not lose power?

Those questions are probably the biggest ones, I'm sure a few more will pop up when I start seeing some opinions.

Thanks!

[kropscamaro16]

my buddy has a full bolt on heads and cam 1le it sounds amazing and the power is wild i think he said he made 580whp on e85 so not bad! as for reliable /dependable i mean its a full custom motor build so not really sure



i would do it to my car if i had the $$ but i dont so im just full bolt ons and tune

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by Kmeleon

I'm going back and forth on whether to entertain building up my SS 1LE or possibly trading it in and going with a 24 ZL1 when the factory powertrain warranty runs out. There are pro's and cons for both, but lately I've been putting alot of thought into just building up my 1LE. The simple fact is I love the balance of this car, if it had another 100-150hp on the straights it really would be the perfect car to me.

My questions are:

How reliable/dependable can a new road course build be when going with a cam/heads on this motor? I need the car to be completely streetable as well.

It must be able to cruise just like a stock 1LE. I obviously want a big difference on the track as well. Is this obtainable?

As far as loudness goes, I don't want to be much louder than my current factory exhaust in track mode (I do have the Borla secondary cat delete x pipe). Can I go with headers and retain the rest of the factory exhaust? What can be done to keep it fairly reasonable and not lose power?

Those questions are probably the biggest ones, I'm sure a few more will pop up when I start seeing some opinions.

Thanks!

Well I had a ZL1 1LE and I got rid of it because I use the car for BOTH street and road course events. My 2019 SS 1LE with be going in for CAM and heads THIS week at AMP and I will post up results but it should be around 600+ RWHP which is more HP than a stock ZL1. The phase one that was ALREDAY done by AMP included E85, ROTOFAB, Kooks Headers. Magnaflow back half exhaust, LT2 manifold, LT5 Throttle Body and tune and the car makes 475 HP/480 TQ. The car CURRENTLY handles better than my ZL1 1LE did as I have done some suspension upgrades as well as wheel and tire upgrades. The car has ZL1 1LE brakes.

NA cars are much easier on engine internals than boosted cars are. Obviously they are lighter especially in the nose of the car. There is not ALOT of power gained from exhaust upgrades anyway so you could keep the stock back half of your exhaust if you were concerned about noise. My MAGNAFLOWS are not loud compared to other aftermarket exhaust systems anyway.

[5.M0NSTER]

You could consider something like a Katech Stage 2 package. Intake manifold, throttle body and cai + a solid dyno tune. They advertise 550hp, and I think it comes with warranty I think.

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by 5.M0NSTER

You could consider something like a Katech Stage 2 package. Intake manifold, throttle body and cai + a solid dyno tune. They advertise 550hp, and I think it comes with warranty I think.

That package includes a CAM change. You cant get to 550RWHP on an LT1 without a CAM change.

[DaveC113]

I'd consider if you need to pass emissions. Cat removal and long tube headers are not going to work out if so, neither will a cam change but it may still pass the test with one, IDK.

LT4 generally puts down 550hp which is doable NA and maybe less problematic as far as weight, complexity and reliability. OTOH a boosted motor will have much better low end torque and a ZL1 has a warranty.

[5.M0NSTER]

Originally Posted by sr71bb

That package includes a CAM change. You cant get to 550RWHP on an LT1 without a CAM change.

That is stage 3 you're thinking of with the CAM, and it advertises 625hp.

Stage 2 does 550hp without cam or valvetrain work.
https://shop.katechengines.com/produ...s-lt1-stage-2/

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by 5.M0NSTER

That is stage 3 you're thinking of with the CAM, and it advertises 625hp.

Stage 2 does 550hp without cam or valvetrain work.
https://shop.katechengines.com/produ...s-lt1-stage-2/

I have to see that to believe it if you are talking 550 at the WHEELS and not the crank regarding the stage 2. I have NEVER seen that done on a stock cubic inch LT1 without a CAM change NEVER. Of course on the internet all things are possible (LOL).

[sr71bb]

Originally Posted by DaveC113

I'd consider if you need to pass emissions. Cat removal and long tube headers are not going to work out if so, neither will a cam change but it may still pass the test with one, IDK.

LT4 generally puts down 550hp which is doable NA and maybe less problematic as far as weight, complexity and reliability. OTOH a boosted motor will have much better low end torque and a ZL1 has a warranty.

Your point is well taken regarding torque but in reality LOW END torque is not really that important in road racing because I noticed with my A10, the car basically is RARELY below 4500 RPM even in the slowest part of the course Alot of times I am at 6000-6500 in the fast corners.

The CAM AMP is putting in my car is VERY large and I had some concerns about that initially but after I realized how fast an A10 revs and KEEPS the RPMs fairly high especially in TRACK mode, the point is moot.

I will have AMP overlay on a DYNO chart of a Zl1 dyno compared to my modifed LT1. I think you will be surprized at the torque numbers on a MAX effort LT1. Plus the application of POWER will be smoother on an NA engine compared to a boosted one. There is a VERY good reason why GM kept the 2014 2015 Z28 NA and also the new Z06 NA.

[RUQWIKR]

If your income / budget / risk tolerance wants or needs a good warranty, then keep the engine and tune stock and get the car with the power to weight you want. If you okay with risks of not having the powertrain warranty, then, modify away. I'm at the same point in my wants as you.

I agree completely with your statement: "I'm going back and forth on whether to entertain building up my SS 1LE or possibly trading it in and going with a 24 ZL1 when the factory powertrain warranty runs out. There are pro's and cons for both, but lately I've been putting alot of thought into just building up my 1LE. The simple fact is I love the balance of this car, if it had another 100-150hp on the straights it really would be the perfect car to me."

[Kmeleon]

Thanks for the info so far guys. Another alternative is to just do this in stages. Maybe after next track season I go e85, LT2 IM, upgraded TB of some sort and a good tune. I already have a rotofab and a secondary cat delete so I'm not interested in headers currently. Everything I've read seems to say the factory exhaust is fine for right now. Then make the decision after that of whether to keep going or trade in for a ZL1.

Love the ZL1 LT4 of course, but I like the rear spoiler and wheels of the 1LE much better. I just think the 1LE is a better looking car.

[Kmeleon]

And I'm guessing I'm looking at $7-10k to do cam/heads and everything that goes with that? Where as if I trade in for a new ZL1 in a year or two I'm probably looking at a difference of $25k once the shortages and used car market gets back to normal (or new normal).

[Kmeleon]

Originally Posted by DaveC113

I'd consider if you need to pass emissions. Cat removal and long tube headers are not going to work out if so, neither will a cam change but it may still pass the test with one, IDK.

LT4 generally puts down 550hp which is doable NA and maybe less problematic as far as weight, complexity and reliability. OTOH a boosted motor will have much better low end torque and a ZL1 has a warranty.

My car is emissions exempt since I don't drive it 5k a year. But I have no idea whether it still has to pass a visual of any kind? I'm in PA, I'll have to ask next time I get the car inspected in the spring.

[5.M0NSTER]

Originally Posted by sr71bb

I have to see that to believe it if you are talking 550 at the WHEELS and not the crank regarding the stage 2. I have NEVER seen that done on a stock cubic inch LT1 without a CAM change NEVER. Of course on the internet all things are possible (LOL).

Those are crank numbers I believe, not wheel numbers.