how much horsepower?

[CLABORN1960]

Okay, I will admit after reading about the new C6 ZO6 and the 500hp I got a little depressed. Mainly cause the price is going to be way over my budget. So it got me to thinking. How much can I (or we) modify my C4 in terms of horsepower, torque, and it still be a reliable daily driver? Is 450 horses doable? Or unrealistic? No nitrous or supercharging....

Thoughts?

 

[Vettefan87]

If you don't get forced induction my guess would be you would have to pull the motor to redo the cam, then heads and intake and the whole shebang, stroke it out to a 383 and do all the other supporting mods and you would have a very quick C4 probably around those numbers, although I don't speak from experience. I am sure someone will chime in who has done it.

 

[Grizzly]

Lingenfelter offer a 440 hp 383 for $14,000 based on your engine. 410 hp for your 350 for $9,100. That's a place to start. 2 year 24,000 warranty. GM has that LT1 to LT4 kit advertised by Summit at $2300 that advertises 425+ hp. Someone here mentioned they had it installed by a GM dealer, but I don't remember the cost.

I have no idea what a simple back to stock rebuild would be if you already have a tired engine, subtract that quote from these numbers and the price might not be too bad.

$9100 to make my '92 the equivalent engine wise of a C5 ZO6 sounds like a hell of a deal. And it would be a convertible to boot!

 

[CLABORN1960]

I don't think my engine is tired (it has 155,000 miles) but then I have nothing to compare it to as I bought the car used.... I was thinking that if I spent 10-15k on mods that would make 400-450hp, I could live with that given I like the C4s......

 

[vetteboy86]

Lets not forget the added costs in there for other things. All that power has to travel through the tranny, and then to the differential. I am sure those parts would need to be rebuilt, serviced, or just replaced.

Craig

 

[G Winter]

Why not just go with the new GM crate moter ,, 405 hp. ??

 

[Edmond]

Yeah, those GM crate motors would seem pretty cool. Can the ZZ383 be used on a fuel injected car?

Do you have emissions? If not, the sky (and your wallet) are the limit.

 

[WhalePirot]

Lets not forget the added costs in there for other things. All that power has to travel through the tranny, and the differential. I am sure those parts would need to be rebuilt, serviced, or just replaced.

So true. I have a spreadsheet adding up to $20k, which was half the price of the C-5 Z06 I eyed.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Understand that my costs include new leather and foam for the seats, many, many hours of semi-skilled labor(me), new weatherstripping and a bit more. This car is almost new and a REAL BLAST to drive, straight or sideways.

My disadvantage, compared to your car is that I took a TBI L-83 350 out and put in a custom built, normally aspirated 406 with TPI driven by a 1990 ECM. I had the 4+3 rebuilt and strengthened. I broke the Dana 36 with this 500+ @-flywheel- motor and have a few hundred miles on a hardened replacement, Dana36.

It passed So. California SMOG with a new, stock CAT, but owe the performance and the clean running to Gary Leonhardt, a local Vette shop owner and total enthusiast. I am ironing out the reliability issues.

I looked long and hard at crate motors, but they changed availability every time I decided. I finally used a long-time professional shop to help me decide what I wanted, then build it. The higher the power output, though, the less the reliability, unless perhaps, you spend mega-bucks for a package from one of the tuners.