I'm poor...but here's the plan

[heyimbrendan]

Ok...so after much discussion....here's how the plan goes (as the title says though..i'm poor so deal with me) this spring/summer is first the summer of gears...4.10's to be exact...and then after much discussion i decided to go with the Comp Cams ZEX 75-125 HP wet nitrous set up...that is the plan for this spring/summer...from there and after college is done and i get a real job...it's on to an "lt4" conversion. why the "s? because i'm not going to just grab the kit and go...after all the deliberation going around about bang for the buck, i've bought in i'm going to piece it all together and do just like everyone says...badder cam, better heads...blah blah you know the rest...in the process of doing that i am more than likely doing a front end conversion to a 98+ nose...then from there i guess the only question for me left is...turbo vs super? and basically all my car dreams would be finished...let me know what you all think

[96Camaro]

All I see are dollar signs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[heyimbrendan]

Nitrous set up --600 bucks
Gears depending on work --400-600
"lt4" 2000-2500
front end conversion 2000-2500 (no paint)
turbo or super--2300-4000

[94 formula]

If your planning on doing the front end conversion why not just hold off on modding and enjoy your car how it is and keep it in very good shape. Within a few years LS1's are going to be down in price even more than they are now and you can pick one up for next to nothing. The way to do it may be to find one with a blown engine that you can rebuild because if you want to do forced induction you should go with forged internals anyways and by buying a LS1 you skip having to pay for the front end conversion plus you can have the heads worked to great flow numbers without having to buy new ones, the fuel system is better, aluminum block with 6 bolt main ect.

[Nightrage]

I thought about all the same stuff that you're considering, and decided it's better to just buy the 98+. I saw a 99 Z28 with 110,000 miles for $6,500. I've also seen 98+'s for as low as $9,000 with much lower mileage. LS1's are plummeting in value. Just wait for a deal. You can probably find a modified one for cheap, which will save you time and money.

[Dave M]

One thing you forgot in that list is suspension mods. You will need them with the power you'd be making, so I'd factor in at least $500 for the bare minimum in suspension mods. And as was said before, if you want the look of a 98+, it'd be much more advantageous to just buy the 98+. Then you get an LS1 with it.

[heyimbrendan]

advantageous? yeah...BUT...i have my car NOW...and i want to work on my car...and as soon as i throw time and money at it, no matter how advantageous it'd be...i'd rather stick with my car...i mean yeah ls1 vs lt1...it's a no brainer...but with time and effort and money into an lt1 that's putting out decent power...i don't know i think i'd rather just stick with my car

[TraceZ]

advantageous? yeah...BUT...i have my car NOW...and i want to work on my car...and as soon as i throw time and money at it, no matter how advantageous it'd be...i'd rather stick with my car...i mean yeah ls1 vs lt1...it's a no brainer...but with time and effort and money into an lt1 that's putting out decent power...i don't know i think i'd rather just stick with my car

Big mistake. Trust me, I've been there and done it. I've got the hat and t-shirt if you'd like to buy them.

You claim to be poor, and then list $10,000 worth of stuff you want to do to your car.

Sell your car, add a few grand to the cash you got from the sale and go buy a LS1 car. You will be far better off. Will you be getting a tax-return? That has been historically how I have upgraded cars.

If you dont have the money, wait. With just the cash from any two of your desired mods you could do the LS1.
Another thing to consider is that if you are poor, dumping all your money into an old car is very unwise. You will never get any of that money back, you might as well hold it up in the air and light it on fire.

[heyimbrendan]

haha i see what you mean but this isn't all one lump of work...
probably gears and nitrous off of my summer job, while the rest of my money goes into college tuition...as far as the "lt4" or front end conversion and hell even the turbo...that is all going to happen after i get a job...and live single for a while...i'm just saying...i'm poor right now, meaning i can't go out and buy the ls1...or do any other major motor work because of the limited funds...but i like to work on my car? is that wrong? and since ic an't buy the ls1 right now...and i have my car...it's mine...it's in my possession...why not work on it? that being said...why work on MY car...ANd have intentions to sell it? i mean hell
maybe htis summer i will find a hell of a deal on an LS1 and i'll look back at my former self and scoff as i sell my 94...but as of right now this is the plan

[thenuge876]

I agree with TraceZ i think that while instant gratification is always good, the benefits of getting an LS1 car would be far greater, especially if your planning on throwing that kind of money at it. With another 10 grand into an LS1 you could have one sick car. Its just more worth the money to go with an LS1 car, then you don't have to do the front end conversion either.

[heyimbrendan]

and holding your money up and lighting it on fire...doesn't get you down the road any quicker

[heyimbrendan]

ok let's think about this...first off you all don't know that i have some minor nose damage to my car...crack over the foglight...paint chipping off...not TOO bad...but enough to damper my resale value by...quite a bit. i'm probably looking at 6 grand resale value...on a good day. 76k miles...if i want a post 98 trans am with 76k...how much am i looking at?at least 10k? so that's a 4 grand difference...for a what...~50 hp difference? ok 4k to gain 50 hp and a newer car...DAMN YOU ALL FOR making me doubt it haha

[TraceZ]

ok let's think about this...first off you all don't know that i have some minor nose damage to my car...crack over the foglight...paint chipping off...not TOO bad...but enough to damper my resale value by...quite a bit. i'm probably looking at 6 grand resale value...on a good day. 76k miles...if i want a post 98 trans am with 76k...how much am i looking at?at least 10k? so that's a 4 grand difference...for a what...~50 hp difference? ok 4k to gain 50 hp and a newer car...DAMN YOU ALL FOR making me doubt it haha

Yup, so figure 4K
gets you:

1) newer car
2) no need to do front end conversion
3) 50 HP - at least - actually more like 75HP
4) all aluminum LS1 engine
5) better handling due to better weight distribution.
6) an opportunity to get anything you want like t-tops, 6 speed or a different color.
7) no more optispark
8) aluminum LS1 driveshaft
and the list goes on.

[Dave M]

If you didn't want to do a front end conversion, I'd say stick with the current car. But since you have a damaged front end and need to fix that, and since you would like a 98+ front end, there really is no value in doing that to an LT1. We're all car guys who love to work on our cars, we know what you're feeling... but we also speak from experience. Modding the car now might bring you happiness, but I think in the long run you'd be much happier getting an LS1 car. BTW, I think you're prices are high on both sides but you're conclusion is about right. I don't think you'd get 6k for your car, but there are LS1's out there for less than 10k if you look. But, yeah, you're looking at a $4-5k difference.

[Nightrage]

Yup, so figure 4K
gets you:

1) newer car
2) no need to do front end conversion
3) 50 HP - at least - actually more like 75HP
4) all aluminum LS1 engine
5) better handling due to better weight distribution.
6) an opportunity to get anything you want like t-tops, 6 speed or a different color.
7) no more optispark
8) aluminum LS1 driveshaft
and the list goes on.

Suddenly I feel like a fossil in my LT1