[Saberscar223]

I want to boost the car but I’ve heard the engine can’t handle anything over 650WHP without upgrading internals. Exactly what would I need to replace to handle ~ 700whp? And would the 10L80 need to be upgraded or replaced too?

[Need4Camaro]

Honestly, I would just buy a ZL1 and a pulley.. ..much less headache, much less involved, and probably less expensive. After you look back at the receipts and realize you could have bought a ZL1, you will be kicking yourself.

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Honestly, I would just buy a ZL1 and a pulley.. ..much less headache, much less involved, and probably less expensive. After you look back at the receipts and realize you could have bought a ZL1, you will be kicking yourself.

Absolutely, with upgraded internals and FI already in place... and a warranty.

[arpad_m]

I'm not kicking myself at all, even though I did spend ZL1 money on my SS. Then again, it has 200 crank hp more than a stock ZL1 (pulling like a freight train), and looks exactly the way I want, inside and outside (I still glance back at it every time I park somewhere, even after 5+ years).

There is no one size fits all solution.

[adamjwilson]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

Honestly, I would just buy a ZL1 and a pulley.. ..much less headache, much less involved, and probably less expensive. After you look back at the receipts and realize you could have bought a ZL1, you will be kicking yourself.

Good thought but the ZL1 falls short of 650rwhp is stock form.. more like ~580ish rwhp. OP asked what he needs to do to go over 650rwhp, OP may want to consider forged internals.
If not, then keep the boost low 8-9PSI on the stock SBE, add a flex fuel kit, run E85, find a good tuner if you want it to live any life.... (but that is not guaranteed either)

Build it and mod it your way and make it your own

[FarmerFran]

Tires, definitely tires

[BlackbeastSS2]

The OP questions was what would he need to do to be comfortably over 700hp on an LT1? Forge the engine/cam/heads/fuel system and 1.7 supercharge it.
Used 2022 prices - Edmunds Suggested
2SS $43,695 $42,904
ZL1 $65,895 $65,084

You have a little over $23K to play with price difference. It will no where be near stock ZL1 - suspension wise/rear end/ etc but it will have a lot more power. $23K u can make a very fast Camaro SS over 700 RWHP easily. Go for it if you like modding, if you don’t get a used ZL1 with 650 Hp to the flywheel. No need to upgrade tranny.

There’s lots of threads on builds here to achieve your goal.

[18.2SS.1LE]

Seems the way to go now would be Laynlo's route. Port injection, E85, blower, headers will get you there on an otherwise stock engine. Not sure if he's running a JMS BAP or what's on the low side though. If I were to do it again I would've skipped the LT4 fueling and went the port injection route.

[laynlo15]

Originally Posted by 18.2SS.1LE

Seems the way to go now would be Laynlo's route. Port injection, E85, blower, headers will get you there on an otherwise stock engine. Not sure if he's running a JMS BAP or what's on the low side though. If I were to do it again I would've skipped the LT4 fueling and went the port injection route.

Yes sir, exactly the way to go, I've been running mine for almost a year now. We have it dialed in really well and way cheaper then buying a Zl1, plus you can do it on the stock Lt1 fuel system as I have. I can run up to E70 on my current setup, but our stations seem to be limited to E65 to E67 on my HPT logs. The only thing I have is a JMS voltage booster to help the low side out at WOT. Mine is a very simple setup, got a used 2300 Maggie from Superchargers Onine, TooHighPsi Port injection and RotoFab CAI. No other mods that enhance performance. We made 707 rwhp and 669 rwtq on 11 psi of boost. So, no internal mods required, no exhaust mods needed. Ran best Et of 9.80@142.96. Can't beat that.

[laynlo15]

Originally Posted by Saberscar223

I want to boost the car but I’ve heard the engine can’t handle anything over 650WHP without upgrading internals. Exactly what would I need to replace to handle ~ 700whp? And would the 10L80 need to be upgraded or replaced too?

You won't need to upgrade the engine or trans if you do a 2650 Maggie and TooHighPsi Port Injection. I did have my TCM unlocked but we've done very little to it, just enough to keep GMs torque limits from screwing with our tune and pulling timing on the launch.

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

(I still glance back at it every time I park somewhere, even after 5+ years).

I do too



'ing for New Engine.

She still wimpers to me, but I just can't explain why not.

[LancevanceZLE]

The problem is you don't get the money for the mods back. Mods depreciate by 70%, while a ZL1 will hold its value, so in the long run it's cheaper to buy a ZL1 and do some minor mods than spend $25k on mods on a $40k SS. That SS is not going to sell for $65k after you're done modding, more like $45k at most. Also, of the $25k at least $4k would be spent on wheels and tires because stock SS tires cannot handle 700whp.

A lot of people say they don't care about resale value because they'll keep the car forever, but I've rarely actually seen someone keep a car forever.

Buy the best platform you can get and start modding that. That's a much wiser decision.

[Chevelle vs Camaro]

Originally Posted by Saberscar223

I want to boost the car but I’ve heard the engine can’t handle anything over 650WHP without upgrading internals. Exactly what would I need to replace to handle ~ 700whp? And would the 10L80 need to be upgraded or replaced too?

I’m missing the part where he asked if he should buy an ZL1 instead. He asked for build info not financial info on what to buy. Y’all bought a ZL1 because that what was right for you….

Y’all assume OP didn’t think about that?

OP you would need to to do forged pistons and rods. Possibly a crank. I’m not on it though I would call a shop in the know and ask them…. Like Texas Speed.


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[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Chevelle vs Camaro

I’m missing the part where he asked if he should buy an ZL1 instead. He asked for build info not financial info on what to buy. Y’all bought a ZL1 because that what was right for you….

Y’all assume OP didn’t think about that?

I don't see a sea of SS owners flooding ZL1 threads with "OMG you shouldn't have spent $20-22k extra on your car, you should've just slapped a Maggie and a tune on a 2SS for $9k and have the same powaaah".

To the contrary, every time someone asks about SS build/mod info, one or more ZL1 owners come in with unwarranted financial advice and questioning how "smart" the OP was for not buying the ZL1 in the first place. Leave the man be and let's help him instead.

As for the build, my info is in my sig, it's a rock stable 735 rwhp (on E60) car, a perfect Jekyll and Hyde build by Jannetty Racing.