Discussion
If it's a 3rd gen, probably not. A good manual 5.7 Z28 (rare anyway as most are 5.0s)produces about 245hp and a supercharger will add about 100-150hp but it's unlikely that the older computer will be able to take advantage of it and you'll still have a cast-iron lump that is likely to blow. A supercharger fully fitted will set you back around £3500.
It's a far better idea to buy a 1998-on (preferably 1999-on as they had a different computer)all-alloy LS1-engined Z28 which were under-rated and produced far nearer the Corvettes 345hp than GM liked to admit (a '98 dyno test showed the F-body had more at the back wheels than the Vette and a 2002 test showed a healthy 320hp at the back wheels from a "325hp" car). These cars will run 13s all day at the drag strip and can be bought now for relatively low cost.
It's a far better idea to buy a 1998-on (preferably 1999-on as they had a different computer)all-alloy LS1-engined Z28 which were under-rated and produced far nearer the Corvettes 345hp than GM liked to admit (a '98 dyno test showed the F-body had more at the back wheels than the Vette and a 2002 test showed a healthy 320hp at the back wheels from a "325hp" car). These cars will run 13s all day at the drag strip and can be bought now for relatively low cost.
LuS1fer said:
If it's a 3rd gen, probably not. A good manual 5.7 Z28 (rare anyway as most are 5.0s)produces about 245hp and a supercharger will add about 100-150hp but it's unlikely that the older computer will be able to take advantage of it and you'll still have a cast-iron lump that is likely to blow. A supercharger fully fitted will set you back around £3500.
It's a far better idea to buy a 1998-on (preferably 1999-on as they had a different computer)all-alloy LS1-engined Z28 which were under-rated and produced far nearer the Corvettes 345hp than GM liked to admit (a '98 dyno test showed the F-body had more at the back wheels than the Vette and a 2002 test showed a healthy 320hp at the back wheels from a "325hp" car). These cars will run 13s all day at the drag strip and can be bought now for relatively low cost.
I think you will find it unlikely for a good old school cast iron engine to " blow "It's a far better idea to buy a 1998-on (preferably 1999-on as they had a different computer)all-alloy LS1-engined Z28 which were under-rated and produced far nearer the Corvettes 345hp than GM liked to admit (a '98 dyno test showed the F-body had more at the back wheels than the Vette and a 2002 test showed a healthy 320hp at the back wheels from a "325hp" car). These cars will run 13s all day at the drag strip and can be bought now for relatively low cost.
If your wanting a Third Gen 5.7 then try to find one, as i said in my e mail to you im toying with selling mine. A good lazy 245 bhp as standard, conventional tuning is fairly cheap, but prices for bits is expensive over here, so if you can afford to buy all your bits at once, buy from the US.
4th Gen cats may be nicer to drive and have slightly more power, but it depends on what you want from a car, in my opinion, 4th gen cars look too Jap to me, and they are not as desirable. The third Gen cars are now getting interesting, just like the second gen trans ams were about 10 years ago, as good ones are getting hard to find, and 5.7s are very rare over here.
Yes, a nice built LS1 would be great, but if you want low tech power, get rid of the injection, go for carbs, headers, uprated internals, perhaps a 383 stroker kit, supercharger, nitrous, the list goes on, i do know of someone who has a small block twin turbo kit too!!!
Good luck with what you decide to do.
Ben
Edited by bloodyniceben on Saturday 16th June 11:38
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