Plan to build a 12s Caprice Wagon

[thomasakehoe]

Hello to everyone, I'm new here and I'm also new to LT1 engines and Chevrolet cars in general. My wife and I had twin boys a few years back and that basically ended my muscle car modding for quite a while. We had to get something to fit the kids in and the 2003 Cobra Mustang wasn't going to fit the bill. So hat was sold and we have gone through a couple family haulers... 94 Suburban and lastly a 97 Caravan. I honestly didn't know that the later Caprices came with an LT1 based engine until I was desperately looking for something else to replace the minivan that pukes up its tranny twice. So anyways tomorrow I am going to pickup a 1995 Caprice Wagon with 140K miles on the clock the body has a couple of issues like a dented tailgate and some bubbles down low on the rear quarters but I think that I have that all handled. My ultimate goal for this vehicle is to make it powerful enough to break into the 12s in the quarter mile on slicks while still being able to be driven to and from school, work etc... The only performance parts I have are a set of 3.73:1 gears and a c-clip eliminator kit that I have had here forever I'm not sure if that gear will make the cut or not for what I really want to do. So basically I'm hoping folks here will be able to give me advice on how to get there without buying the same part multiple times. In other throttle body sizes, cam sizes, gear ratio and the like. So thanks in advance for any help.

[KW Baraka]

Thomas,

A streetable, 12 second B-body is not that hard to get to, but it does require a fairly healthy budget. The following mods (in the following order) are the least of what I'd install to get there:

1. Snout Mounted conical intake;

2. *F-body MAF;

3. 2 1/2" cat-back exhaust;

4. *3.73 gears (NOTE: a B-body rear is a 10-bolt, 8.5" unit);

5. 2800+ stall Torque Convertor (Yank);

6. *52mm Throttle Body;

7 Headers -- Shorties from SLP (if you can find them) or Tri-Y's from Clear
Image (must be B-body specific!)

8. *Ported aluminum LT1 heads with not less than a 54cc combustion chamber (many good vendors available);

9. *Custom ground cam along these approximate specs -- 224/236 intake/exhaust duration, .550" to .580" lift and 110 degree LSA.

10. A performance tranny.....because your stock tranny will grenade under the stress of 350+ HP/TQ that you'll be putting to the wheels.

FINAL NOTE: A performance tune is required if/when you install items with an asterisk (*) next to them. I go with www.pcmforless.com (http://www.pcmforless.com) .... the tuner is a long-time B-body owner.


Just so you know, I have an 11-second Impala SS and a 12-second daily driven Caprice (though both my cars have stroker engines) so I do know what it takes to move our B-bodies along :cool: !

Also.....you have PM.


KW

[thomasakehoe]

Thanks for the info... one question about the B-Body rear end, with the c-clip eliminator set that I have I noticed that it states that its not intended for impala or blazer something about bearing size I'm assuming... is this true for the caprice as it shares the same platform with the impala ss?

[mrcadillac]

For the most part I agree with KW. :) being it's a wagon, you take about a .3 handicap, due to about 300lbs more weight than a caprice sedan. I have a cam only caprice sedan, and I'm hoping for low low 13's, MAYBE a very high 12 with how it's setup. a GMPP 845 cam(214*/222*, on a 112* LSA) (not my choice, I didn't put it in, I would have gone with a custom cam.) Flowtech headers, Hooker catback(X pipe going on) F-body MAF, SSRI intake, 58mm TB(going on soon), PCM forless tuned, 4.10 gears with an Eaton posi, 3200 Edge stall, rebuilt trans with a strong shift kit, Racetronix Fuel pump wire kit with a Walbro 255 high pressure pump. I have SVO 30# injectors incase my stock 24#'s can't keep up. I also have a set of UMI Rear Lower control arms, and Airlift 1000's, all to aid with traction. Right now I've been using 275 BFG drag radials, but next I'm likly going to use some Hoosier slicks. My car isn't all together yet, I've had some big bugs to work out.

:mad:

[KW Baraka]

......is this true for the caprice as it shares the same platform with the impala ss?
Yes.

If that kit isn't for an Impala SS.....then you can't use it in your Wagon.

Also.....it's not really needed, either. So there's really no need to go out and buy the 'correct' kit; unless you're in to having unusual bragging rights :dontknow: .

KW

[thomasakehoe]

Hi guys and gals, haven't been on in a while was horribly sick. Well I'm back at looking into mods for my wagon. I've had it home a for a while now and been driving it. For the size of the car it's pretty quick from what I expected. The only mods that were already on board are that the throttle body coolant flow has been bypassed and home plate has resonator thingy LOL has been removed and plugged. I also bought an airfoil for the stock throttle body from ebay as it was like $20 and I have a K&N filter installed now. I haven't gone to far into buying engine parts yet as I haven't locked in exactly which route I wanna take for this. All-motor, supercharger etc.... For what I'm after though (into the 12's) I'm thinking that I can accomplish this with a good set of aluminum heads, cam, headers, free flow exhaust, bigger throttle body and associated ecm reprogramming. I'm really looking into the Edelbrock Power Package. Any opinions or advice as always welcome.

[KW Baraka]

.....I'm really looking into the Edelbrock Power Package. Any opinions or advice as always welcome.
Way over-priced for what it delivers :( .

Look at Lloyd Elliot (http://www.eportworks.com/lt1.html) and Advanced Induction (http://www.advancedinduction.com/AiProducts.html) to get your money's worth!

KW

[thomasakehoe]

Here's another question if I was going to have stock castings ported and performance valve train installed other than weight savings is there any reason to swap out my Cast iron heads for production aluminum pieces.

[thomasakehoe]

Well today I made some money selling an old project car of mine and now I've decide to go boost on my Caprice I'm going to run the HP twin turbo system on the wagon. I haven't decided on the internals for my engine yet debating over a fully forged 383 or a fully forged 355 basically the only reason I'm considering the 383 is for more lower end and I don't plan to be revving my car to the heavens either. The turbo setup is on the way and in a few weeks I will be starting to put together the engine and I'm pretty sure shortly after that I'll be searching for a better transmission LOL.

[KW Baraka]

........I'm going to run the HP twin turbo system on the wagon......a fully forged 383 or a fully forged 355......considering the 383 is for more lower end....

With a twin-turbo, a 383 (for more torque) is unneccessary. You can do it......but the twin turbo provide you with all the torque you'll need.

And yes.....you'll still need a quality heads/cam set-up!

KW

[thomasakehoe]

Yah I realize heads and the right cam are a definite need, the only reason I keep thinking about a 383 is 1 I'm going to swap out crank, rods and pistons for forged units to handle boost and well, I'm a power junkie so figured why not, I just wasn't sure about it as I've never done a chevy of any kind before. Didn't know if the block (converted to 4 bolt mains) would suffer with the increased stroke as well as boost. I like power but reliable power is better to me than a 1/4 mile blaze of glory that ends in puddles of oil and a plume of smoke. And also I looked around for Lloyd Elliot's website and it doesn't seem to be working although most of the forum post over the internet had nothing but good things to say, is he still doing the work?

[KW Baraka]

.....Didn't know if the block (converted to 4 bolt mains) would suffer with the increased stroke as well as boost.....
The block will hold up fine.

The TT will work fine with a 350, 355, 377 or 383ci.

I wouldn't stroke it more than the 3.75" stoke of the 355/383, though.


Also.....I'm sure that Lloyd Elliot is still doing work. Look for Stroker Ace on this Forum. That's Brett Baurer (sp) and he's the 'cam' guy that works with Lloyd.

KW


EDIT.......Brett posted on this thread
--->> http://www.ls1lt1.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18223 <<---
Maybe you can PM him for help in getting a LE heads/cam for your car ;) !

[mrcadillac]

Way over-priced for what it delivers :( .

Look at Lloyd Elliot (http://www.eportworks.com/lt1.html) and Advanced Induction (http://www.advancedinduction.com/AiProducts.html) to get your money's worth!

KW

F*ck name brands. the wanna sell parts, thats it. Advanced Induction or BUST. :D

[mrcadillac]

Here's another question if I was going to have stock castings ported and performance valve train installed other than weight savings is there any reason to swap out my Cast iron heads for production aluminum pieces.


when the alumiums are as cast, then no. but the stock aluminum heads really perform when you have a shop port them, that is pretty much LT1, or LSx only. There are some stock aluminum heads, ported, that are putting down quite a bit more power than as cast aftermarket heads.

Heck, there are some cam only cars, with custom cams, that are putting down power similar to aftermarket heads, and off the shelf cam cars.