I put this in here cause all of the LS1 guys seem to hang out in street strip. If there is a more appropriate area please move it to there (anything but OT please, some of the people in there give me cramps).

My buddy just bought my other buddies 00 LS1 trans am. He is wanting to do some work right off the bat, but like most of us (at least the people I don't hate for being rich) are on a limited budget. What would be the best bang for the buck? What brands are the best? I know that people say SLP is expensive, what is a good setup? I saw a set of hedman ceramic coated headers for like 500 bucks on summitracing?

I was thinking either LTs, midpipe (ypipe in LS1 language?) and catback + lid, or a lid, y pipe, catback, gears (has the stocker 2.73s... yuck) and maybe a street friendly stall (if there is such a thing on these cars.

What do you think? I know most of the mustang parts websites out there, but what are some good websites to order from for LS1 parts? There are literally ZERO places around here to buy aftermarket performance parts for late model cars.

Thanks for the help.

 

I bought all SLP stuff for my 00' z28.....LT's catless Y and LM1 catback for exhaust and the SLP "Flow PAck" which basically contains all the intake goodies such as a lid, intake tube, K&N filter etc...yes SLP is expensive and prob over priced. Many of the guys that i have talked to are runnint Pacesetter headers and Y pipe and really like them. I think you can get a package deal from a place called Texas Speed.com for the LT's and Y pipe for like 500 bucks.....yeah do the gears, my M6 is starving for them, i think im going with the 4.10's.....at some point in the future he should upgrade his rear end. The stock one comes out of the S10 pickupi believe[:'(]and wont hold up all that long with some sticky tires and hard launches....i know tommy, JD and 98ls1 will have some additional imput

 

That's a good start right there.
I have Pacesetter longtube headers and a Texas Speed catless Y-pipe, much cheaper than SLP.SLP makes a good lid and reasonably priced free-flowing catback exhaust, although I've been told that the mufferless Loudmouth + headers = unbearable noise. I just have the stock catback and a cutout, $40 installed and I don't have to deal with the noise all the time.
Look up Thunderracing.com for a good selection of performance parts.
And remember, these cars love the giggle juice.

 

What about some websites to buy this stuff from? I can't seem to find much except for summit (yuck!)

 

there's texas-speed.com....ws6store.com....lethalperformance.com ....byunspeed.com....speedinc.com....all are carryers and some primary carryers of LSx parts...

 

Yeah, Texas Speed and Speed Inc are good retailers.

 

Thanks guys.

So the pacesetter LTs w/ the ceramic coat are the way to go? Damm, LS1 parts are cheap compared to my LTs !

 

I didn't get the coated headers, I got them new in the box from a guy who bought them and then went a different route. $200 for the headers (usually $299) and $50 for the Y-pipe (usually $149). I can deal with some rust for that price. You can't hardly see them anyway in that cramped engine bay. The back primaries are under the cowl.

 

what about over time? Any chance they will acutally rust thru in say the next 5 or so years? Thats the only reason I got the ceramics for my stang.

The non coated ones sure are a HELL of alot cheaper (LS1 or GT), and as long as they will last.....

Did you ever dyno at any of the local shops in st louis? I am trying to get him to head down to MCP just to get a baseline before he starts modding the car.

What about the stall/gears? whats the usual ratio for a mostly street driven LS1 car? Are motives a good item (I think I saw em for like 100 bucks?). Do you need an install kit like in a 8.8? What about the stall? (brand, RPM, etc)

 

I got my ceramic coated headers, y pipe, plugs and wires all for 500. They had some special. If you can deal with fitment issues ebay has some stainless steel headers. A quality brand would be kooks. If hes got more money to spare a stall would be a good route if its an auto. A lid is a must. If he goes onto ls1tech he may be able to find someone parting with some of these parts and get them cheaper.