Can I reach 450hp?

**Hawk23** · 05-08-2008, 05:00 PM

I have a 2000 Firehawk, practically stock, just a lid for now. My goal is for about 450hp. I have some Mac headers waiting to go on and I'll be getting a magnaflow cat back eventually. I also plan on an LS6 intake and a mild cam. Somewhere in the 224 to 228 range. It's an A4 so I'll be getting a stall as well. I may get the Stg 2.5 LS6 heads from TSP someday too. What I am wondering is will the Mac headers hold me back a lot? I need honest feed back, not "only longtubes, mid lengths suck", but someone that knows what the Macs are capable of. I have heard they produce decent power, but with the other mods I have planned, will they cost me more than 20hp? If it's 5-10, I can live with that, but if it's a lot more, I may sell the Macs and get some pacesetters or OBX stainless. Thanks.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 05-08-2008, 05:17 PM

Are you wanting 450 HP at the motor or 450 RWHP?

**Method** · 05-08-2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Y2KPewterSS

Are you wanting 450 HP at the motor or 450 RWHP?

Yea I'd say with those mods you're flywheel hp.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 05-08-2008, 05:46 PM

Its extremely difficult to hit 450 RWHP in a auto/stalled/LS1, I hope he is referring to motor HP as well.

**egod** · 05-08-2008, 08:19 PM

trickflow offers a head and cam package that claim 485 to 515HP with an ls6 manifold. Anybody know anything about that? I hear good things and bad things about trickflow.

**Hawk23** · 05-09-2008, 05:11 AM

450bhp. Sorry about that. I've seen that trickflow setup. Not too bad of a price if it really delivers 515hp. That's probably not rwhp huh?

**SINISTER-TA** · 05-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Y2KPewterSS

Its extremely difficult to hit 450 RWHP in a auto/stalled/LS1, I hope he is referring to motor HP as well.

I did 485 hp at the fly wheel and just over 400 at the wheels (5800 ft above sea level).

-Heads and Cam
-LT's
-A4 stalled.
-And a couple other things N/A.

**Hawk23** · 05-09-2008, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by SINISTER-TA

I did 485 hp at the fly wheel and just over 400 at the wheels (5800 ft above sea level).

-Heads and Cam
-LT's
-A4 stalled.
-And a couple other things N/A.

Do you know if Mac headers will be ok to get those kind of numbers? If I can only get 475 with the Mac's, that's fine, but do they seriously choke things off? Like I could get 485 with true LT's, but 425 with Macs? Anyone have experience with the Macs? I just want to know if I should sell them and get LT's or will they be ok?

**GottaHaveLS1** · 05-09-2008, 07:59 AM

if you can get LT's (if ur not in cali) then get them, they'll be worth it.

**2002 WS6 KILLS** · 05-09-2008, 08:16 AM

If you are looking for those HP numbers, I'd go for the Longtubes.

**SINISTER-TA** · 05-09-2008, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Hawk23

Do you know if Mac headers will be ok to get those kind of numbers? If I can only get 475 with the Mac's, that's fine, but do they seriously choke things off? Like I could get 485 with true LT's, but 425 with Macs? Anyone have experience with the Macs? I just want to know if I should sell them and get LT's or will they be ok?

Mac's are decent header but my preference is LT's. You also have to take into cosideration the emissions requirements for where you live. If they are strict, then I would keep the Mac's. If not, sell them and go with Lt's. You might as well if you are doing a head swap. Don't get get to caught up with thousand dollar header's. They're nice, but not all that necessary. Pacesetter make a good header for way less that most the others out there.

**third_shift|studios** · 05-09-2008, 11:35 AM

that setup won't get you near 450, i'm sorry. i've seen strong set ups get to like 415

**Hawk23** · 05-09-2008, 11:54 AM

Well that sucks. If I can't even get 100hp over stock with headers and H/C/I then I may just save the several thousands I would spend on that and buy another toy. Thanks for the tips guys.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 05-09-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by SINISTER-TA

I did 485 hp at the fly wheel and just over 400 at the wheels (5800 ft above sea level).

-Heads and Cam
-LT's
-A4 stalled.
-And a couple other things N/A.

Autos with stall/heads/cam usually hit 400-420 RWHP range. I don't know of any auto setups that hit 450 RWHP, its just not going to happen NA on a stock 346.

Originally Posted by Hawk23

Well that sucks. If I can't even get 100hp over stock with headers and H/C/I then I may just save the several thousands I would spend on that and buy another toy. Thanks for the tips guys.

Why do you care so much about HP numbers, they are nothing but ego/bragging anyways. Track times tell you how fast a car truly is, not HP. I would rather have a 400 RWHP stalled/head/cam/longtubes LS1 that ran 11s than a 500+ HP car that is mid 12s because it can't launch or hook.

**INMY01TA** · 05-09-2008, 05:00 PM

Macs won't hold you back much. They make damn near what long tubes do. The 224 cam will hold you back more imo.

**SINISTER-TA** · 05-09-2008, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Y2KPewterSS

Autos with stall/heads/cam usually hit 400-420 RWHP range. I don't know of any auto setups that hit 450 RWHP, its just not going to happen NA on a stock 346.

I didn't say that I put 450 to the wheels....

**Y2KPewterSS** · 05-09-2008, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by SINISTER-TA

I didn't say that I put 450 to the wheels....

I know you didn't, I guess neither of us really understood one another

**Hawk23** · 05-09-2008, 07:55 PM

I will probably never go to a track, so quarter times don't matter much to me. I just know a car with 450hp is faster than my 330hp i have now. It's my DD, so I don't want to get ridiculous with it, that's why I probably won't go higher than a 228 cam. I'm probably just going to stick with my Mac headers and stick with my original plan. Thanks again for the info.

**SINISTER-TA** · 05-10-2008, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Y2KPewterSS

I know you didn't, I guess neither of us really understood one another

Gotcha.

I agree, 400 RWHP is about the limit on a stock cube NA LS1. I know you can get a little more, but drivability goes out the window.

If the car is going to be a DD street car, I think 400 RWHP is more than enough. If you want more, then a 150 shot of spray should handle your need for more power.

**01' Sevan Series TA** · 05-10-2008, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by SINISTER-TA

Gotcha.

I agree, 400 RWHP is about the limit on a stock cube NA LS1. I know you can get a little more, but drivability goes out the window.

If the car is going to be a DD street car, I think 400 RWHP is more than enough. If you want more, then a 150 shot of spray should handle your need for more power.

+2