I keep seeing people always saying stuff like "oh yes, i just got a cai in my lt1 and now im putting like 290 at the wheels" or blah blah blah.how do you (without dyno) get a ballpark estimate on a car's rwhp?

lets take mine:

1997 Z28.
Mid length headers
SLP LM1 Exhaust
Gutted Cats [w/ straight pipe]
Performance tuned PCM
CAI
160* Thermostat
Free Mods
Jasper LT1 with 2,xxx miles (aka new)

(suspension and drivetrain dont add hp so we wont add those)

I'd like to say in terms of rwhp im putting down 500+-? lol jk seriously though would 240rwhp be a reasonable guestimate?

on a side note, why are 93-95 LT1s quoted at 275hp and 96-97s at 285? would an extra cat really give an extra 10hp?

 

The cat would cause you to have less power. I am not a big LT1 person but i would think that must have changed somthing up. Since you have a brand new engine and good bolt ons with tuning i would say you are around the 255 ground area give or take 5 horses.

 

Hmmm....maybe I should put a CAI on my Camaro then?
From the factory, the car came with 275 flywheel h.p. Factoring out an average 15% parasitic loss in the drivetrain (can be plus or minus) you would be left with approx. 233.75 h.p. at the wheels (275x.85).
So I think you're definitely over 240 at the wheels with what you've done, otherwise you really wasted your money!
Actually my guess is you're easily into the 260's, maybe even the 270's depending on what the PCM tune gave you.
And true, suspension or drivetrain mods won't add h.p. But, there are things you can do to the drivetrain to reduce your 15% loss to put more to the wheels such as: an aluminum driveshaft (if you don't already have one), lighter rear wheels & tires, lighter flywheel/pressure plate (manual trans), smaller dia., lighter weight torque converter (auto).

 

hey dude, do you have an exhaust clip of your car, i would really like to hear how it sounds, that exhaust set up is somethin similiar to what i have in mind

 

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/dadude420/Exhaust%20Manifolds/?action=view¤t=klk.flv

there you go... anybody wanna help out on whats wrong with it and why? thanks!

 

260hp tops with the mods. Almost doesn't seem worth modding our LT1's huh? Feels like more according to my a$$ dyno.