Maybe some of you experts can point me in the right direction here: I have an 05 Monte Carlo SS that is nearly stock. So far I have installed the basic first-level mods: CAI kit, 3.4 pulleys, and 180-degree thermostat. My next objective is an Intense PCM. My goal for the car is to eventually run in the high 12s to low 13s in the 1/4 mile. I understand that there are a lot of variables and that each car is different, but I'm wondering what you guys recommend for me to be in the ballpark. The car will still be a daily driver, so I don't want to run nitrous or anything too tough on the engine to reach the 12s. If I were to go with headers and 1.9 rockers, what kind of performance increase should I expect from what I have now? Could I reasonably expect to reach my goal without rebuilding the engine?

What performance upgrades would you guys recommend to make it into the 12s without sacrificing my engine's durability? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

To start, Off Topic probably isn't the best place for this. General or Engine are probably better.



If the plan is to keep going, have you scanned it for knock / KR yet? If those are the only mods, it probably has a ton of knock thatll need to be dealt with before moving forward. You're going to need to pulley down to hit your goal and you'll have to address knock to do that. A 3.4" isnt doing 12s unless it's in a Fiero, lol.

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My next objective is an Intense PCM.

Skip it. You're going to need a lot more mods for 12s, so buying a pcm tuned for your current mods is throwing money in thr garbage.

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My goal for the car is to eventually run in the high 12s to low 13s in the 1/4 mile. I understand that there are a lot of variables and that each car is different, but I'm wondering what you guys recommend for me to be in the ballpark.

A few things we need to start:
-what will the cars track prep be? Are we talking 12s gutted on drag radials with track mods or is this 12s right off the street?
-what is your current baseline ET / mph / 60'? Thatll give us a good idea of how your local DA and track prep is. 12s at some garbage track in Colorado is a lot harder than a major NHRA track at sea level.
-whats the budget?

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If I were to go with headers and 1.9 rockers, what kind of performance increase should I expect from what I have now?

IMO, that's too small scale of mods if shooing for 12s. I'd bet on average your car is maybe a mid 14 right now, maybe worse if theres a ton of KR. Even if these two added 25 whp, you're still going to be nearly a full second off target.

This is likely going to need one of - E85, meth, an IC, or a decent cam - depending of course what your track prep on the car is.

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Could I reasonably expect to reach my goal without rebuilding the engine?

The engine isnt the the issue. Stock bottom ends have been 10s. The problem you'll likely have is trans. The stock trans struggles to live a full life behind a stock engine. Basically the same trans behind the 300 crank hp LS4 struggles to hit 100k, and those setups are lucky to hit a 13.anything.

You're looking at a full second quicker which is even harder on parts. You should start to plan for a built trans, especially if you dont have a plan B daily driver.