I know someone who knows someone who wants to hop-up his Grandpa-mobile. What's the most cost effective way to turn a 1994 Buick Roadmaster LT-1 into a tire-melting torque-monster?
LS-x swap? Bolt-on supercharger kit? Turbo kit?
Needs to be fairly plug-N-play. Not sure of the level of expertise here.
http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/tech/lt1_engine/ghtp_1304_dyno_testing_7_popular_lt1_engine_modifications/viewall.html
Its a chevy V8, tons of stuff to do, but just a question of what you want to get into spending on it.
Exhaust / headers seem to do well on them.
Others will know far more than me.
ls swap is hard to beat but if staying with the lt1 just the basic small block stuff will do, heads, cam, bolt ons, etc.
if he's wanting big power then the obvious answer is boost 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VAAs15huXU
cams, larger throttle body and exhaust wake them up nicely
I seem to remember that when they were new a bunch of them got long-tube headers. There's probably some still in production.
On an LT1 Camaro, people usually did cams, throttle body and ignition (is the Roadmaster LT1 also Opti?) in addition to the usual exhaust bag of tricks.
Viper V10 swap?
1988RedT2 wrote: LS-x swap? Bolt-on supercharger kit? Turbo kit?
All of the above.
EvanB wrote:1988RedT2 wrote: LS-x swap? Bolt-on supercharger kit? TwinTurbo kit?All of the above.
fixed
Yes, they like headers. If you're going to rev it, upgrade to roller rockers. A cam change is a good option too.
Also, set aside some money for WHEN the 4L60E E36 M3s the bed......those things don't like abuse in the big body cars.
T56 swap
3.42 gears and posi differential out of a TBI cop car.
With the LT-1, get a Vortech supercharger and some long tube headers, maybe a full exhaust and a NEW limited slip diff.
If the car is still desirable after a while, swap in a T56.
budget?
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but the LT1 is the bastard child of small blocks. There is a limited aftermarket, much of which is for F-bodies. What is there is more expensive than a traditional small block. For example, headers that actually fit a B-body are/were close to $1200. There wasn't much out there when these were new cars. Sorry.
Appleseed wrote: Not to be a Debbie Downer, but the LT1 is the bastard child of small blocks. There is a limited aftermarket, much of which is for F-bodies. What is there is more expensive than a traditional small block. For example, headers that actually fit a B-body are/were close to $1200. There wasn't much out there when these were new cars. Sorry.
The same cheap long tube headers that fit pretty much every other small block powered GM car built since 1964 fit that chassis, but it's not as glamorous to say that you have $150 Dynomax steel headers as it is to say you have $1200 stainless steel premium brand headers.. $250 off the shelf dual exhaust kits for a Chevelle fits with a little fab work to get around the goofy trans crossmember and to put the cats in if you are into that for some reason..
Modifying an LT1 powered B body is only as expensive and hard as you choose to make it..
yamaha wrote: Also, set aside some money for WHEN the 4L60E E36 M3s the bed......those things don't like use in the big body cars.
FTFY....agreed if it hasn't been previously rebuilt its a matter of if, not when it will crap out.
Budget prolly around $3k. Junkyard LSx swap option? Headaches? Clearance issues? Motor mounts? Surely somebody has gone here before. Thanks for the info thus far!
3.73 gears, built transmission, and an LT4 top end.
The F-bodies were wonderfully suited to a 3.42. I'd imagine that this car would be happier with 3.73 but no deeper for sure. What about a rear-mount turbo? The STS type. One could probably copy the STS design for a lot less dough.
I will say that there is a E36 M3 ton of room between the radiator and engine for turbos and intercoolers.
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