i got an carbureted LG4, i plan to replace the heads and put a new exahust (headers, y-pipe, and catback on).... with these additions, could i use nitrous on my car?

 

Assuming you have a stock bottom end (crank, rods, etc.), I would not recommend it at all. Do some research on it, and you'll find out why. Your motor might last a season......maybe. Just my .02

 

i wouldnt risk it. ive seen a whole bunch of ppl really screw up there cars with nitrous. if your gonna put new heads and exhaust why not re-build it for nitrous? like forged internals and all. then you could spray all you want!

 

How many miles are on the block? If it’s a lot I probably wouldn't recommend more than a 50 or 75 shot. If less than a 100 shot would probably be ok.

A freshened block will last about 40,000 to 50,000 miles with Nitrous depending on how aggressively you use it. Just like anything that increases the output of an engine NOS will reduce its longevity and long-term reliability.

When you run nitrous you have to retard your timing, doing so at the distributor will result in poor performance during normal driving. So an Ignition control box is recommended. Also if you plan to use Nitrous, your stock ignition system will not produce sufficient spark and will limit your performance gains, your going to need an MSD box or similar capacitive discharge system. However I would highly recommend an MSD box, the performance shop I go to (Gearhead Performance, Dunedin, Florida) says a lot of his customers have had trouble with Jacobs Electronics boxes and Mallory just aren’t as good as MSD.

MSDs 6AL box goes for about $200 and has a built in programmable rev-limiter to help prevent engine damage, you would also need the retard control module which would run about $50. Alternatively you could use an MSD Digital 6-plus which has a built in programmable rev-limiter and a single stage retard for nitrous, it usually goes for $270.

A friend of mine was running an LG4 for about 2 years with nitrous using the 6AL with retard module and it was fine till one day he hit the juice, but had forgot to dial back the timing, which spelled the end of his LG4. So as you can see the Digital 6 plus with the automatic retard is a preferable system.

The NOS Nitrous Sniper system which is adjustable between 100hp and 150hp is about $350. So with the Box and Kit you’re looking at about $620 if you install it yourself. However, if can't see yourself affording a new engine I wouldn't run it at all. If that’s not a problem than I would just run the LG4 with the above system till it dies and then just swap in a 350.

One last thing, if you do run Nitrous make sure you periodically check the solenoids (especially the gas ones) after every few bottles (every 15 - 30 lbs of NO2) as they can become stuck and then when you hit the nitrous they may not function properly which will create an extreme lean condition in your engine that will kill it instantly.