Adam86

iTrader: (10)

Well I've been doing a lot of reading and am noticing that there are just a ton of options out there and was looking to get some opinions from some more seasoned heads/cam guys out there. My budget for the whole swap is around $2000-2500. My current mods are listed below, although I will probably be switching to LTs around the time I do the swap. Not counting the cost of LTs in the budget.
I'm looking for around 420rwhp give or take. Driveability is a big factor. I realize a lot of that is in the tune, and I have a lifetime tune already bought with a really good tuner. Don't want it to completely murder my mileage but I'm fully aware the days of 30+ mpg on the highway will be done Finally, I'm looking for a setup that will work well with a ~100 shot of nitrous that I plan on getting farther down the road. I was thinking of a 233/239, .595"/.603" 113 cam.
I've been searching and I can't seem to find many specifics on people with a setup that have similar goals to what mine are.

Here's the expected part list I have so far without many specifics.

Camshaft
Hardened Pushrods
Ported Oil Pump and pump o-ring
Heads
Underdrive pulley
LS2 timing chain
Water pump
Bolt kit
Head gaskets

Thanks guys

Texas_WS6

iTrader: (9)

How many miles on the car now? I would not waist my money on the underdrive pulley unless you are going to some 4.10 gears. Whats wrong with your $350 water pump? Take those things off your list and you still will need more moeny, heads to fit the the LS1 will start at a minimal of $1000 each. Not much left over for the cam, timing set, pushrods, Head gaskets, and GM Performance lifter.

Adam86

iTrader: (10)

I'm right on 100K miles now. Won't the stock lifters be okay for my goals or will they need to be replaced with the heads? I'm debating on the 4.10s now or waiting till the 10 bolt hits the crapper. Either way I've heard that a cam swap is the best time to do the UD pulley. Water pump is fine so I guess no big reason to replace it at this point.
As for the heads, I've seen quite a few of what I THOUGHT were pairs of CNCd heads with upgraded springs for around $1300. Maybe I'm looking at them wrong.

edit: At 100K, it's probably a good idea to replace the lifters anyway so tack on another 200ish. Maybe rockers while I'm in there as well. Sunuvabitch this is going to go the way EVERY OTHER MOD IN HISTORY has gone - over budget and more time than expected Oh well I'll just get the wife some new shoes to stave her anger

Nitroused383

iTrader: (10)

Here is what I did with a set of $400 heads unported 243 heads milled to 62 ccs for 11:1 compression , a custom 224 cam, no underdrive, pushrods, springs, headers and an ls6 intake. 28 mpg highway 20 in town. Thumps like a ****, it thinks its a big cam. I would have to say I am well under $2000 with everything. This is my daily driver and my goal was to gain power everywhere. Heavy *** zr1 wheels and a heavy **** ls7 clutch.

Also 118k on my car now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8s0ovoQDU

Sharpe

iTrader: (7)

His story, mods, estimates, dyno, etc., are all basically identical to mine. 243's used. PP 225/229 cam. Used, unported 243's are great for the budget. Doesn't matter if they are LS6 or LS2, etc. Get whichever you find cheapest. Keep your mids. Not a whole lot to be gained from a cam with ~0 overlap going to LT's.

jetlag

iTrader: (32)

lol...Um...what? What do gears have to do with an underdrive pulley?

I RECOMMEND installing a pulley, especially since you have to remove the stock pulley to install a cam.

My car gained 6rwhp/10rwtq from swapping to an underdrive pulley. Gains like that add up quick.

Adam86, don't listen to that guy ^^

billymz28

Heres the numbers on my setup. And this was with the stock ls1 clutch at the time. So sure there might be a little on the table that were freed up the the clutch swap. 435 hp 416 trq see sig for mods

00fastta

I say go with billymz28. What I'm planning on doing with mine...If I don't get another fully built engine is go with a set of stage 3 243s- whatever company prc patriot- I don't care they're all the same and an ms3 or ms4 depending on clearences and etc. and I suggest you get a set of ls7 lifters. My car has 54k miles on it and I am doing that as one of the first things to my car.

PREDATOR-Z

Being a 98, if you go with center bolt heads you have to factor that cost in.
There is another way.
Patriot 98 perimeter LS1 heads milled .025 (CNC ported)
Custom 226/238 .609/.604 112+3 LSA
LS2 chain set, LS7 lifters, pushrods

Keep your exhaust, you can mod your MAC (inner primary weld cleanup and collector cleanup).

That will definitely get you 420+rwhp and plenty lope/power undercurve to have fun on the street.

If you like PM me for cam specs and more info.

Texas_WS6

iTrader: (9)

Underdrive pulleys are good for slowing the accesories down closer to stock speeds after you have changed gears wich in turn makes the accesories speed up. I did not say it would not help make power, just that for the budget I would not spend the money there unless there was other contributing factors to help justify the cost. Just trying to help keep him in his budget. It is not hard to swap the dampner out latter on.

01wssick

iTrader: (27)

UD Pulley isn't worth the cost. max gain is 2HP

Texas_WS6

iTrader: (9)

There is a place for an underdrive pulley, I run one. I like them. My sugestion was not to talk down the advantages to using an underdrive, but instead that with the proposed budget I would use the money on the other things first. If there ends up were there is more money or enough left over, then an underdrive would be a good next step.

TXZ28LS1

iTrader: (5)

i would try to swap out those midlengths for a set of full length headers..look for some cheap pacesetters in the used section.

but for your budget i would give TSP a call. they have combos that can get you the power you want especially on your budget.

DSkyles

iTrader: (1)

I am doing a budget h/c swap right now. Here is what I have so far and what I have spent:
243 z06 heads with comp 921's installed
comp 232/238 595/605 112+2 cam
comp hardened push rods
I got all of the above for 751.01 on ebay and drove an hour to get them to save shipping

Had the heads and springs checked out by a machinist, he also did some porting on them for 300 bucks

new ls2 timing set from yank for 63 dollars shipped

new cometic .40 head gaskets and new gm bolts- $145 locally

I still need an oil pump, injectors, and a converter. I'll probably go ahead and buy a set of lifters also. Keep in mind that I have been slowly collecting parts since May to get the best deals possible. I plan on having everything in by next spring. The less you want to wait, the more money you will probably spend since you won't be shopping for the best deals.

Adam86

iTrader: (10)

Thanks a lot guys
I think I'm going to hit up TSP for a bit of advice as well.

What exactly would it take to get 243 heads to go on a '98 block? Or is it something that people just don't do? Looking around, I've noticed it might limit my head options as far as going with CNCd and ported stockers.

jetlag

iTrader: (32)

Where did you get that info?

My dynosheet clearly shows 6rwhp/10rwtq all across the powerband.


Adam,

243s will go on the motor. The problem is your stock valve covers. The have perimeter bolts and 99+ cars have only 4 center bolts. You would need to buy new valve covers and coil pack brackets.

Jason 98 TA

iTrader: (4)

That budget can easily buy you a heads cam combo. Give us a call & we can go over different options to get you where your looking to be. We have tons of dyno tested camshafts on blowout sale right now. We can put together you a heads cam combo with plenty of money to spare for your other parts your looking at. We have several new camshafts available with engine dyno data that will help you to compare different camshafts at all rpm's next to each other. This is a awesome thing to have when your trying to figure out a camshaft that's best for your goals.

I definitely would not settle for a ported perimeter bolt head setup, I have probably 20 sets of them sitting here & wouldn't want to waste the cnc machine time cutting on them. You can for very little money difference get a PRC cnc ported LS6 & 5.3l head.

Here's a few of the camshafts currently available, or we can offer a off the shelf, or custom grind to meet your individual goals!!

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...-specials.html

Jason 98 TA

iTrader: (4)

I do have a 233/239 on special in the camshaft blowout thread, but based on your goals I can probably help you find a camshaft that perfectly meets your needs....

sscamaroburn02

iTrader: (14)

i'm running the 233/239 cam and sounds awesome. it's more of a top end cam. i make my max power at 6400. send me a pm if you have questions.

Johnnystock

iTrader: (6)

If you DD the car and looknig for nice low end grunt, I would defenitly not go with the 233/239 because its a top end screamer. I did endless searches in the dyno section about the 233/239 and its a bit lazy down low(peak power is usually around 6800-7000 except the guy above..). while a good tune will provide good driving manners down low, it will not give the punch of a 224-228 cam in the same range. Plus you would not need gears with a smaller cam.

228R is a badass cam from TSP, or a custom from PredZ would hit your goal, TR224..etc

Dont do gears, wait until the 10bolts blow up and it will(especially on the 1/4).

I would do U/D too but let go the water pump idea(I guess you meant electric water pump;a waste of 500$..I would change to LT headers wayyy before).

I would get ported LS6 heads too while at it, they go for really cheap from some sponsors(TEA heads seems to have killer porting job on em). But used LS6 are putting good numbers too. The guys in this thread are showing extraordinary numbers too with small cams.

I personnally went with the torquer 3 because I wanted to go bigger while retanning good torque down low. Plus its a newer design cam and I have seen nothing under 420rwhp with this cam and a lot of 440-460rwhp.