jonnyc

iTrader: (18)

my '99 has just over 98,000 miles on it.i want to do heads and cam but was wondering what you guys thought about tearing into a high milage motor.if i do it i'll end up putting new oil pump,timing chain,h2o pump,and all new vavletrain.
do you think i should pull the motor and do a complete rebuild(didn't really want to spend that much) or just keep the stock bottom with the milage and go for the h/c swap?
like to hear from anyone that has done this.

thanks

Brandon35thSS

i say go for it.

05MBMLS2

iTrader: (34)

98k is just broken in for an ls1......I just did a h/c swap on my 115k and it runs like a top.

jlrz28

iTrader: (7)

Mine had 96k when the first cam was put it. Then at 105k the heads were put on. Then at 132k the 224 cam was installed. Think of it as "freshening" up!

willystyle438

I did my H/C/I swap at 135,000. It still runs like a beast.

tko0383

iTrader: (1)

I would replace the lifter and lifter trays.

massconfusion

iTrader: (18)

the lifter trays should be fine but definately get new lifters. Did mine at 96k and as stated above runs like a top and rapes evos even from a roll. do it

eatlead

Mine broke at 64k miles with a head and cam. And I've got a sbc 350 with 165k on it still running strong so who's to say for sure.

I say all bets are off when you mod a car. These engines are good but certainly not the most consistent or greatest built. Some have piston slap some dont, some make more power than others etc. There have been plenty of failures but thats not to say doing it will cause a failure.

Set a budget and then look at it again. A good head and cam will cost $2550-$2900 for AFR or TFS, then you need a tune and you should already have supporting mods.
Intake and headers be it shorties for Cali. You should replace the lifters while your there $135 for LS7's, timing chain $60?, oil pump $165, pushrods $108, head gaskets $80... thats 3k right there.. You could cheap out and go with bargain heads, but it wont be as quick as with better heads.

You could rebuild to a 383 for $3400 and have no questions at all about the next 100k miles.

Make a plan for your car. Set a goal and then make a plan to achieve it. Are you going to keep it for a while? Has it been beat on very much? How much power were you looking for?

IWGF

iTrader: (6)

I did mine at 104,000 miles. I've only put about 400 miles on the new setup so far, but the motor was checked out, compression tested, etc before we did the swap and it all checked out. So, we'll see how long it lasts... If it goes, it's just an excuse to go bigger and better.

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

I say go for it... doing this your already replacing part of your 100k mile motor with upgrades to the valve train like springs and such...

upgrade your lifters and pushrods while your in there...

at this point your only worry is your bottom end, block, and pistons... as long as you've done proper routine maintenance on the life of the car, then your most likely in safe hands. You'll be able to see what the piston walls and some of the internals look like when you pull the heads...

98TA_vert

did mine at 102k everything went ok, with one exception i would get either the trunnion in the stock rocker upgraded, or a set of aftermarket rockers if you are gonna run an aggressive cam with a heavy spring.

im replacing the rockers today pulled them last nite, one rocker **** half its needle bearings. Found 8 needle bearing on the drainplug last time i change the oil. only found 2 up in the head, maybe ill find the other 20 when i change the oil again

Smokinstorm

iTrader: (5)

Change the rod bolts in you '98 if you're planning on spinning the motor over 6500. I wish I'd have done that in my car. It'd still be running today if I had just done that minor thing. The performance I got was unbelievable though (10.7 @ 126) and I had 130K miles when I did the h/c swap.