2000 Firebird bolt ons and baby cam results!
06-04-2011, 05:44 PM
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2000 Firebird bolt ons and baby cam results! Hi everybody, I picked up this 2000 Formula Firebird last fall as a new fun car. I knew roughly what I wanted to do with it mod wise, so after collecting parts over the winter and spring, I got it out of storage for a baseline dyno and then a mod fest over a weekend. Baseline was 309hp/224ft-lbs with the lid, decent but I could do better 
New mods include:
SLP lid w/ K&N
LS6 intake
Comp trunnion kit
Comp hardened pushrods
Comp 218/224 114 +2 Low lift version
LS6 valve springs
Powerbond underdrive pulley
Adjustable LS2 timing set
Melling high volume oil pump
Polly motor and trans mounts
TSP 1-7/8ths headers and ORY
Magnaflow cat back
My own custom tuning with an LM1 and HPT
Pretty standard bolt-ons and cam swap. The cam was a really cheap pick up here in the classifieds, otherwise I would have skipped it, but the trunnions, valve springs and pushrods were going in anyways for durability reasons, so I said why not. I took the time to degree the cam as well, since I wanted it at 112* vs the standard 110* ICL. With the adjustable timing set, I got it at 112.5*, hoping for peak power around 6k. Based on new traps, I was hoping for around 370hp, but was pleasantly surprised with what I got:
Its pretty much what I wanted, more power everywhere, its well mannered around town, and still OK mileage wise. Since I autocross the car more than drag race, I didn't want a huge cam that would hurt the low end. It still would benefit from gears, 3.90s are what I'm thinking. All the extra power still made a difference at the strip, going from a 12.9 @ 109 to a 12.4 @ 115.8, on crappy street tires.
Overall I'm very pleased with what I ended up with, and it gives a decent reference point to whats now considered a baby cam. In searching for dynos of smaller cams, there were very few charts left up and those few usually didn't have an LS6 intake or as good an exhaust setup and the like. Questions or comments are welcome, thanks!
Ooops, can't forget video!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uxgv...el_video_title
New mods include:
SLP lid w/ K&N
LS6 intake
Comp trunnion kit
Comp hardened pushrods
Comp 218/224 114 +2 Low lift version
LS6 valve springs
Powerbond underdrive pulley
Adjustable LS2 timing set
Melling high volume oil pump
Polly motor and trans mounts
TSP 1-7/8ths headers and ORY
Magnaflow cat back
My own custom tuning with an LM1 and HPT
Pretty standard bolt-ons and cam swap. The cam was a really cheap pick up here in the classifieds, otherwise I would have skipped it, but the trunnions, valve springs and pushrods were going in anyways for durability reasons, so I said why not. I took the time to degree the cam as well, since I wanted it at 112* vs the standard 110* ICL. With the adjustable timing set, I got it at 112.5*, hoping for peak power around 6k. Based on new traps, I was hoping for around 370hp, but was pleasantly surprised with what I got:
Its pretty much what I wanted, more power everywhere, its well mannered around town, and still OK mileage wise. Since I autocross the car more than drag race, I didn't want a huge cam that would hurt the low end. It still would benefit from gears, 3.90s are what I'm thinking. All the extra power still made a difference at the strip, going from a 12.9 @ 109 to a 12.4 @ 115.8, on crappy street tires.
Overall I'm very pleased with what I ended up with, and it gives a decent reference point to whats now considered a baby cam. In searching for dynos of smaller cams, there were very few charts left up and those few usually didn't have an LS6 intake or as good an exhaust setup and the like. Questions or comments are welcome, thanks!
Ooops, can't forget video!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uxgv...el_video_title
Last edited by Whahappen; 06-04-2011 at 09:50 PM. Reason: VIDEO!
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06-30-2011, 02:56 AM
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Hey speed, I am running that cam. What all did your dad have done to his car to pull those numbers? Most guys are putting down 360 or so through the 4l60e and that cam. Nice !
07-23-2011, 02:32 PM
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Thanks for the congrats everybody! It does seem to be a nicely matched combo, and yes, its fun to drive on the street for sure. I do still feel that gears would make it that much better, even 3.73s would work. My clutch even seems to be doing OK at this power level, although I might not tax it all that much since the crappy tires spin so easy 
I don't think Ill stretch for 400 whp with this setup unless I come across some realy good deals on parts that can support even more power later. A FAST or better heads would do it sure, but if I'm tearing heads off, might as well throw in a cam that can support the new found airflow. Plus I'm kinda holding out hope for more cubes later anyways
I guess my point is if someone wants a cam, but 400 bucks for a new one PLUS everything else to go with it is holding them back, theres still awsome and inexpensive options out there that can make 90-95% the power a newer grind can. Makes for an even more fun car to drive
I don't think Ill stretch for 400 whp with this setup unless I come across some realy good deals on parts that can support even more power later. A FAST or better heads would do it sure, but if I'm tearing heads off, might as well throw in a cam that can support the new found airflow. Plus I'm kinda holding out hope for more cubes later anyways
I guess my point is if someone wants a cam, but 400 bucks for a new one PLUS everything else to go with it is holding them back, theres still awsome and inexpensive options out there that can make 90-95% the power a newer grind can. Makes for an even more fun car to drive
07-24-2011, 09:23 AM
#15
Look at the GMPP RamJet 350 as the most glaring, blatant example. The relatively excellent Vortec heads, with a tiny 196/206 cam. Still pumps out 350 HP at 5200 RPM, 400 tQ @ 3500 RPM, but compared against the ZZ4, it makes far better torque below peak. The ZZ4 uses worse-flowing aluminum heads, and a 208/221 cam, to make 355 HP at 5250 RPM, 405 TQ @ 3500 RPM.
Put the same carburetor on both of them. Same HEI, too. Which will give better times at the dragstrip? All else being equal, it should be close. And no doubt the ZZ4 will sound meaner. But MPG?
Good heads with a very mild cam is a fine recipe. Better power than stock, but with every advantage of stock. Including stealth. True stealth, not the poor imitation like these so-called stealth cams.
07-24-2011, 10:55 AM
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For me, its the power goal and useage for a given setup. Personally, if I go with heads, I don't want to be limited by the cam as far as power and wouldn't really care about stealth at that point. Hardly anybody pays attention to a plain looking hardtop Formula anyways 
. Gas mileage probably wouldn't change a ton in the RPM band you cruise in either, and as a 2nd car, its not a huge deal. Different parts, different goals.
Look for dynos of any CNCed 243 headed LS1 with say a streetsweeper HT or an EPS 226/234. 420-450 peak whp depending on the rest of the parts, 350ish ft/lbs by 3k or before in some cases, and peaking around 400+ ft/lbs. Thats the kind of combo I'd move up to if I wasn't thinking of a 6.0L build up at some point in the future.
. Gas mileage probably wouldn't change a ton in the RPM band you cruise in either, and as a 2nd car, its not a huge deal. Different parts, different goals. Look for dynos of any CNCed 243 headed LS1 with say a streetsweeper HT or an EPS 226/234. 420-450 peak whp depending on the rest of the parts, 350ish ft/lbs by 3k or before in some cases, and peaking around 400+ ft/lbs. Thats the kind of combo I'd move up to if I wasn't thinking of a 6.0L build up at some point in the future.
08-04-2011, 10:06 AM
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Your issue is probably the format. Either resave the scan as a jpeg or just rescan it as one. Then when you attach it in your post use the internal ls1tech HTML address to link it as a pic wherever you want in the post.
