GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

I'm not exactly sure how to ask but I'll give it a shot. I have an 04 GTO. In 2 weeks I will be installing heads and cam along with the other supporting mods. Now, as every one else does, I would like to see a decent # up top (410-420) but I am also a little afraid that the heads and cam that require me to get there will come at too much of a sacrifice of lower end torque and that is something my heavy a&* goat needs. I'm considering the F13 112 with the TEA 1.5 ls1 heads. Would I be correct in saying that the heavier the work on factory cylinder heads (stage II and III) the more I'm sacrificing VE at lower engine speeds or is that simply not the case and its merely a case of quality of work? This car is a daily driver and I'm just concerned about killing the bottom end of the power band on this heavy car. Input

Blue02Ws6

iTrader: (3)

You will have more power at all rpm's with a bigger cam and better heads than stock for sure, when you are really getting on it you aren't going lower than 4500 so is power and torque down at 3K really a problem? Do you plan of bogging any? With that 6speed I am sure you can stay in a gear where you can find power, if you want to do heads and cam, go all out and get a monster combo.

Demon SS

iTrader: (3)

I sent you a PM

GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

Well, this car is a daily driver. And it does spend alot of time south of 2500. I come the interstate in the morning so it spends a lot of time in sixth gear and at night I go home on back roads and I do a lot of start stop driving. Either way, I'm still spending more time in lower part of the band than the upper. I know that at some point there is going to be a trade off and just dont want to skue that to much one way or the other.

GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

Thank you! 2 pm's to you

slow ride

Check out the thread in the dyno section called 429 RWP by tonyb. I think this just what you are looking for. Me too for that matter! Let us know what Force Fed wants to do for you OK?

'02 SLP#686

iTrader: (1)

A bigger cam is not always the answer. Slowhawk made a post in the internal section about testing cams with AFR heads. Looks like he was making better power thoughout the ENTIRE range with smaller cams and lot losing much on the top end. You might want to check out a reverse split cam as well... Lots to understand when it comes to head/cam combo's - I am trying to decide as well - and I can't do it 410-420 is going to take a good combo with most bolt-ons and a good tune. Let us know what you decide and some #'s too! Nice to see you modding the Goat! Best wishes!

GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

Thank guys! Let me tell ya, Scott@FF has been great. Very very helpful and willing to listen and direct me in the direction thats best for my app. Even if it cost him a better sale. I appreciate all the additional info you guys have chimed in with. I will look into that thread! Thanks again!

slow ride

Info! What kind of combo did he recomend?

GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

He recommended that I stay with a smaller intake port and go with a stage II 5.3 head. This would bring the compression ratio up to 10.7. He said I could go the FM cam I mentioned above and it would make plenty of torque or he said I could even go a little more aggressive and use a comp annihilator cam with a 232-238 595-585 on a 112. Sounds pretty good to me.
Thank you!

slow ride

Smaller intake port. The 5.3 is about 217cc so I am told. The AFR is 205cc. Smaller intake port & smaller cam = more torque. I think that tonyb's combo is right on!

jrp

iTrader: (16)

5.7's and 5.3's have both the same 200-205cc intake port volume stock.

slow ride

That was a ported 5.3 stage II as per TSP yesterday. Almost bought some. Read Gomers post about his 423/398 and MTI B1 post. Don't you ever sleep?

Full-Force

iTrader: (11)

You spend alot of time south of 2500 but you dont nail into it below 2500. Think about it. When you nail into your car you put it in the gear that is gonna give you the biggest kick which means that you will, by nature, be around 4k.

Blue02Ws6

iTrader: (3)

Exactly my point.

GMCVT

iTrader: (1)

No, I dont nail it when I'm at 2500, but when I do alot of start-stop driving and the rpm's will generally fall between 2k and 3500 rpm's. If I'm shifting within those parameters but I've moved my torque peak up, I will lose the torque where I spend most of the time. I really dont spend to much time above 4k unless I'm at the track or giving somebody a test RIDE or just feeling spunky. Otherwise I usually drive the car in a less that spirited fashion. Which is why I am willing to sacrifice that PEAK # to maintain as much of my lower end as I can. And remember, this is a GTO, you can definately feel the weight difference between it and an fbody. This has as much or more to do with tip-in and partial throttle response than it does flooring it at 2500 rpms. I find in everday driving that there really isn't a need to shift much later than 32 to3500 rpm. Gets me around pretty good.
Make any more sense?

MNR-0

I still think anything higher than 222 for a stock block is too much cam for a daily driver. The highest I would go is comp cams 222/224 making a conservative 450fwhp without tuning.

You should also consider a 212/218. Max. gains up till 5000RPM and loses out to the 222/224 by only 10HP. If you want to go custom somethiong in between would be your best bet.

Blue02Ws6

iTrader: (3)

Depends on your tuning, my 227/227 is perfect on the street, does not die, great mid power and pulls hard.


I would have to disagree with 380hp+ at the wheels in an UNTUNED car with this cam. You might get a fluke and get that much in a M6 with great headers and exhaust and a good tune but not untuned.