LS4 Performance - Mods finally going in

Well, after what seems like ages, I am finally doing the mods I have planned: Cam, rockers, springs, pushrods, shift kit, downpipe with AF gauge, and trans cooler. I have added to that list an oil cooler. I will replace the thermostat come spring.

I looked into changing the gears to 3.69s, but it seems like I would lose more than I would really gain. I also considered a differential, but I doubt I will be using slicks enough to make it really necessary.

One of the things we noticed were the heads airflow restrictions. Instead of going out to near the edge of the gaskets on the flow to the header pipes, it looks like they turned a round hole into a rectangular one. I run nothing (and I mean nothing) but super unleaded. I have 8600 miles on the car. There is a LOT of carbon deposits on it. So, looking into getting it ported and polished.

I have taken pictures, and have more to take. Soon as I can get them off the camera, I will start posting some.

I also looked into getting some new ignition coils (cause believe me, right now a monkey could replace them :P). Unfortunately, no one makes any...

Any questions or specific pic requests, let me know. I have not had much time lately to be on the board, but I will get email notifications to check this post :D

When you can put a list together and note all the products and what sizes you are using.
THANKS!! and pics.

msd makes coils, but replacing them is pointless.

the heads are not the restriction.

3.69's would be way too high of a ratio.

I would go 3.29's.....I think it would be much better. :D

Seriously though post up some pics and stuff I'm very interested in seeing this done and what gains you'll get.

3.69's would be way too high of a ratio.

I would go 3.29's.....I think it would be much better. :D



I have 3.29's in my Comp G and I'm pushing right at 310WHP and 340WTQ and will tell you it is damn near impossible to launch the car with anything more then say 1/4 throttle unless I'm on DR's or slicks. We only have four gears and when you take away first then that doesn't leave us alot to play with. Keep the 2.93's in it, but I would be looking at building the tranny in the near future. With my Comp G and my mods I killed the stock tranny in two visits to the track with the DR's (6 passes total) only pulling 1.86-1.94 in the 60'.
Just my .02
Tate

i second (third....fourth?) the request for the specifics on your parts and your processes :)

What cam? Good luck on the install. I have thought about camming mine too, but the idea of installing a cam in this car just sounds like too big of a deal. Question: Can it be installed throught the passenger side wheelwell? I would leave the heads alone though personally. Maybe a little porting & polishing/port mathcing etc., but the heads are not the restriction. IIRC these are the same heads as whats on the 400hp LS6 and should flow plently of air.

I definitely need to clarify: I am talking port matching, not increasing it past that point.

Most of the other stuff has more to do with: "while I have the engine out should I..."

According to the MSD techs, they do not make coils for us yet. But, those are easy enough to change later if needed.

I had no metal shavings in my trans pan after dropping it, but not really surprised with only 8600 miles on the car.

We were able to order an oil cooler (I forget where from, but will get that info) that has not yet been released, so that was just nifty.

I was going to change the thermostat, but with winter just around the corner, I will wait a little bit on that.

I just went with a stock LS2 cam. As far as going through the firewall... ehhhh, I suppose you could, but I think it might end up being the same amount of work.

excellent keep us posted :)

Since all is out and you have good access to the tranny then I would highly recommend replacing the Input shaft and hardened 4th gear shaft. These two are the things that break more then anything on these tranny's. Then when your there I would go ahead and replace the clutches with some Raybestos Red's and do a shift kit and tranny cooler.
Shift kit
http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=570&catid=105
Input shaft
http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=153&catid=105
Hardened 4th gear shaft
http://www.zzperformance.com/grand_prix/products1.php?id=151&catid=105
Clutches you could get at any tranny shop they could order them. And tranny coolers are every where.

So for those with the links your looking at $490 then clutches will run you about $200 and another $60 for a tranny cooler. Your looking at about $750 total and a huge piece of mind.
Tate

I have the shift kit and tranny cooler already. I will look into the other parts right now. Thanks for the advice.

I would for sure do what Compg suggests for the tranny.

Finally!

Well, the car is finally back. I need some MAJOR tuning to it.

To recap:

Installed a stock LS2 cam, DoD has been disabled in HPTuners. Lifters were left stock.
Installed HS 1.8 non adjustable rockers, new springs, and new pushrods.
Installed Intense Shift kit (identical to what Badd put in his).
Installed trans and oil coolers.
Installed Oil pressue gauge.
Installed wideband sensor and gauge.
Installed a Hogan's DP with hi-flow cat.
Ported the heads down by the valves. Ran the airflow test (guy that did it has a $60K porting machine).

Working on building the trans, but that is not in yet.

I already had a CAI and a Magnaflow catback.

I have not had much of a chance to drive it yet, but for initial impressions:
Louder at startup and hitting the gas for sure. Idle and cruise is still pretty quiet.
I am running REALLY rich (according to the WB), so I need to work on that.
Have not adjusted my trans stuff yet, definitely need to do that.
Pulls pretty nicely, in spite of not being tuned. In tapshift mode, pulls REALLY well.

So my check engine light came on last night, I was freaking out (but the car ran fine). I ran a complete scan with HPT and light went out, not come back yet. We figure it was probably a gas cap thing. While I did not remove the gas cap, I did remove the engine, so it probably did the same thing.

I have to find a dyno around my area. I did a long scan with HPT and exported it (anyone know how to read all this crap?)

nighthand. i do.

send me your tune, log, and the config file. i'll help ya out

Pics Pics Pics Pics

Show us vids&pics........on the other hand how does the Ls2 cam stack up against the Ls4 I mean how much more useable hp?? There both stock cams.

Pics or :ban:

You want pics of the parts? lol it will look stock unless of course he took pics of the process.

Never know if he has install pics...I know I'd be taking them! I'm very curious how complicated the LS2 cam ended up being since there was all that theorycrafting in here about how much of a bitch it would be.

probably not very hard at all with the engine out of the car...

The cam install was fairly easy. The hardest part is dismantling everything. I cannot really see replacing the cam with the engine in the car though.

I do have some pics. I will work on getting them posted.

As far as horsepower, my tune is essentially still stock (Area is helping me with that). I am running EXTREMELY rich at this point. I can say 2nd and 3rd pull REALLY well right now. However, I did a shift kit, downpipe and rockers at the same time, so which one is really doing the most is hard to say.

My idle is about 600 rpm, fairly quiet. Cruising is nice and quiet too. But when you step on it, it has this nice lope. I don't think it is any louder, but the wife says it is.

I did not go with an overly agressive cam, I went with a stock LS2 cam.

I have not punched it from a dead stop yet because I want to have my trans ready to go in first.

I will say though guys, check your tie rods. I had a bad one on the driver's side. Keep in mind, I only have 8600 miles on my car.