Got $6000 to spend...should i go heads & cam or turbo??
09-07-2006, 02:05 AM
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Got $6000 to spend...should i go heads & cam or turbo?? Got 6,000 beans to mess with......just wondering what route would all the ls1 gurus go??? Turbo, SC, or NA....and I don't want LT's so don't ask
09-07-2006, 03:14 AM
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Depends what you want from the car. $6k isn't a massive wedge to spend in reality. It's probably just enough to get a base single turbo or Procharger setup, but you'll be at the lower end of the scale. Low 430-470rwhp area most likely. Maybe more if you want to push your luck. If you really want a decent FI setup and one that’ll last you need a built motor, which will cost.
h/c can be pretty cheap by comparison, couple of grand and you can do the lot if you want.
But you need to think about the rest of the car, chassis, suspension & brakes. These all need upgrading on high HP applications. You also need to accept that with extra HP and being a manual that the rear end will go pop. That’s another $2000-2500 to upgrade on its own.
I’d be tempted to have a look at building an engine up. Like a short block aluminium 402ci. Use that and some of the bits off your current LS1 and make a monster. A nice cam and some reasonable heads. If you go high CR then over 500rhwp should be pretty easy with 550rwhp on a more extreme setup. Or go for a lower CR build, it won’t be as powerful in n/a form but well in the 400’s. However you will have an ideal starting point to add boost at a later date.
A forged 402ci with boost should quite easily make 700rwhp all day every day, and a whole lot more if you need it too.
To give you an idea, my current build sheet totals $10,000 to do chassis, suspension, brakes, full bolt on’s and h/c. It should when finished be capable of over 450rwhp as well as stop and corner like a ****. However this doesn’t include any styling options (wheels, tyres, paint) or for replacement of any major components like tranny or rear end.
Personally I think your best bet is to have a thing about what you really want and about what is really feasible. Do some research and take it form there.
BTW – shorties are no good for n/a. You would need to go LT’s is you plan this route. I have no idea why you wouldn’t want them???
However, shorties will work fine on a boosted application and wouldn’t need changing.
h/c can be pretty cheap by comparison, couple of grand and you can do the lot if you want.
But you need to think about the rest of the car, chassis, suspension & brakes. These all need upgrading on high HP applications. You also need to accept that with extra HP and being a manual that the rear end will go pop. That’s another $2000-2500 to upgrade on its own.
I’d be tempted to have a look at building an engine up. Like a short block aluminium 402ci. Use that and some of the bits off your current LS1 and make a monster. A nice cam and some reasonable heads. If you go high CR then over 500rhwp should be pretty easy with 550rwhp on a more extreme setup. Or go for a lower CR build, it won’t be as powerful in n/a form but well in the 400’s. However you will have an ideal starting point to add boost at a later date.
A forged 402ci with boost should quite easily make 700rwhp all day every day, and a whole lot more if you need it too.
To give you an idea, my current build sheet totals $10,000 to do chassis, suspension, brakes, full bolt on’s and h/c. It should when finished be capable of over 450rwhp as well as stop and corner like a ****. However this doesn’t include any styling options (wheels, tyres, paint) or for replacement of any major components like tranny or rear end.
Personally I think your best bet is to have a thing about what you really want and about what is really feasible. Do some research and take it form there.
BTW – shorties are no good for n/a. You would need to go LT’s is you plan this route. I have no idea why you wouldn’t want them???
However, shorties will work fine on a boosted application and wouldn’t need changing.
09-07-2006, 06:31 AM
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how come no long tubes? what ever you do..you will be leaving a lot of power on the table using the stock manifolds. 6k isn't that much..do you have money just in case the motor pops, clutch gets burnt or the rear breaks? If I had 6k..and thats it, i'd get a bullet proof rear with some 4.10s, drag radials, new perfect clutch and spray 100-125 shot and ank the reat for later use. if you don't want to build the rear and replace the clutch.. I'd go for a base sts turbo kit,,,becasue since your asking this question..i'm assuming your not gonna do the work yourself...so you'll have to pay someone to install it, which will be a couple of hundred, and the tune it..which is a must and that'll run you another 500. If your paying someone else to do it, you won't be able to afford any other forced induction. Without lng tubes..you can't go n/a...your gains won't be worth the cost.
09-07-2006, 09:33 AM
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I agree with all above posts 100% $6000 is not that much, if I were you I would be concerned with building the car up to handle the power first. Im gona get a new rear, rebuilt tranny and clutch before I put anymore power in.
After all that though im gona go big cam and spray, head work is just too damn expensive.
After all that though im gona go big cam and spray, head work is just too damn expensive.
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09-07-2006, 01:58 PM
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Well I had LT's and hit a manhole on a road that was under construction and the damn lt hit the top of the manhole lid and bent the **** outta em and also 2 bolts broke off into my block.....total pain in the ***.....so i'm totally scared of putting them on again. Well, anyhow a FI application seems very expensive whereas heads and cam seem way cheaper and more reliable. I'm gonna buy some LS6 heads AFR 205's I think and get the TR Cheatr cam and upgrade my clutch to a stage 3 and get a CF driveshaft......should I get a kevlar clutch or a ceramic??? I should make over 400 hp with these heads & cam right??? Oh, I want it to be streetable and be able to have fun with it at the track every now and then.....thanx for all your suggestions, I really appreciate it
Last edited by miamifan3413; 09-07-2006 at 02:07 PM.
09-07-2006, 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Xtnct00WS6
If you're gonna get serious about this, I'd get a Built 4L80E Tranny with a manual valve body, 9 inch, a good torque converter, heads and cam. That'd probably put you around the 6 grand mark.
09-07-2006, 02:05 PM
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Patriot Stage 2 LS6 heads, some TR cam, I don't know which one you want. 9 inch rear, clutch, longtubes...like pacesetters or something cheap, exhaust, boltons and subframe connectors. And then you should be around 6 grand. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, I just hope you know that you always end up spending more than you want to. Tim.
09-07-2006, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by miamifan3413
U don't think I should stay with a M6 tranny???? Y?
09-07-2006, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by miamifan3413
U don't think I should stay with a M6 tranny???? Y?
depends on how serious youre going to get with it. i would however at least upgrade the rear end.
09-07-2006, 05:17 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LS1-L...QQcmdZViewItem
plus an install will put you at right around 6k.
plus an install will put you at right around 6k.
09-07-2006, 07:53 PM
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This is if you are doin all the work by yourself if not you might as well start thinking that youve got $4500 to spend.
Get ahold of a few of the sponsors tell them how much money you have let them know what you plan to do and they will get you hooked up with the best choices, thats all the advice you should need.
Get ahold of a few of the sponsors tell them how much money you have let them know what you plan to do and they will get you hooked up with the best choices, thats all the advice you should need.
09-07-2006, 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by bjamick
H/C, intake 90/90 setup, nice tune, drag radials, and or a 12 bolt bc you will need. it LOL.
09-07-2006, 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 4merlt1user
easiest way to put this,
YOU --->
<--- YOUR CAR WITHOUT HEADERS 
YOU --->
<--- YOUR CAR WITH HEADERS 
YOU --->
<--- YOUR CAR WITHOUT HEADERS YOU --->
<--- YOUR CAR WITH HEADERS 
I AGREE....100%