450whp ls2 daily cam only build
07-24-2016, 08:08 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
450whp ls2 daily cam only build Hello guys! I am in the process of upgrading my GTO with the hopes of around 450whp.
Current parts include-
Pacesetter long tubes $558
FAST 92mm $871
3.90 gears $450 (pre installation)
Still need to purchase a cam to install. Im hoping to keep stock heads simply for fiscal reasons, car is 90% street 10% strip so driveability is a concern. A local mechanic recommended the GM hot cam but the specs seem very mild for an LS, would a bigger cam be better and if i got a bigger cam would i need aftermarket heads? Im planning on raising the redline to 6800 or 7000 after some valvetrain updates ie dual springs hardened pushrods etc, would this give me any notable gains with stock heads or would those be a significant restriction?
Current parts include-
Pacesetter long tubes $558
FAST 92mm $871
3.90 gears $450 (pre installation)
Still need to purchase a cam to install. Im hoping to keep stock heads simply for fiscal reasons, car is 90% street 10% strip so driveability is a concern. A local mechanic recommended the GM hot cam but the specs seem very mild for an LS, would a bigger cam be better and if i got a bigger cam would i need aftermarket heads? Im planning on raising the redline to 6800 or 7000 after some valvetrain updates ie dual springs hardened pushrods etc, would this give me any notable gains with stock heads or would those be a significant restriction?
07-24-2016, 08:17 PM
#3
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car dyno'd at 353whp 353wtq completely stock other than a tune, ill use the same dyno to get my post mod numbers. Does fairly aggressive mean 228/228 or 243/248? If i need to choose between a massive cam with bad driveability or a more tame cam but having to buy heads, i would rather buy heads considering that its my daily
07-24-2016, 08:22 PM
#4
07-24-2016, 08:32 PM
#5
I'm thinking a 228'ish to 232'ish cam (intake duration) should do it.
My LS3 powered '95 Impala is pushing 450HP through a 4L60e trans with a 229*/241* cam....114* LSA + 0*. I do have ported LS3 heads.....but I also have mid-length headers (barely more than manifolds) and a 2 1/2" exhaust.
So, with your setup, a cam with a 228* to 232* intake duration.....with stock heads.......should get you pretty darn close.
Best of luck!
KW
My LS3 powered '95 Impala is pushing 450HP through a 4L60e trans with a 229*/241* cam....114* LSA + 0*. I do have ported LS3 heads.....but I also have mid-length headers (barely more than manifolds) and a 2 1/2" exhaust.
So, with your setup, a cam with a 228* to 232* intake duration.....with stock heads.......should get you pretty darn close.
Best of luck!
KW
Trending Topics
07-25-2016, 08:32 AM
#11
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the quick responses! Would a smaller cam (218/228 112lsa ish) and some ported/aftermarket heads give me the power im looking for with less compromise or would i be better off sticking with stock heads and getting the 228/232~ cam?
07-25-2016, 08:34 AM
#12
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was also considering a SD tune, were there any other valvetrain mods to support that redline? That sure looks like one mean gto
07-25-2016, 09:32 AM
#14
Just because you're apples to oranges comparison somehow made that kind of power on a certain dyno doesn't mean that his will.
As mentioned, on an honest dyno, it's gonna take more than just a 228/232 cam to hit 450rwhp.
Me personally I'd rather 450rwhp and killer torque from a hci with a mild cam setup than 450rwhp on stock heads with a donkey dick cam.
As mentioned, on an honest dyno, it's gonna take more than just a 228/232 cam to hit 450rwhp.
Me personally I'd rather 450rwhp and killer torque from a hci with a mild cam setup than 450rwhp on stock heads with a donkey dick cam.
07-25-2016, 09:48 AM
#16
Remember aggressive cams and choppy cams aren't always the same thing, contact some vendors here for recommendations then compare them to each other and look for end-user experience. We are all prepared to accept different levels of driveability, check your sources and hit up local meets if possible.
07-25-2016, 09:49 AM
#17
A 228/232 with ported 243 heads and a well setup valve train should hit the 450whp territory. Add a ported fast 102, 1 7/8 kooks or arh, good flowing dual exhaust, and now you are probably looking at a 470 whp combo. Switch to a momofied AFR head and 500whp should not be a issue and some. I am just throwing out realistic numbers, not the internet hero stuff you occasionally see around here.
Last edited by kinglt-1; 07-25-2016 at 10:04 AM.
07-26-2016, 06:25 AM
#18
TECH Regular
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
07-26-2016, 08:25 AM
#20
With my old heads/cam ls1, before I sold the car I returned it to stock. So i removed the cam out of it first (230/230 FMS cam motion) and swapped in the stock cam and I drove it around for a while still with the Absolute Speed 5.3 stge2 CNC heads on it. What I noted after I then also removed the CNC heads and swapped them for stock, was how much more power/torque the CNC 5.3 heads alone as "heads only" gained over the stock ls1 heads.
The crazy ideas at the time of the near 240cc intake volume being too large on those AS 5.3 CNC heads for a 346ci was fairy tales instigated by people who hadn't run them. Even on a 346 ls1 with the stock cam and good tune, and in a heavy car, those 5.3 heads were beasts.
Do the heads only if a camshaft bothers you. You will see a nice gain. Something like the PRC 5.3 heads. But a decent cam is worth another 50-60hp. And with a good tune you won't notice the driveability of the camshaft except for the exhaust DB become a lot louder. Again with good mufflers you can quieten it back down. And of course the extra power.
Don't be afraid of at least a 230/230 600' 112 camshaft for EVERYDAY driving. I did all this 13 years ago now in a Holden HSV sedan (Australia). And i drove it hard rain hail or shine. Many interstate trips. At the time when people thought the ls1 was a 'throw away' engine, I couldn't kill mine with over 500fwhp (1/4 mile track proven) and repeated 7200 rpm shifts and WOT runs. I clocked up 100,000 km's in that car. And it was then sold returned to standard with the same ls1 short motor still bolted into it that hadn't parted from the engine mounts from since the car was assembled brand new at the Elizabeth Holden plant.
Good thing I did all that before the "HOON" laws.
The crazy ideas at the time of the near 240cc intake volume being too large on those AS 5.3 CNC heads for a 346ci was fairy tales instigated by people who hadn't run them. Even on a 346 ls1 with the stock cam and good tune, and in a heavy car, those 5.3 heads were beasts.
Do the heads only if a camshaft bothers you. You will see a nice gain. Something like the PRC 5.3 heads. But a decent cam is worth another 50-60hp. And with a good tune you won't notice the driveability of the camshaft except for the exhaust DB become a lot louder. Again with good mufflers you can quieten it back down. And of course the extra power.
Don't be afraid of at least a 230/230 600' 112 camshaft for EVERYDAY driving. I did all this 13 years ago now in a Holden HSV sedan (Australia). And i drove it hard rain hail or shine. Many interstate trips. At the time when people thought the ls1 was a 'throw away' engine, I couldn't kill mine with over 500fwhp (1/4 mile track proven) and repeated 7200 rpm shifts and WOT runs. I clocked up 100,000 km's in that car. And it was then sold returned to standard with the same ls1 short motor still bolted into it that hadn't parted from the engine mounts from since the car was assembled brand new at the Elizabeth Holden plant.
Good thing I did all that before the "HOON" laws.
Last edited by Launch; 07-26-2016 at 08:41 AM.