403 rwhp LS1 with stock exhaust manifolds and mild cam
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 34
From: Victoria, TX
403 rwhp LS1 with stock exhaust manifolds and mild cam This was a very cool project. Ray Pesek from Port O'Connor Texas has a gorgeous 1937 Ford Business Coupe that he put a bone stock '99 LS1 in. I tuned it and it made 332rwhp/347rwtq. Ray decided he wanted more power, but he didn't want to spend too much and he had to keep the factory exhaust manifolds.
With help from Geoff from Engine Power Systems, we formulated a budget sleeper approach. We would add bone stock 243 heads (unported and unmilled), add Comp 918 beehive springs, swap the LS1 intake for an LS6 intake and make a custom cam using Engine Power Systems custom EPS lobes. These lobes have been making incredible power with beehive springs. The way this motor revs is a thing of beauty. Cam specs are 218/230 .595"/.600" 115LSA +4 advance. The new power was 403rwhp/392rwtq. A gain of 71rwhp and 45 rwtq.
Keep in mind, we were pulling a 7 KPa vacuum at WOT on the dyno. If we had a better airbox, there's probably 10 more rwhp there. Here are some photos of the car with the front fenders off. The confined space meant that Ray had to run a fairly restrictive airbox assembly as the clearance between the TB and radiator is very tight. Like I said, very cool car and it revs to the moon. We gained over 100 rwhp at 6100 rpm.
With help from Geoff from Engine Power Systems, we formulated a budget sleeper approach. We would add bone stock 243 heads (unported and unmilled), add Comp 918 beehive springs, swap the LS1 intake for an LS6 intake and make a custom cam using Engine Power Systems custom EPS lobes. These lobes have been making incredible power with beehive springs. The way this motor revs is a thing of beauty. Cam specs are 218/230 .595"/.600" 115LSA +4 advance. The new power was 403rwhp/392rwtq. A gain of 71rwhp and 45 rwtq.
Keep in mind, we were pulling a 7 KPa vacuum at WOT on the dyno. If we had a better airbox, there's probably 10 more rwhp there. Here are some photos of the car with the front fenders off. The confined space meant that Ray had to run a fairly restrictive airbox assembly as the clearance between the TB and radiator is very tight. Like I said, very cool car and it revs to the moon. We gained over 100 rwhp at 6100 rpm.
__________________
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
I like the fact that it looks like you gained a solid 30 foot pounds down at 2200 RPM, and just continued to gain more and more all the way through the RPM range...thats sweet.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 34
From: Victoria, TX
Cost wasn't a big reason why Ray chose to stick with manifolds, fitment was. Take a look at the photos and you'll see there is very little room. Besides, there probably aren't too many manufacturers producing LS1 headers for '37 Fords. 
Custom headers would be about the only way to go. 400rwhp was a goal I had for the project and I'm pleased that we were able to gain so much with $500 heads, a $300 intake manifold, a $390 custom cam and $189 springs. That's a big power gain without a big investment. Street manners are wonderful too.
Custom headers would be about the only way to go. 400rwhp was a goal I had for the project and I'm pleased that we were able to gain so much with $500 heads, a $300 intake manifold, a $390 custom cam and $189 springs. That's a big power gain without a big investment. Street manners are wonderful too.
__________________
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
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Brett Foote
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 3
From: Upstate NY
Good Job. That coupe should scoot!
243s are great heads, especially if someone doesn't screw them up trying to make them better.
If Vette cast iron manifolds fit they are even better.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...est/index.html
Jon
243s are great heads, especially if someone doesn't screw them up trying to make them better.
If Vette cast iron manifolds fit they are even better.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...est/index.html
Jon
Cost wasn't a big reason why Ray chose to stick with manifolds, fitment was. Take a look at the photos and you'll see there is very little room. Besides, there probably aren't too many manufacturers producing LS1 headers for '37 Fords.
Custom headers would be about the only way to go. 400rwhp was a goal I had for the project and I'm pleased that we were able to gain so much with $500 heads, a $300 intake manifold, a $390 custom cam and $189 springs. That's a big power gain without a big investment. Street manners are wonderful too.
Custom headers would be about the only way to go. 400rwhp was a goal I had for the project and I'm pleased that we were able to gain so much with $500 heads, a $300 intake manifold, a $390 custom cam and $189 springs. That's a big power gain without a big investment. Street manners are wonderful too.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 1
From: Western Burbs of Detroit
Damn Patrick, my 2000 frc with a lg pro longtubes and a few other bolt ons with the g5x3 cam only made 400 rwhp 380 rwtq. That baby cam really works well. How do the numbers on your dyno compare to LG's ?? Just trying to guage whether they are generous, on par, or stingy. I just can't believe how much power the 243 headed, baby cam and no headers did. WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice I was wanting to do a sort of mild cam and this looks like it fits the bill 
What's the deal with EPS lobes?
What drivetrain? M6?
Would you change anything on that cam with the addition of longtubes?
What's the deal with EPS lobes?
What drivetrain? M6?
Would you change anything on that cam with the addition of longtubes?
Last edited by Lickeyman; Jun 15, 2009 at 02:38 PM.
The design goal of this new lobe design was to have the superior acceleration characteristics of older cam lobe designs that have long been proven to make power, but do it in a more controlled, smoother manner.
This lobe design gives us the best of both worlds: Good acceleration with superior control. What this means is that these lobes are typically capable of turning more RPM and making more horsepower than older designs for a given lift and duration. Along with this, another plus of this design is improved durability as compared to older lobe designs, because of the superior control characteristics.
These lobes were designed to be VERY friendly using beehive springs. It is no longer mandatory to use a double spring that typically is going to cost more and be more difficult to install as compared to a lightweight beehive spring.
Additionally, with the correct lifter preload and the beehive springs, this design makes for a quiet install that doesn't have most of the 'sewing machine' noise associated with most LSX cam installs.
This is just one more test showing that these lobes are living up to their design goals.
This lobe design gives us the best of both worlds: Good acceleration with superior control. What this means is that these lobes are typically capable of turning more RPM and making more horsepower than older designs for a given lift and duration. Along with this, another plus of this design is improved durability as compared to older lobe designs, because of the superior control characteristics.
These lobes were designed to be VERY friendly using beehive springs. It is no longer mandatory to use a double spring that typically is going to cost more and be more difficult to install as compared to a lightweight beehive spring.
Additionally, with the correct lifter preload and the beehive springs, this design makes for a quiet install that doesn't have most of the 'sewing machine' noise associated with most LSX cam installs.
This is just one more test showing that these lobes are living up to their design goals.
As soon as I get my heads done you'll probably be hearing from me.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 34
From: Victoria, TX
SCR was 10.5:1 (just like an LS6).
__________________
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
