just had my car tuned and i 455hp and 495tq. I am very pleased with the tq but i thought i would have made at least 475hp. Is it the cam that is holding me back? Mods as follows:
Kneriem built 408 Lq9 shortblock
4340 eagle crank
Eagle H Beams
Diamond Coated and Forged Pistons 11:2:1
TSP Torquer V2 cam 232/236 .595 .598
Thunder Racing Pushrods
all Arp bolts and studs
Ported LS6 intake
Patriot Stage 2 heads
BBK TB
LS1 Motorsports Lid
Pacesetter Coated LT's and ORY
Magnaflow Stainless CB w/o cats
Fresh NCR built t-56
Monster Level 3 with Billet Flywheel
Pro 5.0
Line Lock
Brand New:BMR Torque Arm
BMR LCA's with Relocation Brackets
QA1 12 way adjustable rear shocks
Moser 9" with 411 gears Detroit Trutrac
Chrome Z-06 wheels 18x10.5 rear 17x9.5 front

 

The heads are probably your main problem. That and a small intake tract. Get a bigger lid, tb, and intake and you'll see much better power than you have now. Get better heads and you'll be really happy.

Are you SD or Maf?

 

I'd say the cam would be more of a problem than the heads. The intake is a big restriction I'd say. A Fast 90 or 92 should free up a good bit of power, along with bigger lid like dj said.

 

Good numbers with those H/C/I and that rearend.

 

run a bigger cam and buy FAST intake

 

More aggressive cam and you will be happy with your numbers.

 

For what you have in the car now the numbers look good. They can be better with this or that, but that always the case.

 

I went through the same ordeal with my 408 build. IMO, your cam is on the small size, next intake engine needs to breathe. Because your torque numbers look that good see what cam and intake swap gives you. Lastly your heads, I know you should choose Heads and Cam together again I go back to your torque #'s for the out of sequence Mods.

 

I think those are good numbers. Hopefully we can compare in a few weeks? What are the track times? What tires with those track time?

LS motors make power through the Heads, then the cam... what are the numbers on the heads? the V2 is a small cam for a performace 408, even a MS3 is a small cam, but a MS3 will lay down 500 rwph through a 6spd & 10 bolt. Most cars in the 500 rwhp are running a 24x/24x cam. Check out the 408 sticky, it has alot of info and will show you cam/head/power combos. I've been reading through it alot. Going over 500 rwhp you're going to want a FAST 92, ported LS6 intakes are good, but a ported FAST would be better.


My build: Texas Speed LQ9 404 cu in, Total Engine Airflow LS2/6 Stage 2 Heads 61cc chamber, 225 runners, MLS Gaskets, Torquer 2 - 112 lsa, FAST 92 / NW 92, 42lb Injectors, Kooks 1-7/8 headers and Kooks ORY, Moser 9" with 375's

I have a build A4, Circle-D 3400 stall, sfi flex plate, 3.5" PST drive shaft and heavy 17x11 ZR1's - major difference in the builds besides intake and slightly larger headers.

Dyno numbers aren't my thing, I want a Street/Strip low 11 second car on MT ET Street Radials, 10's on spray, with ET Street's Slicks/Skinnys at the track.


EDIT To Add: I want to see track numbers. Don't mess with the Engine before you run it, Dyno numbers are only a refference.

 

Cam is small for the motor and needs a FAST. Should thunder like crazy then. Any reason you went small on the cam and kept the LS-6 intake?

 

Like said, heads, fast, cam, and i'd even change the headers.
Cam is on the small side and the heads aren't flowing enough; like that LS6 intake and headers.

 

495tq is nothing to sneeze at! I bet it pulls like a mother down low and levels off on the top end. Again, to back what these guys said, go with a bigger intake/TB and you'll see a difference in #'s, especially up top, which is usually where the big hp #'s are seen.

 

Good numbers with that Patriot Heads and smallish cam for 408 !

If ever plan to change the H/C/I you can go more with less with TSP L92 CNC Heads/ Custom cam / L76 intake or FAST 102 .. no doubt you will hit more than 500rwhp mark

 

with ur 9", 4.11 and 10.5 ur about rite.


what was the map reading @ WOT ?


i think a 102FAST,104 Lid and 102 TB ur +30rwhp

a bigger cam will also add power.

 

im a fan of tq, id be very happy with it! yes there are always improvements to be made... but that just gives you more to look forward to. Why do it all at once then get bored with it ya know...

 

New cam for sure! and i'd like to see better heads.

 

^^^bingo, I'm running a MS3 in a 408 and cracked 500whp running an S60 with 4.10s. Those LS6 heads will flow just as well as the PRC 2.5 5.3s I have on mine, but that LS6 intake is holding you back though. Like alot of people are saying your going to need a FAST or ported FAST perferrably. Where did your car stop making power? With my setup the MS3 and PRC 5.3s held power until around 6750, and truthfully I don't know which I bottlenecked. Either the PRCs or the MS3.

Drivability on your car is probably unreal for that power, but I would throw a little bigger cam in it if you want to make more along with a FAST bro. It almost sounds like you did what I did and re-used all the topend stuff from your last setup. If you did it's suprising what extra power you get from the same crap put on a stroker.
Mike

 

So, I think your numbers look great! Yes they could be better, but that torque and drivability have to be worth something. I agree with most that you could improve your intake track and do exhaust (dual cutouts or true duals) but I would not do the heads/cam unless you are dead set on a peak number. You can definitely make some gains with taking the motor apart again...if you still are not happy then break into it again and do the heads and a custom cam together.

 

Heads are small and cam is small.

 

Easy gains:

Cutout
Lid/MAF
Fast intake

+30whp easy