Turbo or Cam and Heads
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Purdue
Turbo or Cam and Heads I know this is probably asked a lot, but I can't find anything after searching for few days that gives me a through look at both options. My power goals would be 500rwhp or something close to that for daily driver in the summer. I know a turbo could do that with stock bottom end. I know cam and heads could get me around the 450 area. I just am really wondering what both options would cost me money wise. I would be having a shop do the work turbo wise since I have never messed with one. I know a tune will make a great deal of difference in both scenarios. So I am just looking for experience with people either.
thanks in advance.
thanks in advance.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Personally, between those two options, i'd go the heads and cam route then hit it with some spray! It will still be cheaper than the turbo, much faster, and you can do the install yourself! Just a thought...
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Purdue
I know a kit would roughly cost 6-7k. Any ideas on how much a head and cam setup would cost? A turbo setup would be cheaper if I bought it in a steps through Craigslist or forums
As far as boost goes id look into a custom setup unless you find a deal nearby.
Is 500hp your starting goal or is that what you only want?
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Think of it this way, 500 HP is 500 HP. You're going to need the fuel system to handle it period. Exclude the cost of a fuel system from your decision, its mandatory.
Tuning will also be mandatory, especially with a cam big enough to hit 500whp. So don't factor that in.
With a turbo setup, you can go the ebay route and pick up most of a turbo setup for $1500. Toss in another $500 for hotside piping and welding labor. You can use a 100% stock long block, manifolds included. You'll hit 500whp without too much effort, with a stock idle, and you can use most of your stock exhaust and it would actually be QUIETER than stock since the turbo acts as an exhaust restriction. Or you can ditch the exhaust and go from there.
Heads and cam, you're talking $2500 for good complete heads, unless you go 6.0, then you can get assembled LS3 heads for $1000. Cam and valvetrain will be another $600 or so. You'll need at least an LS6 intake manifold, and some headers. Even with the LS3 heads, you're already well over $2000, and it'll drive worse than the turbo setup. It'll idle rough, get worse mileage, and be much louder and less suitable as a daily driver. There is a reason OEMs squeeze power out of their engines with forced induction rather than big cams. Big cams also need more RPM, and RPM increases the risk of parts failure.
Labor is a huge factor. Doing the installs yourself? If you do the labor yourself, you could honestly go either way for within $1000 of eachother.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Purdue
7k? Way overpriced.
Think of it this way, 500 HP is 500 HP. You're going to need the fuel system to handle it period. Exclude the cost of a fuel system from your decision, its mandatory.
Tuning will also be mandatory, especially with a cam big enough to hit 500whp. So don't factor that in.
With a turbo setup, you can go the ebay route and pick up most of a turbo setup for $1500. Toss in another $500 for hotside piping and welding labor. You can use a 100% stock long block, manifolds included. You'll hit 500whp without too much effort, with a stock idle, and you can use most of your stock exhaust and it would actually be QUIETER than stock since the turbo acts as an exhaust restriction. Or you can ditch the exhaust and go from there.
Heads and cam, you're talking $2500 for good complete heads, unless you go 6.0, then you can get assembled LS3 heads for $1000. Cam and valvetrain will be another $600 or so. You'll need at least an LS6 intake manifold, and some headers. Even with the LS3 heads, you're already well over $2000, and it'll drive worse than the turbo setup. It'll idle rough, get worse mileage, and be much louder and less suitable as a daily driver. There is a reason OEMs squeeze power out of their engines with forced induction rather than big cams. Big cams also need more RPM, and RPM increases the risk of parts failure.
Labor is a huge factor. Doing the installs yourself? If you do the labor yourself, you could honestly go either way for within $1000 of eachother.
Think of it this way, 500 HP is 500 HP. You're going to need the fuel system to handle it period. Exclude the cost of a fuel system from your decision, its mandatory.
Tuning will also be mandatory, especially with a cam big enough to hit 500whp. So don't factor that in.
With a turbo setup, you can go the ebay route and pick up most of a turbo setup for $1500. Toss in another $500 for hotside piping and welding labor. You can use a 100% stock long block, manifolds included. You'll hit 500whp without too much effort, with a stock idle, and you can use most of your stock exhaust and it would actually be QUIETER than stock since the turbo acts as an exhaust restriction. Or you can ditch the exhaust and go from there.
Heads and cam, you're talking $2500 for good complete heads, unless you go 6.0, then you can get assembled LS3 heads for $1000. Cam and valvetrain will be another $600 or so. You'll need at least an LS6 intake manifold, and some headers. Even with the LS3 heads, you're already well over $2000, and it'll drive worse than the turbo setup. It'll idle rough, get worse mileage, and be much louder and less suitable as a daily driver. There is a reason OEMs squeeze power out of their engines with forced induction rather than big cams. Big cams also need more RPM, and RPM increases the risk of parts failure.
Labor is a huge factor. Doing the installs yourself? If you do the labor yourself, you could honestly go either way for within $1000 of eachother.
Restricted User
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 7,192
Likes: 109
From: Ohio
Single Walbro 255 for up to ~600 HP or so (it'll support a little more). AEM 320 for roughly same power on E85. From there you can go up to an Aeromotive 340 or Racetronix 340 for 750 hp or so. And from there the Walbro 400s. Its up to you to decide how much you might want to push it down the road. None of these are really that expensive, and all will fit in the stock bucket.
I'd go with at least 60 lb injectors if you want to push it later on. 80 lb injectors aren't much more price wise and give even more head room.
T76 is capable of a lot more than 500whp. It won't really be laggy depending on which motor and cam you're running. I'll sell you an On3 turbo/wastegate/blow off valve combo for $600 + shipping. They're all brand new, and I paid over $700+shipping for the setup. Its a 76mm with a 44mm wastegate and 50mm blow of valve. Do your research, and then let me know.
I'd go with at least 60 lb injectors if you want to push it later on. 80 lb injectors aren't much more price wise and give even more head room.
T76 is capable of a lot more than 500whp. It won't really be laggy depending on which motor and cam you're running. I'll sell you an On3 turbo/wastegate/blow off valve combo for $600 + shipping. They're all brand new, and I paid over $700+shipping for the setup. Its a 76mm with a 44mm wastegate and 50mm blow of valve. Do your research, and then let me know.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Purdue
Single Walbro 255 for up to ~600 HP or so (it'll support a little more). AEM 320 for roughly same power on E85. From there you can go up to an Aeromotive 340 or Racetronix 340 for 750 hp or so. And from there the Walbro 400s. Its up to you to decide how much you might want to push it down the road. None of these are really that expensive, and all will fit in the stock bucket.
I'd go with at least 60 lb injectors if you want to push it later on. 80 lb injectors aren't much more price wise and give even more head room.
T76 is capable of a lot more than 500whp. It won't really be laggy depending on which motor and cam you're running. I'll sell you an On3 turbo/wastegate/blow off valve combo for $600 + shipping. They're all brand new, and I paid over $700+shipping for the setup. Its a 76mm with a 44mm wastegate and 50mm blow of valve. Do your research, and then let me know.
I'd go with at least 60 lb injectors if you want to push it later on. 80 lb injectors aren't much more price wise and give even more head room.
T76 is capable of a lot more than 500whp. It won't really be laggy depending on which motor and cam you're running. I'll sell you an On3 turbo/wastegate/blow off valve combo for $600 + shipping. They're all brand new, and I paid over $700+shipping for the setup. Its a 76mm with a 44mm wastegate and 50mm blow of valve. Do your research, and then let me know.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Land Of Enchantment
I know you can go about this turbo thing in a few different ways. But I know for me i got about $2500 invested in parts and I might, be half way done with parts. Still have more **** to get. I think i'll hit 4k in parts depending on if I go a cheaper route on certain things or not. idk yet.
