cam/heads cam only? suggestions direction needed.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
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cam/heads cam only? suggestions direction needed. hey guys,
new to LS engines and i'd like some suggestions. i have a 1999 fixed roof coupe c5 vette. car has long tubes and axle back exhaust along with a halltech stinger. i have a tpis modified ls6 intake and a 90 mm tb to put on it. i'd like to get a cam put in the car (currently looking for a shop to do the install..)
questions:
-should i do heads and cam or just cam only? of course every shop i've called wants to sell me heads also but idk if i need them. car is a DD type car and will never see the track, ever. i'd guess the difference will be 50 or so hp but with that extra $1k plus will it push power levels to where im looking to upgrade fuel pump/injectors also (i do not want to get this deep into it a DD car)? i understand that the heads have to come off to do lifters so this is the optimal time to do them if i'm going to upgrade. are there any other newer gm heads that would be a more "budget friendly" choice? i've spoke to one shop that suggested porting my stock heads but that was still $1200. the vette has over 100k on it so i'm looking to do some preventive things also oil pump, timing set, valve train etc.
no real hp goal for the car as its a DD and i just want it to lope a bit but retain driveability. i'm leaning toward cam only right now...thoughts?
thanks guys!
andy
new to LS engines and i'd like some suggestions. i have a 1999 fixed roof coupe c5 vette. car has long tubes and axle back exhaust along with a halltech stinger. i have a tpis modified ls6 intake and a 90 mm tb to put on it. i'd like to get a cam put in the car (currently looking for a shop to do the install..)
questions:
-should i do heads and cam or just cam only? of course every shop i've called wants to sell me heads also but idk if i need them. car is a DD type car and will never see the track, ever. i'd guess the difference will be 50 or so hp but with that extra $1k plus will it push power levels to where im looking to upgrade fuel pump/injectors also (i do not want to get this deep into it a DD car)? i understand that the heads have to come off to do lifters so this is the optimal time to do them if i'm going to upgrade. are there any other newer gm heads that would be a more "budget friendly" choice? i've spoke to one shop that suggested porting my stock heads but that was still $1200. the vette has over 100k on it so i'm looking to do some preventive things also oil pump, timing set, valve train etc.
no real hp goal for the car as its a DD and i just want it to lope a bit but retain driveability. i'm leaning toward cam only right now...thoughts?
thanks guys!
andy
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Lewisville, TX
I currently am doing an S-10 swap with an '01 vette ls1. I can tell you now that if the car has 100k on it, you're going to be getting into more than you originally expect doing more that a direct (stock type) replacement... most likely. Search LS1 Hot cam. I know people have alot to say about it, but the people that actually have the cam in their car, like it. Maybe not the most perfomance you can get, but it's easy on the motor for a DD. Find a set of stock 243 LS6 heads, typically around $500 used, a Hotcam kit with springs for around $450, and a set of new style GM lifters around $250. Give it a minor tune, and drive. At any rate, you could put the Hot cam in without all of the other stuff, and It'd be fine. You'd be between 350 and 400HP. I was going to do the same, but when I pulled everything apart, pistons 1 and 4 were chewing up my cylinder walls, now I have to have it bored over and throw a new set of pistons in it. $2000 I really didn't want to spend. All I wanted was a choppy idle... Lol!
Last edited by SleepNT.A-SwapNS.10; Jan 11, 2013 at 12:18 PM.
whats your budget? thats the big factor in do either a h/c or just cam swap because there are other things to consider. with 100k youll be fine just replace the oil pump, timing chain, and you might as well do the lifters to be safe.
Dont bother with a hotcam, get a real cam if youre going to be spending the money. something in the 228 range with less than .600 lift will be good in a dd. as long as you get a good tune youll be able to dd a decent sized cam
Dont bother with a hotcam, get a real cam if youre going to be spending the money. something in the 228 range with less than .600 lift will be good in a dd. as long as you get a good tune youll be able to dd a decent sized cam
Last edited by mjs1012; Jan 11, 2013 at 12:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
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i'd like to be out the door with install and tue for $3500 or so. i'm paying for the install (dont hate on me...i'm not comfortable with my vette being the first engine i tear into) shops are quoting $4k with stage 1 ported stock heads, oil pump, gaskets and full valve train kit. saying 420-430 hp
not sure if that seems correct or not?
not sure if that seems correct or not?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
check out Texas Speed for a good price on a head/cam combo,$1700.what tranny do you have ?a 224r cam will work with a stock converter.get a mail order tune from Frost.you should consider bigger injectors if making 420+hp.check out ls1howto.com and consider doing the swap your self,a friend that is handy with a wrench would help.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
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this is kind of what i'm thinking...it will never see the track and is going to save me 2k or so (give or take)...any idea on what kind of power it'll make with a moderate cam? anything else i should have replaced while its all apart? i've read lifter trays, i might have them do a water pump as mine appears stock....what about the underdrive pulley kits? worth the $?
thanks guys!
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Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
check out Texas Speed for a good price on a head/cam combo,$1700.what tranny do you have ?a 224r cam will work with a stock converter.get a mail order tune from Frost.you should consider bigger injectors if making 420+hp.check out ls1howto.com and consider doing the swap your self,a friend that is handy with a wrench would help.
car is a 6 speed.
My Texas Speed combo was about $1700 and most definitely worth it IMO. UDP's are a nice little mod for the money, but don't get hung up on a certain dyno number as they can vary a lot.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
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I guess I'm just not sure if the cost of the heads can be justified on a street only car? I'm sure the hp diff will make a difference in getting going but on the street is it worth that extra cost? I guess that's for me to decide, but I don't know what the different power levels actually "feel" like while driving.
I get what you are saying, but the way I look at it is if you are already tearing into the motor to do a cam, then why not do the heads while you're at it. Another option instead of the heads to make a little more get up and go, would be to do a basic nitrous setup and spray a small 75-100 shot. You could easily do that for under a grand
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 56
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That's my struggle...the heads will be off but I still have to buy the ported heads or pay for mine to be done. The strggle is bc its already tore down. Nitrous is a good option down the road maybe if I get bored with the power I'm making. The car seemed fast to me with the existing power (its so light too) I'm guessing with the ls6 and the power the cam will add will make me happy for a long while. I'm battleing with the heads though idk I'd hate to not be happy with the power after its back together.
Don't get me wrong, a cam and intake will be a nice kick in the *** for sure, but will it be satisfactory for you....?? Well only you will be able to decide that one
Is the car an auto or manual? Stock gears?
Is the car an auto or manual? Stock gears? 
224r cam and some 4.11 or 3.90 gears would be best and cheaper than a cam/heads.
On a side note; who offered to port the heads? Just a Joe Schmo shop or a reputable vendor? I would only let someone who has done our heads before and had flow numbers touch mine.
On a side note; who offered to port the heads? Just a Joe Schmo shop or a reputable vendor? I would only let someone who has done our heads before and had flow numbers touch mine.
