Are heads worth the money
Very good point as well as the fact a 346 trying to make 500 rwhp is not a very good street car. Your getting your butt kicked at every light unless you come out tires smoking trying to be in your powerband.
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From: Denver International Airport, Colorado USA
Sweet98SS:
I am going to give you somewhat of a different point of view.
I like almost everyone else agree that there is a huge advantage to a Cam and Head combo. It is cost effective and no doubt a great set of Heads add power.
But, like others have said..getting that power to the ground becomes more difficult as you add HP and TQ.
Depending on your your goals and general personality, you can be satisfied with a cammed car on stock heads. Having 375-400 RWHP with the right gearing and weight can be fast and fun. And it is a little easier getting that power to the ground at that level.
While I do not regret getting a good H/C combo, I was happy for several years just with Bolt-Ons and a decent cam. A lot of times it just comes down to what satisfies you and how much your budget allows you to reach greater power levels.
I think you can be happy just cammed, but the pursuit of power is somewhat additive.
Good luck either way!
..WeathermanShawn..
I am going to give you somewhat of a different point of view.
I like almost everyone else agree that there is a huge advantage to a Cam and Head combo. It is cost effective and no doubt a great set of Heads add power.
But, like others have said..getting that power to the ground becomes more difficult as you add HP and TQ.
Depending on your your goals and general personality, you can be satisfied with a cammed car on stock heads. Having 375-400 RWHP with the right gearing and weight can be fast and fun. And it is a little easier getting that power to the ground at that level.
While I do not regret getting a good H/C combo, I was happy for several years just with Bolt-Ons and a decent cam. A lot of times it just comes down to what satisfies you and how much your budget allows you to reach greater power levels.
I think you can be happy just cammed, but the pursuit of power is somewhat additive.
Good luck either way!
..WeathermanShawn..
WeathermanShawn, what does your car weigh, and if you've run it at the track with your current setup, what does it run? Your cam specs intrigue me, do you like the tight lobe seperation?
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Well, it is a coupe..No T-tops..I have removed the spare tire and jack.
With 1/4 tank of gas it weighed 3380 lbs. With driver ~3560 lbs..
I have had one track experience with street tires and the stock 3.42 gear at Bandimere Speedway (5800 Feet) with a DA of ~7000 Feet. My ET was embarrassing, but my MPH was at 110.43. Theoretically at sea level (with a skilled driver) that would be ~ 122MPH.
For this combination, I really like the cam selection (Predator-Z spec) particularly with this Head combination. The Terminator Heads never really became that popular, but I am very pleased with the Mid-Range TQ of this combo.
I would not necessarily suggest this particular cam for stock heads..Perhaps the infamous 224-228 type cams would be the route I might go with stock heads.
Colorado is beautiful and a great place to live, but you give up about 60- 70 HP at this altitude. That is a little depressing.
But, for the OP..you can be happy 'cam only'. You can always add heads later..though it takes a little more money to got that route.
Which way are leaning?
..WeathermanShawn..
With 1/4 tank of gas it weighed 3380 lbs. With driver ~3560 lbs..
I have had one track experience with street tires and the stock 3.42 gear at Bandimere Speedway (5800 Feet) with a DA of ~7000 Feet. My ET was embarrassing, but my MPH was at 110.43. Theoretically at sea level (with a skilled driver) that would be ~ 122MPH.
For this combination, I really like the cam selection (Predator-Z spec) particularly with this Head combination. The Terminator Heads never really became that popular, but I am very pleased with the Mid-Range TQ of this combo.
I would not necessarily suggest this particular cam for stock heads..Perhaps the infamous 224-228 type cams would be the route I might go with stock heads.
Colorado is beautiful and a great place to live, but you give up about 60- 70 HP at this altitude. That is a little depressing.
But, for the OP..you can be happy 'cam only'. You can always add heads later..though it takes a little more money to got that route.
Which way are leaning?
..WeathermanShawn..
They are definitely worth the money. My first LS1 car I did cam only, then added N20 to it. Then with my current car, I did heads/cam, and I liked it ALOT better.
First off though, do you have all the supporting bolt-ons? What kind of power are you used to having?
I agree with WeathermanShawn about the fact that a cam only car can be a very fun street car. Example:
A buddy of mine bought his first LS1 car in 07, it already had a cam (228/228 112), lid, and long tubes, but was lacking the supporting mods to complete and compliment what he already had. In that form, his car only trapped the same as my car did when it had bolt-ons.
He drove it like that for a while and saved up some money and dropped it off with me for a makeover. I installed an LS6 intake, ASP under-drive crank pulley, 4.10 gears, TEXtralia OZ700 clutch, and ported his throttle body.
The car was completely changed. The difference was night and day!
If your budget allows heads/cam, then go for it, but if you've yet to even do all the bolt-ons, then finishing those along with a cam and good tune could be just the ticket your looking for.
First off though, do you have all the supporting bolt-ons? What kind of power are you used to having?
I agree with WeathermanShawn about the fact that a cam only car can be a very fun street car. Example:
A buddy of mine bought his first LS1 car in 07, it already had a cam (228/228 112), lid, and long tubes, but was lacking the supporting mods to complete and compliment what he already had. In that form, his car only trapped the same as my car did when it had bolt-ons.
He drove it like that for a while and saved up some money and dropped it off with me for a makeover. I installed an LS6 intake, ASP under-drive crank pulley, 4.10 gears, TEXtralia OZ700 clutch, and ported his throttle body.
The car was completely changed. The difference was night and day!
If your budget allows heads/cam, then go for it, but if you've yet to even do all the bolt-ons, then finishing those along with a cam and good tune could be just the ticket your looking for.
