I plan on either doing a cam install (streetsweeper) but am debating on if I should do a heads and cam instead of just the cam. The streetsweeper cam should put me about 400-420 rwhp. If I go with patriot or LS6 heads, what kind of power levels am i looking at?

I see alot of people cam only but how long are you guys satisfied with the power level? I dont want to regret not doing the heads at the same time.


I have the supporting mods for the heads: headers and intake, poly mounts, level 3 monster clutch.

 

i would say do them if you can afford them for alot of reasons, i am cam and nitrous, i dont plan on doing heads being that this is my college car and i plan on getting a vette when i graduate then i plan on h/c/i. You are going to get alot of different mixed views on this post however its still left up to solely you. My answer would be yes they are worth it tho pending your goals for the car

 

My car will not see much track use, maybe once a year. I put about 5000 miles a year, go to alot of car cruise ins. I just dont want to be putting heads on down the road when I should have done it now. That will cost me another tune, different pushrods, springs, so basically more money in the long run.

 

yeah so true, lifters, gaskets etc etc its all on you tho whatever you want to do if you want to see how it performs with cam only then step up to more later or you want it all at once. I love the way my car performs now with cam only and if i run into sum1 with more than me i just open up the bottle. My previous car was a 2002 mustang gt with a 125 shot it put down 352 on the bottle, My camaro now puts down 386 cam only so it took very littly to impress me lol lol.

 

Buy the TSP heads

 

Think of your heads as the stable where your horses live.

 

use the extra money for a nice nitrous kit instead of heads

 

heads by themselves, (w/o cam) are probably only worth 20 rwhp. the upgraded cam really takes advantage of better flowing heads.

 

im with street assasin nitrous is addicting man, im super happy i done nitrous instead of heads plus its wallet friendly and easy to install....... everyone is entitled to their own opinion tho goodluck bro.......

 

Tough to beat a good head and cam combo. Don't need to worry about is my bottle full , is it up to pressure and you dont need to be at WOT to feel the added power. Nitrous is great for racing but for someone looking for more power on a regular basis its not going to help very much on the street. Roll racing is about it. Plus the legality of n2o in some states becomes an issue.

 

You can probably find a set of 799's or 243's in the FS section for 300-500 dollars and throw them on. My friend bought a set of CNC ported livernois 243's with push rods and springs for 550 shipped. It's all about waiting for the best deals.

 

Your can do a cam swap and not get the full effect if you do not do heads. While you will see gains in hp you will not see the full net gains of the cam until you have a set of heads matching the cam. It is very important that if you get heads and you have work done to them they matched to the cam specs.

 

So what are we talking HP for with heads, an additional 50 to 75 hp? So cam only around 400 to 420 rwhp and around 460 to 500 rwhp with heads and cam?

 

You're pretty close with your numbers. I did a torquer v3 cam on my 03z06 from Texas Speed with the upgraded valve train and yella terras and should have finished it off with a set of heads. Now I am wanting heads. More labor, and additional tune money spent.
If you think you might want heads now is the time to do it (when getting the cam). Get it all done at once and get 1 tune done.
I personally think I am going the Trickflow route, but TSP does have some good head options.

 

This is what I can tell you from my decent level of experience.


- I am a fan of making more power, so as long as you can harness it and use it. i.e. set up the car with the correct tire, gear, and suspension and run fast times.

- Money is ALWAYS an issue, having more is better, but a Budget rules over all.

346 LS1's do VERY well when paired with a decent cam. With OUT touching the heads ( see compression ratio), but depending on the cam, a bump in C/R makes a world of difference.

Heads can be a funny thing where on one car it makes great power and on another, it show minimal gains which can be fustrating. Some people like to state its due to poor choices in parts but hey, we all cant have the best of the best and what one part worked well alone, most would expect a similar improvement when heads are added. Just saying be prepared incase you gain less then 15 hp. Most times I see a modest gain compared to a cam.

Gearing is a VERY important part of a cam and if I recall, a Streetsweeper cam has a soft under curve power where gearing will be critical. IMO if you even have a stock cammed car, given the race weight, you should be running 4.10's at min on a M6 trans.

Depending on how worked over the heads are, will determine how much power you will make. I am not a fan of Patriot heads (personal choice), but one would hope, a worked over LS6 head vs a stock LS6 would make more power.

Regardless, Stock LS6 heads will make more power then your stock heads, BUT if your going to do the work, might as well have them worked over.

IMO there is a cost involved in this, and as long as you want to go through with it, you can but a decent cam swap cost can be an easy 1,000$ which includes 400-500 in Dynotuning which IS REQUIRED. Actually the cost may be higher as you should do oil pump (ported ls6), timing chain (ls2), Springs (Patriot Dual w/ Ti Retainers), fluids, and gaskets and push rods (harded).

So if you have the extra $$$, go for heads too. The worst you would need to do down the road is tear down the motor again, put in head studs (ARP), swap the springs (so as long as they have good pressure, meaning TEST THEM) and then gasket and fluids. Also check PTV clearence and if you need, Flycut.

After install, take back to the dyno and check the A/F and see with new found compression, what power you can make. Most cars at this point will need injectors and possibly fuel pump depending on age and power your making so factor in that cost too.

IMO, I'd do the cam and see where it takes you. IMO a small bore cyl head is an investment and when you pop the motor, or decide to go bigger, there are better options out there with bigger valves and in the end, you might as well just added a 100-150 shot of Nitrous and a properly set up car (m6) CAN run into the 11's with a cam only upgrade so your not far off from needing a 6pt cage (11.49's) so take that into consideration too.

 

Thanks BlackScreaminMachine, thats what I like to hear. I totally forgot about injectors and the fuel pump. Thats probably an extra $500 right? Im not a track guy, just for street and the occasional track , maybe twice a year if that. I all about doing it right the first time but if heads are going to cost me an extra $3000, which is money I dont have right now. I think I would rather do this for now and when the time comes, put a bigger motor in it.


On this board, Studderin is running a 10.66 at 128 with this cam, ARH, ported TB and a Fast Intake, weighing in at around 3000lbs. I plan on putting a twelve bolt in it, just waiting for it to break, Im not even wasting any money on the girdle.


Thanks for the help

 

heads and cam first and then spraying it will only make u smile that much more

 

i wouldn't install a cam without bumping the compression to keep optimal DCR. matching the runner volume and flow to the lift and split. nothing wrong with cleaning up the valve bowls and milling your existing heads. plus it will make you feel that much better that your hands made that power.

 

Hey, no Prob.

You COULD start trolling the classified section, and look for a set of used heads but be careful as sometimes heads could be cut too many times leaving you with nothing but a 1500$ door stop. If heads get messed up people cut them and it helps the C/R bump but too many times may lead to valve train geometry issues or even a too high of compression. I have seen it PERSONALLY this happen. Now the guy went right to a 402 cid Nitrous motor and he is one of our Dragrace Moderators.

IF money is an issue, like said by Disc, take the heads off, have them cut and have the bowl worked, thats cheap $$$ compared porting the runners.

 

well ,dont be disappointed when you do heads and cam then take it to a dyno and only have 420 rwhp. dynos vary, but 460 plus rwhp is not very common on a 346 cube motor.