Heads before cam??!!
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Friona, Texas
Heads before cam??!! hey guys what do yall think of doing bolt-on's and heads before putting a cam??? the reason i am asking this is because i have a new set of prc stage 1.0 ls6's, all bolts, gaskets, springs, etc. and a ported FAST 92 intake and tb that i bought for my ta but i sold it before i had a chance to do anything else to it. now i have an 04 a4 c5 and so far it has a vararam, x-pipe, borla straight pipes and a set of tsp lt's that will go on with the heads/intake. would it have some good gains from putting the heads and intake + bolt on's with the stock cam?? i do plan to put an ms4 cam in the future but for now i am waiting til i can buy me another ta for my regular car. so any input on what kind of gains?? or would it even be worth it???
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Friona, Texas
thats what everyone tells me but i got an awsome price from my mechanic on installing the heads/intake and headers! do u think it would run with a stock c5 z06 from a roll race? considering a good driver in the z and both cars getting good traction?
If you do want to take advantage of the install deal, spend a little extra an get the 2-piece front cover so you don't have to pull everything off the front pf the motor again. Just my $.02
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 101
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From: Friona, Texas
yeah im starting to think it would be cheaper to do the heads and cam all at once and just get it tuned once!!
any cam ideas for the heads and intake i have already?? i was thinking an ms4 but its pretty agressive for an a4.
any cam ideas for the heads and intake i have already?? i was thinking an ms4 but its pretty agressive for an a4.
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Now when it comes to A4 and am sure you know this from experience a custom cam is the best way to go with them, as I have found out. What is going to be the designation street/strip?
Another thing change gearing to 3.42s that will wake her up something fierce.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Friona, Texas
yeah i had the ms4 in my old ta but it was a pain to drive around town! as for the gearing it has 2.73's lol i need to gear it bad!!! do u know how the gas mileage is with the 3.42's?? also will it last launching it at the track on drag radials?? if its going to break i was thinking of going with a dte level 4 rear with 3.73's but i dont wanna kill my awsome gas milage too bad!! as for a stall i emailed circle d any ideas of a good stall?
You will still get decent mileage 20+ with your 3.73 gearset.
If you're going to do heads/cam/stall...throw mileage out the window because you will be getting on the car more. Stall's in vette's go both ways fun on the track, not quite as fun DDing.
Do the heads/cam all at once. You will have to pay again for a re-tune as well as remove some of the front accessories again.
Make sure you change out the timing chain, and lifters (if your mileage is 50k+).
If you're going to do heads/cam/stall...throw mileage out the window because you will be getting on the car more. Stall's in vette's go both ways fun on the track, not quite as fun DDing.
Do the heads/cam all at once. You will have to pay again for a re-tune as well as remove some of the front accessories again.
Make sure you change out the timing chain, and lifters (if your mileage is 50k+).
You can make a great case for heads/intake on any LS motor, but given how much harder a cam swap is in a C5 than other LS platforms, it makes even more sense.
If it were me, I'd do AFR205s or some Advanced Induction 243s to go along with your FAST 90/90. You will need a tune for this. It absolutely will be worth it. You'll pick up 40-50rwhp and it will drive like stock, so there's no downside. Sling the stall and cooler in at the same time and you will easily see low 12s and drive like stock with OEM MPGs or better.
Yeah, you'll need to retune if/when you do a cam but you'll save a ton by not doing the cam now.
I think it's a great idea if you drive it daily. What bolt ons do you have? If it's still stock, do the ARH headers, cats, and a Z06 catback and you'll have an awesome ride that you can drive anywhere.
If it were me, I'd do AFR205s or some Advanced Induction 243s to go along with your FAST 90/90. You will need a tune for this. It absolutely will be worth it. You'll pick up 40-50rwhp and it will drive like stock, so there's no downside. Sling the stall and cooler in at the same time and you will easily see low 12s and drive like stock with OEM MPGs or better.
Yeah, you'll need to retune if/when you do a cam but you'll save a ton by not doing the cam now.
I think it's a great idea if you drive it daily. What bolt ons do you have? If it's still stock, do the ARH headers, cats, and a Z06 catback and you'll have an awesome ride that you can drive anywhere.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Friona, Texas
thanks guys for the replys. as for parts i already have prc stage 1.0 ls6's and a ported fast 92mm intake, ls2 90mm tb, ls7 lifters, tsp pushrods, plugs/wires/ all head swap gaskets, arp head bolts, pac 600' lift valve springs (but if i do i big cam ill have to get some prc dual's), and also have tsp 1 3/4 in long tube headers with the tsp 3in x-pipe.
On the car now are a vararam w/ powerduct, 2.5in x-pipe, and a borla straight pipe exhaust.
I want to run an 11.99 her at ama dragway my only thoughts were add an ms4 cam, either a gm zo6 rear with 3.42's or a dte with 3.73's and a stall i emailed circle d, i am also thinking about a yank maybe 3600-4400??? also for track use im gonna use some 17x9.5 and 17x11 zr1's with an m&h 325/45-17 tire
On the car now are a vararam w/ powerduct, 2.5in x-pipe, and a borla straight pipe exhaust.
I want to run an 11.99 her at ama dragway my only thoughts were add an ms4 cam, either a gm zo6 rear with 3.42's or a dte with 3.73's and a stall i emailed circle d, i am also thinking about a yank maybe 3600-4400??? also for track use im gonna use some 17x9.5 and 17x11 zr1's with an m&h 325/45-17 tire
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From: Western Burbs of Detroit
If you don't intend to cam it down the road then by all means do it up. Enjoy the extra power with a stock like idle and driving experience. Stock like until you nail the gas. Heads, intake and a tune should add 40 rwhp. Running the stock cam you won't see the total gains you'd see if you had a bigger cam but I don't think 40 rwhp is too far off.
There was a thread by a member in California that did full boltons with AFR 205's and made over 400 rwhp and the car drove perfect. Tuned easily, and he doesn't even want a cam now. LOL.
There was a thread by a member in California that did full boltons with AFR 205's and made over 400 rwhp and the car drove perfect. Tuned easily, and he doesn't even want a cam now. LOL.
yeah i had the ms4 in my old ta but it was a pain to drive around town! as for the gearing it has 2.73's lol i need to gear it bad!!! do u know how the gas mileage is with the 3.42's?? also will it last launching it at the track on drag radials?? if its going to break i was thinking of going with a dte level 4 rear with 3.73's but i dont wanna kill my awsome gas milage too bad!! as for a stall i emailed circle d any ideas of a good stall?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Friona, Texas
30mpg highway thats awsome! i get 30-33 now all stock! i had a vig 4000 in my ta and idk but i would only flash to about 2500-2800 and on drag radials it would best a 1.9 60ft usually a 2.0! for the money i paid it was horrible it slowed my car from a roll BIG time!!!
with the stock converter and ms4/ bolt-on's i beat an 08 c6 from a roll by about 4 car lengths then i put the vig stall and my friends stock ss pulled me by a car lenght up til about 130!!???
so i will never go with a vig again!! im glad u had good luck with urs!! i was looking at the yank's and they look like they are the best!! havent heard much of the circle d's but they sound good also!!
with the stock converter and ms4/ bolt-on's i beat an 08 c6 from a roll by about 4 car lengths then i put the vig stall and my friends stock ss pulled me by a car lenght up til about 130!!???
so i will never go with a vig again!! im glad u had good luck with urs!! i was looking at the yank's and they look like they are the best!! havent heard much of the circle d's but they sound good also!!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 503
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From: TX
Install the parts you have now, itll drive great. Plus it will give you a better idea of what cam to get down the road.
Its not much more work to do the cam later on. All you gotta do is pull the valve covers.
I have a yank 3600 on one of our cars. It drives great from a dig and a roll.
Never had any experience with a vig though.
Its not much more work to do the cam later on. All you gotta do is pull the valve covers.
I have a yank 3600 on one of our cars. It drives great from a dig and a roll.
Never had any experience with a vig though.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 101
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From: Friona, Texas
cool i will only see the track a few times per year and i never street race maybe 2-3 times per year lol but i wanna have a sick dig launch but i also wanna hang with m6's on a roll race
00 z/28
fast 90/90
PRC 5.3 stg 2.5
pacesetter
ory
bullet dumped
25% pulley
85 maf
Stock 2000 cam i made 390/391 in 103 texas heat!!!
Sounded like a bolt on car while making tons of power.
fast 90/90
PRC 5.3 stg 2.5
pacesetter
ory
bullet dumped
25% pulley
85 maf
Stock 2000 cam i made 390/391 in 103 texas heat!!!
Sounded like a bolt on car while making tons of power.