gbpxl

I have a 2000 WS6, 92k miles...

- lid
- catback exhaust
- longtube headers

I have some money in the bank, but I'm new to modding so I don't know how much new heads and cam + labor would cost

thoughts?

jmsklmn

Goals for the car? Daily driver/weekend warrior?

I would recommend the PRC Stage 2.5 5.3 heads and a 228r camshaft. These heads make great NA numbers! There is so many cam choices it is hard to recommend one without knowing your goals for the car. Will it see boost later on? Want good street manners? For a daily the 228r would be my pick, good lope, great midrange and easy to drive.

For cost you are looking about $1800 for the heads/cam and probably another $300-$400 for labor. Along with a Cam swap I would recommend and ls2 Timing chain, as well as a new oil pump.

Goodluck!

gbpxl

daily driver and I refuse to put a turbo on it. just want to make an already quick, loud daily driver quicker and louder

$2200? That's not bad. I was expecting like 4k.

Is it okay to mod a car with that high of mileage? It runs great and all but I'm afraid I'm gonna blow a head gasket or something at 100k miles. I do baby it and tend to keep it below 2500 RPM's but like anyone who buys an LS1, I do like to drive like a ******* nut once in a while.

how noticeable is a heads and cam upgrade in terms of sound and performance?

antonio84

Is it a m6 or a4? The 228r with 5.3 2.5 heads is a really good combo i did 393rwhp and 366 in torque thru a stalled auto.

Paint_It_Black

iTrader: (1)

You aren't going to find someone to do heads and cam labor for 300-400. That's ignorant. It is going to cost a grand or thereabout for the labor. If you have 4k to spend, you might want to look into the AFR or TFS heads and matching cam recommended by AFR or where you get the TFS from. You should always buy the best heads you can.

peterlawl84

iTrader: (12)

I agree, no one is going to do that install for that cheap...if it was that cheap I would have paid a shop to do it. I got quoted $1500-2000 for labor. Hell I was lazy and didn't want to put my LTs on and several years ago paid like $500 to have them installed. Looking back, it was a waste of money because I ended up doing H&C a couple wks ago and wasn't as bad as I thought. In all, probably could of gotten it done in one wkend if I didn't have to wait for parts and also borrowed a kent moore tool from another member since mine is an A4.
If you have a garage, I would recommend doing the install yourself and save a ton of money. I was a complete novice when it comes to taking apart an engine, but followed the write-up on ls1howto and got help from members on here.

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

Heads and cam will make that bitch loud and nasty sounding. Start shopping and go ahead and pick up an LS6 intake to do during the head swap. You can find them used all day for $300 or even better get a used Fast IM & TB for around $800. Get the best heads you can afford as that is what makes your power. At your miles you should do lifters, oil pump and timing chain too since you are right there and there is really no more work involved. And yes depending on heads you choose it will be $4K or more....I'll throw out some ballpark figures for ya.

$1200-$2800 Heads set up ready to go dending on OEM budget heads or really nice proprietary castings (prefered)
$60 GM MLS head gaskets (add $100 for Cometics)
$50 GM head bolts
$120 LS7 lifters
$30 LS2 lifter trays
$400 Cam
$100 Hardened pushrods
$90-$150 Oil pump depending what you choose
$40 LS2 Timing chain
$200 underdrive pulley optional (best is ATI but $400)
$100 Gaskets and fluids
$300 LS6 IM (optional but you will want)

Labor: May be a little more or less depending on location...

$500 Head install
$700 cam install
$500 dynotune

You are at about $3900 with budget heads and no LS6 IM or UD pulley so it adds up quick. Look on the classifieds here and pick up what you can used like an IM and heads. I have seen nice gone through AFR heads on here for $1700-$1800 and they are well worth the $500 over a budget 5.3 casting IMO. Pretty much all the rest of the stuff you want new... Hope this helps and it ain't cheap to go fast....... It is worth all the fun and enjoyment you get out of it though.

thislswon

iTrader: (5)

my setup made 420rwhp and 390tq through a stalled a4 and has great street manners. My 17 year old sister in law drives it without any issue

gbpxl

it's an M6.

good stuff, guys. mods are expensive huh? haha

thislswon

iTrader: (5)

same setup i am running in my car would be somewhere around 450/410 i would guess through a 6spd. Did all my labor myself but i have less than 2k in my H/C setup and only thing purchased used was the cam itself. Everything else was brand new.Plus 300 for my dynotune

fatmat80

my vote for great performance on a budget would be prc 2.5 ls6s and something like a trq 2 cam..just my opinion..

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

This. Do a TON research before you drop a dime on your heads......

ThunderStruk

iTrader: (1)

Your budget will definitely determine the package you put together. If you like pm what exactly what your goals are and I can put together a couple of packages for you. I can definitely get you a budget package all the way up to a full Trick Flow Head/cam package together for you.