Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Upgrades now or later or both?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 29, 2010 | 07:36 PM
  #1  
Shenlon's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Default Upgrades now or later or both?

Hello everyone, looking for some opinions on possible upgrade paths for my 41k mile 2001 WS6 (currently lid & ported TB is the only performance mod). I am planning/hoping to have a significant increase in expendable cash soon which I hope to be able to turn my car into the car I've always wanted it to be. This car will be a 99% street driven car, and needs to be able to be daily driven although I hope to not HAVE to DD it. Eventually I want to go with a 427 block and shoot for somewhere towards the upper end of 5-600 RWHP NA. I realize that will require a LOT of money, but I would like some feedback on how I plan to spend the money between now and then.

Here are the upgrades I plan on doing regardless of the engine upgrade path:

MWC 9"
Koni SA shocks
T56 Level 2 Rebuild
RPS Street Twin Lite Clutch
Kooks Headers
True Dual OTA or 4" Flowmaster Merge Y-pipe setup w/ Borla XR1 muffler(s)

Now on to the real reason this is posted in the Internal Engine section, the engine mods. The way I see it is I can either just shell out the $$ up front and have the engine I want built and just replace my current stock LS1 with my built engine OR shell out significantly less $ initially and get a decent H/C package (something like TSP's 2.5 Heads and 224 or 228 Cam) to replace my stock stuff and get a better feel for what I really like before plunking down a ton of cash on a custom built motor.

I'm currently leaning towards the second option because it would require less up front cash (~$3.5k installed is my estimate, is this a decent estimate including labor?) while giving more immediate results to enjoy while my motor is built a few months down the line as well as increasing the resale value of my motor when I pull it out.

I'm hoping that I can get ~2-3k for my LS1 longblock with the PRC Stg 2.5 heads, 224/228 cam, LS6 oil pump, etc. Is that a reasonable expectation?

Can anyone offer a critique of this plan? Am I not accounting for anything specific? I know a lot of you would probably recommend installing everything myself, and I wish that was an option, but I have neither the time nor space nor resources to pull that off at the moment. Thanks for all of the advice/information that I am sure will be coming.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:50 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE