I am having a long block built and would like to get your opinions on the parts that I am thinking about using.

1999 Camaro SS
T56

Will be mostly street duty (probably 90% or more) with of course some spirited driving here and there. I don't know the exact name of the events that I would like to participate in, but what I can picture in my mind is driving on the Circuit of the Americas. Obviously I wont be road racing (street car) and I doubt I will be doing auto crossing, but MAYBE that will change after a LOT of seat time.

I also doubt that I will put a nitrous kit on the car, but I MIGHT a long way down the road.

I want the engine to be tough, long lasting, low maintenance (especially the valve train), durable, reliable. I don't want it to smoke, and I don't want the valvetrain to be very noisy. When I "beat on it" maturely, I want to be confident that my engine can withstand what I am putting it through.

I don't know if I really have a power goal, but I would guess that this combo would make about 375 - 400 whp and I would be happy with that.

With that being said, I plan on using...

LS6 Block
Factory Crank
Eagle H Beams with ARP 2000 bolts
Probe 14963 pistons
I need a recommendation on a good set of rings. (Should I use a steel top ring set?)
I also need a recommendation on a good set of bearings (Main, rod and cam)
ARP Main Studs (Already have them)
ARP Head Bolts
Melling 10295
GM ASA Cam
918 Springs
243 Cylinder Heads
Factory Rocker Arms with the Comp Cams Trunion Upgrade
Rollmaster double roller timing set
ls6 timing chain damper (will this work with the double roller?)
factory crank damper
comp 850-16 lifters
ls2 lifter trays (do you guys drill these?)
thicker pushrods to reduce deflection (i heard something about restricted pushrods to minimize oil build up in the upper engine area. thoughts?)
head gaskets?
ls6 valley cover
ARP crank bolt
ls6 intake
factory oil pan
improved racing oil pan baffle

From that, my questions are:

1. What are your thoughts on using a fel pro master gasket/seal set over a GM set?
2. What rings would you recommend?
3. Would you use a steel top ring?
4. What bearings would you recommend?
5. Would you use 918s with an ASA cam? If so, when would you change the springs, 80-90K miles?
6. Is there a better trunion upgrade out there than the Comp kit?
7. Should I use an IWIS c5r timing chain and factory sprockets over my adjustable rollmaster double (rollmaster too heavy,etc.)?
8. Do you guys run timing chain dampers? I believe I have a GM LS6 damper.
9. Anyone know if a GM LS6 damper is compatible with a rollmaster double roller?
10. Is it smart to drill the ls2 lifter trays?
11. Is it smart to run a restricted pushrod to minimize oil build up in the upper engine area?
12. Is tough, long lasting, low maintenance, durable, reliable engine built with nitrous in mind an oxymoron?

Thank you in advance for your input. I appreciate it.

 

Looks good. Clevite and durabond are popular bearing choices. Id go with a bigger cam, and 3/8 pushrods.

 

consider a 383 rotating with TSP 228r kit.

 

someone on another forum is saying that the forged rods are overkill and OEM rods should be used. i have been having a hard time deciding this myself and finally decided that i would run the forged rods to give me "room to grow."

what would you guys say to, "forged rods are overkill, run OEM rods?"

 

Unless you wanna run boost or 600+ hp I think stock are ok. Some nice pistons with valve reliefs is a nice thing to go for. Run a bigger cam, thinner heads and get more compression. Thats always a plus.

 

definitely no boost.

I need some sort of nitrous ring gap chart so i can figure out what size shot needs what size ring gap.

off to the search...

 

I havnt seen any fel pro ls1 gaskets personally but i would go with all gm gaskets. I dont really have much faith in fel pro. They worked fine on my lt1 but on my gfs toyota highlander i put a gasket they made for the oil pan on (it comes from the factory with no gasket, just sealer) and it leaked

 

My damper works great with my Double roller. Honestly though, the double roller is very tight from the start. I don't see much slack at all, So damper is just to feel all warm and cozy. It's fairly cheap, so why not?

 

overall the build looks good, i would spend more time thinking about the cam choice... there is a ton of choices you could go with just make sure u spend time and research and pick the one that will fit your build the best, do it once. imo i would go with something like a 228/232 or TorquerV2

 

i have more faith in gm gaskets as well. i have been hearing local builders mention them so i was thinking maybe they improved their stuff.

what damper do you use?

i agree with doing it right the first time. the thing that i thought was really impressive about the ASA cam was the low maintenance for the amount of power gained. a builder i spoke to said that a set 918s would last about 80-90K miles on the ASA cam.

 

I would say "Overkill does not exist - Build it right - Pay once !"

Dave

 

i went with the eagle h beams with the arp 200 bolts. got a good deal on them.

Now i need pistons. As mentioned before, I have had my eye on probe 14963 with hellfire rings. It has a 3.902 bore. I'd like to keep my bore size around 3.902 or 3.903 to keep as much meat in the block as possible.

I am not one to leave a stone unturned. I'd like to get a list of all automotive forged piston manufacturers so that I can be fully aware of what my options are. I'd hate to buy something and then figure out later that I should have gone with something else.

Does anyone have a list of all automotive forged piston manufacturers?

So far I have:

Ross
Diamond
K1
Wiseco
Lunati
SRP
Arias
RaceTec
CP-Carillo
Manley
Probe (3.902)
Mahle

Thanks

 

bump for more ideas.

 

who has good prices on pistons?

ive found merchants such as:

summit
autoplicity
mudflaps
th motorsports

has anyone used raceeng.com or barkerracingservice.net?

anyone know of any other merchants that have low piston prices?

thanks

 

bump.

 

bump for more ideas.

 

ws6store.com is great, and don't have to pay sales tax for TX residents.

 

bump for more piston and ring ideas.

 

Wiseco all the way!

 

bump for more piston and ring ideas.