Tell me about your motor and what lifters you're running.
My WS6 383 stroker build.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Ky
My WS6 383 stroker build. Hello everyone im Brett and im a newbie to forums and building so any advice is ALWAYS APPRECIATED! I currently own an '02 manual ws6 with a 383 stroker, 3.73 gears, and kooks headers. Everything else is stock. I bought it from a guy in '06 who needed the money so I got it for a good price. But now i wanna start building it and make it faster. Ive never had it tuned either. My goal is 500rwhp or as close as possible or more but stay n/a. I know for a fact I need a tune and I can get a bigger cam but from there im lost. Ive done alot of reading but its a little confusing. Im willing to spend some money but I also dont want to break the bank and spend $10k.
IDEAS=
Intake manifold/tb- F.A.S.T for both or p/p stock for both
Heads- p/p stock or find an ls2/ls3(i noticed these heads are a little pricey but if worth it then maybe).
Anymore help or ideas are greatly appreciated; looking for some direction. THANKS.
IDEAS=
Intake manifold/tb- F.A.S.T for both or p/p stock for both
Heads- p/p stock or find an ls2/ls3(i noticed these heads are a little pricey but if worth it then maybe).
Anymore help or ideas are greatly appreciated; looking for some direction. THANKS.
A ported fast would be a good idea,a good idea would be to call eps,tsp etc and get a cam n head package,from there i would work on the suspension,is the 383 running and in the car? For sure need a tune i wouldnt even drive the car without that,and a mail order isnt going to do it
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
check Texas Speed or vengeance racing for head/cam combos.what cam is in it now ?most Texas Speed heads allow use of the stock GM rocker arm.trick flow and air flow research heads should use roller rockers ,because of the bronze valve guides.ls3 heads have too big of valves ,which will hurt flow in the smaller cylinder bore of a ls1 if using stock rocker arms get upgraded trunnion bearings.you can get a fast intake new for $840 or less if you shop around.what fuel pump and injectors do you have ?
I would troll through the dyno section for ideas, but I would start out with a good pair of ported 243 heads or an aftermarket casting. 500 rwhp will be pretty difficult with a 383 though.
made 497rwhp with my 383, t56 with 4.08 gears, fast intake, 215 afr heads, trex cam, its a screamer, made all the power up high, so I shift at 8200, for a street car I would have chosen a smaller cam to have more usable power and torque, 500hp wasn't my goal, low 10's or high 9's was what I was looking for, what power it made didn't matter. So just trying to say build it for what you want to do, not some hp number.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
seen several 346 make close to 500rwhp,the 383 with the extra cubes can do it with more torque .it all in picking the top end combo that works together.look at some trick flow 220 heads ,or some Texas Speed 225 cast heads.consider a cam from EPS or Patrick G.
Trending Topics
AI 226 heads, Kooks 1-7/8" Headers, Kooks 3" True Duals, FAST LSXR 102/NW 102 TB... and an Ed Curtis 236/240 cam would get you there pretty easily and not drive like crap. Btw, an Ed Curtis 232/236 made 504rwhp with AI heads on stock LS2 (504/460).
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Ky
I REALLY APPRECIATE all the help so far. Ive done alot of calling and research today. But I have a few questions from your alls help. Im not sure what AI or EPS or Patrick G or Ed Curtis is. Sorry if I sound ignorant but i just dont know. Of the few places I called I seemed to like the Texas Speed 225 casting heads and their magic stick 4 cam the most. As of now. Again thanks.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Ky
Thanks to eveyone on here who gave me some direction but after calling everyone you have told me too plus a few others ive decided on some 225 aftermaket heads then ill port/polish and then shave/mill them. Ive also decided narrowed it down to 2 of the biggest recommended cams. Any recommendations on which you think would or wouldnt be better is appreciated.
The cams are=
1. 239/242 649/609 +114ls
2. 235/243 621/624 +113ls
WHICH ONE?
The cams are=
1. 239/242 649/609 +114ls
2. 235/243 621/624 +113ls
WHICH ONE?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Ky
After doing a bunch more research on the MS4 cam I think ive decided against it. It was one of my last 2 choices but not read any good reviews on here. So my second choice was specd by comp cam and now I guess its back to the drawing board. Ill do some more research on the ms3 and keep calling performance shops for recommendations to find that perfect cam. Any help or advice is appreciated.
Last edited by ZigLoweWS6; Dec 9, 2012 at 01:08 AM.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 8
From: Katy, TX
Leave porting modern heads to the professionals, it was one thing to wave a grinder around in a gen 1 set of heads but the gen3+ stuff really is a bit more fickle, you need to know what you are doing.
You understand that by picking the most expensive option you also need to go with expensive rocker arms.
Not a snowballs chance in hell you should let Comp spec you a cam, when you call the 800 number you get someone pad to answer a phone and look at the computer screen, they are NOT the valvetrain engineers and experts. Hell Comp has a program that you can down load that will spit out their generic catalog recommendation. Big company shelf cams are generally compromised for emissions, or because they know the oldest mistake in hotrodding is to pick too big a cam, in both cases the LSA gets spread to reduce overlap and improve manners at low speeds.
Also after you choose a cam you will need to verify the supplied springs are appropriate and lift capacity is NOT the only factor. The heavier aftermarket rockers you will need will also play into this choice as heavier valvetrain needs heavier springs.
You understand that by picking the most expensive option you also need to go with expensive rocker arms.
Not a snowballs chance in hell you should let Comp spec you a cam, when you call the 800 number you get someone pad to answer a phone and look at the computer screen, they are NOT the valvetrain engineers and experts. Hell Comp has a program that you can down load that will spit out their generic catalog recommendation. Big company shelf cams are generally compromised for emissions, or because they know the oldest mistake in hotrodding is to pick too big a cam, in both cases the LSA gets spread to reduce overlap and improve manners at low speeds.
Also after you choose a cam you will need to verify the supplied springs are appropriate and lift capacity is NOT the only factor. The heavier aftermarket rockers you will need will also play into this choice as heavier valvetrain needs heavier springs.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Louisville, Ky
Ive read different threads talking about porting intakes and who is best. So who or what company is the best place to buy a ported Fast 92 or 102 intake and throttle body. Thanks.