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Ls1 2003 vette engine mod question

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Old Aug 11, 2013 | 08:09 PM
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Lsrteg's Avatar
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From: San Leandro Ca.
Default Ls1 2003 vette engine mod question

Hi guys,

I reside in california, smog is strict. Is there anything i can do to add a little power to my motor without messing with smog? Any simple bolt ons. I have exhaust x-pipe and intake and in process of buying a header. Any cam i can use from any newer generation ls engine? What is a good smog cams? Intake manifold or throttle body from other gen motor i can use or even aftermarket? I need suggestions guys. Im new to this ls1 engines. Thanks.

Kurt
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Old Aug 12, 2013 | 01:15 AM
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try a 224r cam plus a good tuner. you can pick up an ls6 intake (your car may already have one, i don't know vette model year differences) or go to a FAST 90/92/102 plus TB, but i would do cam before that.

if you want to get a little more heavy duty, you could pick up a better pair of heads and have them ported, but go with a gm head to stay smog legal. (i think that's necessary, anyone correct me if i'm wrong.)

other than that, cai, headers and x pipe are a decent smog legal start, assuming your x is catted and your headers are ca-legal shorties.
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Old Aug 12, 2013 | 08:09 AM
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03 vette has ls6 intake stock...
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Old Aug 12, 2013 | 11:57 PM
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Tick has a nice cam, its a 221/226 115lsa+2 with -6.5* overlap.
http://www.tickperformance.com/tick-...1-ls6-engines/
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Old Aug 13, 2013 | 06:10 AM
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Get stuff with CARB EO Numbers. So far the advice you have gotten is spot on. First get a CAI kit and open up the exhaust and let it breath. You will probably have to go with shorty headers and a cat back only in California. I don't know of any CA smog legal long tube headers. As was mentioned get a set of stock heads ported (I would pick up some LS6 heads) and have a vendor spec you a smog friendly cam. Then have somebody good tune the car and you should be happy and legal. Is the car an auto or standard trans? If it is an auto you will need to look at a converter along with your cam swap.
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Old Aug 13, 2013 | 02:36 PM
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^^^^ Yes, if your vette has a A4 transmission you'll definitely want a high stall TC(3200-3600).
Another cam option would be a 223(lsl)/226(lxl) 115+3 (-5.5* overlap)which I would do with cnc ported/milled stock heads(or AFR 210s) and headers.
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