Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

Engine specs are:

395ci LS1 based

LS1 block hones to 3.905" and decked to 9.235"
4.125" Stroke
6.125" Rod length
Wiseco +3cc domed pistons, pin height 1.050"
Piston above deck .002"
PRC 2.5 243 heads with 63.5cc chambers
Cometic 3.910" 0.060" compressed head gaskets
242/248 @.050 .622/.617 114+2 XFI lobes (3018 & 3039) IVC ABDC @ 78
292/300

Static compression 12.28:1
Dynamic compression 8.62:1
Quench distance .058"

The car honestly feels like a complete turd. The AFR at WOT is around 12.6, most timing it will take is around 22. Barely beat a 5th Gen Camaro from a roll.

What can I do to get some pep back without starting over?

SoFla01SSLookinstok

What's your intake/exhaust setup?

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

4" CAI with 100mm MAF into 90mm throttle body and ported FAST 90. Exhaust is 1 7/8" Kooks into 3" mid-pipes into 2.5" Bassani Catback.

SoFla01SSLookinstok

Sounds pretty good there. Any dyno #'s/graphs?

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

Not yet. But it feels less powerful than when the LS1 was in it. That engine made 464/436 peak. Right now the car won't break the tires loose stomping on the gas pedal in first, but with the LS1 first was pretty much useless and second would sometimes break the tires loose above 5-5.5k rpm.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Seems to me that the ultra thick head gasket was used to keep the static compression low enough so the dynamic compression wouldn't be too high for pump gas. Having a **** ton of quench is just BAD !!!
Your heads are decent but honestly a .040 gasket with a CNC'd 317 would be a much better way of keeping enough static compression while making the engine less octane sensitive.
So without spending too much money or starting over I'd suggest you get a hold of Martin at Tick to see if he could change up the camshaft.
I'm not a cam expert but something seems strange about where those lobes are. Not that they aren't about the right size but more so just in the wrong positions.....IVC, overlap, etc.
If you have a specific guy preference for cam..EPS (Geoff Skinner), Kip Fabre at Cam Motion, or Brian Tooley could all help ya out a bunch.

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

Let's say I went with some ported 317's from TX Speed milled to 70cc to clean them up. Using a 0.040" gasket I would get a Static compression ratio of 11.89:1 and keeping the same cam I would have a Dynamic compression ration of 8.35:1.

I'm probably looking at about $900 to swap heads and gaskets assuming I can get about a grand for my current one. Question is if anyone thinks that there would be enough of a difference to justify this expense.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Another option is to just put the thinner gaskets on with your heads and then tune for E85 depending on availability in your area. Was that cam degreed in and found to be accurate to the grind card ??

SoFla01SSLookinstok

I'm going to guess something isn't right with how you make the performance sound. Wondering if the cam was degreed is a good question. Try & figure it out before you start throwing more money/parts at it. Good luck!

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

There are a few E85 stations around the North Dallas area, but the issue would be if I ever took the car on a long trip, i.e. Houston, Austin, San Antonio, etc.

As far as the cam degreeing goes, the machine shop and myself checked it using both methods and found the cam to be 9 degrees too far advanced. Now this could be a little on the crank, the sprockets and the cam. I thought it was a little odd to find so much, but we checked with the intake centerline and intake opening method.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

so where the cam card called for 52 degrees ABDC intake valve closing figuring 292 minus 242 equals 50. so half of that or 25 from your stated 77 ABDC seat timing is where I got the 52 @ .050.
With that being said, you guys then retarded it with a timing chain/keyway
9 total degrees ????

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

Yes. Seemed a lot to me as well, but after reading everything I could on cam degreeing and watching the machine shop/engine builder always come up with the same numbers, I had to agree.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

I'm gonna bet the farm that there in lies the problem. By your description of how the thing feels it sounds bottle-necked and like something is holding it back (50 or so horse) from being a monster. That cam must have been ground by a drunken refugee with a Milwaukee hand held grinder. From 30 plus years of assembly experience, EVERY time I've ever had to move a cam that much in any direction...the engine just runs like a bucket of ****. Think about it....if you're trying to get the intake lobe to a certain spot and it requires moving it that far...now the exhaust lobe is in a different zip code and the engine is suffering from extreme pumping losses. Remove, drop on floor and discard said two piece camshaft. All kidding aside, seriously call Tick tomorrow and explain all this to Martin, By the weekend he could have the right cam at your doorstep, ground correctly, pop it in, set it and forget it. The next thread you post will be a picture of a football field length of posi stripes and you pissing all over yourself....LOL
Good Luck to ya.....

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

So are we betting on the cam being ground way off, the engine builder and I not knowing how to degree, or just the wrong specs for the cam?

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

Cam off/wrong specs

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

Before I start buying heads I will check the cam timing again. If it still comes up 9 degrees off, I'm pulling and shipping it to Comp to have it double checked.

Sales3@Texas-Speed

iTrader: (2)

Even if the cam was off I would say something else is going on. Was the car ever ran on the larger injectors before being tuned?

Lonnie

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

The car has been on the 42lb green tops since it was a H/C/I combo.

This is the second cam I had in the 395. The first one was a 247/253 @.050, .623/.623 113+4. This cam did 504/460 peak. I had to change cams and go through the engine due low oil pressure caused by scored bearings caused by debris from the cam lobes chewing up. I went with a smaller cam as I was hoping for a little more low and mid-range torque.

2kgtp

Is it firing on all 8 cylinders?

Pulse_GTO

iTrader: (2)

I'm pretty sure it is. Drives too nicely not to. But just in case I will grab my thermal gun and check the primaries.