Cam Or Headers?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Cam Or Headers? I'm On A Budget So I Want To Know Whether A Cam Or Headers Will Give Me More Power? I Know People Are Going To Say I'm Going To Need Both To Get The Most Power But Which Should I Buy First? I Plan To Go With Lt's If I Do Get The Headers. Any Advice? Thanks
CAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cam will net more gains than the headers and when you do get the headers it will open it up even more. Not to mention the lope and everything else that comes along with the cam
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,954
Likes: 1
From: Kent WA
headers definitely... a cam will choke on the stock manifolds and you won't get near the output possible on an aftermarket cam if you don't get the headers first.
It's a good rule of thumb to start on the outside (bolt-ons, drivetrain, suspension, etc) then work inward (cam, heads, etc).
It's a good rule of thumb to start on the outside (bolt-ons, drivetrain, suspension, etc) then work inward (cam, heads, etc).
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 0
From: Winchester, VA
again I must suggest headers first. If you think about it, even if you get the cam first you will have to tune again once you get the headers because the flow will change. At least that is how I see it. So it might cost you more to go cam first.
Trending Topics
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 1
From: Trois-Rivières (Québec / Canada)
Headers first!
If you're on a budget, don't forget that with the cam, you will also need new valvesprings, retainers and a good tuning. All that stuff add some $$$. And like frey51 said, you'll have to tune again if you do the cam first and add headers later.
--
Eric D.
99 Firehawk M6
If you're on a budget, don't forget that with the cam, you will also need new valvesprings, retainers and a good tuning. All that stuff add some $$$. And like frey51 said, you'll have to tune again if you do the cam first and add headers later.
--
Eric D.
99 Firehawk M6
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 headers....
don't need to pull v/c's,front cvr,chg valve springs,timing chain
won't have a cork in the exhaust (manifolds)
i guess you could do the cam 1st, but you will be leaving HP on the table
don't need to pull v/c's,front cvr,chg valve springs,timing chain
won't have a cork in the exhaust (manifolds)
i guess you could do the cam 1st, but you will be leaving HP on the table
I got the cam first only because it was on GP at the time for 600 bucks for the package. Anyways the car made plenty of power and pulled strong to 6600. Dyno'd at 367/353 UNCORRECTED (don't ask). That was for a little T1 though (.559/.559 221/221 112). For the bigger cams, I think exhaust breathing would be more of an issue through the stock manifolds. But believe it or not, those 2000+ manifolds do flow pretty decently.
Depends on the size of cam you want really. A buddy of mine has a WS6 with a T1 and stock manifolds churning out 375 rwhp. The most HP I have EVER seen from headers and a stock cam car was 358.
forgot to throw this in. If you are on a budget (as I am) buy used parts. There are plenty of stand up guys here selling great used parts very cheap. My cam and headers are both used. Maybe purchase first the product you find the best deal on at the time.
BTW (since I say cam) the cam might be slightly choked from the stock manifolds, but nearly as much as people might tell you. You can still expect significant gains from the cam and then huge gains when you throw the headers on and the cam can breathe.
BTW (since I say cam) the cam might be slightly choked from the stock manifolds, but nearly as much as people might tell you. You can still expect significant gains from the cam and then huge gains when you throw the headers on and the cam can breathe.
the cam will give you more HP but I would still do headers first.....
the problem with doing the cam first is either:
a) if its small enough to work with the factory heads and exhaust manifolds, it will really suck when you upgrade the other stuff
b) if its big enough to work with the ported heads and headers, it will be really choked up on the stock stuff
Hooker LTs and a Y-pipe are about $600.......then start saving for your heads AND cam (do both......60+% of the work of one is needed when you do the other)
the problem with doing the cam first is either:
a) if its small enough to work with the factory heads and exhaust manifolds, it will really suck when you upgrade the other stuff
b) if its big enough to work with the ported heads and headers, it will be really choked up on the stock stuff
Hooker LTs and a Y-pipe are about $600.......then start saving for your heads AND cam (do both......60+% of the work of one is needed when you do the other)
cam prob on lt1? i just had a rebuild and went ahead and put a cam but the car runs like crap and i cant find what the prod is . it runs real slugish and has a hard take off but then it just makes noise and goes nowhere. thanks
Originally Posted by gabeg94z
i just had a rebuild and went ahead and put a cam but the car runs like crap and i cant find what the prod is . it runs real slugish and has a hard take off but then it just makes noise and goes nowhere. thanks
