99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

My 99 T/A is due for valve springs again. My set up is the same as it was in 2002. The current set of dual 987 springs have 47,000 miles and have been beat on. The locks, retainers, seats in my old 2002 vintage TEA heads all have 110,000 miles with a 224/224 XE-R cam. Engine has a total of 142,000 miles. Car runs well and has good oil pressure. Car still has the original mail order tune from MTI.

I think the stock bottom end engine is sound and can see 300k. I'm worried the valve seats and stems are beat up from the XE-R cam. I'm easy on the car most of the time and always allow full warm up before spinning over 2500rpm.

What my best choice replace springs, lock, retainers, seats & upgrade the stock rockers with the comp kit or do new AI heads and maybe a new cam and lifters?

Still have stock 26 pound injectors with planning for a new tune should they be upgraded?

Thank you for your time and replies.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

What's your budget? If you plan to just keep everything, I'd say BTR dual platinum springs

It has been proven that there are gentler lobes that actually make more power than the XER lobes. If it were me, I would go to Martin at Tick to spec out your top end. Ask to have your cam ground by cam motion. That'll be easier on your valve train and make more power.

If you decide to upgrade your heads, I very strongly urge you to upgrade lifters while they're off.

SCott5

iTrader: (40)

Budget is key part of what you should or can do.

If you just wanna replace springs go with the BTR kit that was mentioned. If your going to send your heads out to get checked and maybe cleaned then go ahead and order new ls7 lifters, and new gaskets and check to make sure your pushrods are all in order and good shape.

99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

My max budget is 4500 in this coming spring. I will have to pay labor for install of springs or heads etc. This is an after tax refund project.

If the heads come off the car gets new lifters. It appears there are many more options for lifters now than back 02.
Sounds like the Cam Motion lobe is choice. Thank for mentioning the Cam Motion lobes.

Reworking the TEA 5.3 853 heads could be an option but I have a pair of 241's that could be used. AI website mentioned their able to get 11 to compression and an excellent combustion chamber with the older 241's.

93Polo

iTrader: (5)

If I remember correctly the 987s were a larger diameter something that required extra machining by TEA, a selling point back in the day. Last I checked they cost less than smaller springs used in standard LS heads.

If you are concerned about the heads you may want to pull them and check the guides. Maybe some others will step in with high mileage setups. I wouldn't spend money getting another set of heads ported.

Do you have a FAST intake? What gears do you have in the car? Do you want a bigger cam? EPS is another option on cams and I believe has gone to Cam Motion. If you want a strong daily maybe their 222/226. I loved my old TEA Stg 2 5.3s and Futral 228/230 F11 (Cam Motion)

Vegas02ta

iTrader: (5)

I agree w/them btr springs ,& have the heads reworked w/ new bronze guides

99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

93 Polo, that's right the 987's required a bigger seat I had forgot.

Still have the LS6 intake on the car. Car has 4.10 gears.
Reworking the TEA 5.3s and upgrading to a Fast LSXR would probably be a better use funds than new heads & keeping the LS6 intake.

More powerful cam would be great as long as doesn't have to spin higher than about 6500 rpm.
I'm sure some extra duration could be used. In 2002 passing the sniffer emissions test was a concern but that isn't a factor anymore.
New motor isn't in the budget so I have to take reasonable care of this one. Can't spin it too high with those early rod bolts.

93Polo

iTrader: (5)

If it were mine, I'd likely keep the 987s but of course talk to the company that spec the cam. I'm considering something in the ~230/234 range likely from Tick or EPS but will talk to others. However, a smaller cam does have its benefits as well especially in a daily/semi daily driver. I would absolutely pick up a FAST 90.

I loved my F11 but always kind of wished I went with the F13. I also had great luck with my Cam Motion cam. Tick has the cam below and EPS has a 230/234 which to me seem to be more modern cams in the same ballpark.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...sers-come.html

99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

93 Polo, that's thread is full of excellent info!!!

I will gather up all the info on my set up and contact Tick & a couple others. The car is a semi-daily driver in fair weather. Girlfriend drives the car some as well so as long as the cam idles well and doesn't buck or surge with a good tune a more powerful cam will be part of the update.