Should I change my cam?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2016
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Should I change my cam? 
New to LS1's, had many mustangs and decided to give the dark side a try
I am enjoying the car as of now, but deciding which direction I want to go next.
Car is a 01 A4 SS w/ 65k miles on it.
It has TSP longtubes, Y-Pipe and a flow master catback (which I intend on replacing or adding a cutout)
Right now the car has a 228/230 duration 585/585 lift on a 112. It has btr double springs with their retainers and valve stem seals. Comp pushrods. Ls7 lifters.ls2 trays. Billit timing gear set with iwis chain. Melling oil pump. Arp rod bolts.
Also has a dry nitrous kit hooked up which is not complete (if I run this kit I am converting to a wet, but haven't decided if I am going to run it or not).
It has an FTI 3200 with a transgo shift kit.
It has a tune, but it needs retuned badly, at WOT I am seeing about 11.6-11.9 AFR, and the car just burns rich in general and bucks a good bit.
I am trying to decide rather to go with a bigger cam and dyno tune, or port my heads and dyno tune.
I am also slightly considering just hooking up the nitrous and dyno tune.
What say you LS1 experts?
The car is not a DD.
And a pic of my new ride for reference after I lowered it, and did the whistler mod.
Last edited by weems; Jan 23, 2016 at 10:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2016
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Put in a 4000 stall instead and maybe intake, gears, tune.. that cam should make great power.. the stall would wake it up a bit.. if you are looking for more power you could do some heads and maybe a bigger cam, but I guess it depends on your goals.. you looking for better track times?
Good job making the switch to the better side.. lol
Good job making the switch to the better side.. lol
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 54
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Leave the motor alone. fast 102 intake if you want and get it tuned.
if you plan on running spray that converter is fine.
spend the money and time on getting the most out of your combination and getting it to the ground and to forward motion.
and after you have gotten everything out of it then go into the motor, good luck
if you plan on running spray that converter is fine.
spend the money and time on getting the most out of your combination and getting it to the ground and to forward motion.
and after you have gotten everything out of it then go into the motor, good luck
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 52
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Without the correct tune your not getting the max potential out of the setup you have. You might be surprised at the power that can be gained by a good tune.
I would not change anything nor would I spray it until the tune has been taken care of.
If you plan on spraying it set the tune with the spray ready to go.
You could really damage the engine running it out of tune. I'm no expert but I say work with what you have first and do as others have mentioned, Focus on getting the power to the ground. Then see what direction you want to go.
Joe
I would not change anything nor would I spray it until the tune has been taken care of.
If you plan on spraying it set the tune with the spray ready to go.
You could really damage the engine running it out of tune. I'm no expert but I say work with what you have first and do as others have mentioned, Focus on getting the power to the ground. Then see what direction you want to go.
Joe
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Put in a 4000 stall instead and maybe intake, gears, tune.. that cam should make great power.. the stall would wake it up a bit.. if you are looking for more power you could do some heads and maybe a bigger cam, but I guess it depends on your goals.. you looking for better track times? Good job making the switch to the better side.. lol
Fast intake
Higher stall
Higher rear gear
Proper tune
If you still want more go to the heads.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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I absolutely have plans on getting the guy tuned. RPM Motorsports will be doing the tune. My plan is one of three things right before the tune:
Port my 241s
Install nitrous
Or now I am thinking an intake
Would a fast be that much better over the stock LS6 intake? It seems to be on par with pricing on porting heads, which would net me a better gain?
The first round of mods the budget is around 1500. Tune is 400 so that leaves me about 1100 to play with, and I do all of my own work.
Wish it was as easy as my cobra was haha, exhaust, some slicks, a pulley and a tune.
Port my 241s
Install nitrous
Or now I am thinking an intake
Would a fast be that much better over the stock LS6 intake? It seems to be on par with pricing on porting heads, which would net me a better gain?
The first round of mods the budget is around 1500. Tune is 400 so that leaves me about 1100 to play with, and I do all of my own work.
Wish it was as easy as my cobra was haha, exhaust, some slicks, a pulley and a tune.
I think if you do either/or the intake and throttle will do more up front. Porting the heads and then choking them back with the intake will be less effective. Then there is also fluids, gaskets, and bolts which will add a few hundred to your head cost.
Of all the options you listed nitrous will give the biggest bang for buck.
There's a thread in the exhaust section a few months old that links to an article showing the relative performance of each intake from stock ls1 to fast102.
Of all the options you listed nitrous will give the biggest bang for buck.
There's a thread in the exhaust section a few months old that links to an article showing the relative performance of each intake from stock ls1 to fast102.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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I think if you do either/or the intake and throttle will do more up front. Porting the heads and then choking them back with the intake will be less effective. Then there is also fluids, gaskets, and bolts which will add a few hundred to your head cost.
Of all the options you listed nitrous will give the biggest bang for buck.
There's a thread in the exhaust section a few months old that links to an article showing the relative performance of each intake from stock ls1 to fast102.
Of all the options you listed nitrous will give the biggest bang for buck.
There's a thread in the exhaust section a few months old that links to an article showing the relative performance of each intake from stock ls1 to fast102.
The ls6 will work, but for max gains you would get more out of a 102.. the heads will be a good power gain for sure but i would still bet the 4000 stall alone would have more track gains.. just depends on what you are looking for.
From what you listed though I would go with the 241's ported.. but nitrous would obviously be a way bigger bang for the buck
From what you listed though I would go with the 241's ported.. but nitrous would obviously be a way bigger bang for the buck
Last edited by RollinSScamaro; Jan 23, 2016 at 05:27 PM.
It's a fine converter, but a little small for your cam. Something like a 3600 or 3800 is better suited. What's the suspension and tires like? Tune should be #1 on the list. If youre considering the n2O than I'd skip on the heads and intake. Maybe do a ram air cold air like the ftra and some suspension.
Agreed it's not a bad converter or anything but you would probably stay in your power band better with a 3600-4000.. 4000 may be a little high for some people but seems like a lot of times people with 3600 end up wanting more.. I also figured it would be OK because it's not your DD.. I don't have a cam and my times are in my signature with my ss4000 and a somewhat poor 60 ft. I did go with a 4000 planning on future heads and cam though. Let us know which route you take, either way you go you will love it, the tune will help a ton.
Step 1... loose that choke master
Step 2... pick up the FTI 3800-4000 hardhit stall. 706 plus tax at summit free shipping
Step 3... Sell your current stall
Step 4... Pick up a ram air kit
Step 5... Get it tuned
Step 6... if anything is left over look into a torque arm.
Does it have a transmission cooler ?
Does it have a lid ?
Where u located?
Step 2... pick up the FTI 3800-4000 hardhit stall. 706 plus tax at summit free shipping
Step 3... Sell your current stall
Step 4... Pick up a ram air kit
Step 5... Get it tuned
Step 6... if anything is left over look into a torque arm.
Does it have a transmission cooler ?
Does it have a lid ?
Where u located?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
It's a fine converter, but a little small for your cam. Something like a 3600 or 3800 is better suited. What's the suspension and tires like? Tune should be #1 on the list. If youre considering the n2O than I'd skip on the heads and intake. Maybe do a ram air cold air like the ftra and some suspension.
Agreed it's not a bad converter or anything but you would probably stay in your power band better with a 3600-4000.. 4000 may be a little high for some people but seems like a lot of times people with 3600 end up wanting more.. I also figured it would be OK because it's not your DD.. I don't have a cam and my times are in my signature with my ss4000 and a somewhat poor 60 ft. I did go with a 4000 planning on future heads and cam though. Let us know which route you take, either way you go you will love it, the tune will help a ton.
Step 1... loose that choke master
Step 2... pick up the FTI 3800-4000 hardhit stall. 706 plus tax at summit free shipping
Step 3... Sell your current stall
Step 4... Pick up a ram air kit
Step 5... Get it tuned
Step 6... if anything is left over look into a torque arm.
Does it have a transmission cooler ?
Does it have a lid ?
Where u located?
Step 2... pick up the FTI 3800-4000 hardhit stall. 706 plus tax at summit free shipping
Step 3... Sell your current stall
Step 4... Pick up a ram air kit
Step 5... Get it tuned
Step 6... if anything is left over look into a torque arm.
Does it have a transmission cooler ?
Does it have a lid ?
Where u located?
It does have a transmission cooler, and a whisper lid. I am located in Savannah GA.