408 build and might not like it
408 build and might not like it Hey guys and gals, haven't been on here for sometime now but I wanted everyone's opinion on what I did. I put together a 408 which I'm pretty proud of since I build it from scratch meaning bought an LQ block (bare) and pretty much did research on everything else and had never done it before... anyway lets fast forward to 2016 (I started in 2013) now the car is running and I love driving it even though its not tuned all the way, I put 400 miles roughly since the build. I had it tuned for street driving and drives good but It all of a sudden starts to stall and not run right which might be the tune so I'm not to worried...
LETS GET TO MY QUESTION NOW since I'm dragging along...
Not sure how well I did so please let me know and please feel free to criticize the build...
-AFR heads small bore mongoose 1660 heads 230cc
-236/242 612/612 113
-Fast 102 intake
-Nick Williams 102 TB
-1 7/8 LT paired with true dual kooks (catted)
-Dana s60 rear
-viperized t56
-TR6 Gapped at .35 (is this ok?)
what do you guys think ill make? Because honestly it doesn't feel much stronger than my old ms3 and 243 setup, I mean the torque is there but top end doesn't do so well.. should I go with a bigger cam? according to the compression calculator its close to 12.8:1 but others say 11.9:1. I'm not sure if I should use a different plug or just gap these different... sorry my questions are so random.. this is a 2002 ws6 btw.
LETS GET TO MY QUESTION NOW since I'm dragging along...
Not sure how well I did so please let me know and please feel free to criticize the build...
-AFR heads small bore mongoose 1660 heads 230cc
-236/242 612/612 113
-Fast 102 intake
-Nick Williams 102 TB
-1 7/8 LT paired with true dual kooks (catted)
-Dana s60 rear
-viperized t56
-TR6 Gapped at .35 (is this ok?)
what do you guys think ill make? Because honestly it doesn't feel much stronger than my old ms3 and 243 setup, I mean the torque is there but top end doesn't do so well.. should I go with a bigger cam? according to the compression calculator its close to 12.8:1 but others say 11.9:1. I'm not sure if I should use a different plug or just gap these different... sorry my questions are so random.. this is a 2002 ws6 btw.
When I had a 408 built years ago I did a mail order tune on it to get it up and running and I pretty much had the same feelings as you, it didn't really feel that much faster especially up top. I raced a bolt on LS1 and we were pretty much dead even.
Then I went and got it tuned properly and it still felt the same, maybe a tad faster. Well I raced the same car again and pulled 3 cars on it in 2nd and part of third. I then went to the track and ran 11.8 @ 120 mph with a 1.8 60 my first time with it.
My advice is get a real tune and don't judge by seat of the pants because it is hard to tell.
Then I went and got it tuned properly and it still felt the same, maybe a tad faster. Well I raced the same car again and pulled 3 cars on it in 2nd and part of third. I then went to the track and ran 11.8 @ 120 mph with a 1.8 60 my first time with it.
My advice is get a real tune and don't judge by seat of the pants because it is hard to tell.
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Your heads/intake and exhaust look good. Probably can't do much more there without spending a shitload in hand porting etc etc for what would be minimal gain in grand scheme of things.
Your cam is on the light side for a 408. I run about the same but in a 346.
Like was said above...Dont read into it quite yet. When my car had about 450rwhp, a buddy of mine had a 530rwhp 402 set up in the same car(c5z). It def kicked harder in the low-mid range but I thought he wasted $10k on a motor...Until I raced him and he ripped my spine out
haha
Get it dialed in tune wise and let it eat in the real world, make your judgements then IMO
Your cam is on the light side for a 408. I run about the same but in a 346.
Like was said above...Dont read into it quite yet. When my car had about 450rwhp, a buddy of mine had a 530rwhp 402 set up in the same car(c5z). It def kicked harder in the low-mid range but I thought he wasted $10k on a motor...Until I raced him and he ripped my spine out
hahaGet it dialed in tune wise and let it eat in the real world, make your judgements then IMO
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From: TX
I'm with Necro & Carlos, take it to a reputable tuner and get it dynode.
I'd first call a sponsor or get in touch with and reputable engine builder on here and see if they have any suggestions or changes to make cam, etc. to make that engine work as efficient as possible.
From what I've found it's way faster just to call someone and go over everything.
No sense throwing it on the dyno for $500 quite yet and find you need a cam speced differently etc. then have to re dyno it.
That motor should make 500wrhp or more and a 450+ torque, the s60 going to eat what it does but still should make plenty of power if every things made to work together properly.
Curious to see what others have to say, I'm no expert, just saying what id do to save money, if the cam needs to be speced differently or other changes need to be made. You can only make so much power N/A before forcing air in or spraying it, just the way it is. Hope this helps some.
I'd first call a sponsor or get in touch with and reputable engine builder on here and see if they have any suggestions or changes to make cam, etc. to make that engine work as efficient as possible.
From what I've found it's way faster just to call someone and go over everything.
No sense throwing it on the dyno for $500 quite yet and find you need a cam speced differently etc. then have to re dyno it.
That motor should make 500wrhp or more and a 450+ torque, the s60 going to eat what it does but still should make plenty of power if every things made to work together properly.
Curious to see what others have to say, I'm no expert, just saying what id do to save money, if the cam needs to be speced differently or other changes need to be made. You can only make so much power N/A before forcing air in or spraying it, just the way it is. Hope this helps some.
Last edited by TX98Z28; Mar 25, 2016 at 02:37 PM.
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Verdad Gallardo When I had a 408 built years ago I did a mail order tune on it to get it up and running and I pretty much had the same feelings as you, it didn't really feel that much faster especially up top. I raced a bolt on LS1 and we were pretty much dead even.
Then I went and got it tuned properly and it still felt the same, maybe a tad faster. Well I raced the same car again and pulled 3 cars on it in 2nd and part of third. I then went to the track and ran 11.8 @ 120 mph with a 1.8 60 my first time with it.
My advice is get a real tune and don't judge by seat of the pants because it is hard to tell.
Then I went and got it tuned properly and it still felt the same, maybe a tad faster. Well I raced the same car again and pulled 3 cars on it in 2nd and part of third. I then went to the track and ran 11.8 @ 120 mph with a 1.8 60 my first time with it.
My advice is get a real tune and don't judge by seat of the pants because it is hard to tell.
Your heads/intake and exhaust look good. Probably can't do much more there without spending a shitload in hand porting etc etc for what would be minimal gain in grand scheme of things.
Your cam is on the light side for a 408. I run about the same but in a 346.
Like was said above...Dont read into it quite yet. When my car had about 450rwhp, a buddy of mine had a 530rwhp 402 set up in the same car(c5z). It def kicked harder in the low-mid range but I thought he wasted $10k on a motor...Until I raced him and he ripped my spine out haha
Get it dialed in tune wise and let it eat in the real world, make your judgements then IMO
Your cam is on the light side for a 408. I run about the same but in a 346.
Like was said above...Dont read into it quite yet. When my car had about 450rwhp, a buddy of mine had a 530rwhp 402 set up in the same car(c5z). It def kicked harder in the low-mid range but I thought he wasted $10k on a motor...Until I raced him and he ripped my spine out
hahaGet it dialed in tune wise and let it eat in the real world, make your judgements then IMO
I'm with Necro & Carlos, take it to a reputable tuner and get it dynode.
I'd first call a sponsor or get in touch with and reputable engine builder on here and see if they have any suggestions or changes to make cam, etc. to make that engine work as efficient as possible.
From what I've found it's way faster just to call someone and go over everything.
No sense throwing it on the dyno for $500 quite yet and find you need a cam speced differently etc. then have to re dyno it.
That motor should make 500wrhp or more and a 450+ torque, the s60 going to eat what it does but still should make plenty of power if every things made to work together properly.
Curious to see what others have to say, I'm no expert, just saying what id do to save money, if the cam needs to be speced differently or other changes need to be made. You can only make so much power N/A before forcing air in or spraying it, just the way it is. Hope this helps some.
I'd first call a sponsor or get in touch with and reputable engine builder on here and see if they have any suggestions or changes to make cam, etc. to make that engine work as efficient as possible.
From what I've found it's way faster just to call someone and go over everything.
No sense throwing it on the dyno for $500 quite yet and find you need a cam speced differently etc. then have to re dyno it.
That motor should make 500wrhp or more and a 450+ torque, the s60 going to eat what it does but still should make plenty of power if every things made to work together properly.
Curious to see what others have to say, I'm no expert, just saying what id do to save money, if the cam needs to be speced differently or other changes need to be made. You can only make so much power N/A before forcing air in or spraying it, just the way it is. Hope this helps some.
I got some generic injectors from a company that rebuilds them and pretty much make them flow to certain specs, they are 48lbs injectors with a racetronix pump out back.. Also reason I got the generic style is because I couldn't find anyone that made 48lbs skinny style injectors that would fit the 102 fast mani
TECH Addict
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 126
From: Monroe,NY
I would since it dies up top it could be running lean without a proper tune. That 408 will need a lot more fuel up top. I wouldn't change anything until you get a proper tune and then see how you like it then. That thing should rip pretty good with what you have now.
hope so man, Ill update everything when it gets tuned