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I'd like to cobble together an engine project for my daily 02 Z28 out of my collection of parts. In the planning and want to hear folks thoughts. Look forward to discussing.
The 02 Z28 (263k miles) has:
Strano springs & sway bars, orange Koni Srt.t - shocks, Hawk's adj panhard & adj lca's, EBC brake upgrade (pads & rotors) 3.73 10 bolt with welded RLCA brackets, aluminum driveshaft , 85mm MAF, 98mm FTP lid, 92mm TB, 90mm snout LS6 intake, Speed Engineering 1 7/8 headers, Kook's Y pipe, 3 inch cut out in I pipe, SLP Dual/Dual
Car will get Yank 3600 SS stall and RPM Transmission Level 5 4L60E, BMR torque arm & Nitto's before the engine upgrade. Car is a good weather daily and will need to remain daily driver capable.
Sorta #4. Buy LS3 crate, but the 430HP stock version (cheaper than the Hot Cam version), then put a GOOD cam of your choice.
Oh, and sell your parts....
I'll selfishly throw in a vote for #2 as that's the same cam I have in a 5.7 and I'd like to see what kind of power curve it makes in a 383.
#1 is pretty similar to my build (same cam again), but I have the 232 AI heads with 62cc chambers I believe, and a mamo fast 102.
After adding up all the reciepts from my HCI build, I'm a little regretful I didn't take the crate LS3 route. Sure learned a lot doing it myself though.
I'll selfishly throw in a vote for #2 as that's the same cam I have in a 5.7 and I'd like to see what kind of power curve it makes in a 383.
#1 is pretty similar to my build (same cam again), but I have the 232 AI heads with 62cc chambers I believe, and a mamo fast 102.
Sweet! I definitely would like your build details!
I'd bet the cam makes 0 to 5 whp more in a 383 plus +45 wtq, all about ~500 rpm lower
After adding up all the reciepts from my HCI build, I'm a little regretful I didn't take the crate LS3 route. Sure learned a lot doing it myself though.
Same gut feeling I get as well.
Originally Posted by G Atsma
Sorta #4. Buy LS3 crate, but the 430HP stock version (cheaper than the Hot Cam version), then put a GOOD cam of your choice.
Oh, and sell your parts....
That's a great A++ suggestion but it will open my pandora's box of project creep!
If I have a 430hp Crate LS3 sitting at Norris MotorSports waiting get a new cam and installed, one of two things will happen:
1) I'll want a Rod-Mod LS3 intake and end up sending the heads over to Land Speed Cylinder Heads for porting while waiting on the Rod-Mod LS3 to ship back. Not sending the heads to Land Speed in that situation would be like telling Michelangelo to skip painting Sistine Chapel because you want someone from Angie's List to do it.
2) to avoid #1, I'll buy Fast 102 LSXR intake from Mamo and have him port it. Then while the LSXR's at Mamo's and the LS3 at Norris's, I'll want to send the heads to Land Speed for porting.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Oct 8, 2022 at 07:18 AM.
I'll chime in mainly because my `99 TA is my daily. It's stroked - a 383 and I'm running an SD tune. That helps with fuel consumption, but so does the 273 rear on the highway. I have a build sheet that I can send you if you're interested.
What's your HP target? IF under 550-600, the heads REALLY don't need porting except for just cleaning up any casting zits.
Rod-mod the intake (THAT seems to be quite effective across the range) and put a cam in it.
Then LEAVE IT ALONE. Hey, it's an LS3. They make HP by accident, with just the right cam.
I'll chime in mainly because my `99 TA is my daily. It's stroked - a 383 and I'm running an SD tune. That helps with fuel consumption, but so does the 273 rear on the highway. I have a build sheet that I can send you if you're interested.
@TA_Freak yes please, I'd like to see a copy of the build sheet. How are you like the SD tune?
What's your HP target? IF under 550-600, the heads REALLY don't need porting except for just cleaning up any casting zits.
Rod-mod the intake (THAT seems to be quite effective across the range) and put a cam in it.
Then LEAVE IT ALONE. Hey, it's an LS3. They make HP by accident, with just the right cam.
Hp goal? ~425+ whp plus a big fat torque curve. Can't get to crazy, wife likes to drive 02 Z28 sometimes and one of the grand kids wants to drive it as well.
Depends on the engine choice:
LS1 h&c 425whp to 435whp,
383 LS1 ~435+ whp
LS2 Stroker ~470+ whp
LS3 ~440+ whp
NA and fairly modest hp w/great driveablity ie daily driver friendly.
I like ported heads in general especially if that means a smaller cam can go in and make same power...just my general view of fun daily driver's.
LOL on project creep! Have done dozen plus car projects and they all, always creep...my 99 T/A's "refresh" plans of new heads & cam turned in 416 LSA stroker w/ported LS3 heads
LS3 heads already flow very well.
Porting might slow flow velocity which cuts low end power, which it appears you would like to keep.
As I said, maybe a little touching up but nothing more.
LS3 heads already flow very well.
Porting might slow flow velocity which cuts low end power, which it appears you would like to keep.
As I said, maybe a little touching up but nothing more.
I hear you, appreciate the comments and a fat bottom end is nice
FWIW - The key with porting LS3 heads is pick a top notch porter like Darin Morgan, Bret at Land Speed, Mamo and a few others. They have skills to optimize and make a stock LS3 better. Darin, Bret, Mamo and the like aren't going to screw up an LS3 head and kill velocity like many of the hacks do.
Definitely was happy with what Darin Morgan did to my LS3 heads that went on the 416. They're also well proven on stock displacement LS3's.
What's hilarious is I've seen Bret epoxy fill spots in a stock port LS3, work his magic and increase cfm flow, increase air velocity and increase whp. Pretty amazing what the top notch porters can accomplish 👏
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Oct 8, 2022 at 09:42 PM.
Sell everything and put that money towards a new 454 NA build with an LS7 top end of course. Keep it 24X for simplicity and going with a 434 or 440 would get the too.
It's the last year of the 4th Gen and she deserves more than a 376 or 383 if you ask me sir.
I did a LS2 block sleeved by Steve at RED with a LS3 heads. Stroked to 427 cubes. Manley forged rotating 24 tooth rotating assembly.
225I/230E cam. Tuned for 91 octane. Super easy to tune. Used a 4L60E. Did 480 rwhp on the dyno. Not huge numbers but in a 67 Nova it was quite fun to drive.
Plus it's so much fun to say I have a 427 cube engine. LOL.
I did a LS2 block sleeved by Steve at RED with a LS3 heads. Stroked to 427 cubes. Manley forged rotating 24 tooth rotating assembly.
225I/230E cam. Tuned for 91 octane. Super easy to tune. Used a 4L60E. Did 480 rwhp on the dyno. Not huge numbers but in a 67 Nova it was quite fun to drive.
Plus it's so much fun to say I have a 427 cube engine. LOL.
That engine in a Gen I Nova has tobe a blast! From off-idle all the way up! Able to shred copious amounts of rubber at will......
The Nova was a bit scary if you weren't going a straight line. I did do a Heidt front and rear suspension swap so the handling was OK. Big brakes front and rear.
3000 stall Yank converter. Drove like a stocker until you nailed it. Cruising at maybe 40-45 mph and flooring it, it would down shift from 4th to 2nd and light up the rear tires. I could of went bigger on the cam but talking to of couple engine builders I would of had to upgrade the heads to gain much.
Couple of pics.
Sell everything and put that money towards a new 454 NA build with an LS7 top end of course. Keep it 24X for simplicity and going with a 434 or 440 would get the too.
It's the last year of the 4th Gen and she deserves more than a 376 or 383 if you ask me sir.
I like that outstanding idea a 24x LS7 427 or 454 would be fantastic!
Best choice for engine project? 
too.
