Is a build even worth it?
The answer to the question depends on
1) how much you want a hp gain
2) your financial situation
3) condition of the vehicle
4) emissions & inspection requirements where your located
In 2002, doing heads & cam on my 99T/A was definitely worthwhile and with headers & rear gears cost about $6,000 total.
In 2022, doing heads & cam on my 02 Z28 with 263,000 + miles...I decided maybe not worthwhile. $5,000 for H&C will probably turn into $10,000 for a new headers, transmission & new torque converter.
Good luck whatever path you take.
1) how much you want a hp gain
2) your financial situation
3) condition of the vehicle
4) emissions & inspection requirements where your located
In 2002, doing heads & cam on my 99T/A was definitely worthwhile and with headers & rear gears cost about $6,000 total.
In 2022, doing heads & cam on my 02 Z28 with 263,000 + miles...I decided maybe not worthwhile. $5,000 for H&C will probably turn into $10,000 for a new headers, transmission & new torque converter.
Good luck whatever path you take.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Jul 25, 2023 at 03:25 PM.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 980
Let's get real basic here.
What have you got now? Have you tried a tune from someone knowledgable? What do you wish it would do? HP #s aren't the correct answer... something like ETs, 0-60 times, etc. would be a better gauge. How much are you willing to spend? How much of the work will you do yourself? Keeping in mind, this is a HOBBY... you'll go BROKE paying someone else to indulge in YOUR hobby on YOUR car FOR YOU, like the Vette guys do. Us F-body and truck types, no way. I'd rather pay for MY OWN kids' braces and college funds than somebody else's. If you're not doing the labor you probably have no business messing with your car.
What have you got now? Have you tried a tune from someone knowledgable? What do you wish it would do? HP #s aren't the correct answer... something like ETs, 0-60 times, etc. would be a better gauge. How much are you willing to spend? How much of the work will you do yourself? Keeping in mind, this is a HOBBY... you'll go BROKE paying someone else to indulge in YOUR hobby on YOUR car FOR YOU, like the Vette guys do. Us F-body and truck types, no way. I'd rather pay for MY OWN kids' braces and college funds than somebody else's. If you're not doing the labor you probably have no business messing with your car.
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It helps to be mechanically inclined. Doing the work not only requires some know how but it takes tools and even some of those can get expensive.
The only thing stopping you from doing something is you.
The only thing stopping you from doing something is you.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Let's get real basic here.
What have you got now? Have you tried a tune from someone knowledgable? What do you wish it would do? HP #s aren't the correct answer... something like ETs, 0-60 times, etc. would be a better gauge. How much are you willing to spend? How much of the work will you do yourself? Keeping in mind, this is a HOBBY... you'll go BROKE paying someone else to indulge in YOUR hobby on YOUR car FOR YOU, like the Vette guys do. Us F-body and truck types, no way. I'd rather pay for MY OWN kids' braces and college funds than somebody else's. If you're not doing the labor you probably have no business messing with your car.
What have you got now? Have you tried a tune from someone knowledgable? What do you wish it would do? HP #s aren't the correct answer... something like ETs, 0-60 times, etc. would be a better gauge. How much are you willing to spend? How much of the work will you do yourself? Keeping in mind, this is a HOBBY... you'll go BROKE paying someone else to indulge in YOUR hobby on YOUR car FOR YOU, like the Vette guys do. Us F-body and truck types, no way. I'd rather pay for MY OWN kids' braces and college funds than somebody else's. If you're not doing the labor you probably have no business messing with your car.
I got longtubes ls6 intake magnafliw catback
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 661
Likes: 91
From: S.F. East bay
the vision should be the motivation and drive for the knowledge…..young grasshopper!! You can do it!! These LS engines are VERY user friendly….watch several you tube videos, and go make friends with some car guys if your still queezy about it……other than the tuning part its relatively easy and mostly common sense….when all else fails…take lotsa pictures!!….but yea…other than a transmission being rebuilt, i would never take my car to a shop and paid stupid prices to have my ride locked up in car prison!! NO WAY JOSE!!……new heads would be nice, but honestly just a cam swap will work wonders too….and save you a couple grand!!…….or you can just bolt on a supercharger and do nothing else!!!
Launching!
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 286
Likes: 94
From: AZ
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
the vision should be the motivation and drive for the knowledge…..young grasshopper!! You can do it!! These LS engines are VERY user friendly….watch several you tube videos, and go make friends with some car guys if your still queezy about it……other than the tuning part its relatively easy and mostly common sense….when all else fails…take lotsa pictures!!….but yea…other than a transmission being rebuilt, i would never take my car to a shop and paid stupid prices to have my ride locked up in car prison!! NO WAY JOSE!!……new heads would be nice, but honestly just a cam swap will work wonders too….and save you a couple grand!!…….or you can just bolt on a supercharger and do nothing else!!!
I’m doing a HCI LS1 build on my Hawk after my stroker let go a couple years back. My local track is talking about closing which helped me make my decision.
I saw no point in building another stroker when I won’t have a local track to use it at and with heavy traffic no where to stretch the legs on that level of build out for a few gears.
I had my old LS1 sitting in the garage so it made the decision easier to keep costs down. I just want the car to run and still make decent power.
If you’re honest with yourself about what kind of performance you’re looking for out of the car it will let you know if it is worth it or not.
5k +\- for a low 11 second car or better vs $14-20k for a stroker is a no brainer.
if you get bored of the power you can always throw a 100-150 shot at it and still be well below a stroker
I saw no point in building another stroker when I won’t have a local track to use it at and with heavy traffic no where to stretch the legs on that level of build out for a few gears.
I had my old LS1 sitting in the garage so it made the decision easier to keep costs down. I just want the car to run and still make decent power.
If you’re honest with yourself about what kind of performance you’re looking for out of the car it will let you know if it is worth it or not.
5k +\- for a low 11 second car or better vs $14-20k for a stroker is a no brainer.
if you get bored of the power you can always throw a 100-150 shot at it and still be well below a stroker
Also I’d factor in a trans and torque converter at the minimum, gears will make it more enjoyable but I wouldn’t bother putting money into a 10 bolt.
My stock trans let go and I had an aftermarket cooler added and kept the fluid clean on my other Fbody that was cam + full bolt ons. Some have had luck and others like me didn’t.
No matter what route you take, the trans, converter and rear will need to be addressed sooner than later as it will be the weakest link.
My stock trans let go and I had an aftermarket cooler added and kept the fluid clean on my other Fbody that was cam + full bolt ons. Some have had luck and others like me didn’t.
No matter what route you take, the trans, converter and rear will need to be addressed sooner than later as it will be the weakest link.
