Definition of "Daily Driver"
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: Geneseo, NY
Definition of "Daily Driver" I hear ALOT of people ask "will XXX work in my daily driver??"....WHAT exactly do y'all define as a daily driver ???
My definition is:
* 100% reliability...it HAS to start and run when I need it to, not when it feels like it
* NO driveability issues (no stalling, no stumbling, no hot/cold starting issues, etc)
*NO race-only parts necessary.....I can deal with bigger valve springs, hardened pushrods and higher stall converters but HAVING to stud the block or **** like that is out
The reason I'm asking this in Internal Engine is because I want to make 100% certain that a GM LS1 HOT cam and ported heads qualify by my standards as "daily drivable"
My definition is:
* 100% reliability...it HAS to start and run when I need it to, not when it feels like it
* NO driveability issues (no stalling, no stumbling, no hot/cold starting issues, etc)
*NO race-only parts necessary.....I can deal with bigger valve springs, hardened pushrods and higher stall converters but HAVING to stud the block or **** like that is out
The reason I'm asking this in Internal Engine is because I want to make 100% certain that a GM LS1 HOT cam and ported heads qualify by my standards as "daily drivable"
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 1
From: Texas
WOW...let the flaming begin. There is no definition of "daily driver" because it can only be based on each individuals opinion. I drive a trex in my daily driver and in dallas at that. I plan on installing a TH400 with a shortened 9" spool. Lots of other little stuff like solid motor mounts. The point is, there is no one definition of "daily driver", it is only what you can handle (or want) out of your car.
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: Geneseo, NY
OK.....so "I" want a vehicle that will drive like stock, will have a litle lope to it and won't **** off the girlfriend (BIG BIG factor here), that to me (currently) is my definition of a daily driver...will the combo I've chosen get me that ????
I used to drive a 69 Nova with an .030 over 400, Stage II Trick Flow heads, dual 450cfm Holleys on a tunnel-ram, a 244º @ .050 .575 lift solid lifter cam, LT's with straight pipes, a TH400 with a 3800 stall, a 12 bolt with 4.11's and a Detroit, and a 6-point cage.........and I very much considered that "daily drivable"........and it was except for the weekly valve adjustments, constant headache from the exhaust, having to put in a lead-addative EVERY TIME I filled up, 6 mpg, the realization that there was NO SUCH THING as a low-rpm roll from a stop-light and the fact that I couldn't keep rear tires on the bitch to save my life....and I loved the **** out of that car, but at this point in my life if I tried that I'd have my ***** cut off and hung from the mirror (the girlfriend factor at work)
I realize we all have our own definition of "daily-driven" and I'm REALLY not trying to cause a flame war by asking this question....I'm just trying to think about the "average Joe" who doesn't know **** about these motors and wants to put a new cam in and gain a few ponies....
I used to drive a 69 Nova with an .030 over 400, Stage II Trick Flow heads, dual 450cfm Holleys on a tunnel-ram, a 244º @ .050 .575 lift solid lifter cam, LT's with straight pipes, a TH400 with a 3800 stall, a 12 bolt with 4.11's and a Detroit, and a 6-point cage.........and I very much considered that "daily drivable"........and it was except for the weekly valve adjustments, constant headache from the exhaust, having to put in a lead-addative EVERY TIME I filled up, 6 mpg, the realization that there was NO SUCH THING as a low-rpm roll from a stop-light and the fact that I couldn't keep rear tires on the bitch to save my life....and I loved the **** out of that car, but at this point in my life if I tried that I'd have my ***** cut off and hung from the mirror (the girlfriend factor at work)
I realize we all have our own definition of "daily-driven" and I'm REALLY not trying to cause a flame war by asking this question....I'm just trying to think about the "average Joe" who doesn't know **** about these motors and wants to put a new cam in and gain a few ponies....
Last edited by Yelo; Sep 9, 2004 at 04:37 AM.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland, FL
If you are basing your mods on what your girlfriend will want you to do then it is best to not mod at all because it is a landslide, Once you mod you will keep going.
If you need it to be 100 % streetable I would not even get a hotcam, look into an ls6 cam or better yet if you want better power one of the stealth cams offered by different vendors. The hotcam from all the threads I have has a big lope to it so your girl probably won't like it.
If you need it to be 100 % streetable I would not even get a hotcam, look into an ls6 cam or better yet if you want better power one of the stealth cams offered by different vendors. The hotcam from all the threads I have has a big lope to it so your girl probably won't like it.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
TECH Addict
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 0
From: Geneseo, NY
Originally Posted by jrp
you cant pinpoint something subjective.
So, in the opinion of those on here.....will the combo I've chosen get me what "I" want by "my" definition ???
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo just read your post completely, misse the HC the first time out. mike is right, with the HC you'll get all the symptoms of a big cam but you'll making less power. i however dont agree with mike on the ls6 cam, not for a heavy *** truck anyway. honestly if you have the time and patients i'd get the best pair of heads you can afford, flow them with your intake, and then have a custom cam ground to your application, emisssions and idle requirements, and should still make great power. then have a competent tuner tune your **** and you should be good to go.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 2
From: Loganville, GA
If you mod your car based on what your girlfriend/wife will like...then maybe you need to look elsewhere. there are plenty of people that wouldnt have a prob with what you "like". Ive dated both. My idea of daily driver....H/C/I with a 4.10s/spool. soon to be a stroker in there. Driveability is 90% in the tuning.
And if "she" dont like it....tuff. Its mine. there will be someone that does.
And if "she" dont like it....tuff. Its mine. there will be someone that does.
Be carefull of opinions on here. Modding is a slippery slope. I know each change I made was incremental and I said "Oh, this isn't bad, I can deal with that." It was easy in the beginning because the ET times just kept dropping and that made it easy to rationalize. Now, after a couple years and less regular track visits, I've decided that I went to far and need to pull back just a bit. If many of these daily drivers today went out and test drove a stock vette or near stock 2002 WS6, they would realize how far their cars have gone away from a stock feel.
May not be a big deal for 21 year olds, but us old farts grow tired of it. Just look at what 2 of the admins drive. Nineball's SS and Colonel have "Stealth" mods. Both those guys had 10/11 second "daily drivers" 2 years ago.
May not be a big deal for 21 year olds, but us old farts grow tired of it. Just look at what 2 of the admins drive. Nineball's SS and Colonel have "Stealth" mods. Both those guys had 10/11 second "daily drivers" 2 years ago.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: harrisburg, pa
Daily driver is a car you get in, fire it up (scaring the neighbors), and go down the road scaring the **** out of everyone at the red lights...lumpity lump...
anything else you might as well be driving a honda
anything else you might as well be driving a honda
Like said above. Daily driver is a car that is being driven daily. Driven to work everday, to the grocery store, to the mall, to the movies, to the ***** house, etc.
Car stalling, being loud and unconfortable without AC is all personal preference. All of this does not affect if a car is daily driven or not. Some people might like driving there car to work with wheelie bars.
Car stalling, being loud and unconfortable without AC is all personal preference. All of this does not affect if a car is daily driven or not. Some people might like driving there car to work with wheelie bars.
I agree with JRP, this will net you the best result, yet it is gonna cost (so i hope your gf doesnt care about that).
I also know where you are coming from b/c my wife will not even sit in my car anymore (she has literally hated it ever since i started modding it). I keep telling her that i am going to get her tahoe next...lol... and all she says is that "you can aslong as it doesn't sound like your car."
I also know where you are coming from b/c my wife will not even sit in my car anymore (she has literally hated it ever since i started modding it). I keep telling her that i am going to get her tahoe next...lol... and all she says is that "you can aslong as it doesn't sound like your car."
Originally Posted by Lucian
I agree with JRP, this will net you the best result, yet it is gonna cost (so i hope your gf doesnt care about that).
I also know where you are coming from b/c my wife will not even sit in my car anymore (she has literally hated it ever since i started modding it). I keep telling her that i am going to get her tahoe next...lol... and all she says is that "you can aslong as it doesn't sound like your car."
I also know where you are coming from b/c my wife will not even sit in my car anymore (she has literally hated it ever since i started modding it). I keep telling her that i am going to get her tahoe next...lol... and all she says is that "you can aslong as it doesn't sound like your car."
That is because you have an ORY with loudmouth catback
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,242
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland, FL
shoot I didn't realize he was talking about a truck, you know the most streetable way to make alot of power is drop a big cube motor in there 
Might not be cost efficient but streetable it is.
Might not be cost efficient but streetable it is. 
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
To be daily driveable to me, engine wise:
- If it's an A4, the powerband MUST NOT require a converter to fill in a loss of low-end power. Low-end is down as far as 1,100rpm.
- The engine must start, idle, and roll to a stop without issues. No surging, stalling, or loading up.
- Valvetrain must be quiet as stock.
- Engine/cam must be at least breathing well, if not in the beginning of the powerband at 65-70mph.
- Throttle must be sharp and responsive during casual driving on the street.
When I had my 220/220-112 in the truck - I loved the sound of the idle, but my girlfriend said it sounded like a boat. (she must hear some nasty boats?). From what I understand, the 220/220-112 will idle a lot better than the Hotcam - so if your girlfriend is anything like mine, she probably won't care for it.
- If it's an A4, the powerband MUST NOT require a converter to fill in a loss of low-end power. Low-end is down as far as 1,100rpm.
- The engine must start, idle, and roll to a stop without issues. No surging, stalling, or loading up.
- Valvetrain must be quiet as stock.
- Engine/cam must be at least breathing well, if not in the beginning of the powerband at 65-70mph.
- Throttle must be sharp and responsive during casual driving on the street.
When I had my 220/220-112 in the truck - I loved the sound of the idle, but my girlfriend said it sounded like a boat. (she must hear some nasty boats?). From what I understand, the 220/220-112 will idle a lot better than the Hotcam - so if your girlfriend is anything like mine, she probably won't care for it.