The thing is, I only have enough money to do a complete cam change, or I can change the headers and y-pipe and have a some money left over for some smaller changes. If I go with the headers what could some of the smaller changes be? I already have a lid and ripper shifter coming from jegs. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

You can do the cam first but you won't realize the true gains without a free flowing exhaust. Depending on the cam I've heard as much as 50 hp left on the table with a stock exhaust.

 

Start at the backend with the headers and ORY and then tackle the intake. Don't choke that poor cam with stock manifolds and cats. How much $$$ will be left if you do the headers?

 

Honestly I would probably agree with the headers first... I've done cam only stock manifold setups & while they do gain power, they never do near as much as they would have on a good flowing exhaust car.

 

Depending on the headers and ORY I buy I would have between $300-500. Would a header change gain as much power as a cam change that uses the stock exhaust manifolds? What if I get an ORY that attaches to the stock manifolds and a cam?

 

you will probably see more immediate gains from a cam only as opposed to headers. so id say do your cam first and get a tune, then get headers and get it re tuned (usualy most tuners only charge under 100 to re tune. depending on what cam you use you could have a real sleeper..

 

get the headers and y-pipe then get yourself a ls6 intake with the money left over and you will make just about the same amount of power if you just went with a cam.

 

Agreed, get the headers as stated, and use the extra $300-$500 for a used LS6 manifold which usually sell for $350 used and that will help even more with the gains when you get a cam. Either that or get some suspension stuff to help plant the newfound power to the ground. $500 will get you some BMR SFC and LCA along with a PHR. OR get some Bilstein HD shocks installed all the way around, Strano sells them for $329 I believe

 

I would try and go full bolt-on before I start doing internal work. Definately go the exhaust route first. It's easier and cheaper, plus it really wakes the car up. Nothing can beat the sound you hear the first time after going full exhaust!

 

i cant agree more. if you want power, id do what he suggested. u may, just may be able to swing enough for a U/D pulley also or a cutout for your exhaust

 

Totally agree with freeing up the restrictions
Do Header with a custom 3” Y pipe into a Flowmaster 3 into 3.5 Merger into a good catback
Next LS6 intake
This will net you more then a cam only now

Good luck

 

Will there be any tuning required if I get headers, ORY and eventually the LS6 intake? I have been leaning towards headers, are pacesetters good? Should I put dummy O2 sensors in the rear? I have never done headers on something this new.

 

you will need a tune either way, but not as much with headers as a cam. if your not going to get a cam for a while, then get it tuned, if you are, then do with out. you will be running a bit richer, but you will still notice a good gain in power.

 

headers, you should have all the supporting mods before you just jump in and do a cam.....

 

I'll go against the crowd: Think bang for the buck. Although a big cam will be choked by the stock exhaust, it will still make more power than headers with a stock cam, and will be cheaper than good stainless merge headers. Besides, you can always plumb in a cut-out and get most of the benefit of headers when you really want it. Bonus: When you do finally get headers, you'll pick up maybe 50 HP instead of 20!

 

Well, a cutout isn't gonna give you most of the gain that headers will. Your gains with a cutout would be like having a good straight through muffler or slightly better. A cutout will do nothing to help the choke of your stock exhaust manifolds. You will gain more power with a cam. Why not get a good cam designed for stock manifolds, like the cheater cam. Then if you decide to get LT's in the future, this cam will still work. PatrickG did this and it worked great.

 

Isn't there mixed reviews about how well the CheatR cam works with headers? How much of a gain would I expect with this cam and stock manifolds?

 

I just read this in another thread (mine.... )....30-35rwhp going from a stock LS1 cam to the CheaTR with stock manifolds.

 

I noticed more of a gain when I put the cam in , than when the headers were bolted on.

The headers will give you a little more power and a better sounding car.

Just the cam, will give you more power

 

If I remember correctly, the cam was good for ~30-35rwhp on PatrickG's car. When he went to LT's he made some good gains over the stock manifolds. The cam will work well on stock manifolds, and also seems to perform well with longtubes. Do a search for the "PatrickG cheater cam on stock manifolds" thread. This should answer all your questions.