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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:48 PM
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Default Cam/Head choice

After doing alot of research on a cam and heads i came to this conlcusion. I called Thunder racing to see what the best cam i could go with in order to be emission legal in cali, and im going with a 224/224 563/563 114 cam. And then i called Patriot Performance and talked to Gunner (cool Guy) and he suggested 243 heads. Will i make good power after a good tune?
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:56 PM
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You should be over 400rwhp after the swap and tune. With my old setup (full boltons and the tr224-112) I maid 392hp/386tq. Do you have the supporing boltons??? If not, you wont see the full power gains from the H/C.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:10 PM
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400 HP WOW!!! Well for the other bolt on's, what i am going to do is the LS6 intake swap, Ported TB, Mass Air flow, and i heard that the shorty headers dont do much so im going to leave the stock 2000 manifolds. Could you clear that up for me about the headers bro.,

Joey
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:22 PM
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Im sure the 400 prediction had assumed you had long tube headers. Might want to ask if the cheaTR cam will pass emissions as it supposedly works well with stock manifolds.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:28 PM
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CheatR should pass as it has less overlap than a 224/224 @ 114LSA. The single pattern cams are designed with LTs in mind. If you're sticking with manifolds, use the CheatR cam. You'll probably be short of 400rwhp with that, however.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:34 PM
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I cant get Long tubes due to cali rules and i know thats where the power goes up is with longtubes. DANG!!! But if you guys say ill be close to 400hp with the cam and head choice along with the other bolt ons then thats good for me. I might just supercharge that sucker later on
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by GuitsBoy
Im sure the 400 prediction had assumed you had long tube headers. Might want to ask if the cheaTR cam will pass emissions as it supposedly works well with stock manifolds.
Ya headers were included in my prediction. I've read of some people having there stock mainifolds ported, some one might chime on that one. But that might help you out, and you will have them off when you do the head swap. Does any one know if MAC's mids will pass cali emissions??
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:41 PM
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Well the engine is on an engine stand right now. Cause its going into my 89 camaro (LS1 Swap) So i want to do as much as i can while its still out of the car. So the mids will not fit at all due to different body styles. Where could i get my manifolds ported at or is it something i can do myself?
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:04 PM
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You can do LTs , but you'd have to swap them out before getting smogged.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:08 PM
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Those #'s of >400rwhp were assuming you were including LT's in with the bolt on's you have planned. Mid-length headers are just as illegal in CA as LT's. Don't wast your money on shorties. You can either have your manifolds ported for ~$75(Hinson motorsports), or just go for the LT's and make alot more power. You will still pass the sniffer with LT's. Also, the 224/224 is not a good cam if you are planning on staying with your stock manifolds or shorties. Without LT's, you'd be better off with something like the cheater cam.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Redneck Z
Those #'s of >400rwhp were assuming you were including LT's in with the bolt on's you have planned. Mid-length headers are just as illegal in CA as LT's. Don't wast your money on shorties. You can either have your manifolds ported for ~$75(Hinson motorsports), or just go for the LT's and make alot more power. You will still pass the sniffer with LT's. Also, the 224/224 is not a good cam if you are planning on staying with your stock manifolds or shorties. Without LT's, you'd be better off with something like the cheater cam.

I will still pass the snifer with LT's?? But not the visual inspection. plus the LT's they have for my LS1 swap does not have EGR Paul at Thunder racing suggested this cam for me. Do you think he know's that im not going to use LT's?? Also what is a Cheater cam??
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:29 PM
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214/230 .601/.578 117 LSA from ThunderRacing

You'll only pass the sniffer with LTs if you have cats on it. You'd definitely fail the visual.

EGR...that's why I went with an 02 for my swap.

Did you tell TR that you won't have LTs? If not, then they didn't know and probably assumed that you will like most everyone else does.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 91z28-350
214/230 .601/.578 117 LSA from ThunderRacing

You'll only pass the sniffer with LTs if you have cats on it. You'd definitely fail the visual.

EGR...that's why I went with an 02 for my swap.

Did you tell TR that you won't have LTs? If not, then they didn't know and probably assumed that you will like most everyone else does.

EGR did not come in the 2001 and 2002 year right? So could i just tell the smog Ref that its a 2002 engine and delete the EGR with LS1 edit or Tuner? The reason i said smog ref is cause i have to get it all legit in order to drive it in cali. Im thinking about doing the LT's and just swaping the stock manifolds for smog. just got to make a set up to do that replacement everytime. Does this sound possible? and if i go LT's then im going to skip cats till smog time.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:41 PM
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90 percent of smog shops will pass you in Ca even with long tubes on you just need to get cats and as long as they are there you will pass. I would go ahead and get Lt headers and some 3" high flow cats.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by 52172
90 percent of smog shops will pass you in Ca even with long tubes on you just need to get cats and as long as they are there you will pass. I would go ahead and get Lt headers and some 3" high flow cats.
What about that 10 percent??? I dont want to get a good tune with the LT's and find out that they wont pass me that would just lead into more trouble and more money. Could my 2000 LS1 motor pass as a 2002 non EGR motor?? if it can then i could use Hawks LT's made for my 89 camaro with LS1 swap.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 03:11 PM
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then you just go to another smog shop they should not charge you if you don't pass. You can pass without the egr you just need to have it tuned and delete the egr from the computer so no ses light is lit.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 03:22 PM
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Be careful with this stuff. To certify your swap in CA you need to see the ref. You need the VIN number of the car your stuff came out of. You will need a full exhaust using the manifolds when you go to the ref. After that, do as you want. The refs will know what is what and if they are generous, they'll give you the sticker. More than likely you will be sent home.

Whatever was said in this thread can only apply after you see the ref. You must be fully compliant to get your smog sticker certifying your swap. Make your decisions accordingly.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 91z28-350
Be careful with this stuff. To certify your swap in CA you need to see the ref. You need the VIN number of the car your stuff came out of. You will need a full exhaust using the manifolds when you go to the ref. After that, do as you want. The refs will know what is what and if they are generous, they'll give you the sticker. More than likely you will be sent home.

Whatever was said in this thread can only apply after you see the ref. You must be fully compliant to get your smog sticker certifying your swap. Make your decisions accordingly.

What are you talking about? What is a ref? You need to smog your car every two years that is about it. If it passes once does not mean it will pass again. Every two years it needs to be inspected and sniffed.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by 52172
What are you talking about? What is a ref? You need to smog your car every two years that is about it. If it passes once does not mean it will pass again. Every two years it needs to be inspected and sniffed.
This has gotten way OT.

You live in CA and you don't know what a ref is? Weird.

He's doing an engine swap (conversion if you use the boards here) from a 2000 F-body into a 3rd gen F-body. A ref is the referee. You'll know what those are real quick if you get pulled over and cited with a ticket for illegal parts. The referee is also used for various customer assistance with regards to smog checks, i.e. you failed but you feel the test was done improperly. You failed and repair estimates into the thousands and you want to use the junker for work so you need a certificate of non-compliance (not sure if this is still possible under the law).

In order for the engine swap to be legal since the engines are entirely different visually and you can't sneak by with a rebuilt SBC argument, you must go to the referee. Once certified you will get a little sticker stating that your car now is a 2000 F-body and must meet the emissions requirements of that drivetrain. After you get that sticker you are eligible to go to your neighborhood smog tech for the bi-annual smog check.

The referee is a hotrodder's worst nightmare if you are heavily modded. Pray you never go because you will have to pull all your illegal mods, because they will know what is illegal and what is not.
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Old Feb 2, 2006 | 01:35 AM
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ok by saying that, should i even do the cam/head swap till i get passed the ref?? I didnt get the VIN # off the donor (DANG!) Now at the ref do they do a smog or just do a visual just to see if its all there? IF that is the case then i could do all the stuff and have it tuned and take it over there and show him with EGR and all and after that i could be on my way to making 400HP
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