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iTrader: (27)

I bought a set of Patriot 5.3 stage 2 heads on here. They have 2.02 and 1.57 valves. I also got dual springs and arp bolts. All together this was $700 shipped, and I'm trying to do this on a budget. Please do not tell me to get a different head. I'm needing opinions on cam selection still.

I want to see low 11s NA with whatever setup I do and spray into the 10s.
Mods will be all bolt ons, Fuddle 4000 stall, 3.73s, 2-300lbs weight reduction.
Car is a DD but I can sacrfice a lot of driveabilty for speed. I already stripped out the interior and drive with an open cutout so I think I can handle a rough cam. Anyways, here we go...

I was wanting to run the MS3 cam with these heads . It is by far my first choice among other cams because I love the numbers I've seen it put down, love the sound I've heard it make, and I had my stall set to 4000 so I could run this cam BUT I have been told by another member on here that the MS3 WILL NOT clear with these sized valves. However, some have still told me that it WILL clear with these valves. I understand the concept overcamming, but if you have a 4000 stall and 3.73 gears, aren't big cams MADE for that setup. BTW the heads are unmilled.
Will it or will it not fit?

Other members have told me to run a 228R or Torquerer 2 WITH this set of heads. They said it would be a much better choice over a big cam? Would I be happy with this setup-meaning-will I see the low 11s I look for and sprayable 10s? How much slower in the 1/4 will I be compared to the MS3 Will the 228R and Torquerer 2 have enough clearance with the valves on these heads?

What other cams are out there that WILL fit with the valves on this head and put me deep into the 11s? G5X4, F14, a custom grind you can think of? I'm open to opinions of a cam that WILL work with this set of heads AND get me deep into the 11s.

Finally, should I sell the heads I just got a killer deal on and go with a cam only setup? Could I get close to my goals of low 11s with a big cam like the TRex, "TRex Killer", F15, G5X4 or MS3-ALL CAM ONLY- without flycutting the pistons on stock LS1 heads?

Sorry if there seem to be a lot of cam posts by me, I just want to do it right. I am having this installed and it is pricey so I only want to do it once . I am trying to keep this as budget as I can-so please don't tell me to sell the heads and get AFR, Darts, LS6, etc etc. These heads are half the cost of those and I'm a poor *** college student. Anyways, thanks for all the help.

just-a-z

iTrader: (25)

Sell those heads if you want to run one of those "Bigger" cams. Send your stock heads, if you still have them, to Jason at TSP or Gunnar at Patroit and have them do a CNC and Valvejob on them. You are looking at about the same price as you paid for those 5.3's and you will be able to run a bigger cam. That is of course staying with the 2.00 1.55 valves though.

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iTrader: (27)

How many cfms could I flow with a stock LS1 head with a CNC and valvejob?

Could I not see my goals with one of those "smaller" cams I mentioned above?

There are still alot of questions left in this thread so I'm going to give it a TTT

PREDATOR-Z

I would run a 0.040 gasket with a 228/232, 110+2 LSA (108 ICL)

That will give you ~ 10.86 SCR and a 8.52 DCR with a 42 IVC and 10* overlap at .050

Bigger cam will fall below that in DCR and have less power below the curve, basicaly be more of a dog untill high rpms.

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iTrader: (27)

Would I get the 228/232 on an xer lobe? Is that cam more than enough to pull me into the 11s?

What do you think about the 231/237 cam? Is that going to big?

PREDATOR-Z

Yes it will be XE-R
228/232 , .588/.595 110+2 LSA

With the heads you have the 231/237 would require higher compression and milling (to also raise DCR), which might result in flycutting.
Otherwise the 228/232 will put better numbers across the power range.
Properly tuned with bolt ons and proper suspension, the 228 should put you in the low 11's

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iTrader: (27)

Will the 228 still have a sick, choppy sound to it? I love the way the F14 and MS3 sound and that's fairly important to me as well.

PREDATOR-Z

It will have a 10* overlap, nice chop, the lower you can set the idle the more pronounced the chop.

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iTrader: (27)

Does the tuner set the idle for me I'm assuming?

PREDATOR-Z

Yeap, a good tuner can do the magic.

CoronaL

iTrader: (6)

agreed, keep ur heads and that cam recommended above
I have a 231/237 and while it makes good power up top, bit of a pooch down low. the cam above would give u broader powerband which would be required for your autobox and help get u near ur goal.