I have a question about how much you can abuse the stock components in an LS1. (Specifically a 99) Basically, how far can I push stock internals like rods/rod bolts, valve springs, etc?

I don't have a whole lot of budget to do lots of work all at once so I kind of have to do things piece by piece. I want to go heads/cam, and specifically I like the looks of the Thunder reverse-split cams. My question is, how crazy can I go with my cam before my valve springs can't handle the abuse, and then once I've got that issue settled, how crazy can I go with heads and cam (N20/etc...) before I have to worry about the integrity of the bottom end? I've seen horror stories about rod bolts breaking and spewing shrapnel all over inside the engine and want to make sure that I don't end up in that situation. I also don't know how far I can push the stock oil pump.

 

Nobody has any thoughts on the limitations of tock interals?

 

You will need to replace the valve springs and pushrods in order to use any of the TR cams you've mentioned. Most racers agree a good safe RPM limit to push the bottom end to is 6800. There are stock bottom end cars in the 10's so its all in what you want to do...

Shane