I have a 98 Z28 stock engine, Pacesetter LT's, gutted cats, 2 1/2" true duals with x-pipe, and Dynomax bullets. I have been researching all kinds of setups, and just cannot figure out what is best. I want to get @ 450RWHP in a daily street driver, but don't have an outrageous amount of $. Is this possible, and if so, where do I need to begin? I am good at doing the mechanical thing, but when it comes to numbers I am at a loss. I have been looking into MS4, G5X3, or MTI X1. If I go with something like this could I get the gains I am looking for with a set of LS6 heads and intake, and a good tune, or do I need to look into other options? Part of why I am looking into these cams is because of the awesome choppy idle that I think a car like this deserves to have.

 

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...d=680&catid=47

http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...d=646&catid=73

Check this out. Texas Speed has some great deals. You can always spray it too.

 

that package wont get him any where near 450 unless he does spray

 

easier said than done,if still short just run elf fuel

 

well you have the EXACT same goal as I do, i am a college student and have roughly $2000 to spend on a heads and cam. Personally I am set on TSP Stage 2.5 5.3L heads, and I plan on milling them roughly .006" - .012" to give me 60-61cc chambers. With a .040" cometic gasket this will bump my compression nicely and still leave room for a nice cam.

The cam is what I am lost about, I think im gonna get a custom grind from Patrick G so that I can take full advantage of my set-up and not have to fly-cut my pistons. THen again, if you go to the right place then fly-cutting isnt a big deal since you already have your heads off. I have even heard of guys that will COME TO YOUR HOUSE and flycut your pistons. (if anyone knows a good place to flycut in central florida/tampa area pm me!) I may be a bit optimistic but I think I will get close to my goal of 450rwhp and 410-420rwtq. We will just wait and see!!

 

if i were your situation and need fair dinkum answers ask patrick g,he knows his cams,lsx parameters,and various
head /cam combos that will or wont hole your pistons.
but you must be accurate as possible with deck heights
etc,from what i gathered the 5.3 heads are slightly more shallow
than the typical ls1 kind.

 

add a little spray!!

 

I make 452 on motor. 232/236 XE lobed 112lsa cam with stage 3 TEA heads. I also have about every bolt on, fast 90/90, pulley, xpipe yada yada.

Car is daily driven, it actually drives really good on the street. 385 Ft Lbs @ 3500RPM is a good indication of a decent street car.

 

I'd like to know if 450whp can be achieved with the LS6 heads as well...good question!

 

stock ls6 heads....

not with out some SERIOUS cam and probably the FAST on top.

to the original poster....how much is your budget??

"but don't have an outrageous amount of $."

to some people that's $1000....but to others that is $3000

any of the low 23x cams...with a decent set of heads...should put you darn close to your goal, even without the FAST.
cams like the Torquer 2, F13 or F14.

combine those with the stage 2.5 5.3L heads and you should be good. if you are short...save up for the FAST.

 

would you agree it would be more likely to achieve the said goal with a custom cam by Patrick G?? That is all I am trying to justify for my set-up....shelf cam or custom.

 

I am damn close to 450whp with my setup. stage 2 ls6 heads from TSP as well as the MS4 with a fast 90/90 ontop will make damn near what you are looking for. A good tune makes all the difference too. Now this setup doesnt wake up really until 3200rpms but from then on watch out. being a daily driver also depends on your tranny, are you A4 or M6. I am a built A4 and i have a high stall which makes it a lil bit of a pain in traffic, an m6 will be a lil difficult to drive for a lil bit and you will be shifting alot in traffic. my motor work cost me about $3500 dollars so keep that in mind when looking at a setup similar to mine.

 

With the right parts it can be done! But not at a cheap price. See sig below. My car drives real well before I blew it up. I'm hard on **** though.

 

I am at 480 to the tires with 241 heads. They are stage II's but still stock heads. Of course, I do have a couple more cubic inches and a larger cam. Its all about what your personal goals are.

My car could be a daily driver. Its loud and obnoxious and it shakes when sitting still but I drove it everyday for a couple months till I bought another daily driver.

 

JR how did you blow it up? was it the nitrous, tune, ....?
did you have the AFR's milled any?

 

It really depends on your budget, I'm a college student and just sold the car in the sig, I had alot more in it that just motor work so it just depends how much you want to commit. You can get there with LS6 heads, they just need alot of work and milling to bump compression, an LS6 intake? probably need a FAST 90/90, on the cam, get one spec'd out for you, also, you're gonna have to flycut if your going bigger valves, which you'll have to for your goals. You're looking at an easy $3k without labor. 400RWHP is much cheaper, get a huge cam and LS6 intake/tune call it a day for $1500

 

I have the same goal as you. My research is this. Get a 90/90 for the intake.
Stg 2 LS6 heads. Mill the heads so compression is around 11.3-11.4. Then im going with a custom cam that is similar to an LG G5x2.
It will require flycutting but it will be worth the extra hp and tq down low.

 

I am at 432 right now...but that was on bad gas and a hot day so maybe a smidge higher. stage 1.5 TSP heads with stock valves, 238/242 .605 .615 113 lsa, LS6 intake, stock pulley, duals. I would say if its a M6 car your goal is easily attained.

I am about to do the Underdrive pulley and a FAST 90/90 I hope and have it retuned and redynoed. Hope to be around 455-460 or so.
Car drives just fine. Only thing you will get most likely is a lil cam surge in parking lots at low speeds

 

Spray the hell out of it

 

Check out what I've got in my sig. On last dyno my car made 432rwhp (on a mustange dyno) and my car has great street manners. It's possible and I have around $3k in parts and most of the labor I did myself with the occasionally help from friends. And 90% of my parts were purchased off of this site in the for sale section. Plus, I've sold nearly everything that I took off my car, minus stock heads and cam. Just choose your parts wisely so your not buying things twice. Good luck on your journy to 450rwhp.