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Need H/C swap advice

Old Feb 8, 2008 | 11:25 PM
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Default Need H/C swap advice

I am about to start looking into one of two thing for my WS6.

Either a head/cam swap or a built motor.

Need some advise on what components make a good head/cam swap and maybe a HP/TQ estimate(maybe some past or current setups) or weather the price would be too high and I should just build a motor.

Car is currently a daily driver and I would like to keep it reliable as possible.

Thanks alot guys I really appreciate it!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 12:05 AM
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I guess one of the first questions to ask would be what condition is your current motor in? How many miles are on it or does it have any outstanding problems? Next, what are you wanting to do with the car? Are you looking for a quick street car or a bad *** 9 second car? I did my h/c/i swap on my TA at 57000 miles. I had no trouble with the engine at that time and the car runs very well with my mods. Never dynoed it but likely makes around 400rwhp. With the supporting mods, it is quick and will be a rice killer in my town, especially after my 9" gets done.

I wasted around $3k buying the wrong parts before I got some advice. Just don't do that. I don't know that much but I am willing to help all I can if you want. PM me if you like.

Good Luck on your build!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:38 AM
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Great! 400rwhp would be just what I am looking for. Car has 55k on it and only upgrades are K&N,SLP lid, and short headers.It is an 01 so it has the LS6 intake.

Just looking for a good bang-for-the-buck swap.Once I am ready to build myself a large cube motor the LS1 and T56 will go into my 68 Firebird project.

Thanks so much!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:42 AM
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Your motor has plenty of life left in it and well worth a h/c swap. You can very easily get 400 rwhp and it be something you can drive everyday.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by MrElectric03
Great! 400rwhp would be just what I am looking for. Car has 55k on it and only upgrades are K&N,SLP lid, and short headers.It is an 01 so it has the LS6 intake.

Just looking for a good bang-for-the-buck swap.Once I am ready to build myself a large cube motor the LS1 and T56 will go into my 68 Firebird project.

Thanks so much!
You could make 400rwhp with cam only if 400rwhp is your goal!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 09:48 AM
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I made 401 hp with bolt-ons and a cam on my A4 D/D. Heads should give me close to 440 I hope.

Good luck.
Bill
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 10:27 AM
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A sponser that I have had good dealings with has a H/C swap package that I am looking at. Patriot LS6 CNC Stg 2 heads w 2.02int,head gaskets,head bolts,Any grind Comp Cam,Chromoly pushrods,crank bolt and seal for about $1770.00.

Anyone use this or similar parts?Any disadventages to this package?

Thanks for the help guys, it is really appreciated.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 11:26 AM
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Damn good price. Patriots are good budget heads. May want to go ahead and get head studs (in case you decide to spray the car at a later date). Now it is time to choose your cam. Choose wisely!!!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 11:59 AM
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Well I dont think I am going to be running NO2 on this motor.Like I said im going to be using it in my 68 Firebird 400 when I am ready for a built motor. My car doesnt see the track all the time and is really more of a street car for the time being but I appreciate the unput, Thank You.

Been reading the sticky on cam choices...lots and lots of info, a bit overwhelming but no sense in doing it if you arent going to do it right.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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Going to use this to kind of think out loud...hope someone can lend some advice.

Reading the cam sticky for my application I am thinking of a cam that is a 224/224 with a lift of .586/.586" and an LSA of 114 which would make the FM-F2-114 a good choice...any comments?
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 04:15 PM
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Lots of people are making real good power out of the smaller cams while still retaining good driveability on the street . If your looking at Patriots head /cam package , I think you would like their 226/226- 585/585 cam with a 112lsa . This cam idles real well and makes it's power " under the curve" so you don't have to rev the **** out of your engine to make max power, plus it sounds way bigger than it is . You will need to tune your car afterwards on any heads/cam change to get the best performance from it . Good luck !
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 07:13 PM
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I think I've settled on the Stage 2.5 5.3L heads and the 228R (228/228 .588/.588 114LSA) cam from Texas Speed. Pretty similar to what you are looking at. I want what you want- drivability and reliability. Should make good power under the curve and not have to rev to 7000 to get it.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Zitty'sZ
Lots of people are making real good power out of the smaller cams while still retaining good driveability on the street . If your looking at Patriots head /cam package , I think you would like their 226/226- 585/585 cam with a 112lsa . This cam idles real well and makes it's power " under the curve" so you don't have to rev the **** out of your engine to make max power, plus it sounds way bigger than it is . You will need to tune your car afterwards on any heads/cam change to get the best performance from it . Good luck !
Do you think that would sound more or less aggressive than the cam I listed?Thanks for the advice!
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by 91_RS_LS1
I think I've settled on the Stage 2.5 5.3L heads and the 228R (228/228 .588/.588 114LSA) cam from Texas Speed. Pretty similar to what you are looking at. I want what you want- drivability and reliability. Should make good power under the curve and not have to rev to 7000 to get it.
I have looked closely at those heads and been thing about what cam but Im waiting to hear back from TSP on a flow chart on those heads...Id like to see how the air flow is between .3 and .55 of lift compared to the patriots.Thanks for the input...nice car I really miss my third gens.
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Old Feb 9, 2008 | 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by MrElectric03
Do you think that would sound more or less aggressive than the cam I listed?Thanks for the advice!
Absolutely, it has 2 degrees more duration which isn't much, but has a LSA of 112 vs 114 for the cam you listed. Both cams would fit your needs but the wider the LSA the power moves up the curve a little bit and would not sound as agressive meaning it would idle with less lope.
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