pushinfreight

I have been looking at the endless head and cam packages out there and now I feel more confused than ever. Why would I want to go to a 5.3L head from my 5.7? Currently I am driving a 2001 TA WS6 6M. I am wanting to go with at least a Z06 cam.

Krazy98Z28

iTrader: (12)

Most people go with the switch for the bump in compression without doing any milling.

pushinfreight

Is this from the smaller area in the cumbustion chamber becasue of the smaller heads and increased flow of air and fuel?

Jabroni

The first part primarily.

blk~2000~Z28

The increased flow of air can be obtained by both 5.3's or 5.7's with some porting. The increased fuel can only come from larger injectors and upgraded fuel system. If you plan on your bottom end staying relatively stock i.e. just an over bore for forged internals then go with the 5.3's. With a cam and the 5.3's, well weveryone's numbers speak for themselves. If you ever plan on stroking or going for an outrageous overnore then go for ported 5.7, ls6, or 6.0 heads. They will help keep compression in the sane range and provide great flow.

pushinfreight

Right now this is going to be strictly a head and cam change. All other internals will remain the same. My goal is to push the 400+ rwhp range for right now. I am use to the stock power and now it feels slow.

770Guy

You can reach the 400rwhp mark without heads.......just FYI

blk~2000~Z28

I think you are skipping a lot of steps. If I were you I would take a slower approach to this. Like 770boy said you can get 400+ w/o heads so I would go that direction first. There are so many bolt-ons to do that every week you will have to get reacquianted to you cars power and RELEARN its slowness. I would try simple bolt-ons first, you will be impressed. I know I was, or rather the SOTP meter was registering higher after most of my mods.

Z O SICK

iTrader: (1)

400rwhp+ is possable without heads. It's just a matter of getting the right cam and good tuning.

pushinfreight

Should have said this earlier, car has slp lid, slp 85mm MAF, GMMG exhaust. I will also be putting on ported TB. What other mods can be done besides those to gain any real power? I do not want to NOS the engine. If I am goint to do a cam I might as well do the heads at the same time and tune it once rather than twice.

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

headers and a good off-road pipe (or high flow cats) will give a good gain. Any heads & cam package will be constrained by the stock exhaust manifolds and stock cats.

You can get to 400 hp with the stock manifolds but you will need heads.

blk~2000~Z28

Definentely headers and an ORY. Do the ram air mod for trans ams (removing baffles). Predator or LS1edit tuning. 160 degree thermostat. Electric water pump. Underdrive pulleys. With a combination of these you should be able to see some REAL power which would only be improved with your heads and cam you are wanting.