I have a 1994 camaro and i'm in the process of swapping a lq4 into it but i want to run a cam only set up with bolt ons (headers,cat back,CAI) . I want to make the most power while still having some drivability. The car is a 6 speed with 3.73s. as for heads and intake I'm juggling between l92 heads with ls3 intake or mild ported 243's with an ls6 intake.. I just want to get some input seeing its going to be my first ls build.

 

If you have the cash and are planning on boosting the motor later on get a pair of L92 heads they will flow great once you boost it. If you don't have the cash to spend on a pair of L92 heads or you are just staying N/A go for the 243 heads to help increase the compression ration on the lq4 (stock their comp ratio is like 9.5:1).

 

Yeah I plan on boosting the motor later.. saving up for either a kb or whipple

 

Go with the L92 heads then, but they can run a pretty penny $1000+ in most cases.
BTW I'm not sure those KB and whipple blowers fit under the cowl of our Camaros without cutting up the cowl.

 

L92's will actually be cheaper than going with ported 243's. Check the classifieds on here. I was able to snag a set of fully assembled, brand new L92's for $650 shipped to my door. Or, if you can't find any there, they can be ordered from online stores like Scoggin Dickey for under $1000. I think they're only around $850, or so. A set of stock L92's with a decent size cam will get you right around the 550hp mark, at the crank. Also, check eBay for LS3 intakes. I got a complete intake, with rails and injectors for just ~$250 shipped (forgot exactly how much, but know it was under $300) from SLP's eBay store. There were lots of others on there for a little over $300 at the time too.

 

If you have enough money, I'm sure you could get one to work. But, it's probably going to cost over $10k, considering it's ~$8k for the few roots blower setups fabbed for 4th gens. I'd honestly look into Late Model Speed's Harrop HTV2300 setup they came out with not long ago. I emailed them, and they said they even make a manifold for them to work on L92 heads in a 4th gen. But, I think they gave me a quote of $8k, or a little more. Can't remember off the top of my head.

 

why not use 317 heads? just wondering i am going to switch out my ls1 for a lq9 and a fast intake do they not hold up too boost?

 

They'll hold up to boost just fine. They just won't make as much power as L92's would. A set of fully ported 317's would only flow about what a set of stock, untouched L92's would.

 

How about a cam what should i look more into? I want a powerful cam for NA i will swap out to a blower cam when I aquire the blower .

 

You could never go wrong with a custom cam from Pat G. Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with my TSP cam, when the car's running right. Pulls pretty damn hard, and made good power untuned while letting out way early. Had to shut it down on the dyno ~6k rpms because of fuel issues. And it still made 418/400 on my mail-order tune, just to get the car up and running and get it broken in. With some tuning and higher pulls, it should make 450+rwhp pretty easily on a dynojet.

 

Since the OP is starting with a '94 and assuming he's going with an LS fbody harness, will he have to change any of the engine covers to LS style from the LQ4?

 

With all that i've been inquiring about from what i've been told the base lq4 is a drop in and go w/ the ls1 harness. As far as I know most the sensors are the same

 

Yeah. I didn't have to change a single sensor. Just took all the sensors off my old LS1 and used them on my LQ4.

 

Are your heads milled or completely stock?
What fuel problem did you have, if you don't mind me asking? stock pump?

 

Heads are completely stock. My fuel issue was just that I was losing pressure up top. I was dropping from 60psi down to about 30psi above 5500rpms. I think it was a mixture of a couple things. I had the ground for the Racetronix kit in a bad spot, and I had a junk alternator (Racetronix kit feeds right off the alternator). So, I was dropping voltage majorly to the pump. It's not the stock pump. It's an RPMSpeed 255 pump.

 

ok, so with your setup, sounds like the stock LS3 injectors & a 255 pump would handle the HP to be made?
1 3/4 headers?

 

Yeah. The injectors and pump with the Racetronix kit should have no problem handling the power of the setup. And, yes, the headers are 1 3/4" primaries. Just the good ole cheap eBay stainless headers. lol