Collapsing Lifter - Upgrade Recommendations during Repairs
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 21
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From: Mooresville, NC
Collapsing Lifter - Upgrade Recommendations during Repairs I've got an '01 T/A WS6, 114kmi. I've got a collapsing lifter and I'm looking to upgrade other components while I'm already there replacing lifters.
This is a daily driver, so nothing too extreme. I realize once I'm down there I'm 90% of the way to replacing the Cam, but that's not in the budget at the moment. More or less looking for suggestions from the experts and enthusiasts here for Lifter/Rods/Heads/Intake upgrades that aren't breaking the bank and provide decent power gains without too much or any sacrifices.
Looking to see what you guys and gals have done, the results you got and what you would have done differently (if applicable). Brands to shy away from? Wish you would have spent X more and got X brand instead?
I've heard a lot of good things about the LS6 Heads/Intake, but does everything bolt up without issue?
Thanks in advance!
This is a daily driver, so nothing too extreme. I realize once I'm down there I'm 90% of the way to replacing the Cam, but that's not in the budget at the moment. More or less looking for suggestions from the experts and enthusiasts here for Lifter/Rods/Heads/Intake upgrades that aren't breaking the bank and provide decent power gains without too much or any sacrifices.
Looking to see what you guys and gals have done, the results you got and what you would have done differently (if applicable). Brands to shy away from? Wish you would have spent X more and got X brand instead?
I've heard a lot of good things about the LS6 Heads/Intake, but does everything bolt up without issue?
Thanks in advance!
This does not make sense...you want to know about head and intake upgrades but a cam is not in the budget? A cam swap is going to yield the most power for the dollar.
Get a set of morel 5315 lifters, BTR stage 1 cam, BTR platinum springs, gm replacement oil pump, LS2 timing chain, hardened push rods(after measuring for correct preload). 800-1000.00 for 40whp.
Heads will add another 1500.00+ to the budget. AI HC 241's might be a good alternative here. 30-40whp gain
Fast Intake and TB will cost another 11-1200.00 for 10-15whp. Porting it will free up another 5-8whp.
Get a set of morel 5315 lifters, BTR stage 1 cam, BTR platinum springs, gm replacement oil pump, LS2 timing chain, hardened push rods(after measuring for correct preload). 800-1000.00 for 40whp.
Heads will add another 1500.00+ to the budget. AI HC 241's might be a good alternative here. 30-40whp gain
Fast Intake and TB will cost another 11-1200.00 for 10-15whp. Porting it will free up another 5-8whp.
A VRX4 cam was for sale used on Corvetteforum which wouldn't be my absolute 1st choice but a good option. (disclaimer: I know nothing about the owner)
The harmonic balancer is known to fail on the C5, and an ATI fluid damper is a nice upgrade. I am not sure about the f-bodies.
I am on a Melling oil pump.
The harmonic balancer is known to fail on the C5, and an ATI fluid damper is a nice upgrade. I am not sure about the f-bodies.
I am on a Melling oil pump.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 21
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From: Mooresville, NC
A bit of oversight on my part, the 01's already come with the LS6 Intake Manifold. So now my question is what's going to be the main difference in a 90/92/102mm intake aside from power band changes and cost. What's better for a daily?
We have the best prices on head install kits.
We also have the ls7 lifters for $99 or lifters and trays for $139.
Our pushrods are $70 atm and swapping to a budget set of pac1218 will handle a few cams out there. $139 and new seals are $25.
The gasket install kit with head bolts runs $120. include intake gaskets for $22 more.
Id take a look at your knock sensors while you are in there.
Make sure the oil pressure sender is good.
Do the tb coolant line bypass and you should be all in for most of the free mods.
Id at least have the heads surfaced at the machine shop and maybe a valve job while you are there.
We also have the ls7 lifters for $99 or lifters and trays for $139.
Our pushrods are $70 atm and swapping to a budget set of pac1218 will handle a few cams out there. $139 and new seals are $25.
The gasket install kit with head bolts runs $120. include intake gaskets for $22 more.
Id take a look at your knock sensors while you are in there.
Make sure the oil pressure sender is good.
Do the tb coolant line bypass and you should be all in for most of the free mods.
Id at least have the heads surfaced at the machine shop and maybe a valve job while you are there.
I think for a daily setup you should go with a mild cam and a set of AI HC 241 heads. Again keep cam overlap around 0 and you will have a solid 400whp setup that makes power everywhere and drives damn near like stock.
So send the heads to AI and grab the cam kit from WS6 store. Maybe the new Hot Cam variant or something along those lines.
Last edited by kinglt-1; Jul 20, 2017 at 10:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, NC
@kinglt-1 Thanks for the suggestions! So you're saying to basically leave the LS6 intake and stock TB alone for now and just go with H/C options and kit from the WS6 Store. What about anything else while I'm in there? Injectors? Looking for all my options since things are going to be removed / disassembled to begin with, or at least accessible. You mentioned oil pump and chain as well.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Mooresville, NC
We have the best prices on head install kits.
We also have the ls7 lifters for $99 or lifters and trays for $139.
Our pushrods are $70 atm and swapping to a budget set of pac1218 will handle a few cams out there. $139 and new seals are $25.
The gasket install kit with head bolts runs $120. include intake gaskets for $22 more.
Id take a look at your knock sensors while you are in there.
Make sure the oil pressure sender is good.
Do the tb coolant line bypass and you should be all in for most of the free mods.
Id at least have the heads surfaced at the machine shop and maybe a valve job while you are there.
We also have the ls7 lifters for $99 or lifters and trays for $139.
Our pushrods are $70 atm and swapping to a budget set of pac1218 will handle a few cams out there. $139 and new seals are $25.
The gasket install kit with head bolts runs $120. include intake gaskets for $22 more.
Id take a look at your knock sensors while you are in there.
Make sure the oil pressure sender is good.
Do the tb coolant line bypass and you should be all in for most of the free mods.
Id at least have the heads surfaced at the machine shop and maybe a valve job while you are there.
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Verdad Gallardo Cheaper option on injectors is GTP 3800. Factory GM stuff that works great. You can find reman flow matched units for 120.00 and they flow 41lbs at 58psi. Not trying to take any sales away from WS6 store but always nice to save in areas where you can and not effect quality or performance. 
Too many guys in the for sale section flying under the radar selling them from the jy was a huge issue. still is.
By the time you get 8 and have them sent off and cleaned and flowmatched youll be pretty close in total cost to the fast new ones. they flow 42lb at 58psi also. 36 at 43.5.
By the time you get 8 and have them sent off and cleaned and flowmatched youll be pretty close in total cost to the fast new ones. they flow 42lb at 58psi also. 36 at 43.5.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 81
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From: El Paso, TX
If you want budget? Stay budget. Howards or Trickflow cam, something less than 224 range. 216/220 114 would be mild enough for DD use. Can runt he LS9 valve springs and trickflow pushrods along with new LS7 lifters and might as well do MLS head gaskets while your at it. GM 5 layer or LS9 are cost effective and excellent quality. Add some long tube headers and a tune and you'll be flying.
If you really want to keep extreme budget look for used cam and buy NEW springs to match cam, new LS7 lifters, new head gaskets + bolts and a Tune is a must do.
If all that is too much work and $ for ya get some LS7 lifters ( stock replacements ) head gaskets and bolts and check valve springs once apart, roll pushrods on mirror to check for straight. No tune nec, will run same as now only no ticky
If you really want to keep extreme budget look for used cam and buy NEW springs to match cam, new LS7 lifters, new head gaskets + bolts and a Tune is a must do.
If all that is too much work and $ for ya get some LS7 lifters ( stock replacements ) head gaskets and bolts and check valve springs once apart, roll pushrods on mirror to check for straight. No tune nec, will run same as now only no ticky