bigwebb83

So I've had the car for about a year and a half now. It currently has intake exhaust (no headers) and tune making somewhere around 410 whp/wtq. I decided to go ahead and do a (mostly) all out NA build, while trying to retain drivability and street manners. I don't expect the car to drive like stock, but I'd love to be able to cruise at 1400 rpm in sixth gear without the car throwing a fit. I'd also like to retain most of my throttle response and torque from 2200-2800 (I don't want a dog on the bottom end) and then start to see the graphs diverge somewhere right at, or just before 3000 rpm's. Keep in mind that this shouldn't be hard considering I'm bumping the compression, adding heads, and adding headers. All things which should add to the bottom end. I'd love to make a great peak number, north of 500whp, but that goal is secondary to a strong FEELING car. I'd also love to be able to carry decent power up to 67-6800 rpm's before it falls on it's face. I will likely set my rev limiter at 7k, and shift a hair before that when giving it hell. I'd love for the car to be able to trap 129-130 in the 1/4 mile, though this isn't the intended use for the car. I love backroad driving on twisties, and I do 2-4 HDPE events per year. That's where I want to really focus my efforts. I don't go to mexico often either.

Right now I'm leaning towards something like the following:

• 227/235-237ish cam with 113-114 LSA (looking for 3-6 degrees of overlap) - I am completely open to suggestions and feedback on this choice
• TFS 255's milled .030" with a .040" head gasket (should yield 11.5ish CR) - I am also open to suggestions on this. I'm debating additional port work to compensate for the 5cc's of lost volume to milling
• YT Ultralite Rockers - Open to opinions and feedback here. Not entirely sure this is necessary for my application
• Contemplating a lighter weight hollow stem intake valve for the heads
• 3 bolt cam gear, swap LS3 tensioner for ls2 damper, and Rollmaster Timing Chain (From reading, I don't believe I need the super super C5R chain for this application, but open to input. This adds about $100)
• Generic Pushrods - would love to be able to figure out length without a checker during the build process, but this seems inevitable
• Rick crawford rod mod intake, and rick crawford ported throttle body
• Stainless Works 1 3/4 headers with catted x pipe to 2.5" outlet exhaust (currently Bullets, but I am thinking I will want something a bit quieter after the work is done). I'm wondering if I am giving up anything with the 1 3/4 headers vs 1 7/8.... Thoughts?
• Oil Pump (I believe I am going to skip this unless anyone convinces me otherwise)
• Haltech cold air intake
• I may or may not do a 10% underdrive pulley - thoughts?
• Other Gaskets, Seals and bolts I need to address or change while I'm in there?

So as you can see, I've got it decently planned out, but if my math is correct, there are 87 question marks up there, and I figured I'd ask the guru's here at LS1Tech to help guide me. I don't want to cheap out on anything that is going to leave me with regrets later, or jeopardize the reliability of the car, but I also feel like alot of guys end up spending about $1,000 bucks that they don't need to spend when doing this kind of build and I don't want to do that. Again, drivability is important to me, but I don't need it to be like a stock car. I'm not often in traffic, and I don't have my old lady driving the car. I'm 34 years old, so my tolerances aren't where there were at 24, but I'm not so old that I can't deal with a bit of a rowdy car.

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

G Atsma

I agree! This guy is looking to have one mean, nasty, BUT civilized (is that possible?? lol) car.
And to the OP, yeah, welcome to the site!

bigwebb83

NAVYBLUE210

bigwebb83

bigwebb83

I am still heavily leaning towards the cam that you recommended by the way.

lazerlemonta

LOL as we are all on the main GM forums depending on the car we have currently. LS1 Tech has always been my preferred source of entertainment per say. You have a hard time getting the corvette boys to chime in on much performance stuff. You post up what color should i dye my ole ladies cooter and you get 300 replies LMAO

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

500whp sounds like a poor cam only ls3 build to me.

carry on.

bigwebb83

99 Black Bird T/A

iTrader: (4)

Here's my .02 worth

1 7/8 primary headers for sure.

I would consider a slightly bigger cam, like a couple of degrees.
​​​​​​
10% under drive pulley is nice, it helps the motor Rev a little quicker. ATI makes an excellent 10% under drive that's a good harmonic dampener.

I would put a new set of lifters in since the heads are off.

If the car is a stick - lower gears

If the car is an auto - stall
​​​​​

bigwebb83

KW Baraka

iTrader: (7)

At a minimum --->> http://www.texas-speed.com/p-4814-mo...ic-roller.aspx

KW

bigwebb83

I don't see why this is a part that would need replacing on a relatively mild mannered car

G Atsma

Some guys would not consider 227/236 cammed engines mild-mannered. Besides that, any engine that might see higher than normal revving, like this one could, would do well to use a better lifter.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

Johnson lifters are top notch. If you are looking for max effort but moderate cam, that is what I would do. I personally think in a 376 the cam you selected will be a good street cam. Should have great midrange and not too hard to tune.

NAVYBLUE210

^^^^^^^^^^^AGREED!! What he said X 3 LOL, One of the sharpest members here on Tech.^^^^^^^^^^

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

Just kinda looked at the original post again.....you said 129-130 traps. No cam is needed for that. Heads aren't needed for that other than stock for each. **** you don't even need headers to get to 125+

i guess i didn't realize that's all you were looking for.​​​​​

bigwebb83

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

More to it than just setting behind the steering wheel man. This is lazerlemons bolt on c6 ls3 we did for him. It had a best trap of 132 that day.


here is before headers and a few other minor mods on a different track.



here's my own bolt on ls6. It's had a best trap of 131.x


since that run it has picked up 34whp with odds and ends. Stock cam stock heads stock sbe....crate ls6. Unfortunately i won't be able to see how much it improved due to i bent some valves. Made some hopeful improvements while the heads were off. Still stock cam tho.

Moral of the story here is you're lookin in the wrong place if you want better acceleration. Just like many others.