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LE1 Heads/Cam and LPP Headers Install Done! Videos/pics inside
Decided the car needed an upgrade. It currently has had the LT4 Hotcam kit and pacesetter LT Headers for over 40,000 miles and about 8 years. It served me well and still runs good but I just wanted some more power. I started doing the swap today since Im still waiting for my front wheels to get back from my suspension over haul.
Mod list to go in the car:
-LE1 Heads
-LE Cam: Similar to the cc503 but with more lift
-LPP Longtube SS headers with y-pipe
-Bosch Type 3 30# Injectors
-Isky Guidplates
-7/16 ARP rocker studs
-ARP Head bolts
-Comp Ultra Pro Mags rockers
-Victor Reinz 5898 Gaskets. .026 thick
-Autolite 104 plugs gapped at .040
-New GM motor mounts
-Solomon Tune
-3.90 motive Gears
-much more supporting stuff etc.....
Some of the new stuff
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DAY 1:
I removed the Intake, alternator, valve covers, waterump, Opti, Rockers, lifters, Hub, driver side spark plugs and driver side header bolts. Only put about 5 hours of work into it as of now.
Last edited by Badazz 97 TA; 07-05-2015 at 03:51 PM.
Clean car & build it looks like. Ready to see how well it performs in comparison. The hotcam isn't that bad if it's paired up with other good parts. So let's see how much different the new setup performs.
Made some progress today. Only worked about 3 hours today. I removed the timing chain cover, timing chain, got the hotcam out and the new LE1 cam in. Installed the timing chain and got the cover back on. Pretty good day. The cam has 44,000 miles on it and literally no sign of wear or anything. I was really happy to see that my engine is still running clean and smooth.
Last edited by Badazz 97 TA; 06-28-2015 at 09:11 AM.
Let me know how close the #5 and #6 primaries are to the plug wires when you get them installed. I've gone through multiple wires over the years on those cylinders because there is no safe way to route them or protect them with my Dynatech headers. I'm looking at LPPs for a replacement. Good work so far.
stock it ran 14.1@99mph at Great Lakes dragaway. After the hotcam and exhaust it ran a 13.0@105mph. I told Lloyd I wanted a mid/llow 12sec car since all it sees is street. I was perfectly happy with the hotcam and still am. I just wanted a little more power.
Originally Posted by 93M6Formula
Let me know how close the #5 and #6 primaries are to the plug wires when you get them installed. I've gone through multiple wires over the years on those cylinders because there is no safe way to route them or protect them with my Dynatech headers. I'm looking at LPPs for a replacement. Good work so far.
I will let you know how the clearance is with the LPP. I should have them in sometime next week. Seems like they fixed a lot of issues and they almost go straight in. Even with the pacesetters the clearance wasn't the greatest with those two cylinders. I never had any problems. I just used zipties smartly.
To run that MPH it was making ~335 that day, assuming no weight reduction.
Thank you.
I'm interested in the results since I decided I eventually want a HC setup and saw LE packages. What heads are LE1 heads exactly? Are they ported stock heads?
Last edited by smitty2919; 06-26-2015 at 08:13 AM.
There ported stock heads. i bought a set of used heads off ebay and sent it directly to him since i was deployed at the time. I didnt want the down time waiting for them to come back.
Day 3 and 4
Its been a slow two days with work taking up my time. I was able to get the driver side motor mount replaced, I got the old header and head off and the new LE1 head on. I also got the LPP driver side header to fit. I had to grind a little section of the k member. Nothing major. Just a little dremel action got it done. Otherwise it dropped in from the top pretty easy. The steering shaft clears no problem. I have the LS1 steering rack and shaft so im sure that helps. There is plenty of room.
Last edited by Badazz 97 TA; 06-28-2015 at 09:08 AM.
I have a mail order tune from Solomon. The PCM is in the car ready to go. I just need to turn the key and it will be on the road. Im gonna have him loan me a cable and the software so I can datalog and see what needs to be changed. I did an OBD1 swap as well. I forgot to mention that.
Progress is still slow and steady. Got the passengers header and head off. It was a long day. I got the threads chased and the block cleaned. Should be on the car tomorrow.
Just a little update. I did make some small progress Monday and today. I was able to get the passenger head on and torqued down, passenger motor mount installed. The steam pipe which took forever and fought me to line up got bolted on, the Opti and water pump seal and front hub were installed. I also got my driver side plug wires routed. Lifters, oil pump drive and the spider tray were put on today. Its slowly starting to look like an engine again.
I ordered my pushrods today. It seemed like 7.200 gave me the best results. I was expecting to have to go shorter but 7.150 looked closer to the intake side which I didn't like too much.
Made some progress today. I got the intake painted and mounted on. New FIC injectors installed and adjusted all my guidplates along with adjusting the valves. The engine might be able to start late tomorrow.
Got my wheels back on Monday. They turned out good. Mickey Thompson UHP Street comp tires.
The car is running and back on the road! Here are some last minute pictures and two videos. To clearance the valve covers all I had to do was make two slits on the side of the drip rails with some tin snips and straighten out the oil drip rail thing. You don't have to chop away at the valve cover like other people have done. Took literally 5 minutes to do both sides and they fit fine with no noise or clearance issues with the ultra pro mags.
Two Walk around videos. The cam is a lot smoother than the LT4 hotcam at idle. It stinks less and doesn't burn the eyes like it used to do. You honestly cant even tell it has a cam for having some decent duration and lift. It drove nice and smooth. power is good, better than before. Its super drivable. I just have to mess with the TPS sensor and get that dialed in some more. Hopefully the videos work. If they don't, search Joe97TA and then click on my channel. Look for the LE1 #1 and #2 videos.
06-23-2015, 11:11 PM
LE1 Heads/Cam and LPP Headers Install Done! Videos/pics inside 
