MS3 with stock heads
01-17-2011 | 01:18 AM
#1
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From: wausau wi
MS3 with stock heads Im going to be putting a MS3 cam in my 1999 trans am and was wondering if it would be worth it to port the stock heads or will i be better off buying a new set just looking for opinions any information would be helpful im just not really familiar with Ls motors
My opinion is that to maximize the potential from that cam, pick up a set of PRC heads from texas speed.
01-17-2011 | 06:33 AM
#3
IF you have not done it already your car will need a LS6 intake. I had a buddy with that same cam in a c5 with stock heads/m6 drive train and at first I think it made cam only and SLP LM like 360 rwhp to the tire. Needless to say he was a little disappointed.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
01-17-2011 | 10:17 AM
#5
The MS3 was designed to be a max effort cam for a stock motor so it will work with no issues on stock heads. I had the MS3 car and it worked great for me. I was able to knock down 390rwhp on 2000 SS with the stock intake so it can still make good power with the ls1 intakes. Obviously you will make more power with aftermarket heads but the magic stick cams have always been made for the stock motor.
01-17-2011 | 11:22 AM
#6
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: wausau wi
IF you have not done it already your car will need a LS6 intake. I had a buddy with that same cam in a c5 with stock heads/m6 drive train and at first I think it made cam only and SLP LM like 360 rwhp to the tire. Needless to say he was a little disappointed.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
I do plan on putting a ls6 intake on when i swap the cam also planning on doing a full exhaust im still running stock manifolds
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01-17-2011 | 01:42 PM
#8
01-17-2011 | 04:58 PM
#10
IMO, if you haven't ported a set of heads before, I wouldn't mess with them. Let someone with experience do it or purchase a set of heads already done. If you buy the cam package now with the cam, springs, and pushrods, you can get a set of PRC 2.5 5.3L heads without springs down the road for just over $1000. Then you are just looking at a cam swap and add another 40+ HP to the combo!
On the bolt on mods like everyone is talking about, I would get most of them done before the cam. They will help maximize the gains of the camshaft rather than having the cam restricted now and having to add them later to make the power it is supposed to.
Jon
On the bolt on mods like everyone is talking about, I would get most of them done before the cam. They will help maximize the gains of the camshaft rather than having the cam restricted now and having to add them later to make the power it is supposed to.
Jon
01-17-2011 | 06:51 PM
#12
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 109
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From: wausau wi
IF you have not done it already your car will need a LS6 intake. I had a buddy with that same cam in a c5 with stock heads/m6 drive train and at first I think it made cam only and SLP LM like 360 rwhp to the tire. Needless to say he was a little disappointed.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
I went to a FAST 90/90 set up and sold him mine and with that swap alone and a DIY P&P TB he made like 390ish to the tires.
This is all on the same stock heads you have.
Also to mention was the motor had well over 100k and had blow by on the rings. It was not making the low to mid 400's everyone is accustom to but with some head work it would have been close.
These cams are designed for biggest cam in stock engines, they do still recommend checking for tolerence as fly cutting can still be needed. What these cams like is a point and a half of compression increase and for that a good set of flowing heads with intake to match. At that point fly cutting would certainly be needed to get all of it you can out of it.
Just be mindful that these are top end cams and really do have shitty power from idle till about 4k. So you gotta decide what you want/need.
I know this cam is a high rpm cam but just wondering how bad is it up until about 4k my car is a m6 and i dont want a complete lack of power down low
01-19-2011 | 02:57 PM
#14
The MS3 is a great choice just make sure you have the supporting mods to go along with it to really take advantage of it. I recommend keeping the stock heads on until you can afford to step up to a set of PRC heads. The 2.5 5.3 heads make a great addition on a budget, and if you really want to take a step up check out the 215 or 227 PRC heads.
01-19-2011 | 05:33 PM
#15
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: wausau wi
The MS3 is a great choice just make sure you have the supporting mods to go along with it to really take advantage of it. I recommend keeping the stock heads on until you can afford to step up to a set of PRC heads. The 2.5 5.3 heads make a great addition on a budget, and if you really want to take a step up check out the 215 or 227 PRC heads.
01-19-2011 | 09:39 PM
#17
IMO, if you haven't ported a set of heads before, I wouldn't mess with them. Let someone with experience do it or purchase a set of heads already done. If you buy the cam package now with the cam, springs, and pushrods, you can get a set of PRC 2.5 5.3L heads without springs down the road for just over $1000. Then you are just looking at a cam swap and add another 40+ HP to the combo!
On the bolt on mods like everyone is talking about, I would get most of them done before the cam. They will help maximize the gains of the camshaft rather than having the cam restricted now and having to add them later to make the power it is supposed to.
Jon
On the bolt on mods like everyone is talking about, I would get most of them done before the cam. They will help maximize the gains of the camshaft rather than having the cam restricted now and having to add them later to make the power it is supposed to.
Jon
