Hello guys, im new to the LS1 world. (came from hondas and subarus lol) I have a 2000 Trans am and im looking to upgrade the cam to an MS4. The car will be driven only on weekends, to the track and highway rolls. I've done some research and i like the ms4 and would purchase the cam package from texas speed. My car already came with some bolt- ons,like the intake Lid...headers, full exhaust, and catch can. I just recently purchased an LS6 intake with a ported throttle body. Im not going to get too crazy with the car, i just want to get the most out of it with mostly bolt-ons and a cam setup, possibly 243 heads if i find a good deal, 12 bolt rear would be my last mod. I would like to get your opinion on the ms4 cam, or is there something better just for a fun weekend car??? Any advice will help, Thanks!

 

Stick or auto? If it's an auto what stall?

 

Sorry forgot too mention it's manual

 

If it were me, and I was set on that cam, I'd change to a 3.90 or 4.10 gear. Otherwise i'd opt for something smaller

 

Thanks for your advice. I would like to eventually go with 4.10 gears. I learned from reading that the stock 10bolt is weak, so I gotta save up with a 12 bolt with 4.10s.

 

If you look at the mods in my signature you will see that I'm still on the stick 10 bolt, and am around 600 rwhp in nitrous through a M6 and 4.10 gear. Ive been lucky no doubt, but to be honest this 10 bolt is a bit stronger that what I've been led to believe

 

Wow 600!! now that sounds awesome. My screen is not showing me your signature unless I'm not using this right. Did you upgrade the carrier and axles also on your 10bolt?? The 12 bolt I was looking at is around $2,500. I would be happy just upgrading the 10bolt if I'm able to get away with that.

 

If you can get a complete ready to bolt in and go 12 bolt for $2500, do it. A 10 bolt can live for a while, but you're always on borrowed time no matter how much you build it. It's failure points are very well documented on this forum.

On to the cam... The MS4 is a very good cam. If I was you, I'd talk a look and see what the fastest and quickest heads/cam cars are running. That MS4 cam came out nearly 15 years ago, and there have been some lobe design enhancements in that time. Obviously lift and duration are where you're going to make the most power, but a good lobe design can mean much better control over valve train motion. Look at Chrs1313's build. He went into the 9's in the quarter with a stock bottom end LS1 and a very well thought out heads/cam/intake/exhaust setup. Texas Speed also had a heads/cam shop car in the 9's as well. Last I checked, they were still the quickest and the fastest. Definitely start your research there! Good luck on your build! Best thing you can do to make your car quicker, is to make it lighter. Weight reduction is HUGE in these cars. I started off with a stock 99 V6 Camaro and a wrecked 99 Trans Am. LS1 into Camaro, and started with a serious car diet. By the end of my first season with a completely internally stock 155k mile LS1, I had a time slip in my hand that said 1.51 60', 7.37@92 eighth, and 11.68@113.75 quarter. If I had really stuck with the program, I could have put it into the 10's the next season still using the stock heads and cam!

 

I do have a Trutrack upgrade but that's it. What 12 bolt are you looking at?

 

That's a great point, I really have not looked into weight reduction yet. 11s I'll be happy with. I will look into those builds, thanks for your input..now I'm starting to see my cars potential.

 

It's a strange 12bolt. I was on the website where you get to pick and choose your custom rear, I kno it's an extra 200 for powder coat.

 

I'm considering a 12 bolt as well. I like that it draws less power than others, but from what I read it may not be a really wise choice for us M6 owners that are putting down some power