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Cam only.. want more power

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Old 09-19-2018, 01:15 PM
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Default Cam only.. want more power

02 ss m6
Thunder racing 224/224 .563/.563 114 cam
ARH headers magnaflow catback w/ HFCs
Whisper intake w/ 85mm granitelli MAF
KNN filter
365 hp/36x tq
California smog legal tune

Whats my best bet for power adders?
Fast 92?
243s (ported or stock)?

Staying NA
No spray

I want to retune because the car smells very rich and the numbers seem lower than average. Maybe because the “smog legal” tune? Figured I’d do a few mods beforehand.
Old 09-19-2018, 01:17 PM
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Some ported 243's are gonna give you a lot more power than a Fast intake. I'd do heads for sure
Old 09-19-2018, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
Some ported 243's are gonna give you a lot more power than a Fast intake. I'd do heads for sure
Do you know what the gains are like with either one on a small cam car?

I can probably find a used fast 92 for around $700 or so and install it myself.

Heads are tricky because the cost of porting is a lot and not all porting is of the same quality which makes it difficult to just buy a used set of ported heads.

My exhaust is welded. Im not sure if it needs to be removed or just pushed aside for the removal/install. I’ve also never done a head swap so I might have to let a shop do it.

Labor is roughly $700 and the heads are about $1500 from TSP. So anywhere from $1500-2200 depending on if I do it myself.

Im trying to weigh out the cost vs gains per mod. Thanks I’m advance.
Old 09-19-2018, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 35thanni


Do you know what the gains are like with either one on a small cam car?

I can probably find a used fast 92 for around $700 or so and install it myself.

Heads are tricky because the cost of porting is a lot and not all porting is of the same quality which makes it difficult to just buy a used set of ported heads.

My exhaust is welded. Im not sure if it needs to be removed or just pushed aside for the removal/install. I’ve also never done a head swap so I might have to let a shop do it.

Labor is roughly $700 and the heads are about $1500 from TSP. So anywhere from $1500-2200 depending on if I do it myself.

Im trying to weigh out the cost vs gains per mod. Thanks I’m advance.
Roughly speaking you're looking at maybe 40-50 hp from some ported 243's, stock 243's maybe 15 hp, and a Fast 92 around 15 hp. This is over stock LS1 heads and a LS6 intake
Old 09-19-2018, 03:05 PM
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Are those estimations wheel hp or crank?

Would be really nice if I could make 420-430whp with HCI.
Old 09-19-2018, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by 35thanni
Are those estimations wheel hp or crank?

Would be really nice if I could make 420-430whp with HCI.
A little bigger cam, prc 243's and a intake should get ya there.

My buddy made 430 rwp with torquer v2 , prc 243's and Ls6 intake with a 6 speed. Peaked at around 6300 rpms
Old 09-21-2018, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by 98CayenneT/A
A little bigger cam, prc 243's and a intake should get ya there.

My buddy made 430 rwp with torquer v2 , prc 243's and Ls6 intake with a 6 speed. Peaked at around 6300 rpms
It would be nice if I could hit my goal with the 224 cam. I like the power band and driveability. I live in a busy city so a lot of clutch in clutch out.... Not to mention it would save money.

I know some people are making low 400s to the wheel with BTR stage 3 and MS3 cams but I really enjoy the low end of this cam so I’d rather not go that route. Plus those cams produce a really obvious “I’m cammed” exhaust note that might attract the wrong kind of attention.
Old 09-21-2018, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 35thanni
Are those estimations wheel hp or crank?

Would be really nice if I could make 420-430whp with HCI.
I'm talking rear wheel horsepower. The heads will depend somewhat on who ports them
Old 09-21-2018, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
I'm talking rear wheel horsepower. The heads will depend somewhat on who ports them
I was thinking about just picking up some PRC heads from Texas speed but I’m open to suggestions. The shops around town quoted me roughly $1000 to port and polish. The heads go for roughly $3-400. So it ends up costing around the same.

Thats impressive, I was thinking the gains from heads wouldn’t be as much with a smaller cam (requiring less air flow).
Old 09-21-2018, 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 35thanni


I was thinking about just picking up some PRC heads from Texas speed but I’m open to suggestions. The shops around town quoted me roughly $1000 to port and polish. The heads go for roughly $3-400. So it ends up costing around the same.

Thats impressive, I was thinking the gains from heads wouldn’t be as much with a smaller cam (requiring less air flow).
Well they are just estimations, but yeah those numbers are very realistic. Texas Speed is good. Livernois and Thompson Motorsports have some good prices too. Might wanna check them out as well
Old 09-22-2018, 11:40 AM
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I'm running a set of stage 2.5 prc 243s and I love them. But in hindsight with the amount of money I put into them and the rest of the engine I wish I would have saved a little longer and gone with an aftermarket casting and a "larger" cam.
Old 09-23-2018, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by 35thanni


It would be nice if I could hit my goal with the 224 cam. I like the power band and driveability.

I know some people are making low 400s to the wheel with BTR stage 3 and MS3 cams but I really enjoy the low end of this cam so I’d rather not go that route. Plus those cams produce a really obvious “I’m cammed” exhaust note that might attract the wrong kind of attention.
I just had a 224/228 TSP cam installed, and I have Kooks headers. It makes an obvious "I'm cammed" sound. If that is a concern, you might want to look at the Cam Motion "Mild" cams with high lift.

Old 09-23-2018, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Utinator
I just had a 224/228 TSP cam installed, and I have Kooks headers. It makes an obvious "I'm cammed" sound. If that is a concern, you might want to look at the Cam Motion "Mild" cams with high lift.
I have High flow catts and a magnaflow catback. You can’t tell I’m cammed now. It’s nice. I run with new stock mustang GTs and c6 ls3 vettes. Unless it’s a friend of mine, they always look confused.

It’s not just the exhaust note. I like the way this cam makes power. It’s very linear and comes in somewhere around 2XXX rpms. That’s why I want to add power to my current setup.
Old 09-23-2018, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
Roughly speaking you're looking at maybe 40-50 hp from some ported 243's, stock 243's maybe 15 hp, and a Fast 92 around 15 hp. This is over stock LS1 heads and a LS6 intake
Is it worth upgrading the heads with a stock LS6 intake? I'm thinking about PRC Stage 2.5 heads or some ported 243s, but I don't want to have to drop all the extra money for a better intake, throttle body and everything else that goes with swapping an intake.
Old 09-23-2018, 11:05 PM
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I like my TSP stage 1 243 and I only have $1100 in them. Next step up would be some Trick Flow heads.
Old 09-24-2018, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by wannafbody
I like my TSP stage 1 243 and I only have $1100 in them. Next step up would be some Trick Flow heads.
What is the difference in the “stages”? I see stage 1-3.
Old 09-24-2018, 10:22 AM
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Save your money and buy a supercharger. The 50 hp you gain with heads and a Fast intake will satisfy your need for more for about 2 weeks. Been there like a million other guys.
Old 09-24-2018, 10:33 AM
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Since you're in California keep the smaller cam and do some good heads.

The best bang for the buck is $1700 Trick Flow as cast 220's

If you can't upgrade the intake with the heads just do it later, and a FAST 92 will be plenty sufficient for it too. Did a build with a torquer v3, untouched 220's, and a FAST 92 and it did 432 through an unlocked 3600 stall. Would have easily been 450 with a stick car.
Old 09-24-2018, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by 30th t/a
Save your money and buy a supercharger. The 50 hp you gain with heads and a Fast intake will satisfy your need for more for about 2 weeks. Been there like a million other guys.
Sooo I would really like to get into boost but I don’t want to deal with forging internals because that can get expensive. It would be really nice to have a supercharged fbody.
Old 09-24-2018, 05:12 PM
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The difference between 243 stage 1 and 2 is the 2.00 vs 2.02 valve side. Doubt you'd feel the difference on the street.



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