RBbugBITme

So I'm in love with my car but I'm quite bothered by the video I recently saw of a 550whp C6 toying with a supercharged 585whp C5. Ultimately my car will be a 3-5 day a week street driven weekend racer at road courses and probably some autoxing.

I currently have and intake, Z06 axle back, and ECS mail order tune with Penske Shocks. I'm very new to this car and the LS engine but based on the reading I've done so far I've planned out the following upgrades in this order.

1) longtube headers and xpipe
2) Used 243/799 heads with a cam good for road racing longevity, probably LS7 lifters, comp cam trunion upgrade, stainless valves, Ti retainers, seamless timing chain, and some other ancillary safety/reliability items.
- Depending on how everything works out financially I may get the AI 226 CNC porting
3) Ported throttle body and probably a 90mm intake
4) Probably a Corsa axle back at this point
5) C6 Z06 output shafts and a 3.92 gear
6) After probably a year of saving while on the above setup I'd get a fully assembled TSP LS2 shortblock or similar
- As far as I can tell it drops right in with a tune, the right reluctor wheel, and a Katech cam & knock sensor harness...

With all this and some brake upgrades in there somewhere, I'm hoping to end up with well over 500whp and the ability to rev safely to over 7k RPMs all day long with enough torque to hang with an intake/exhaust/tune C6 Z06.

How close am I to reality?

Boss75

I like how your build looks but if you want to rev to 7k all the time on the track it might be a good idea to replace the rod bolts. They're a known weak point when you want to rev it high.

Also if you're thinking about going with a built ls2 why not just go ls3 for more displacement and more power?

racebum

would imagine cost and ease of install.

RBbugBITme

Yeah. I've barely looked into it but what I saw wasn't as simple as the LS2 and I dont want over 600hp on track.

I'm pretty sure the TSP block comes with ARP bolts.

Boss75

Oh ok. I thought you wanted to take your ls1 to 7k.

dr_whigham

You're plan looks solid. Only tweaks I'd make are:

Fast 92 w/ an LS2 90mm tb, or I'd be willing to guarantee you pull vacuum above 4100rpm... Say to the tune of 97-95 KPa on the MAP...

Thickest pushrods you can fit. 5/16" .080 wall are wobbly at high RPM

If you're going the AI route, just do the 232 program right off the bat.

RBbugBITme

I figured I'd keep my eye out for a used Fast 92. Do you think I'd sacrifice much low end torque going with the 232 over the 226?

540i 6spd

Why not start with a Ls7 block?

TXGS507

I have a 414ci LS2 that is built right.. I run with the 427's,434's in my croud, and my buddies C6Z RHS built 454ci..... Its' not always bigger cube'd motors who win... Should I have went w a 427,434...? Perhaps. But my 414ci is plenty "for me"....
Get your wallet out...! You gotta pay to play.

dr_whigham

nothing according to Phil. The only real difference is a bit more clean up deep in the port where the CNC doesn't really reach.

If you were EVER thinking of going with more cubes, I'd do it once right and be done. Id do the 232 even for a 346, as it's not going to "cost" you anything down low.

His Dart heads make good power, as do his TFS. Both are porter's castings that he applies his CNC to. The cost of the CNC'd Darts are about the same as buying 243's and his port work. And you get a dedicated aftermarket casting and 3/4" decks...

Just something to think about.

TXGS507

Once again, running Stage 3 TEA heads that began as 799's....
Fraction of what you would pay for the "big name" heads..

It's not rocket science... But you do need to build everything to work "together"... Just my .02

dr_whigham

$1552 for the porting / springs, Ti retainers, and that's with YOU supplying your own castings. That's only the stage 2's. Idk what the price is for stage 3's. Add 400-500 to the price for the 799/243's, or 700 direct from TEA.

$1845 for aftermarket Dart, AI ported heads, thicker deck, springs included (Ti retainers) Price INCLUDES the heads themselves.

To me, you're right. It's not rocket science at all. But for the MINIMAL cost difference, I'm going with an aftermarket casting.

The TEA's do make power though. No doubt. But I wouldn't call it a "fraction" of what you'd pay, unless you're talking AFR / TrickFlow.

COMPLETELY agree about making everything work together. Stable valve train is absolutely key.