CyberZ

Hi everyone, first off I've been reading here for about 2 years now. Tons of info, you helped me decide on my 09 Z. Thanks everyone!

I'm looking to do a heads/cam on my stock Z this year and wanted everyone's opinion on a few things.

Here is the setup I'm thinking of:

Katech K501
WCCH heads
PSI 1511 springs
Ferrea F2042P hollow valves
Titanium retainers
Bronze guides
Tumble polish intake valves
New Balancer bolt
Texas speed head/cam installt kit
Katech tuning


I chose the K501 because it had great valve train stability, even over the more mild torquer 110. I also have owned cammed cars in the past. I just don't want a car that isn't fun to drive around town or on the road anymore. That was the mistake I made on my last car.

(Stock exhaust and manifolds - until I can budget headers)

.

My questions are:

#1 How is drivability with this cam? (This car will be street car with occasional track use)

#2 How much should heads be milled, What compression ratio should I shoot for on 93 pump gas?

#3 What other supporting mods are recommended? (IE injectors, fuel pump, timing chain oil pump)

#4 PM guides more durable if machined correct then Bronze?

#5 WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU GUYS HAVE!! haha, thanks everyone.

Werks

[QUOTE=CyberZ;1588647161]

#1 How is drivability with this cam? (This car will be street car with occasional track use)

QUOTE]

I had the torque 110 on my first H/C build and drivability of that was actually not bad. I'm currently running a slightly more radical version of the K501 in a 463ci Katech engine and street manners again are actually quite good. A little bit of surging around 1-1.5k, so if you like to lug the engine expect that but otherwise very easy to drive and live with.

TRSCobra

#1 I can't answer as I have no experience with that cam.

#2 You'll want to talk to Jason at Katech to see if the K501 increases DCR like the torquer 110. I personally went with a mild .020 mill for a similar sized cam to the 110 and 92 octane, just to be safe. No use increasing your dynamic compression just to have the ECM pull timing due to detonation.

#3 You may be ok with the stock timing chain, but I'd recommend going with the stronger c5r chain. Do new lifters and trays, also. You will need different length pushrods once you get everything back together. Should be fine with fueling and the oil pump though.

#4 PM guides are harder than bronze, which is why I chose American Heritage to do my heads. Nice having options.

reasonable suspicion

My z is at katech right now, and they are milling my heads 030 with the 501 cam, and I run 93 exclusively.....

C6z06man

I'm assuming since its at Katech you're using stock exhaust valves or are you going with the Ferrea hollow stems?

Whis9

In for info

Josh B.

I'm also in for info, I bought a K501 for my Z but have not yet installed it. Need to send off my heads to WCCH before I do the cam,(Ti/Mo Intake valve/stock exhaust valve/PSI springs/Ti retainer/C5R chain). Very interested in drivability feedback!

UniTink72

Just got my k501 in the mail last week, heads going to wcch soon. Part I'm stewing over is head milling. There are a ton of stations around with 91 octane, but only 1 with 93. So im real nervous about building my car to depend on 93.

Are there any others out there with k501 cam that run 91 octane? Did you mill your heads at all?

reasonable suspicion

I'm going with titanium exhaust valves. That was my choice. Katech recommended either the stock exhaust valves or the titanium. I chose the titanium.

C6z06man

Another thing you have to remember is traveling. If you're out of town can you get 93. IMHO I would build for what's readily available. I mean you could tune for 93 and baby it if you have to get 91 but if 91 is the norm that's what I would shoot for.

C6z06man

Got ya. I was just curious. Hope the build goes well.

[Cerberus]

This reason is why I'm thinking about not milling the heads. I run 93 95% of the time, but when we do cruises to some areas 91 is all that's availible. I don't want to make the car so radical that I restrict myself.

I have always had my tuner make me a 93 and a 91 map as well.

CyberZ

I checked out American Heritage, looks like they do quality work to. I'm really leaning towards PM guides as well. What lifters did you go with?

CyberZ

I have really thought hard about biting the bullet and stepping up to titanium valves. The Ferrea valves with Titanium hardware/PSI springs have the same weight as the stock setup. I just hope the valve bounce is comparable to the stock/titanium valves.

64drvr

I have a pretty similar setup.
07 z. I spec'd a 236/250,640/640,114+4, trick titanium exhaust valves, psi springs, katech ti retainers, 1-7/8 kooks, callaway cai. wcch put bronze guides in the heads and milled .030. i did not have them ported or polished. oem gaskets. I went to the dyno with the original ngk tr6ix's, and the tuner couldn't put as much timing as he wanted on it... I've bought tr7ix's, but haven't been back to the dyno yet- hoping to run an atomic efi or fast intake first. The car does make good power, and I'm hoping the new plugs will allow some more advance.
synopsis: i'd recommend .030.

TRSCobra

Great customer support too! I just used new LS7 lifters.

UniTink72

I've hear this two map concept before but don't understand what it means. Can the computer hold two sets of data, one for 91, one for 93? If so is it smart enuf to detect detonation and revert to the 91 map?
Or is this something you need one of those tuner boxes for to load yourself? If so can you do that while out on your cross country cruise?

curtkrug

I've got the k501 in my 08 z right now. The driveability isn't too bad. It doesnt really just creep through parking lots too well, i have to clutch it or cruise a little faster than needed. Around 1400-1500 rpm you can feel some jerking and all and can slightly feel it around 55 mph in 6th, but i just keep it in 5th and its no biggie. I Love it haha. My heads were milled to 12:1 compression, psi beehive springs and titanium retainers, exhaust valve guide fixed along with the new style hollow vlaves. Cr5 katech timing chain, and then the normal cold air intake and kooks all the way to oem mufflers, soon to be corsa, and all dynoed by katech. I've got a walk around video on my phone, i'll try to post later.

CyberZ

Sweeeeet! How much power/Tq did you put down? Does the car feel any slower from a dig? Did it lose Tq down low? Did u go with PM or Bronze guides? Who did your heads? Thanks!

UniTink72

What is that in terms of deck thickness, .030? Did you reuse the stock pushrods? What octane gas do you run?