C6z06man

Hey guys,
I am slowly trickling my parts in for my head fix/cam install. I was going to wait until I started the job but I'm snowed in here tonight and figured that I might as well start the build thread. After much research I found that some threads have some of the detail about parts used missing so I'm planning on taking pictures along the way and listing all the parts I used and any tips I have for doing this procedure.

I will be doing all the work myself except for the machining that my local machine shop I use for all customer engine builds will be handling. I want to thank Jason at Katech for letting me bug him with some questions and for getting me the parts lightning fast. Katech is great and I highly recommend them for any parts you will be needing. I don't have first hand experience with their service side of things but being in this business I can tell they run a great operation.

Anyway down to the parts list:
Katech K501 cam (KAT-6701)
PSI LS 1511ML valve springs
Katech titanium retainers (KAT-4678)
Katech valve spring seats for bronze guides (KAT-6545)
Katech C5R timing chain (HME-G68V-2)
Ferrea bronze valve guides
Ferrea valve seals
ARP head bolts
GM head gaskets
NGK TR6 IX

I will be reusing my stock exhaust valves if I am still in spec with my guide to stem clearance. If I am out of spec I will inspect the valves and make the decision to reuse or order new GM STOCK valves. I will be flat milling .030" and hand porting/polishing. Tuning myself using EFI Live on a DynaPack Dyno.

Feel free to ask any questions/concerns/comments. BTW the car is an 09 Z06 with only ~12K miles. Thanks!

Adam

C6z06man

Saved for future build info.

JP426

Thinking of pretty much the same build, cam will either be the K501 or the Torquer 110 with the PSI LS1511 springs.

My concern is the stock intake valves and bronze guides, I heard this was not recommended, and the Ti/Mo intakes are too pricey for me.

Thinking about stock valves for valvetrain stability with the harder PM guides that AH offers, any comments on that?

How about the clutch, will the stocker hold up with the cam?

C6z06man

After talking to Jason at Katech the drivability and mid to top end power of the K501 is better than the 110. The 110 makes more down low but in my opinion traction is limited with the stock cam so reduced low rpm tq is not bad.

I got a good deal on the Ferrea valve guides(I'm a distributor for them) and I talked to Kohle at AH about their guides but decided to just go with bronze to save some money and see how they work. All my race engines use bronze guides and have never seen excessive wear. I'm sure the AH guides are great but for my price on Ferrea bronze I couldn't pass it up. In my opinion either is fine. I'm going to polish my stems(happens on all head work I do) and probably at 10k miles I'll do a wiggle test to just update this thread.

I'm running the stock clutch, stock intake, stock exhaust with the muffler mod. The clutch will hold. We have had Z's on our Dyno over 600HP(forget the tq) on stock clutches.

C6z06man

Catless long tubes and an intake will come once I get the cash together. But for now I'll tune all stock to see what numbers I can get knowing there's more on the table.

BigSteele

I have been considering the torquer 110 or K501, and sending the heads off for rework. Still haven't decided for sure yet.

Vito.A

I was also going to wait on headers, but.. When I got the head's off and looked at the space, the OEM exhaust manifolds and cats lifted right out through the top (on both sides). It looks like the headers will slip down through the top also. Just looks to easy right now to pass up.


Did you consider the new PSI 1515 springs?

C6z06man

Oh yeah it's easier to do now but the cost of headers is almost as much as I'm going to have in this whole build. Just don't have the finances right now.

I did look into those springs. They don't have any real world testing that I could find and the 1511's were great with this cam on the Spintron and I don't feel the need for the heavier pressures. These have proven to be great springs and I like to use what I know works.

C6z06man

Well parts are still trickling in. However my Ferrea valve guides and seals are back ordered until March 11th. But I'm going to get the heads off next week/weekend hopefully and get them to the machine shop for porting and milling before my guides come in. Just took some quick weights. I know they have been discussed but I want my thread to be a "one stop shop" for anyone looking into this cam/setup.

Parts weights:
Spring-67 grams
Retainer-5.4 grams
Spring seat for bronze guides- 15.7 grams
Assembled with all 3(for those who don't want to do the math lol)-88.1 grams

C6z06man

I'm not sure why the pictures are turned. I tried rotating them and uploading them again. But, you can still see the point.

Josh B.

I bought the PSI 1511 for my K501 build also, spintron testing is what convinced me. I'd rather not go through trial and error with an LS7 valvetrain.

C6z06man

Afters countless hours deciding on what I want the Spintron test is what pushed me to the K501 with the 1511 springs. How are you liking your setup?

Josh B.

I don't have the engine back together yet. Once the MSD intake arrives (Mar 20th ETA) I will be able to trailer it to Redline Motorsports for a dyno tune.

The heads are back from WCCH with their Stg 2 setup, I'm pulling out the stock cam tomorrow and installing the K501. Removing the radiator is a serious undertaking on our cars...that was a PITA!

I have high expectations for the K501 though.

C6z06man

Oh got ya. Just curious are you sticking with the OEM valves? Yeah I'm going to get the heads off next week and then do the cam the following weekend. I'd like to have it back up and running around the beginning of April. I have high expectations too. I think it's a great cam.

Josh B.

I went with Ti/Mo intake valves, and new OEM exhaust valves; bronze guides.

C6z06man

Got ya. Now I think I remember seeing you post that in another thread. I'm going to inspect my valves. If way out of spec and look worn I'll do new OEM valves. If they look good I'm just going to reuse.

mohdil32

Looking forward to this thread and the details of the work, I will be doing the same build this summer. Thank you z06man

Z06Ronald

Hey Adam, can you do me (and our fellow members) a favor and list the part numbers near the photos of the parts that you have weighed?
Then I will add them to the Z06 OEM and Aftermarket Parts Weight List.

Thanks in advance, Ronald

C6z06man

Sure. I definitely can. I'll get the part numbers tomorrow when I get back into the shop and edit my post.

Z06Ronald

Great!