MSD Opti, Headers next, should I...........???
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
MSD Opti, Headers next, should I...........???
I already installed the Magnaflows, bought the headers, MSD Opti and I was thinking...To install the opti, I have to do all that surgery we all know.
Should I install a better cam, lifters, rollers and maybe port my heads? Does anyone (vendor) sells a kit to get all this done?
This is for a 95, automatic, I'm not looking for a cam that would spill a coffee cup on idle speed
All numbers, statements, positive and negative feedback are welcome. I'm all...
Should I install a better cam, lifters, rollers and maybe port my heads? Does anyone (vendor) sells a kit to get all this done?
This is for a 95, automatic, I'm not looking for a cam that would spill a coffee cup on idle speed
All numbers, statements, positive and negative feedback are welcome. I'm all...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Any of that adds quite a bit of work to the project. Getting the opti off is probably only 30% of the way into a cam swap, so it's not like it's 'right there' or anything.
If your opti is working right now, I would hold off. Do the headers and maybe some 1.6 roller rockers. Later, when your opti fails, do the MSD and consider the cam swap again at that time.
If your opti is working right now, I would hold off. Do the headers and maybe some 1.6 roller rockers. Later, when your opti fails, do the MSD and consider the cam swap again at that time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 680
From: Marlboro country MA
I have a 92 LT1 which I drag race a lot. With 3.54 gears when it was otherwise stock, it did a quarter mile in 13.3. By adding headers, a HotCam kit, and a 2600 stall TC, I got down into the 12.7's. YMMV.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
You have to ask?? Damn, you already bought the headers and cat back...You KNOW you want it!!! do the hotcam (only a slight lope at idle) port your heads get better springs and 1.6 rockers. Install the MSD. throw in a Meziere electric water pump. 52mm throttle body and a good tune and you will be knocking on 400 hp at the crank..Let us know what you do...Good luck...FYI...I had a similar set up before I did the 383
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Last edited by Eddie & the Cruisers; Mar 5, 2008 at 01:07 AM. Reason: It will be delivered today.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
That Guy sold it in EBay, now you guys got me involved and motivated. This mod is your fault.
Lets say I buy THIS PART
Is this a LT4 hot cam? Is this an upgrade from a LT4 stock cam?
From Cam to springs......
The cam (included),
Lifters, would THESE do?
About Push-rods? which ones?
Rollers, 1.6 (included),
Springs (included),
Retainers (included),
Locks (included),
Valve Stem Seals? Which ones?,
Timing Chain and Gears, Which ones? Car has 96K miles
Gaskets (intake, heads and valve covers) which ones?
Camshaft assembly lubricant. I assume I can buy this at the local auto parts?
MSD Opti, on hand
Hooker Headers, on hand
Now lets say that I'll go and would like to get the heads ported. What should I do, where and any other detail...?
We are talking few bucks here....
School me on LT1 heart surgery guys
Lets say I buy THIS PART
Is this a LT4 hot cam? Is this an upgrade from a LT4 stock cam?
From Cam to springs......
The cam (included),
Lifters, would THESE do?
About Push-rods? which ones?
Rollers, 1.6 (included),
Springs (included),
Retainers (included),
Locks (included),
Valve Stem Seals? Which ones?,
Timing Chain and Gears, Which ones? Car has 96K miles
Gaskets (intake, heads and valve covers) which ones?
Camshaft assembly lubricant. I assume I can buy this at the local auto parts?
MSD Opti, on hand
Hooker Headers, on hand
Now lets say that I'll go and would like to get the heads ported. What should I do, where and any other detail...?
We are talking few bucks here....
School me on LT1 heart surgery
guys
Last edited by PLRX; Mar 7, 2008 at 12:40 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
School's in Session...
That Guy sold it in EBay, now you guys got me involved and motivated. This mod is your fault.
Lets say I buy THIS PART
Is this a LT4 hot cam? Is this an upgrade from a LT4 stock cam?
From Cam to springs......
The cam (included),
Lifters, would THESE do?
About Push-rods? which ones?
Rollers, 1.6 (included),
Springs (included),
Retainers (included),
Locks (included),
Valve Stem Seals? Which ones?,
Timing Chain and Gears, Which ones? Car has 96K miles
Gaskets (intake, heads and valve covers) which ones?
Camshaft assembly lubricant. I assume I can buy this at the local auto parts?
MSD Opti, on hand
Hooker Headers, on hand
Now lets say that I'll go and would like to get the heads ported. What should I do, where and any other detail...?
We are talking few bucks here....
School me on LT1 heart surgery guys
Lets say I buy THIS PART
Is this a LT4 hot cam? Is this an upgrade from a LT4 stock cam?
From Cam to springs......
The cam (included),
Lifters, would THESE do?
About Push-rods? which ones?
Rollers, 1.6 (included),
Springs (included),
Retainers (included),
Locks (included),
Valve Stem Seals? Which ones?,
Timing Chain and Gears, Which ones? Car has 96K miles
Gaskets (intake, heads and valve covers) which ones?
Camshaft assembly lubricant. I assume I can buy this at the local auto parts?
MSD Opti, on hand
Hooker Headers, on hand
Now lets say that I'll go and would like to get the heads ported. What should I do, where and any other detail...?
We are talking few bucks here....
School me on LT1 heart surgery
guysSchool's in... from the School of Cold Hard Truth:
If money's an issue... and you're not knowledgable to do the work yourself (paying a shop is NOT cheap), forget the pipedream of porting your heads and swapping the camshaft for now...
The terms "port 'n polish" are thrown around so much by people who have NO clue about the work involved (or the costs), and jumping into a project such as having headwork done without knowing the ramifications usually leads to a listing in the "For Sale" folder as a project car (all torn apart with long missing parts).
Do yourself a big favor... install your headers and Opti (since you already have it), and drive the thing. Maybe...MAYBE, try an electric water pump while you've got the water pump off. It's easier to enjoy a running Vette than it is to walk past an unassembled one in your garage or driveway.
You'll be much happier in the long run, believe me...
However... if you're hell-bent on proceeding, then here's my advice to you: Save up a lot of cash to have somebody competent do the work, 'cause head/cam work isn't cheap!
Good luck to you!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thanks, I'm listening
Others Please
Others Please
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse Utah
I got the Hot cam kit with 1.6 rrs. Then I added the electric water pump and a few other small things. Still have the stock opti. Headers are next. For me, getting the opti off was about 70 percent of the work for the cam install. I took a month to get the opti off, then three days to swap cams and put it all back together. Did not port the heads, which would have been nice but its a whole nother wallet full of money.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 20
Personally, if it were me, Id just do a more agressive camshaft.
Take what the guy said about head porting and polishing. you could run a CC503 cam with stock heads and still make plenty of power. i know you said you dont want your coffee cup falling over, but for refrence if you go cam shopping a GM847 or a CC306 is one of the more harsh idling cams. I havent personally ran a CC503 but i did have a CC306, from what i hear the CC503 is alot more freindly, and with stock heads its about the best cam out there.
thats my input.
Take what the guy said about head porting and polishing. you could run a CC503 cam with stock heads and still make plenty of power. i know you said you dont want your coffee cup falling over, but for refrence if you go cam shopping a GM847 or a CC306 is one of the more harsh idling cams. I havent personally ran a CC503 but i did have a CC306, from what i hear the CC503 is alot more freindly, and with stock heads its about the best cam out there.
thats my input.
Last edited by trilkb; Mar 9, 2008 at 06:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Personally, if it were me, Id just do a more agressive camshaft.
Take what the guy said about head porting and polishing. you could run a CC503 cam with stock heads and still make plenty of power. i know you said you dont want your coffee cup falling over, but for refrence if you go cam shopping a GM847 or a CC306 is one of the more harsh idling cams. I havent personally ran a CC503 but i did have a CC306, from what i hear the CC503 is alot more freindly, and with stock heads its about the best cam out there.
thats my input.
Take what the guy said about head porting and polishing. you could run a CC503 cam with stock heads and still make plenty of power. i know you said you dont want your coffee cup falling over, but for refrence if you go cam shopping a GM847 or a CC306 is one of the more harsh idling cams. I havent personally ran a CC503 but i did have a CC306, from what i hear the CC503 is alot more freindly, and with stock heads its about the best cam out there.
thats my input.
You got my attention! I was thinking about it and it makes sense. If I buy the CC503 cam, where, Summit? Thats the cam with 1.6 RR. What about the lifters and rods?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
If you don't want to spend a ton of cash right now, do the cam while you are doing the opti. You will need to upgrade the springs and rocker though. You already have the headers. You can always do the heads later on down the road, and you will still have a strong running Vette with the hot cam. I did the LT4 top end when I did my hotcam, so my heads flowed better than LT1 heads out of the box. But I know that ported LT1 heads can flow as well and sometimes better than the LT4 heads. Removing/porting/replacing the heads is deffinately more work and $$..only you know how much you want to spend right now..
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 20
you also going to need valve springs. id call someone like comp cams and have them reccomend a set to go with the camshaft for an Lt1 application.
So...
valve springs
pushrods
lifters
cc503cam
roller rockers
I beleive thats it. make sure the cam has the correct lenght opti drive for your application also.
So...
valve springs
pushrods
lifters
cc503cam
roller rockers
I beleive thats it. make sure the cam has the correct lenght opti drive for your application also.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
A heck of a shoppin list from good shoppers. Thanks and once I get this done will post pictures on this thread so stay subscribed!! 
Oh money is no issue, I have no wife and I'm getting a good tax return
Oh money is no issue, I have no wife and I'm getting a good tax return
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Well I've got the same year and make as you do. 95 A4 3.07 rear.
I had a set of stainless works LT headers & ss rt hi-flow cats installed and kept my stock exhaust and just love the sound. A year later I had the following installed at Tom Wong's speed shop in Portland:
LT4 Hot Cam Kit, HD timing chain & sprokets, LS7 lifters, a new opti, a new mechanical water pump, new plugs & wires & a professional Tom Wong tune.
I did no dyno prior or after the headers install. Tom however did run a base line on his mustang dyno prior to the work he did and then after. I gained 40 rwhp as a result of the Hot cam kit install and I have absolutely no drivabilitiy issues at all other than my mpg went down on average about 2mpg.
Oh on his mustang I'm now at 292 rwhp or rather I was at 292 about 15K miles ago when he installed it I've not had any intake work done yet.
I had a set of stainless works LT headers & ss rt hi-flow cats installed and kept my stock exhaust and just love the sound. A year later I had the following installed at Tom Wong's speed shop in Portland:
LT4 Hot Cam Kit, HD timing chain & sprokets, LS7 lifters, a new opti, a new mechanical water pump, new plugs & wires & a professional Tom Wong tune.
I did no dyno prior or after the headers install. Tom however did run a base line on his mustang dyno prior to the work he did and then after. I gained 40 rwhp as a result of the Hot cam kit install and I have absolutely no drivabilitiy issues at all other than my mpg went down on average about 2mpg.
Oh on his mustang I'm now at 292 rwhp or rather I was at 292 about 15K miles ago when he installed it
I've not had any intake work done yet.