02 Z06 35,000k. Finally decided to take plunge and do a cam and header package on the car.

This car will never be tracked or raced, it is strictly a nice day street driver. That being said I'm looking for a cam that will produce low and mid range power. The car will never see 6500 rpms.

The next question is headers 1 3/4 or 1 7/8 leaning towards the 1 3/4 for the low end goal.

LG Street headers vs LG PRO vs kooks vs ARH and why one would be better than the other brand contingent.

Shop here local in NC suggested Kooks because their based in Mooresville right next to their shop. He quoted 850 headers and 750 catted x-pipe (I don't want exhaust fumes). That seems high and ARH can be bought for that type of money. He quoted roughly 1000 for the cam kit. 10hrs labor @$80hr and 450 for a tune.

A buddy's transam produced 420hp and 415tq with kooks and LG G5X2 cam. He suggested I used that cam but that cam seems a little much on the duration side for what I'm after. LG recommended the G5X1E.

Oppinions and snide remarks are welcome?

 

LG super pro headers and a g5xe or g5x1

 

Fit and finish on LG and ARH is great. However I think LG has the better designed collector. You will be happy with either choice.

 

Whats the difference in street and super pro? What kind of gains are yeilded between the two?

 

For a cam, bolt-on C5Z, the difference is probably no more than 5RWHP.

 

LG Streets are the best bang-for-the-buck name brand header. The story on Kooks seems to be that the install is a PITA.

For a good low and mid-rpm cam, checkout the results I got:
corvetteforum.com/c5-z06-discussion/dyno-gains-from-219-223-607-610-cam-results.html

 

I'm running LG Streets and am very happy with them. If you're not planning on going over 500 rear wheel HP then the streets are an affordable way to go. They are nice headers. I just had a Texas Motorsports Torquer V2 installed. The cam has a nice lope and the drive-ability is good. Haven't been able to lay into it (or do the dyno tune) yet because I'm working on breaking in a new clutch. You might also think about replacing the stock restrictive air bridge. I went with a Haltech Super Bee II. I'm told to expect 420-430 RWHP with this setup. Car made 386 RWHP at LG with just the streets, a K&N and a tune.

 

Kooks are very good headers too

 

LG Pro's, 3" catted X pipe to a Corsa extreem Exhaust, Blackwing CAI and upgraded valve train to harland sharp comp cams beehives and their ti retainers. Car pulls hard, I am extremely impressed with it, were I to do a cam as well I would to the LG-224R or the 228Rwith a 115+ LSA for great drivability RPM also has an incredable cam package with a very wide tq curve.

 

So 2280.00 for a cam and tune? on top of 1500-1800 for headers and x pipe? Free install. so in total you want to put 3700 ish for approx 70 hp?

Spend 1500 get an incredible progressive Nitrous set up installed and tuned for no more than 2 grand and add the jets for a 75 shot...........thats 1700 in your pocket and your smoking your pals T/A

 

OP wants low and mid-range power for his street driver that never sees redline. Nitrous typically only comes on at WOT when over ~3.5k rpm, so it's obviously not the right mod for him.

 

I say sell it and buy a ford focus... why own the car and never enjoy the full potential?? Thats like dating jessica alba but putting a bag over her head in the bedroom?? Just leave it stock and keep waxing it.. the rest of us will keep reving ours to 6800-7000rpms with our cams. End rant!!

 

OP IMO get a nice small/midsize cam such as the 228r or vrx4. Great driveability, great power band etc. I currently have a 228/230 .588/.592 112+2 custom comp cam (which is essentially a Texas Speed 228r or Vengence Racing vrx4) and love it in my m6 LS1 GTO Makes great mid range power and tops out peak power around 6,300 rpms but will hold strong till about 6,700.

For a small cam it made 390rwhp/372rwtq with stock 241 heads, stock ls6 intake, Stock injectors, SW 1 3/4 headers with catless mids and JBA catback. It would easily be over 410 rwhp in a Z with 243 heads etc id guess 420ish.

I am thinking about a similar cam in my 01 Z actually but want to have it blower friendly so I will likely go with the SC2 Cam 224 232 .581 .595 114

 

Thanks for your Opinion. But I will leave the valves in the piston to you mx621.

Whenever you would like to try that so called fast car out here in the south let me know? Would love to take your money with my Buick!

 

This is what a Nitrous progressive controller takes care of.
With one of these connected to your car you can program the system to slowly introduce nitrous as low as 2000rpm at WOT, hitting the full (lets say 100hp) at 3500 then slowly reducing the charge again till it is completly off at 5500rpm, shift, start over because you can program every gear. It would work with the driver and eliminate human error of a button. Besides you only need it for 2nd/3rd and 4th maybe 5th depending on the gear ratio in the rear diff.
This way of introducing nitrous to an engine causes less stress on the entire drive line and rotating assemble than a system with an instant shot.
Honestly what is the difference of having a large cam that hits 350 rwtq to the tires at 3500rpm and hits peak tq at 4500 vs, a 100hp nitrous shot that slowly makes 400rwtq at 3500 rpm and builds up to 425lbt at 5000rpm
The Difference is the nitrous will walk the cam car every time

If used smartly Nitrous will cause less stress on your engine/clutch/transmission and rear diff.. Better drivability and better MPG for less money. But in the end, create more HP/TQ, and Nitrous makes way more TQ than HP for any given jet#.
A moderate to large cammed engine consistently creates the same stress during everyday driving, less MPG and sometimes not the best drivability depending on the tune, but no matter the tune a large cam reduces ease of driveability......
No more complicatingof a set up than a stereo system....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDVHB7mlCI
This just shows all the different program options the Lingenfelter unit delivers.

 

I see where you're comming from but I believe the OP is looking for a small cam, so drivability and MPG shouldn't be an issue as well as extra stress. If a guy does like to get into it fairly often keeping a N20 bottle full can become bothersome, and add up over time. A decent cam in the mid 220 duration range and lift below .600 would work well.

 

Lol!! Never called my car fast by any means. Just a slow 11.27 @ 125 car. It was light hearted not an attack, just busting a lil chops. Gm puts the the rev limiter there for a reason so y not enjoy it is my point. Ur buick sounds like a straight line car and thats cool. But not what im all into. Just a 430whp/400trq cam bolt on z. Peak power @ 6500 on my 230/234 cam and i shift usually at 6700 or so. If ur all about bottom to mid power id do lg super pros, and maybe some thing like a 220/228 cam on a 112 +4 keep the dynamic compression high and throttle response and roll on power will be incredible . Id get in touch with some one like pat g ( i did) and discuss ur needs and he will spec u a cam perfectly.

 

I'm looking for the exact same thing you are.. Keep us informed

 

There are more of us out here than one may think..........I spent some quality time with the OP on the phone yesterday.

everyone has the ability to post and there are those guys that just can't believe we just want what we want AND NOT WHAT THEY HAVE.

What works for one does not work for EVERYONE...........some of us continue on our quest not to reach the pinnacle of excess, but have just enough to make us happy with our cars.


I'm not here to steal this thread, only to say that the OP has others out here looking at his thread so stay the course...