Engine build time
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 370
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Engine build time
Winter isn’t far off so while the C5 is parked I’m thinking about tearing into the engine. It’s an 01 base. Am I better off doing something like the Trick Flow top end kit or building my own set up through someone like Texas Speed? Can I pull 500HP using stock head castings with a port and polish? While it’s apart I’m going to do a new water pump, oil pump, harmonic balancer. The engine has 104,000 miles. Is there anything else I should add to the list? This is my first LS build so I’m gonna lean heavy on the group here to help out.
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Change the timing chain. Also your block is factory tapped to accept a timing chain dampener. Check out Brian Tooley for that. Also consider headers, a new oil pressure sensor and maybe motor mounts. Whatever you do find a good tuner.
TrickFlow sells a head/cam package that’s optimized. Texas speed and almost every other vendor can sell you a package too just call them and talk about your wants... I wouldn’t try to port/polish your own heads. There are a few gotchas and the labor is intensive.
Lastly you can get 450hp at the crank without heads depending on cam/exhaust.
TrickFlow sells a head/cam package that’s optimized. Texas speed and almost every other vendor can sell you a package too just call them and talk about your wants... I wouldn’t try to port/polish your own heads. There are a few gotchas and the labor is intensive.
Lastly you can get 450hp at the crank without heads depending on cam/exhaust.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Winter isn’t far off so while the C5 is parked I’m thinking about tearing into the engine. It’s an 01 base. Am I better off doing something like the Trick Flow top end kit or building my own set up through someone like Texas Speed? Can I pull 500HP using stock head castings with a port and polish? While it’s apart I’m going to do a new water pump, oil pump, harmonic balancer. The engine has 104,000 miles. Is there anything else I should add to the list? This is my first LS build so I’m gonna lean heavy on the group here to help out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: East Metro (Twin Cities) Minnesota
St. Jude Donor '21
Winter isn’t far off so while the C5 is parked I’m thinking about tearing into the engine. It’s an 01 base. Am I better off doing something like the Trick Flow top end kit or building my own set up through someone like Texas Speed? Can I pull 500HP using stock head castings with a port and polish? While it’s apart I’m going to do a new water pump, oil pump, harmonic balancer. The engine has 104,000 miles. Is there anything else I should add to the list? This is my first LS build so I’m gonna lean heavy on the group here to help out.
Last edited by Toys4Life C5; Nov 1, 2020 at 09:15 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 370
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
A supercharger is tempting but I’m looking at building the base engine up first. I want to swap out these 241 heads and get a mild cam. I want to upgrade the lifters, roller rockers, dual springs. I’ll get it above 500 at the crank NA.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,562
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From: Morristown, TN
LS2 silver blade TB, Dorman LS2 intake manifold, a good set of heads milled to bring your CR to around 11:1 like the PRC 225 as cast, and a cam like a Texas Speed 228R
Or you can do the Trick Flow top end kit with a ported LS6 intake manifold and TB
You will also want new lifters, lifter buckets, oil pump, front seal, damper, damper bolt, coolant crossover seals, head bolts, knock sensors, oil pressure sensor, trunnion upgrades, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, water pump gaskets, timing set, etc etc etc etc etc
Or you can do the Trick Flow top end kit with a ported LS6 intake manifold and TB
You will also want new lifters, lifter buckets, oil pump, front seal, damper, damper bolt, coolant crossover seals, head bolts, knock sensors, oil pressure sensor, trunnion upgrades, valve cover gaskets, head gaskets, water pump gaskets, timing set, etc etc etc etc etc
Last edited by dskinsler83; Nov 1, 2020 at 11:12 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 660
Likes: 181
From: Knoxville TN
Winter isn’t far off so while the C5 is parked I’m thinking about tearing into the engine. It’s an 01 base. Am I better off doing something like the Trick Flow top end kit or building my own set up through someone like Texas Speed? Can I pull 500HP using stock head castings with a port and polish? While it’s apart I’m going to do a new water pump, oil pump, harmonic balancer. The engine has 104,000 miles. Is there anything else I should add to the list? This is my first LS build so I’m gonna lean heavy on the group here to help out.
definately don’t buy the trick flow kit or you’ll be disappointed in the results, they make probably the best heads but you want to have them setup correctly, I run the tfs 215’s on mine, sbe ls6 makes 500+
if your a stick shift, have 93 octane and willing to fly cut pistons and have a good budget then you can get around 500 whp fairly easy but will be expensive
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 324
From: Morristown, TN
definately don’t buy the trick flow kit or you’ll be disappointed in the results, they make probably the best heads but you want to have them setup correctly, I run the tfs 215’s on mine, sbe ls6 makes 500+
if your a stick shift, have 93 octane and willing to fly cut pistons and have a good budget then you can get around 500 whp fairly easy but will be expensive
if your a stick shift, have 93 octane and willing to fly cut pistons and have a good budget then you can get around 500 whp fairly easy but will be expensive
you say dont buy the trick flow kit or you will be disappointed but then say they make the best heads and how you use them and make 500+ lol
Pro
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 660
Likes: 181
From: Knoxville TN
Those kits aren’t made for maximum hp, they’re low compression, heavy valves, bronze guides, pretty much everything you don’t want in a high performance head
TEA ported 215’s, turned down ls3 valves and powder metal guides for stock rocker arms, 59cc
LG g5x2 or x3 cam
Lg pro or Arh headers
fast 102 or msd
.030 to .040 head gaskets
this is the basics to get roughly 500 whp, mine makes 508 through 4.10’s so it’s probably close to 520 with 3.42’s, I also have ewp, vacuum pump and .030 head gaskets
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
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From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Truthfully if I can get 500 at the crank that’s a huge upgrade to where this thing is currently after almost 20 years. If all else fails, 150 shot!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 324
From: Morristown, TN
500 crank is easy. Thus what the Trick Flow kits are for or any kit Texas Speed or BTR could do for ya.
My first build was the PRC 225 as cast with 60cc chambers, Texas Speed 228R, Dorman LS2 intake with Silver Blade LS2 throttle body, new lifters and push rods, full exhaust, and Vararam cold air. I was at 440hp/413tq to the tire in my 2000 M6 coupe.
One of the lifters failed at 600 miles after install (LS7 style) so I decided to do a forged stroker short block and a bigger cam and FAST 92 intake with same heads, cold air, and exhaust.
now I am at 484hp/497tq to the tire.
My first build was the PRC 225 as cast with 60cc chambers, Texas Speed 228R, Dorman LS2 intake with Silver Blade LS2 throttle body, new lifters and push rods, full exhaust, and Vararam cold air. I was at 440hp/413tq to the tire in my 2000 M6 coupe.
One of the lifters failed at 600 miles after install (LS7 style) so I decided to do a forged stroker short block and a bigger cam and FAST 92 intake with same heads, cold air, and exhaust.
now I am at 484hp/497tq to the tire.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 660
Likes: 181
From: Knoxville TN
this was my first build, very basic build
on a dyno dynamics dyno
tfs 215’s
.045 gasket
fast 102
g5x2 cam
lg street headers
stock 3.42
Pro
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 660
Likes: 181
From: Knoxville TN
I didn’t mean to derail your thread but you can start out with headers, then decide on a cam, then maybe heads down the road, just do it in stages, if you’re on stock clutch then that will be another expense, it adds up quick when you start modding lol
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 370
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 485
Likes: 370
From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I have been contemplating leaving this engine alone and starting a 427 build.