02 C5 Build
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8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 8
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02 C5 Build
So I picked up an 02 C5 this summer and it is basically stock, its an A4 car with the 3.15 rear end in it. Wanted to see what you guys think of these plans and please offer any suggestions. Im in the parts gathering stage so trying to plan ahead. Damper needs done so my plan is to put a cam in there at the time. Not really building a drag car but something quick, maybe do some flashlight drags now and then.
Could use a suggestion for a cam ive been told a 224/224 .600.600 would be a good cam.
Also have a set of 243 heads to go on.
Looking for a 3.42 rear end
Working on headers and x pipe
also working on a new converter. maybe a 3200 stall?
Then obviously a tune to make it all run correctly. What are your thoughts on the cam and converter?
Could use a suggestion for a cam ive been told a 224/224 .600.600 would be a good cam.
Also have a set of 243 heads to go on.
Looking for a 3.42 rear end
Working on headers and x pipe
also working on a new converter. maybe a 3200 stall?
Then obviously a tune to make it all run correctly. What are your thoughts on the cam and converter?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,602
Likes: 3,322
From: Virginia
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '21-'22
Welcome to the forum, and congrats on getting a C5! We'd love to see some pics. I'd like to know a bit more about your intended use. If you plan on using this car for regular street driving, with the occasional drag race, I would actually suggest an A&A supercharger over a cam swap. With the supercharger, the car will drive like stock, with stock reliability, and (if you behave) stock fuel economy. However, it will put you around 500 RWHP, so you can be very quick when you want to be.
If you do decide that you want to stay NA and do a cam swap, you'll also need to replace the valve springs. You might also consider a slightly taller gear swap (3.55). You'll want to think long and hard about how aggressive you want to go with the cam. The more aggressive you get, the less drivable on the street the car becomes. Again, if you decide to go this route, I would talk to a reputable speed shop that can advise the proper cam/head setup for your particular goals. Good luck with your build.
Don't forget to SAVE THE WAVE!
If you do decide that you want to stay NA and do a cam swap, you'll also need to replace the valve springs. You might also consider a slightly taller gear swap (3.55). You'll want to think long and hard about how aggressive you want to go with the cam. The more aggressive you get, the less drivable on the street the car becomes. Again, if you decide to go this route, I would talk to a reputable speed shop that can advise the proper cam/head setup for your particular goals. Good luck with your build.
Don't forget to SAVE THE WAVE!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
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As far as the blower goes, Monty (MWW) is right, in my opinion. It does cost more up front, but in the long run, I think it's cheaper. It's all subjective. Some guys love N/A engines, and would never want one. Other guys want nothing but a blower. All up to you......
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
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Likes: 4,359
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
So I picked up an 02 C5 this summer and it is basically stock, its an A4 car with the 3.15 rear end in it. Wanted to see what you guys think of these plans and please offer any suggestions. Im in the parts gathering stage so trying to plan ahead. Damper needs done so my plan is to put a cam in there at the time. Not really building a drag car but something quick, maybe do some flashlight drags now and then.
Could use a suggestion for a cam ive been told a 224/224 .600.600 would be a good cam.
Also have a set of 243 heads to go on.
Looking for a 3.42 rear end
Working on headers and x pipe
also working on a new converter. maybe a 3200 stall?
Then obviously a tune to make it all run correctly. What are your thoughts on the cam and converter?
Could use a suggestion for a cam ive been told a 224/224 .600.600 would be a good cam.
Also have a set of 243 heads to go on.
Looking for a 3.42 rear end
Working on headers and x pipe
also working on a new converter. maybe a 3200 stall?
Then obviously a tune to make it all run correctly. What are your thoughts on the cam and converter?
any more cam and it will be a crappy daily driver. You getting a better shifter?
Last edited by vette4fl; Dec 21, 2021 at 08:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Blowers on these cars are for old men! Oh…wait…I’m an old man.
Superchargers are great!
Superchargers are great!
Le Mans Master
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From: Florida
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Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2021
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I understand the money pit thing for sure. Ive been building jeeps for years, I have a 74 CJ5 and a 88 YJ. They are all money pits.
I've thought about the blower road and i may put in a cam that would accommodate that.
That being said I'm thinking the NA route is my best bet at this point, I do want it to drive decent. In the past ive worked on manuals so the whole stall thing is new to me. I have a line on a 3000 stall and am not sure really if thats what ill need or not.
I've thought about the blower road and i may put in a cam that would accommodate that.
That being said I'm thinking the NA route is my best bet at this point, I do want it to drive decent. In the past ive worked on manuals so the whole stall thing is new to me. I have a line on a 3000 stall and am not sure really if thats what ill need or not.
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Safety Car
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From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Thread Starter
8th Gear
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All things considered most of the upgrades Id be doing would go with a blower as well. Headers, the 243 heads. Im mostly hung up on the issue of a torque converter. I see most people push a higher stall for most upgrades but im not totally sure how it effects the drive ability of the car. I have considered going with a mild cam that would also work with a blower in the future, but a blower is honestly probably several years down the road and its not that big of a deal to swap another cam out if i had to.
Id post a pic of the car but realized I don't have any on my phone.
Id post a pic of the car but realized I don't have any on my phone.
Le Mans Master
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All things considered most of the upgrades Id be doing would go with a blower as well. Headers, the 243 heads. Im mostly hung up on the issue of a torque converter. I see most people push a higher stall for most upgrades but im not totally sure how it effects the drive ability of the car. I have considered going with a mild cam that would also work with a blower in the future, but a blower is honestly probably several years down the road and its not that big of a deal to swap another cam out if i had to.
Id post a pic of the car but realized I don't have any on my phone.
Id post a pic of the car but realized I don't have any on my phone.
The idea behind it is twofold, to allow the engine to idle at a higher rpm without creep at a stop, and to allow the engine to reach the power curve quickly like slipping the clutch would. If you stab it hard from a standing start with a high stall it’s going to put a lot of stress on the drivetrain and smoke the tires. It’s a balancing act.
Since you know your cam specs and rear end ratio, the recommended course of action is to contact the converter and transmission manufacturers and get their input. Matching a converter is a bit of voodoo, and even experienced racers struggle with selection. They’re going to want to know how you’ll use the car, eg., drag racing, street only, combination.
Unless you have a racing level stall you won’t even notice it during normal driving. It’s not like it’s freewheeling to the rated rpm. For street you’ll just want enough stall to let the engine idle, and a bit of margin for initial rpm gain. My guess…they will recommend closer to two thousand than three.
Please let us know what you find out. Enjoy!
Last edited by vette4fl; Dec 22, 2021 at 09:56 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Not sure why, but anytime someone asks about heads and cam, everyone wants guys to bolt on a $6000.00 blower. I’m not a blower guy. I went the heads and cam route and wouldn’t go another way if I had to do it over. I’m putting 470 down at the rear wheels and the car sounds phenomenal. I get someone yelling at me at about every stop light. I went with the 228R cam from Texas Speed and a set of Trick Flow CNC’d heads, long tubes and catless x pipe.
I also did the ATI super damper, new timing chain, LS7 lifters, Harland Sharp roller rockers, new water pump, all new tensioners….. I’m completely against bolting on a supercharger and boosting 20 year old parts. If you want to boost later that’s fine. Make sure you pin the crank when you do the new damper. But I wouldn’t add a couple hundred more horsepower without replacing/updating the wear items.
I also did the ATI super damper, new timing chain, LS7 lifters, Harland Sharp roller rockers, new water pump, all new tensioners….. I’m completely against bolting on a supercharger and boosting 20 year old parts. If you want to boost later that’s fine. Make sure you pin the crank when you do the new damper. But I wouldn’t add a couple hundred more horsepower without replacing/updating the wear items.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Not sure why, but anytime someone asks about heads and cam, everyone wants guys to bolt on a $6000.00 blower. I’m not a blower guy. I went the heads and cam route and wouldn’t go another way if I had to do it over. I’m putting 470 down at the rear wheels and the car sounds phenomenal. I get someone yelling at me at about every stop light. I went with the 228R cam from Texas Speed and a set of Trick Flow CNC’d heads, long tubes and catless x pipe.
I also did the ATI super damper, new timing chain, LS7 lifters, Harland Sharp roller rockers, new water pump, all new tensioners….. I’m completely against bolting on a supercharger and boosting 20 year old parts. If you want to boost later that’s fine. Make sure you pin the crank when you do the new damper. But I wouldn’t add a couple hundred more horsepower without replacing/updating the wear items.
I also did the ATI super damper, new timing chain, LS7 lifters, Harland Sharp roller rockers, new water pump, all new tensioners….. I’m completely against bolting on a supercharger and boosting 20 year old parts. If you want to boost later that’s fine. Make sure you pin the crank when you do the new damper. But I wouldn’t add a couple hundred more horsepower without replacing/updating the wear items.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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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
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The C5 is a simple car to wrench on for anyone with a little mechanical background. There’s tons of great cam and head swap videos out there. One of the best on YouTube is a series by Car Mod Guy. Before I tackle any major project, for the first time, I like to prep myself.
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 655
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From: Tampa
About 15 years ago when my father and I had Mike Norris do our first C5's, my father had an auto and with the stock 3.42s out of my M6 and a similar cam your talking about he did a 2800 stall and loved it. I think that would be a little more street friendly than a 3200 stall.