Help me choose my next mod

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Sep 29, 2005 | 06:27 PM

unstressed

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,207

Likes: 27

From: Sun Diego CA

Help me choose my next mod

I have an 02 coupe 6 speed. I'm bored with it.

It is only lightly modded, has a blackwing and Borla stingers. Dyno'd @ 328/340. 27K miles.

Car is my daily driver, I need to keep the good gas milage, or only lose 1-2 mpg with any mods. I drive 25 miles to work, 20 freeway, 5 stop and go. Also sit in traffic some times for 20 minutes.

I want to be able to get that thrill of acceleration like when I first got the car, but need to stay CA emissions legal. I do not want long tube headers, they will fail the visual here, and I don't want to swap the exhaust every 2 years. Must also pass the sniffer.

I have ~$2K to play with, so I know I'm not going to get heads and cam, at least I don't think I can. I've built motors in my younger days, so I'm not a stranger to SB chevy's, but I've not touched an LS1. Also, don't want a peaky engine. I love the torque of the LS1.

I would appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks bud's.

Sep 29, 2005 | 07:18 PM

Darion

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 4,734

Likes: 232

From: Youngstown Ohio

4.11 diff?

Darion

Sep 29, 2005 | 09:02 PM

jhong321

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 3,818

Likes: 4

From: San Bruno ca

gears or laughing gas

Sep 29, 2005 | 09:04 PM

ksett

Racer

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

I would do a small cam only mod that will pass emissions. You can get heads later when you have the money.

Sep 29, 2005 | 10:44 PM

unstressed

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,207

Likes: 27

From: Sun Diego CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksett

I would do a small cam only mod that will pass emissions. You can get heads later when you have the money.

I was thinking a medium cam, and underdrive pulley. Have searched and many have medium cams that pass the sniffer by good margin. If I install myself, I'll still have $$$ for a good tune.

Or, 3.90's.....

Also see that some like the gears better than C/H's.

I'm just confused....

Sep 29, 2005 | 11:01 PM

SJTrance

Pro

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 716

Likes: 0

From: Long Island City NY

As I understand, the TR224 cam in 114 LSA is perfect for your situation. It is from Thunder Racing with the specs 224/224 .563/.563 114 It will pass emissions and will give you great power all throughout the range. If you can find someone decently priced to install it, you can keep it within $2000. This should cover the tune as well. You already have a 6speed, so you won't have to spend money on a torque converter.

I am in the same situation as you and thats the route I'm going. Emissions isnt such a great concern for me, so I'm looking at that cam in a 112 LSA.

Sep 30, 2005 | 07:08 AM

Dark-Knight

Race Director

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,133

Likes: 1

From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~

3.90 gears will give you that seat of pants acceleration you are looking for w/o headaches of the smog police inspections.

Sep 30, 2005 | 06:52 PM

unstressed

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,207

Likes: 27

From: Sun Diego CA

Sorry for all the questions, how much should I expect to spend on a cam install assuming I do all the work, and have it professionally tuned?
What can I expect from just a cam and maybe an underdrive pulley, around 40 RWHP?

I'll search the for sale section, but what do 3.90 gears typically run for cost? Again, I'll install them.

Thx all!