Well the time has finally come. I have been researching and researching about a heads/cam package for quite some time in anticipation of getting one. I finally have all my things together and I thought I would ask you guys to give me some recommendations. I had been looking at running the TR TREX cam on stock heads but I am not so sure about that now. I figure I might as well get new heads if I am going to get a cam? But here is the deal. I have an 02 Z06 with 53K miles. I curently have B&B bullets catback, Halltech TRIC intake, and a Zex 150 shot. I have used the nitrous a few times but not too much. I did like 370rwhp with those mods and a little over 500 on the bottle. I do want to run an aggresive cam. I already bought a set of Kooks 1 7/8" headers with the 3" X pipe. I now have about $5-6K left to do the rest. Keep in mind labor has to be included in the price. I was also looking at replacing the clutch out of that budget since I am not so sure of my stock clutch has much life left? So knowing all that that, what would be a good setup to purchase? I want to put down the most power I can, and I am willing to give up a little driveability for that since the Z is no longer my daily driver. I know everyone will have different opinions but I would love to hear them all. I was thinking about purchasing a set of Patriot Heads but I am really undecided on the cam. I just know I want something that sounds nasty and puts the power down. I will still run the nitrous if I ever need to cover the lower RPM's. I'm all ears!

 

i would buy an ecs kit . & then put a cam in it & leave the heads on it .U will make more power with that kit then u did on the bottle. z06 should make close to 550 rwhp on 7 psi of boost with a stock z06 cam & stock heads or get andys a & a kit .thats jmo gl with what ever u decide to do

 

comp xer 232 236 110 +1
with a .040 cometic and 61cc heads
if yr -.006 out of the hole you get 11.31scr 8.64 dcr
14 degrees overlap- should rock and roll nice and sound nasty

as for heads in partial to afr205's, but etp and trickflow have some nice heads also, 2 cents deposited and in no way i am any kind of cam expert

 

I actually have the funds for a blower but I really don't want to go that route. I'm sure 550rwhp on the vette is fast but there is no way that blower (on a stock motor) can hit like the nitrous does. I also really want the car to sound aggressive. I feel pretty sure I won't be satisfied with a blower with only 7-8 pounds of boost. I would want to keep changing the pulley which would mean a need to rebuild the entire motor so I'm staying away from that idea because I know how that goes. I have done the pulley swapping deal on my dads cobra and I don't need that temptation on the vette. The main thing I want is for the cam to put down some good numbers and sound really aggressive.

 

I love my heads and cam car, but if I had to do it all over, this is what I would do without a doubt!

 

I love what ECS did to my car with just a cam. I didn't do heads and i'm at 430rwhp, after heads they're proven at 500+. Vengeance Racing just did 500+rwhp, common denominator seems to be the trick flow heads.

 

I would have to disagree on the heads being the common denominator.... Using your car as example with 430rwhp..... Heads are typically worth 40 or 50 at the wheels... Add 50 to your combo and you are still only making 480rwhp (Awesome #s, but not 500rwhp)

To make 500rwhp, it takes EXCELLENT heads, good camshaft selection and EXCELLENT tuning along with all of the bolt ons....


It can be done, but it is not the norm

 

I doubt that you can get a good H/C pkg. installed along with a clutch install for $5,000-6,000. The whole drive line has to be dropped and the cost of the clutch and the labor is going to eat up a good part of your dollars.

 

 

Ron... George's car has the cam ECS uses to make over 500. The 500+ "package" has TFS heads and a ported FAST 90/90 on it. That seems to be the difference.

I run HPDEs w/ my car and almost daily drive it... I wanted a cam that loped, but wasn't unbearable to drive. I also don't want to rev over 6500 rpms for engine/spring longevity on track.

Thus, I chose a G5-X2 on a 114. The cam has 4 degrees advance ground in which keeps low end torque up... and being cut on a 114 lsa (vs. 112) will make it have better low speed and cruise manners.

I'll probably look at heads and a manifold next year... we'll see.

 

you're right, just by adding heads I'm not hitting 500. I over simpilify, sorry.

 

You're already using the thing that gives you the most bang for $$, nitrous. So do a budget H/C and gas it till she blows. If you continue to nox it, you'll lose a ringland, or piston eventually. It's only money, right?

 

[QUOTE=LKGRenegade22;1558323868]Well the time has finally come. I have been researching and researching about a heads/cam package for quite some time in anticipation of getting one.

I have an 02 Z06 with 53K miles. I curently have B&B bullets catback, Halltech TRIC intake, and a Zex 150 shot.

I did like 370rwhp with those mods and a little over 500 on the bottle. I do want to run an aggresive cam. I already bought a set of Kooks 1 7/8" headers with the 3" X pipe.
I now have about $5-6K left to do the rest. Keep in mind labor has to be included in the price. I was also looking at replacing the clutch out of that budget
....................

Not what you wanted but here's what you should consider first:

1. Up grade the clutch and use a shop that's familiar with the LS1 flywheel/clutch vibration problem.

2. With the drive train out up grade the output shafts and add the Dynotech differential strut. http://www.dynotech-eng.com/dte_c5_diff.htm

Your Z06 has fair heads, up grade the valve springs and retainers.
Now you have a good dependable drive train foundation for whatever direction you want to go and you may have enough $$$ for that 112* LSA nasty sounding cam and double row chain. If not upgrade the rocker arms.
With over 500 RWHP on the bottle, you've been pushing your luck with the drive train.

Edit: Beware of the cam specs duration and lift) if installed with stock heads, you may have to pull the heads to fly cut the pistons for valve clearance. This will add greatly to you labor costs. Again, mods have to be carefully planned so there are no surprises.

Good Luck with your Z, Curt

 

What exactly is an "ecs kit" ?

 

It is supercharger kit from East Coast Supercharging. They are a vendor and you can find them on the keft of the screen under tuners. They do a ton of vette installs and are experts from what I see.

Curtbriggs, I will definately look into that tonight. It's not a bad idea, that's for sure. I also am going to a shop that does nothing but chevrolets and has done a ton of f-bodies and corvettes. They said they could handle the clutch with no problem. I also checked some references too.

TioJames, I agree with what you said. When I called and talked to them I was qouted $1850 to install headers, a clutch, a cam kit and to tune the car. They said they would give me a pretty good discount since they were doing it all at once. That would leave me around $4K to but the clutch, cam kit and possibly heads?

 

East Coast Supercharging?????

http://www.eastcoastsupercharging.com/