I have a 98 mn6. Right now my only mods are varaam, underdrive pulleys and catback. My friend has a thunder racing 224/224/112lsa camshaft that I'm getting from him. He has comp 918 springs he's giving me also. The cam came out of his 02 ss camaro. I can also get the intake, fuel injectors, and coil packs for a resonable price. I'm trying to plan what I want. I just came make a decision to save my life. So now i've got some questions.
1. Is the intake the same as the ls6? If I do the intake do I need new heads? Will I see a significant increase with the new style injectors and intake manifold.
2. I was told that I'll need headers if I change heads. We are planning on ditching the air pump. Will the stock manifolds hold me back alot with 243 heads?
3. Should i just port and polish the 806's or will the 243's be that big of an increase? The other to options are 241's or ported 5.3 truck heads. I know the 243's are the best out of all of these, just trying to get the most bang for the buck (broke college student).

Any additional advice is greatly appreciated, like I said I'm still a newbie here.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

I'm no pro here yet either but I think people are going to want more info so they can help you.As in about the intake,injectors,coil packs,are they stock ect....The cam you use will be a bigger factor than the heads you use as for needing headers but I would get headers no matter what.Good luck!

 

intake,injectors, and coil packs are all stock 35th aniv ss camaro. Is the intake the same as the z06? What are the difference between my injectors and the ones from the camaro? Oh and the cam is a tr 224/224/112

 

i dont think you can use an intake from a camaro. something about the EGR plumbing??

 

You need to really study up on what mods you are doing. Certain combinations will not work good with each other. I did a head/cam job on my 2000 a couple of months ago, so I have some advice based on my experience. Here's what I recommend you change: intake manifold, heads, cam, fuel injectors, head bolts, and get a custom tune (there will be additional parts you need).

The first thing you want to do if you're doing a head/cam job is upgrade your intake manifold to an LS6 intake manifold. 1997-2000 corvettes did not come with these. GM Parts Direct sells them for about $450. Along with this you will need 2 plugs and a new bleed pipe, about $40 or so.

I would recommend you go ahead and swap heads if you're doing a cam. Might as well do it all at the same time (heads/cam/tune). TEA makes a great set of LS1 heads with excellent valves and springs included, and they're very affordable ($1200). Check their website. Their flow numbers are close to AFRs and they're half the price.

The camshaft you're getting from your friend will be very lopey. It's up to you if that's the kind of ride you want. LSA 114 cams make a nice idle.

You will need new head bolts, new timing chain, and you should change the fuel injectors. I installed 30Lb Ford SVO injectors ($400). In a vette they're actually 36Lb injectors.

My custom tune was done by Team ZR1. It cost $450.

Total cost of all these changes was about $4K. My car ended up with about 420 RWHP.

 

so does anyone know if the camaro intake will work? I'll be ditching the air pump, doing headers, and 243 heads for sure.

 

You may want to try over at ls1tech,alot of camaro guys over there.

 

I just did my heads and cam in my 98 over this winter. Well I started it up last week I had a loud ticking noise. Come to find out, one of the driver side lifters was having a hard time pumping up. I really don't know why it will not pump up, maybe cause the heavier springs caused a weak lifter to give up? I guess i really don't know why, I just a bunch of theorys, now i am going to put in a new set of Clevite lifters in. I would suggest to also replace lifters and lifter trays when doing the heads and cam. Fred Beans sells a stock lifter kit for about 100 dollars and lifter trays for about 3-4 dollars (need four). Use Arp head bolts or studs and balance bolt, so if later you want to ever take the heads off you can reuse the head bolts. I know that alot of people reuse there lifters and have no problems but I was the unlucky one that did. If i ever did another heads and cam job again i would get new lifters. Just my .02 Cause now I have to pull the heads off again, have to by 3 more jugs of coolant, two new headgaskets, ect... What a pain in the ***.

Good luck