Hi, I am finally in the market for a h/c setup for my 01 Vette. I've been doing a lot of research and just end up confused. I have an 01 Vette with a Vararam and B&B Bullets, otherwise the car is stock. I am not as interested in peak numbers as I am in drivability and response. Currently the car feels sluggish until I wind the engine up, I want the thing to be a little more eager. I am also in CA so the cam can’t be to crazy, they don’t like that type of thing here.

So far it seems like the Patriot stage ii setup is the way to go, I don’t plan on breaking the bank so AFR heads are out of the question. If anyone has any advice on another set of built heads or a cam please let me know.

I know a lot of people install huge cams that generate high numbers but I’m as interested in keeping the car drivable as I am in making higher peak power. Someone made this post (didn’t save the info so I can’t credit the original poster) and it sounds like he wanted the same thing:

>I went one step smaller on the camshaft and love it. With a 218/218 duration, >.561" lift and a 114 LSA using stage IIX heads I'm making 423 sae rwhp and 398 >torque. Because of the smaller cam I pass the sniffer, get better than stock >gas mileage, and make more low end torque. It makes for an extremely drivable >street engine. A 224/28 or bigger cam will make more HP, but only above 5,000 >rpm or higher. Unless this is a drag racing engine why go bigger? For the >street you want the power in the rpm band you will be using. I'd gladly e mail >a file of my dyno of this baby cam package to someone who can attach it.

What are your opinions on a set of Patriot heads with the cam spec listed above? I would like to make 400rwhp give or take a few. I don’t want to give up top end power but I would rather have a car the responds instantly, drives smoothly (a *little* cam lope wouldn’t bother me however ), gets decent mileage, and won’t break down or need constant adjustments.

I don’t have any plans on adding headers, CA legal short tubes might be in the cards at some point. I will be getting this thing dyno tuned in Sacramento but I may not have it done right after the install.

 

How much money are you planning on spending for everything?

Just curious.

 

Very good question, I figured on $1600-$2000 for the hardware. That is why the dyno tune might have to come later, I'm on a bit of a budget as of this moment (hopefully uncle sam will help out soon).

 

I think your budget may be too low (or you are going to skimp on some things). I see the heads are about $1100.00, cam kits around $400.00. That doesn't leave much for a tune and any extra parts like gaskets, upgraded timing chain, oil pump, etc. You are not getting headers and such, so I don't think you will be anywhere near 400rwhp.

Chris

 

plus, you are not going to want to have cam installed and drive the car around not-tuned...not good for the engine, plus it might be hard to keep it running or idling correctly. I am at 410RWHP with my 01 (6spd) and I have AFR heads, my cam is 228/232 .588 .590 113lSA , headers, intake, my torque is 403.. powerband starts at about 3k- 3,5 rpms.
I do think you are taking the right approach..don't let everyone talk you into a huge cam.

The best thing you can do, is call A&A out there in Cali.. they do great work from what I have seen on this forum, and they are a forum vendor. Talk to Andy there and tell him what you want..and I don't think you will be dissapointed. Only issue I see is your budget might be low for what you want.
Good luck

 

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the patriot stage 2 heads are complete, gaskets, springs, etc.. That is one of the primary reasons for going with the patriots, I don't have to worry about anything other than the cam. I'm not too worried about running out of money, if I do I will just stop the project until I have enough to complete it, I don't drive the thing much in the winter anyway . Is there a reason to upgrade the timing chain or the oil pump? The vehicle has 44k on it right now and I'm putting about 3-4k a year on it.

 

Do you have the # for A&A? I've been talking to Corvette Care in Sac, they seem to know what they are doing but I would be willing to try someone else if there are any recommendations. My understanding is that a small cam may not require a tune though I don't plan on running without a tune for long. My hope is to have more power throughout the band (1.5k and up), will a small cam provide that? I do have more $ to spend on this, I was just expecting to hold it for the install, I'm not particularly good at dropping motors .

 

Here is the link to A&A.. also , all the vendors for the forum are on the side bar to the left of the screen.

I would start with A&A since they are in Cali where you are and will be knowledgable about local smog regs and how to tune your car to pass.and help with cam selection.

Good luck
http://www.aandacorvette.com/

 

I don't know a lot about what comes with the patriot heads, so I can't comment on that...

It is a common practice to change the timing chain since you are removing it anyway. They have a tendency to stretch over time and cause performace degredation. The LS1/6 chain is not the beefiest of units. As for the oil pumps, there has been some debate as to wether or not you need to change it out. We didn't on mine (but that was only at 12k), but many others have changed them to the ported LS6 for better flow.

Have you also considered a new clutch if you have an MN6? The stock one won't last that once you upgrade the power.

Just things to consider.

 

Thanks for the help! I will probably have the chain replaced if it's a simple thing. I am expecting to change the clutch in the next year or so, it's still in good condition but I don't trust it to last for long. This is far from a daily driver so having it out of comission for a bit won't hurt at all. Does anyone have any advice on a good cam?

 

You might want to check out Synergy Motorsports. They're closer to you than A&A, (I think) and they're getting big numbers out of H/C cars. Rick there seems to be a pretty good guy.

 

you can't get to 400 rwhp for $1600 -$2000 with a mild emmisions friendly cam and a set of those heads you'll need other components to get to 400, like an intake, TB and headers ay least.

 

Thanks, I'll give them a call, A&A is a bit south of where I live.

 

Yeah, I know I'm pushing it with just a h/c package, if I don't make it to 400 I won't be to disappointed. The other mods will come later, after I pay the thing off . The other alternative is a slightly used engine that is already modified, I've got someone looking into it, that way I could sell off my ls1 or use it for parts if I ever had a problem.