Mod Woes... what to do?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel Florida
Mod Woes... what to do?
I know there are a million answers to this question, and I have read every available thread, but I would like some help.
I just spoke to Jeremy Formato to tune my car (99 FRC 90k miles, K&N cai, Magnaflow x-pipe and cat back), and he suggested to install an LS6 intake and ported TB along with the tune. This got me to thinking....
I DO NOT want to put headers on the car, and with the mileage, I don't plan on doing a rebuild either, so I want to stay mild, but get the most out of what is available. I don't want to change the heads, so I was wondering if throwing a cam in there along with the intake and tune would be a good idea? The obvious answer is yes, and then it comes to picking a cam that would work the best with stock heads and bottom end? Also, I don't want to affect the driveability or gas mileage of the car (as much as possible). I haven't asked Jeremy for his opinion yet (he is out tuning for the next two weeks), so I am asking if you guys think the money for the cam/intake/tb/tune will give me a good return with power, or if I should just leave it alone until I do a rebuild with a heads/cam/intake package? I know there are a lot of questions here, but any help would be appreciated.
I just spoke to Jeremy Formato to tune my car (99 FRC 90k miles, K&N cai, Magnaflow x-pipe and cat back), and he suggested to install an LS6 intake and ported TB along with the tune. This got me to thinking....
I DO NOT want to put headers on the car, and with the mileage, I don't plan on doing a rebuild either, so I want to stay mild, but get the most out of what is available. I don't want to change the heads, so I was wondering if throwing a cam in there along with the intake and tune would be a good idea? The obvious answer is yes, and then it comes to picking a cam that would work the best with stock heads and bottom end? Also, I don't want to affect the driveability or gas mileage of the car (as much as possible). I haven't asked Jeremy for his opinion yet (he is out tuning for the next two weeks), so I am asking if you guys think the money for the cam/intake/tb/tune will give me a good return with power, or if I should just leave it alone until I do a rebuild with a heads/cam/intake package? I know there are a lot of questions here, but any help would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
If you want, you can have the best of both worlds. Do the whole heads/cam/LS6 intake at one time, and increase your power significantly, while also increasing your fuel mileage. Get some aftermarket heads that'll increase your compression to about 11:1, and about a 224/228 @114+4 cam. This will not change your drivability much, with a Formato tune, and will change your car into a real beast. I don't understand your aversion to headers, as these are a great building block for the other mods, and there's really no downside.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel Florida
Maybe I haven't done the research on the headers, but I want something that will bolt up to the stock pipes going to the cats. My aversion is simply my attempt to stop me from getting stupid and doing it ALL. I have a problem with temptation. I swore when I bought this car that the K&N and the Cat back was all I was going to do, but darnit, I want more.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 2
From: Simpsonville SC
I have Stock LS6 Heads, Stock LS6 Intake, G5X4, LG Pro's Lt's, and B&B Bullets. I made 431 rwhp and 415 ftlbs. and still get 29.7 mpg on the highway and 20 ish around town. You can do that set up or a smaller cam to get a better driving ability. Love mine got the a decent amount of power and still great on gas. just my .02, good luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Wesley Chapel Florida
Those are great numbers, I am just looking for that "stock" look and I know if I get started, I can't stop, that's why I am trying to decide to stuff a cam in there along with the intake, or just do the intake and tune and wait for a rebuild. Thanks
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
A cam or heads without a good set of long tubes isn't going to do much. Your engine is an air pump how much it can expel limits what it can take in. So without addressing the exhaust properly, you'll simply choke any mods. Most good long tube setups will replace the exhaust all the way to the rear section.
And yes shorty headers are a waste.
And yes shorty headers are a waste.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,474
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
I know there are a million answers to this question, and I have read every available thread, but I would like some help.
I just spoke to Jeremy Formato to tune my car (99 FRC 90k miles, K&N cai, Magnaflow x-pipe and cat back), and he suggested to install an LS6 intake and ported TB along with the tune. This got me to thinking....
I DO NOT want to put headers on the car, and with the mileage, I don't plan on doing a rebuild either, so I want to stay mild, but get the most out of what is available. I don't want to change the heads, so I was wondering if throwing a cam in there along with the intake and tune would be a good idea? The obvious answer is yes, and then it comes to picking a cam that would work the best with stock heads and bottom end? Also, I don't want to affect the driveability or gas mileage of the car (as much as possible). I haven't asked Jeremy for his opinion yet (he is out tuning for the next two weeks), so I am asking if you guys think the money for the cam/intake/tb/tune will give me a good return with power, or if I should just leave it alone until I do a rebuild with a heads/cam/intake package? I know there are a lot of questions here, but any help would be appreciated.
I just spoke to Jeremy Formato to tune my car (99 FRC 90k miles, K&N cai, Magnaflow x-pipe and cat back), and he suggested to install an LS6 intake and ported TB along with the tune. This got me to thinking....
I DO NOT want to put headers on the car, and with the mileage, I don't plan on doing a rebuild either, so I want to stay mild, but get the most out of what is available. I don't want to change the heads, so I was wondering if throwing a cam in there along with the intake and tune would be a good idea? The obvious answer is yes, and then it comes to picking a cam that would work the best with stock heads and bottom end? Also, I don't want to affect the driveability or gas mileage of the car (as much as possible). I haven't asked Jeremy for his opinion yet (he is out tuning for the next two weeks), so I am asking if you guys think the money for the cam/intake/tb/tune will give me a good return with power, or if I should just leave it alone until I do a rebuild with a heads/cam/intake package? I know there are a lot of questions here, but any help would be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Ohio
If I could start from scratch I would go straight to FI. Thats the direction I am going now
. Anyways A set of LT's and the proper cam can go a long way. Lt's and a CAI can do alot for these motors. On a side note, a Clutch will be needed once you up the C5's HP past 350RWHP, which is not hard. I toasted my factory unit with only Lt's, Ls6 intake, Vararam and DR's. But I did manage a low 12 second pass before the clutch went south. I guess I am saying add the clutch price into any HP adding mods...
. Anyways A set of LT's and the proper cam can go a long way. Lt's and a CAI can do alot for these motors. On a side note, a Clutch will be needed once you up the C5's HP past 350RWHP, which is not hard. I toasted my factory unit with only Lt's, Ls6 intake, Vararam and DR's. But I did manage a low 12 second pass before the clutch went south. I guess I am saying add the clutch price into any HP adding mods...
Last edited by ROJO99; May 12, 2008 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Spelling...