Cheapy heads/cam suggestions
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 3
From: Arlington TX
Cheapy heads/cam suggestions
I've had my C5 now for going on 6 years. It's pretty much sat in my garage most of that time. I've built the drivetrain (lingenfelter cryo half shafts, DTE brace, diff HD clutch pack, Exedy twin disc clutch) and added your usual bolt ons (longtubes, 3" x-pipe, borla stinger) but I've never really done anything to the motor itself. Now that LS1's are getting old and boring to most, how are the deals on a heads/cam set? I'm not opposed to picking up a used set either if someone is upgrading. What exactly would I be looking at nowadays as far as price? I'd be happy with 450-500rwhp. Also, what kind of power increases could one expect with a cam only? I use to know the numbers when I first purchased the car, but my memory has faded. I've been doing some searching on the board for the past hour, but I couldn't find any recent information.
Last edited by 5.0_CJ; Jan 29, 2011 at 01:57 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I have what some might consider an older setup and small cam, but I can tell you that the car just screws from any RPM. There is no "on cam" with the setup. I tried to stay small to keep my street manners and power and used a good compression bump to also help with low RPM. The tendency seems to be huge cams these days, but think it detracts from the Corvette as being a sports car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
See post #2, i would send your heads or buy outright from totalengineairflow.com like Ls6 stage 1 or stage 1.5 (no bigger valves and dual valve springs), and Pat G custom 224/230 Cam on 114 LSA or LG G5x1E Cam which is small enbough to tune easy, drive easy and still coming up great power at all rpm.
Leave stock balancer, T chain (if its low mileage), oil pump ...all these stock.
But buy the complete H/C package gasket kit though. Do your own work and save.
I just did H/C package and vettenut has helped me a lot. Thanks bob.
Leave stock balancer, T chain (if its low mileage), oil pump ...all these stock.
But buy the complete H/C package gasket kit though. Do your own work and save.
I just did H/C package and vettenut has helped me a lot. Thanks bob.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: Celina TX
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,749
Likes: 4
From: Valencia Ca
Plenty of good head/cam combinations are available on a budget that will meet your RWHP goals.
Here is what Id recommend from us...
Our CNC heads, ready to bolt on, using factory castings will typically run $1395 -$1795 depending on valve and valve spring selection.
Cams are $415 -
The FAST 102 is absolutely the manifold to use - port matched from us they are $975
Those are the big parts but as long as you have this apart I suggest adding:
1) Cloyes timing chain and gear set
2) Melling oil pump
3) LS7 roller lifters
4) 7.400 x.120 wall pushrods
Here is what Id recommend from us...
Our CNC heads, ready to bolt on, using factory castings will typically run $1395 -$1795 depending on valve and valve spring selection.
Cams are $415 -
The FAST 102 is absolutely the manifold to use - port matched from us they are $975
Those are the big parts but as long as you have this apart I suggest adding:
1) Cloyes timing chain and gear set
2) Melling oil pump
3) LS7 roller lifters
4) 7.400 x.120 wall pushrods
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 3
From: Arlington TX
great suggestions guys, I really appreciate it. My car has ~63k on the ticker. I considered replacing the timing chain, but honestly I might play it by ear and see if there is any slack in the chain. I would like to keep my car relatively nice mannered, but I hardly drive it, so something aggressive wouldn't be too worrisome.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
This place seems to have good prices.
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/
When I did my cam swap I bought a MS3 kit from them. I did the Comp double roller chain and all the other stuff. It cost me less than $800 to do the cam swap. Doing the work yourself is the key.
Last edited by 0331MARINE; Jan 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
You have quite a few options. If you can find a used set of AFR 205 for a decent deal it would be a good way to go as well as the other suggestions mentioned already.
As vettenuts said don't go to big on the cam or hogging out the heads and you will maintain good low end and mid range "grunt"
You should set a budget to begin with though or you will end up spending more than what you want. The budget will dictate the head choice.....
Example: TFS/AFR 215's, YT ultra lite rockers, cam, timing chain, oil pump, pushrods, front cover seal/gasket, oil, coolant.... around $3693.... (We can spend more on heads as well, this is what most people do)
OR around $1993 going with OEM ported heads
450-500 is going to be semi aggressive so it really should be matched up well or you could have a combo your not happy with. Step one is set the budget.
As vettenuts said don't go to big on the cam or hogging out the heads and you will maintain good low end and mid range "grunt"
You should set a budget to begin with though or you will end up spending more than what you want. The budget will dictate the head choice.....
Example: TFS/AFR 215's, YT ultra lite rockers, cam, timing chain, oil pump, pushrods, front cover seal/gasket, oil, coolant.... around $3693.... (We can spend more on heads as well, this is what most people do)
OR around $1993 going with OEM ported heads
450-500 is going to be semi aggressive so it really should be matched up well or you could have a combo your not happy with. Step one is set the budget.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I you're staying NA, theres a big $$$ difference between 450, and 500 RWHP. There's also a big difference in drivability, and reliability. That extra 50 RWHP demands a disproportionally large investment in all of the above. You don't want to cut some corners, if reliability is at least as important as budget.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
You're setting a very tough goal on the cheap. 450rwhp with stock cubes is a tough number to hit unless you don't care about cam behavior. At a minimum you'd need an LS6 intake manifold and ported TB, a 90mm + setup would be even better. A big cam like a MS3 or 4 or a G5X3. And some ported 243 (LS6) heads would probably get you around 450 rwhp. The throttle response and low end wouldn't be the best b/c your making a lot of compromises to hit a peak number on a cheap budget. More expensive AFR or Trickflow heads would be much better combined with a smaller cam around 228-230 duration range to get that number and have better manners, and low end punch.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 397
Likes: 13
From: Pittston PA
I think about this often, but I have trouble finding the extra $$$, there always seems to be someplace to allocate the funds.
I was considering a set of 243 heads, LS6 intake and a cam upgrade, along with a set of headers. I think about scrounging parts here and there (I see a set of 243 posted now at a really good price) and when I have them all, having everything done at once. Not many tuners or shops close by that are interested in modifying cars, I have inquired at some and the answer is "what for" so finding a shop that has experiance, and enthusiam is a must, finding the $$ is the other item!!!
I was considering a set of 243 heads, LS6 intake and a cam upgrade, along with a set of headers. I think about scrounging parts here and there (I see a set of 243 posted now at a really good price) and when I have them all, having everything done at once. Not many tuners or shops close by that are interested in modifying cars, I have inquired at some and the answer is "what for" so finding a shop that has experiance, and enthusiam is a must, finding the $$ is the other item!!!