mchicia1

Looks like I am picking up my '99 FRC this week. It bone stock except for a vortex intake. My plan with the car is to create a fast sleeper...something quiet but capable of trapping 120+ in the 1/4.

My plan was to put AI ported 243s on, an ls6 intake, a UDP, and a 224-228ish under .600 lift cam...something mild with no lope. I want to keep the exhaust stock, at least for a while. Stock c5z's seem to run in the 116-117 range, so I don't think its unreasonable that my car should be well above that. Just wanted to to verify that my plan makes sense .

I realize I am leaving 25ish HP on the table with no headers, but I am ok with that.

slowtealz28

I dunno, will be tough without a blower. You're gonna be wasting a TON of power if you do H/C and keep stock manifolds. You will really be choking things without headers. Aftermarket cams with .580+ lift need to BREATHE.

mchicia1

Well an c5z is basically just an frc with 243s and a bigger cam and they run mid to high teens.

dankhts

I have a baby cam, smaller than you're looking at, with heads and full exhuast etc, running 11.50, at around 122 - 124 trap, you'll probably need full exhaust to get to 125....

0331MARINE

No, not really. The exhaust manifolds changed in 01. The 97-00 manifolds sucked. Z's have wider tires and their not run craps. I can keep going.....If you are running mid to high teens in a C5Z, you need to learn to drive.

mchicia1

What are you talking about? Mid to high teens is exactly what a stock c5z traps. I never mentioned anything about ET.

And I believe you are talking about the intake manifold sucking for the 97-00...if that is the case, I already know that...which is why I mentioned in my original post that I will be bolting on the ls6 manifold.

Ok wider tires...big f'ing deal. That will have absolutely zero effect on trap speed, which is what my original post was about. Plus, its not like I can't just put wider tires on...

The only substantial difference is the c5z does have the tighter gear ratios 1 through 3, which may contribute to its higher stock trap speed. However, with the power my car should be putting down after all is said and done, I may want the longer gears anyway.

mchicia1

The goal is simply 120 MPH...anything greater is gravy. If you are running that, then I shouldn't have a problem hitting 120 with the badass AI heads.

slowtealz28

Oh I thought you said 125 for some reason. Yeah 120 could be done with stock manifolds I immagine. The car will still be leaving a lot of power on the table. And whoever said wider tires make the car run faster/trap higher is crazy. You do not need these big wide tires. I laugh when I see guys running 345 drag radials on 19" rims and wondering why their times suck. It's all about sidewall. There are guys running low 9's on 255 series tires. Take a car and run it on 295/305/315 DR's on 18" rims. Then take the same car and run it on a 275 x 17" rim. I guarantee the car will run faster and more consistent on the 275. Again, it's all about sidewall.

0331MARINE

Settle down sunshine.... Ok, so the mid to high teens was my mistake. I'm so sorry. I DO mean the exhaust manifolds. They changed them in 01 to a better flowing exhaust manifold. You comment was very broad as Z VS FRC. The cam and the heads arent the only thing different motor wise. Good luck with your goal.

mchicia1

I agree, but the main power difference is definitely from the heads/cam, no arguing that.

The main reason behind me doing the cam and heads before the headers is I want to get new lifters and a new oil pump in the car ASAP. I have experienced oil pump failure on my last car which was a 2006 GTO. That wasn't very fun at all . Ended up taking out my cam,lifters, and the cam bearings. And as I understand it, the ls1 pumps are prone to failure. So right away I want to replace all the questionable parts about the LS1.

Also, headers for these cars are so expensive...I mean 1600 for the catted versions? HOLY HELL lol. Since I am doing the mods myself, a cam swap for me will be roughly half the price. The AI heads will run me roughly $1400 total...estimating 400 for a set of used 243s or 799s. I could just swap stock 243s on, but I want to set the car up for later when I do actually put LTs on it, so I figure I will splurge up front. Seen some sick numbers out of those AI heads.

mchicia1

So what size tires should I get? Stock size? I am not planning on changing the rims. I had good experience on the street in my 460 RWHP GTO with bfg kdw-2s.

slowtealz28

Are you asking about drag radials, or street tires?

0331MARINE

I've never seen much of a problem with the oil pumps. The main problem oil wise is the sending unit for the PSI gauge. I have a MS3 cam with full bolt on and I am still using the stock pump.

Pick up a set of XSPower headers. I have had mine for over 4 years. AI will be doing my head porting when I put my A&A kit on.

slowtealz28

You gonna run the MS3 with the blower?

ZZ06

Not sure if they are a vendor here but they have CheaTR cams that may be right up your ally since your gonna retain the stock manifolds. An example their 214/230 .601 .575 on a 117.

0331MARINE

mchicia1

Street tires . I will run on street tires at the track. Not a competitive racer or anything, I just go to have fun.

mcm95403

If you just want it to look stock (as far as exhaust goes), why not get a set of Z manifolds and the matching H-pipe? The Z manifolds won't bolt up to the early h-pipe wothout re-working it. I've already looked into this since I have a 99 and live in Cali. My B&B (smog legal) shortys will be going on in the next couple of weeks.

Mike98SilVert

BBK ceramic coated shorty headers will bolt right up and be an improvement to your '99 exhaust manifolds.

slowtealz28

Running a h/c car on street tires isn't smart or safe. You will not only be putting yourself in danger, but whoever is in the other lane as well. You will also be embarrassing yourself every time you make a pass. You will also be 10x more likely to break your rear/diff.