Good morning all, My son and I are about to upgrade our 1999 C-5 and we are newbies and get a lot of information here. So here goes a quick question. We already installed a CAI, Long Tube Headers, high flow cats and Dynoed the car at 331hp. Car is an automatic and its a father son (he is military when he is home) project and a Sunday driver for my wife and I. I want performance and drivability. We plan on installing the below and do not know what size cam we should install:

Custom cam per application
Pac 1518 springs Pac 1518 valve spring
Comp 1518 retainers Comp Cams beehive retainers
Comp 1518 seats Comp cams beehive seats
Comp valve seals Comp 511-16 valve seals
Comp 611-16 locks Comp Cams 611-16 valve locks
Pro gear timing set LS1 Pro Gear timing set
pushrods custom pushrods
LS6 intake LS6 intake manifold
Yank Converter Yank Converter

I am getting this from a local shop that I have trusted and all but just dont know where I should be for cam size. With this setup I am being told around 380 hp? Any help would be much appreciated and excuse my ignorance as I am trying. We are thinking a 228 cam but we do not know. Thank you for any advice you may provide, M

 

you dont really need the comp cam locks, retainers, etc. those springs will work just fine with the oem locks and retainers. the TSP 228R is a very popular daily driver cam capable of 400+rwhp.
you dont need that timing set either, a 40 dollar LS2 timing chain is more than sufficient with the gears that are already there. You dont need the fancy valve seals either. nothing better than the GM ones.

 

Thank you, as I said I am a total beginner and know no better. So from what I had read and what you have said, the 228 cam is a good all around choice for a daily driver. We are not doing the heads and all this time so I am surprised you said we can pull 400 hp as I didnt even think we would get 390. Thank you for your help and knowledge and saving me a few dollars as the wife would appreciate that the most! M

 

there are a few threads here and on LS1tech.com about people getting over 400rwhp with the TSP 228R and supporting mods like long tubes and tune and still have a well mannered street driver. with an auto it may be more like 380 without heads but still doable. in fact TSP has a cam kit that will provide everything needed to do the cam swap. look into swapping out the LS1 intake for an 01 or higher LS6 one. that is good for 10 or more HP as well.

 

Yes I was going to do the LS-6 intake for sure as we already had one.

 

There is a Great builder / tuner down in Vanceboro NC.

 

That is the gentlemen that is doing our car for us. He has been highly recommended and we have talked a few times. We are taking it to him tomorrow so thanks for the vote of confidence in this guy.

 

You got it.

He will do you right.

 

I should have asked this earlier but I have to assume I am right with a stale around 3200?

 

What gears are you running? If you plan on going to the track often go with the SS3600. If you will only be going once in a while go with the SS3200.

 

Personally, my opinion, I would use the Comp machined locks rather than the cast stock locks. They are stronger and not that expensive relatively speaking.

 

I only plan on running at the track very occasionally just to see what I can get from it. So the 3200 will sufice. I was toldf maybe low 12's in the quarter, so I am hoping! I was not sure but reading up on it I thought so. Thanks for the input there as it is much appreciated. As far as the locks too I understand what you are saying about price and I understand keeping the stock gm parts. Just want to meake sure I dont short cut where I shouldnt. Thanks all for the great advice as you all dont know how much I appreciate it. I will go with the 228 as you all suggested to as I want drivability and performance. If yall ever in Eastern NC look me up and I will buy you a burger!

 

I don't know what gears you have right now(2.73, 3.15?).....but one of the easiest performance upgrades on a C5 auto is to replace the rear diff with a Z06 unit with 3.42 gears......its quick, maintains current drivability, and you can really feel the "torque" difference.

 

If you don't know what gears you have. Put your car in 3rd gear and drive at 75 mph. If your tach reads 2730 rpm you have 2.73 gears. If it reads 3150 Rpm you have 3.15 gears.

 

I was told by my wifes uncle to throw those larger gears in there because he said its way quicker in the quarter but hurts the top end. I will ask tomorrow about this. The rear end is stock so I do not know what gears I have in there. But I will check tomorrow!

 

Sounds like you're on the right track with everything

Get some traction and sneak into the 11's
by the time your done.

 

Thanks ctusser, mitchell c, speedmon, vettenuts, baxsom, and au n egl, as I do value your opinions and need it. I will see what some gears cost and maybe they go in at the same time?
That would be awesome to sneak into the 11's. Next year my son is maybe getting transfered back to NC and our last update will be the heads and all that go with that. Thanks fellows!

 

The stock cylinder heads will be the limiting factor. The best I could get out of my 99 was 358 hp with a 232 - 236 114+2 cam, 2800 stall and 3.24 gears. When I switched to a set of TEA CNCd heads I gained about another 30hp.

Look for an engine "Top End Kit" from one of the supporting vendors. Vengeance has a kit with Trick Flow 220s for under $3k with everything you need.

https://www.vengeancerd.com/ecart/pr...-%26-Cam-Combo

 

Thats a cool formula....

Also C5s have a sticker on the back of the diff that tells you the gears inside......if someone hasn't pulled it off.


How many miles on your 99?

I wasn't trying to load you up with more mods. I was just trying to give you a "bang for the buck" upgrade as an alternative. Z06 diffs can be purchased as a unit for around $500.00.....Install should be around $400? or so....so for $900 your car will feel like its got 80lbs more torque. So instead of 180 top it'll have 160......personally I like 0 to 100mph....I rarely go over 130.

If your 99 has more than 50K miles, I would be concerned with the stressing out the existing lifters...which become the weak point of higher lift cam upgrade on an medium mileage motor.

Have fun......

 

Thanks DBS 99 for the info. I am hoping for 380hp with this. I was at 331 before and with the new intake and the cam and all, I hope not only 27 more hp than current? Obviously you been there and I have not so you would know better. We will see as we start tomorrow and then tuned and dynoed so I will keep my fingers crossed.

I think next year we will do the heads and maybe the gears and if I am not divorced, then I will enjoy it as is.