Again looking for about 400rwhp. I want to spend 5-6 grand. The reason I was asking about the drive train limits is because I don't want this to spiral out of control to the point I have 10-12 grand in it after replacing the tranny and differential. Thanks for the reply.

Mike

 

yea, fair enough. ive souped up other cars where you found those limits, but this one has pretty high tolerances for pain

i still think adding gears would be the best bang:buck:happiness thing you could do. can still use high gear for your mileage/comfort trips, but grind 1-3 out and still accelerate harder than you would by merely adding horsepower/torque and having a 2.xx gearing.

but, that said, i can message you my build list for my 440rwhp, and all you'd really want to modify to make it more sane would be a ~224 cam instead of my 232 one. but if you're currently on factory 241 heads, you could just bolt on 243 heads and gears and it'd be ready for a lot more fun, be a lot more civil, etc, than adding a cam.

 

....what?



LS1's came with 241 heads (same as 8xx something). LS6 blocks, in non Z06 model C5's, also came with 241 heads.

Z06's came with 243 (same as 799) heads. that 50hp difference wasnt in the cam.. but that too was also different.

porting/polishing my 799 heads and a 228/232 585/575 cam puts down 430-440rwhp depending on dyno. the valves you're referring to are the sodium filled ones, so you're definitely comparing 243 to 241 heads.

 

when my 02z was on motor only it was making 420rwhp with stock 243's, a very similar cam to yours, longtubes, and intake... he should have 3.42 gears being a 6spd car so he can probably hold off on swapping those out

 

oh yea that is definitely with all associated bolt ons, intake, etc.

if he's at 3.42 (i forget my originally being auto left me @ 3.15.. could have been worse, i suppose with those 2.killme gears) i guess its time to start bolting stuff on

i'd just do the heads and an LS6 cam or something so piddly it'd pass emissions, considering the stated use for it. i swap my valve springs annually. it'd make a commute to the beach and mountains.. but then i'd be swapping them more often

 

Your build list would be very much appreciated. PM sent.

 

Thanks for setting me straight

 

 

If you keep the car off drag radials, and the wheels from hopping, it is amazing how much the cars can take. Yes a clutch upgrade is needed. Shocking the driveline will kill more parts than just power. A pfadt or Hoosier trans mount is nice. I would upgrade the output shaft in the diff.

I really like this setup:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...o-results.html

Relatively easy on the budget, broad powerband, and a cam whose lobes are gentle on the springs. EPS is known to make good power without being overly aggressive on ramp rates which kills spring. CamMotion cores use a harder material than most Comp cores. Some cam designers are not fond of the Comp XE-R lobe series believing that they close the valve a little more harshly than ideal.

A friend is likely pulling his larger cam in his cam only, and going this route AI 226 runner 243s, and an EPS 226/234. He also has a FAST 90/LS2 tb. I am recommending the Straub trunnion upgrade as well. We'll get started on his as soon as my shortblock swap is complete. We're building his for a reliable broad powerband, as it will see HPDE events, and he is on stock 3.42 gears. He also wants something more streetable than his large cam only.


I also posted up some thoughts on trunnion upgrade, pushrod selection and links to other how to topics in here:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...een-up-to.html

I would say read as much as you can, and talk to a few shops. EPS, Tick, Vengeance etc. Ls1tech is another good source. I do agree with your supporting parts list. I would go C5R chain, and a timing chain dampener but I will see HPDE time.

 

i sent him a lot of the same info

although i do think i wish i had gone with the double roller chain, these days. ive read up and its 99.9% useless because 99.9% of people dont road race their c5.. and i do :/ ah well. another lesson learned, like trunion upgrade over aftermarket rocker.

but i think the braces for a street car are a little overkill. i have a LOT of track/racing/unholy abuse miles on my car, and no braces, and its fine. not to say i wont add some this year, but for anybody over the age of ~24 with any sensibility, i dont think its an absolute must.

 

Agreed some say the Pfadt style mount can add road noise. I am installing one soon. I was mid 20s with my 1st heads and cam '00 C5 and drove it like a 24 yr old I will say make sure everything is torqued properly, and that the torque tube is in good condition, if the couplers start to go they can eat a clutch, even at stock power levels. I would upgrade to the '01-'04 torque tube, which is a direct swap, long before braces.

I lost a diff in the old car, the rear hopped and I believe a nut attaching the diff to trans was not torqued down properly, the one that goes on the stud on the passenger side. The diff case cracked as a result. I didn't do my own work on that install, and the shop missed a few other details as well. It turned 436rwhp/415rwtq was beat on quite hard on the next diff without braces without a problem.

I had a double on the 1st C5. It is still running 60k miles and ~10 year later, last I heard from the current owner. However, I have read some less favorable topics on double rollers since. The C5R is plenty strong and an ATI damper will add to the chain's life. I had an underdrive balancer on the old car, not sure of the brand now, possibly powerbond. My C5Z has an ATI, quality piece.

 

sounds like very similar builds.. pretty sure I went with PowerBond for the price on my build. and ive read some negatives about the double chain, too. thats why i went single, at the time. for the OP's intended use, I'd stay single, too.

as far as torquing, one of my only 2 SnapOn/MAC tools is a digital torque wrench ill build some things sloppy, but its a must for things that could murder me faster than i'd feel it.

and i didnt know that about the torque tube coupler. i guess ill stop dragging my feet on that "6 shooter" coupler

 

Thanks.

Mike

 

c5r chain here too... I am not a fan of double rollers, I would rather have one beefy link compared to 2 tiny links that look like they belong on a kids huffy... there is another good single link chain on the market that I would consider besides the c5r, https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-no-equal.html ... I also recommend straub trunnions over comp/btr, I just made a thread a few days ago showing what the comps look like after wearing prematurely if you haven't seen it, https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...of-pics-2.html

 

Good advice. Already planning on the Straub trunions.

thanks,

Mike