Help on NA Build
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 97
Likes: 3
From: Chicago Illinois
Help on NA Build
my car is a stock '02 coupe with the 6 speed manual. It is a daily driven street car but I would like a bit more power out of it. I was thinking about a supercharger but at the end of the day I want reliability and since I plan on keeping this car for a long time and daily it I don't want any issues. So I was thinking of doing a cam swap and some heads.
I've read a lot about big cams vs small cams. I want something that will idle smooth and be smooth at low rpm cruising down the high way. I don't want to lose any low end torque and I don't care at all about sound. A lot of people want that choppy sound and although it sounds cool, I want useable power and like stock driving. Something with a nice broad power band. good low end but still a bit more hp up top. I'd also like to put some better flowing heads on the car while I'm at it.
Does anyone have any cam recommendations and heads? I don't care about a crazy high redline I know some bump it up to 7,000. I'm fine leaving it at 6.5k or even 6k for reliability.
Anyone having done a mild build regret it? Big loss of MPG? Bad manners on the street?
I was looking at the GM Hot Cam and the GM Chevy LSX-L92 Small Bore Cylinder Head. Figured sticking with GM shouldn't cause me any reliability problems however I'm not sure if there's better aftermarket options.
My list of importance in order is:
1) reliability
2) good manners on the street
3) USEABLE broad power band. Nothing super peaky
if anyone has anything else to recommend I change while it's torn apart let me know. I know a common upgrade is the LS2 oil pump and a new harmonic balancer?
I've read a lot about big cams vs small cams. I want something that will idle smooth and be smooth at low rpm cruising down the high way. I don't want to lose any low end torque and I don't care at all about sound. A lot of people want that choppy sound and although it sounds cool, I want useable power and like stock driving. Something with a nice broad power band. good low end but still a bit more hp up top. I'd also like to put some better flowing heads on the car while I'm at it.
Does anyone have any cam recommendations and heads? I don't care about a crazy high redline I know some bump it up to 7,000. I'm fine leaving it at 6.5k or even 6k for reliability.
Anyone having done a mild build regret it? Big loss of MPG? Bad manners on the street?
I was looking at the GM Hot Cam and the GM Chevy LSX-L92 Small Bore Cylinder Head. Figured sticking with GM shouldn't cause me any reliability problems however I'm not sure if there's better aftermarket options.
My list of importance in order is:
1) reliability
2) good manners on the street
3) USEABLE broad power band. Nothing super peaky
if anyone has anything else to recommend I change while it's torn apart let me know. I know a common upgrade is the LS2 oil pump and a new harmonic balancer?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 888
Likes: 753
From: SW Desert
You're probably going to get a lot of advice on this one. I'll throw out my thoughts real quick and then the more experienced folks can chime in. For what you're looking for I'd say copy the LS6 specs for the cam, I do believe there are some desireable factory heads (243?), go with a good set of headers, free flowing exhaust and 3.42 gears. Find a tuner with a good reputation and this should give you a good spirited vehicle without too many high-maintenance headaches.
