When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Looking to get a heads and cam package, no clue where to start. Will I need a tune immediately after for it? How much will the tune cost? Does anything need to be done to my engine to make the cam and heads compatible? So many questions..
Looking to get a heads and cam package, no clue where to start. Will I need a tune immediately after for it? How much will the tune cost? Does anything need to be done to my engine to make the cam and heads compatible? So many questions..
Unless you go with a cam so mild that it makes little difference in performance, you will need a tune. Chassis dyno tunes usually cost around $600. What goals do you have? Do you have an A4 trans, or the 6 speed? If staying with an LS1/LS6, AFR makes excellent cathedral port heads, and Cam Motion makes excellent cams. Don't limit yourself to "packages." Some good, intelligent mixing and matching can also go a long way....
When I did my head and cam plus supporting mods 7 years ago, I spent 7k on parts alone. Heads, cam, timing chain and gears, springs, gaskets, oil pump, balancer, headers, x-pipe, clutch, plugs, wires. All quality parts no Amazon junk, did the install myself. The tune was discounted because I bought the parts from the same place I had the tune. Tune was $400, with a bench tune so I could drive it to the shop and then a dyno tune. Just a heads up what your getting yourself into.
You'll get a various opine on who or what cam to use. I went low lift, used as many stock parts as possible to try and be easy on valve-train and get some longevity out of the package.
If your doing this yourself for the 1st time check out http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Towards the end of this post there is an Excell spread sheet with the PN's and cost. My rig: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Edit: My friend just lost a valve on his 468 Olds engine. Big solid roller cam. 6300 rpm chip in the rev limiter. This engine just did drag week last year. I'm new to the LS engines, but know that some things can go wrong rather quickly, like BANG! Quick
Valve failure 468 Olds engine $$$
Last edited by Prop Joe; Aug 28, 2023 at 11:40 PM.
Reason: formattingadded picture
Lots of questions. Here are the basics. What car are you starting with? Stick or auto? What mods do you have on it so far? What are your power goals? Street mostly, or track mostly? Is this your daily driver? Are you planning on doing the work yourself? Do you plan on a supercharger in the future?
You'll get a various opine on who or what cam to use. I went low lift, used as many stock parts as possible to try and be easy on valve-train and get some longevity out of the package.
If your doing this yourself for the 1st time check out http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Towards the end of this post there is an Excell spread sheet with the PN's and cost. My rig: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Edit: My friend just lost a valve on his 468 Olds engine. Big solid roller cam. 6300 rpm chip in the rev limiter. This engine just did drag week last year. I'm new to the LS engines, but know that some things can go wrong rather quickly, like BANG! Quick
Valve failure 468 Olds engine $$$
OUCH! But I would argue that the valve is not lost. It's right there, stuck in the piston! lol
I’m going to assume you’re going to have shop do the work. I would start with what shop and their labor rate etc. Something like a Brian Tooley cam package with a set of GM heads that have been CNC ported has a lot of bang for the buck. Texas Speed has some pricing on the heads etc.
Labor rates will be the big factor. Some shops have the Corvette tax some do not
Prop Joe did a great thread on his build. Well thought out purpose built. By that I mean he had a power range and operating conditions plan. Oh, and lo and behold, actually wound up with what he wanted! Imagine that.
First thing I recommend is firmly deciding on what you want to use the car for. Top end HP don’t mean **** it you’re just driving to work. Once you have a goal set, CALL THE CAM MANUFACTURERS…. Shoot straight with them and they can steer you in the right direction. I’m not talking about packages by sellers like Texas Speed, but the guys who design and manufacture them: Comp Cams, Brian Tooley, Cam Motion, Isky, etc.
Consider lower gears too, or first. Gears really wake these cars up and you don’t need a tune for a manual, but that’s a real kick in the pants fun upgrade. Oh, and it’s exempt from smog regulations!
When I did my head and cam plus supporting mods 7 years ago, I spent 7k on parts alone. Heads, cam, timing chain and gears, springs, gaskets, oil pump, balancer, headers, x-pipe, clutch, plugs, wires. All quality parts no Amazon junk, did the install myself. The tune was discounted because I bought the parts from the same place I had the tune. Tune was $400, with a bench tune so I could drive it to the shop and then a dyno tune. Just a heads up what your getting yourself into.
How much power did you get from that? I was going to try staying N/A but if it costs me all of that then i'll just buy a Twin Turbo kit or a supercharger kit or something.
Given your responses, I would forget about heads/cam and get a Supercharger. You will have far more power, top end and bottom end, be as streetable as you are now, stock Trans and torque converter friendly. For the amount of power you will gain, this will cost you the least amount of money.
Heads and cam package suggestions?
