Hi all -
I hope I'm not opening a big can of worms here... I've been doing a ton of research as a prep to crack open the Vette (08' Z) in early January (hopefully) to officially start my build. As it stands, I've narrowed down most of my build, but have read mixed messages and I'm hoping for some advice from those that have buiilt or been invlovled in a similar build.

I'm planning on the following:
A&A vortech SC Kit (planning on 8lbs of boost)
AHP ported head rebuild
American racing Longtube headers w/ cats
B&B Fusion Gen 3 exhaust
Cloyes Race Billet True Roller Timing Set
Texas speed ported oil pump
Meth injection

Here's the parts I'm not so sure on:
With headers, 1 7/8 -or- 2 inch?
Should I replace the intake manifold, or go ported oem manifold?
And probably the hardest question... what cam?

A little more background... I'm doing a full head rebuild but I'm not going to mill the heads. As for the cam, I'm thinking mild at best, I do not want to have to deal with surging or bucking; but I'd like to be able to pick up a little additional power here too. Currently the car is sitting at 44k all stock miles, and the heads have been cleared, but as stated I will be rebuilding the heads. All and all I'd like to get somewhere in the very high 600 range for WHP, or possibly low 700s.

Thanks ahead of time!

 

You dont need to port the intake manifold or heads to get 600-700rwhp in an ls7. The 1 7/8 headers are enough, but if you plan to up the power ever later on which I suspect will happen, then the 2" may be better.

For the cam I recommend you call Brian Tooley from BTR and tell him exactly what you would like to see from the cam. He will spec it for you and will deliver exactly that. There are others like Patrick Guerra or Martin Smallwood who are also great at spec'ing cams.

 

Yeah, this will possibly be the first stage of my build. I'm on the fence with swaping out to an iron block, upgrading to all forged internals, dropping the compression, upping the boost to 12-14 pounds, and giving her a 100 shot. Just don't even want to thinking about that build because of the other components I'd need to replace/upgrade to... fuel system, rear diff, etc...

So for now, I'll keep it a little more basic in hopes of being fully satisfied with the build! Which I'm 99% sure I will be...

Staying on track though:
I'm thinking since I'll have the heads out, it only makes sense to toss in the port though, it can't hurt right? As for the manifold, yeah I'm leaning more with you, just was a little on the fence.

 

No need to pull the heads to do a cam swap.

 

2"
Stock cam will hit those numbers just fine
Bone stock untouched intake manifold
Spend the money on fuel system and flex fuel.

Also, don't worry about boost. Just target a HP number. That could be 4psi or 10psi. 6psi, 8psi doesn't matter. The pistons/block don't care about boost, just cylinder pressure. I made 705rwhp on 5.8psi. 8psi would have been 760+.

 

I have what you're looking to build. It didn't take nearly as much work as you're planning.

TFS 260 heads (untouched)
Kooks 1 7/8" headers
A&A T-Trim with 4" pulley making ~8 psi
ID850s

No meth.. stock cam.. stock mufflers. Made ~640 rwhp through Kooks cats on 93 octane with very conservative timing (10*).

I've ordered meth but only for the added safety margin when I put a few more degrees of timing in it. I expect mid-to-high 600s as a result.

 

Exactly. It doesn't take much. Spend the money on all the other stuff on things that will make it drive better, be more reliable, and be safer.

Tires, Suspension, Fuel system, Flex Fuel, Methanol. Until those are addressed, I would not be touching cam or other stuff to add more power.

 

Tires are already upgraded, meth is already on the list. Like the approach Tech is taking I'm planning on the same. Meth injection will be primarily for added safety not for the additional power, just looking to avoid issues, same with the timing chain and oil pump. I'm in California, so 91 is my only option without having to hunt down gas stations 30+ miles from me, same goes for e85, nothing in my immediate area. As for the heads, I'd rather proceed on the side of safety, I've heard way to many horror stories about heads, even a local z06 that dropped at Valve at 49k miles.

I'm in the process of swapping out the seats, center console, door panels, steering wheel, shifter, and ebrake with the 2012 centennial upgrades. Than it's on to this project, so I have a little bit of time to finalize my list.

As for the headers... I'm still reading a mixed message. I'm thinking 2" at this point, with my planned build, does anyone think I'll run in to any foreseen issues by going 2 inch?

 

2" American racing headers no cats if you can get away with it
A@A V3 Ti
C5R chain
Upgraded oil pump good idea
Alky control meth kit, dual nozzles
Stock exhaust unless you like it loud and obnoxious
Stock intake no porting
Go through the heads for sure
http://www.speedinc.com/shop-by-vehi...m-228-242.html
This cam is Awesome! Great drivability, sounds beautiful and will easily put this combination in the 750+ rwhp range

 

Every single N/A build locally with 2" headers makes 10+hp with no loss of low end.

Stock mufflers. Spend money for the B&B on a mantic twin clutch. What drag radials do you have on it now? Upgraded tires don't mean **** if they are the wrong tires.

No need for dual nozzles on a stock ls7 block. Single nozzle is good for 800-850rwhp. Dual is absolutely not needed and a down side.

 

I suppose you have smog taken care of? Long tube headers, of any kind, won't pass. Meth won't either.

 

For tires I went with the Bridgestone Potenza RE11a on all four points. It's been an amazing tire so far. I don't have drag radials as of yet, but that will come when I pick up some weld wheels after the build. I'm more concerned with the build being a very street-able car vs. a track set-up. As for the exhaust, it's already ordered; but since I went to with the Fusion it's daul mode. I already have wild to mild installed, so it will help for those times when I don't want obnoxious.

Clutch will come after this build is complete and tuned. I was looking at a couple different options but hadn't got to the mantic twin clutch, I'll check it out later today.

Lemans... I'm loving the sound of that cam and the numbers look good. I'll do some more reading, see how it's holding up for others.

 

Get clutch before tuning, as it may not hold. You could sell or ditch the exhaust ASAP. It does nothing but make it a bit louder. I have a gen III fusion, and only added it at the 1200+ range. Even then it did nothing but make it louder. Stock exhaust with a blower/headers is already stupid loud.

 

I'm installing a v3ti as well
My car already has hci tb and headers w/orx
Made 583/550 on mustang Dyno
I'm starting @5lbs

Undecided on a clutch as of yet

 

I agree with Unreal, I have C6z B&B fusions on my C5Z, no cats, big blower cam, and they drone like crazy at 1200-1600rpm, even with the valves closed ,right at hiway cruise speeds, drives me nuts!!
Keep the stock exhaust

 

I appreciate the concern around the B&B's, but my mind is made here guys... I'm asking for advice on headers, intake manifold, and cam. Obviously I'm okay with the sound the exhaust is going to produce, if not I wouldn't have made the purchase.

 

Stock cam, stock intake manifold stock Tb. Headers can keep stock or do whatever. Arh is best.

 

Stock cam, where's the fun in that?