Im sure several of you guys have similar mods. My car is a C5, but has an Ls3 from a Camaro.

Talking to different people at a few different performance shops, and everyone seems to have a different opinion. Ive heard this set up should make anywhere from 440hp ("no way 500hp")... to over 500hp at the wheels, through my t56 (3.42 diff). Just 93 octane, btw.

I realize there's a ton of factors to consider, and I reckon it also greatly depends on the person doing the tune, and how lean he takes it. Im in La. so we have elevation (or the lack of) on our side.

What I have is:
-227/239 .614,.624 115 +3 cam.
-comp 926 valvesprings (plus comp hardened pushrods and upgraded rocker trunions)
-ported stock 821 heads (port job looks very nice)
-fast 102mm IM
-Ls2 throttle body
-oem truck maf (85mm)
-powerbond 25% crank pulley
-stock fuel (other than just a racetronix pump, and fast rails....stock 42lb. injectors)
-Doug Rippie 1.75" long tubes
-x pipe and emptied cats
-b&b bullets

Does that sound like it should make 500rwhp, ...or is that way optimistic?

 

Combinations similar to that have made over 500rwhp through a manual trans, some even as high as 525.

 

If that's the case, would I not need a little bigger injectors, and a adjustable fpr?

Im using a filter/regulator (as one unit), with the return coming from it....like in the Camaro. And Ive got the stock 42lb injectors.

 

Any reason you are using an 85 mm MAF? At 500 rwhp, the stock LS2 90 mm MAF begins to hold back power so I would bet the 85 mm one you are using may be choking flow a bit. Have you put any thought into using an LS2 or LS3 MAF setup? The LS3 MAF would require a harness adapter and different tune, but you would ensure that the blade style one would not hold back any power for you.

Just a thought.

 

I put down 517 with just a cam and bolt-ons. Current mods and timeslips are in my sig.

 

I thought about trying a ls3 type maf. I'm using my stock '97 ecu, and I read that using a card style maf would work if set up right,...but it might not be as accurate, or at least harder to get the tune right. Supposedly the newer ecu's are alot more advanced.

I know with a good enough tuner. It shouldn't matter, but ALL the tuners I've takes to, talk a good game, but either way I want this thing to run right,..and I only want to pay for one tune.

With this size cam, one tuner said it's normal to have "bucking" under 1500rpm, like while putting through the neighborhood in second gear. But Vengeance Racing says that's not the case, if it's tuned right.

 

That cam has 3 degrees of overlap, right? With 3 degrees and 115 LSA, I wouldn't expect much bucking if any. My old cam had 4 degrees on a 114+2 LSA and I got little or none, only before the engine got warm

The LS3 MAF has a 12.5 kHz range where the LS2 and I'm guessing yours have a 5 kHz range. That means the LS3 one is more sensitive and the tune needs a multiplier to make it read right. Most tuners shouldn't have an issue with that, but make them commit to getting it right before choosing. That way you only pay once no matter how many issues you have.

 

This is what I did:

224/236 Camshaft
Kooks Headers
Kooks X-Pipe with Cats
Stock Heads
Stock Intake Manifold
Halltech MF107R
ATI Damper

The 08 Corvette put down 485 rwhp and 440 ft-lbs. I have a few more things to do to hit 500 rwhp.

 

Hmm, ....but will my '97 model ecu (or pcm) struggle at all, even if the ls3 maf is calibrated correctly to it?

Seemed to me that since the card style only meters a small fraction of the airflow coming in, compared to the older style with the in stream wires, the older style would be more sensitive or maybe more accurate. Maybe thats completely wrong,though.

I have ported heads, then a 102mm intake, an Ls2 90mm throttle body, then a stock (97 vette) 75mm maf,...so it really bottlenecks down.

I just ordered a brand new 85mm truck maf and pigtail, but if a card style maf in a 90mm housing would really give me a few extra horses, I just might do that before the tuning.


I really need to choose who's going to tune the car. There are two pretty well known shops here, and they're both supposed to be pretty good BUT one of them (one guy there at least) said that bucking is normal with the cam I have.

Vengeance Racing has a video on youtube of my exact cam in a new Camaro (6 speed), and he's putting around low rpm, and it's smooth as silk. I told that to one of the guys at one of these reputable shops, and he said "no way, I'd have to see that".

I bought this car with the engine and mods, already done. Only thing Ive changed/changing is the maf, fuel pump, fuel rails, exhaust (just cat back), and of course, the tune. I have the car down right now because of a broken valve spring and bent valve. I decided to change a couple small things while I was at it.

The car drove ok before, but you have to keep it above 1500 rpm at any speed, any gear. Its a bitch in my neighborhood,...and I cant shift to 6th until 75mph on the highway. At 70mph I have to stay in 5th.

The previous owner said it dyno'd 500whp and 468ft/lbs. Based on the way it feels and considering the guy was a complete dumb *** and lied about several things, I dont think it really makes that much power. It might not have ever even been put on a dyno at all. Feels like MAYBE, a 450whp car. It WILL light up my 335 Pilot sports at 50 in 2nd, but they dont feel very sticky at all (dr's coming soon).

 

I did 528rwhp with my heads cam ls3. Ditch that 85mm maf and go with a 100mm housing and a ls3 maf sensor.

 

Seems to me you only have one tuner choice, VR. They have video proof that they CAN tune it. Get a guarantee from them AND get a second opinion from them, in advance about the MAF.

JMHO, GL

 

Would that really make a difference with a 90mm throttle body?

I could see using that, if I had a 102mm TB. I really want the tuner to spend his time making the car run right, instead of spending alot of time getting a different MAF to work properly. But if it's really worth it, I might just do it.

A ls3 maf with a 90mm housing, or larger, will run me $200-250. If I do that, Ill need to change my air intake set up as well. So,....$450-550 to open it up another 5mm. Would that really make a good bit more power?

 

Only if they weren't 550 miles away, Id definately bring it there. I see where people from all over use Thunder Racing or Futral Motorsports. They're both 15 min or so, from me. Depends on who you ask, as to which one to use, though.

 

Well a 100mm maf leaves you room on the table if you decide to run a 102mm tb. But I agree if you plan on staying with a 90mm then it wouldnt matter.

 

Nafornow, I know your only thinking wow only 5 mm how could that make a power gAin. You also have to remember you are upgrading to a ls3 mass air flow that has a lot more air flow reading capabilities then your 85mm.

Sorry so sloppy im on a mobile phone

 

Do you have a link to your thread. I just did 502/445rw but on a unfamiliar dyno in a 2010 Camaro. Watched another Camaro cam only do 427/385rw so I am going to get it on my usual dyno and make some tweaks and see what we get. Just want to see if our combo's are similar. I was expecting numbers like yours.

 

To the OP..........you have one of the better cam/tuners in your own backyard..........

http://www.engpwrsys.com/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=42

And just for reference....he has spec'ed some of the fastest/most rwhp in the country.

FYI, Geoff Skinner is his name.....others call him the cam guru....ever heard of the T-rex...yep...he designed it.

I'm 100% sure he can answer all your questions with confidence.........



Thanks..............

 

Ya, I have an EPS cam in my car and I love it.

 

Me to....

1.68 per cube....91 oct tune.....

 

Damn, what math are you using? 1.68/cube works out to 632hp? I don't know of any head/cam setup making that much