2012 stock LS3 GS. Looking to wake it up. Chime in.
08-17-2018, 11:09 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
2012 stock LS3 GS. Looking to wake it up. Chime in.
Hello guys.
I have a few cars with high HP and nice sound. I bought my wife a 2012 GS back in the day and I’m looking to “make it fun”. She also has a 56 nomad with a GM crate LS3 525hp drivetrain.
My goals are:
- SOUND
- SOUND
- RELIABILITY
- HP/Torque.
Give me input in how to approach this.
-CAI (which one)
- headers (which one)
- cam (which one)
- tune (which one)
or any other thoughts.
thx for being polite with replies.
-
I have a few cars with high HP and nice sound. I bought my wife a 2012 GS back in the day and I’m looking to “make it fun”. She also has a 56 nomad with a GM crate LS3 525hp drivetrain.
My goals are:
- SOUND
- SOUND
- RELIABILITY
- HP/Torque.
Give me input in how to approach this.
-CAI (which one)
- headers (which one)
- cam (which one)
- tune (which one)
or any other thoughts.
thx for being polite with replies.
-
Last edited by Wooo; 08-17-2018 at 11:10 PM.
08-18-2018, 05:36 AM
#2
Burning Brakes
I'm about to have a bunch of go fast and loud parts available hopefully next week as I'm changing my build.
Camshaft do you want good stockish driveability with good and decent sound or do you want a badass sounding car that will lose the stockish driveability?
Cold air intake most say that the LS3 intake pretty good. What I did was a poor man's cold are intake used my stock air box got a AFE Dry Air Filter to go inside of it and got a intake shroud to go around it. I could feel the difference but I changed out during my build so if your interested in that then PM me
Headers is more of how much you want to spend. Do you need cats to pass emissions that's the big question? I would suggest to run the cats you won't lose much at all especially if your putting a cam in the car.
Would try to help more but gotta get ready for work.
Camshaft do you want good stockish driveability with good and decent sound or do you want a badass sounding car that will lose the stockish driveability?
Cold air intake most say that the LS3 intake pretty good. What I did was a poor man's cold are intake used my stock air box got a AFE Dry Air Filter to go inside of it and got a intake shroud to go around it. I could feel the difference but I changed out during my build so if your interested in that then PM me
Headers is more of how much you want to spend. Do you need cats to pass emissions that's the big question? I would suggest to run the cats you won't lose much at all especially if your putting a cam in the car.
Would try to help more but gotta get ready for work.
The following users liked this post:
SingleSupra (09-07-2018)
08-18-2018, 09:27 AM
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
If shes used to how smooth it runs she may not want a ratty cam
I hear what youre saying OP but dont choose a cam by youtube clips...theres not that much difference in power between something reasonable and one that drives like crap.
Did you try Mamo?
I hear what youre saying OP but dont choose a cam by youtube clips...theres not that much difference in power between something reasonable and one that drives like crap.
Did you try Mamo?
08-18-2018, 11:00 AM
#6
Pro
Thread Starter
thx. I certainly want drivability.
Im thinking small can, CAI and top notch exhaust setup is where I’m wanting to go. Just enough cam for a rumble.
08-18-2018, 12:18 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
The cam I had in the car has excellent driveability. It only had 4 degrees of overlap and drove like stock. I also have an idle clip of the setup and dyno video.
08-18-2018, 12:30 PM
#8
Pro
Thread Starter
Do you have an auto or 6-speed and did your car have the NPP exhaust? I went a different way on my build and I will I have everything your looking for when I get my car back next week minus headers and mid pipe. I will have the cam, pushrods, springs and axleback all with 2k miles.
The cam I had in the car has excellent driveability. It only had 4 degrees of overlap and drove like stock. I also have an idle clip of the setup and dyno video.
The cam I had in the car has excellent driveability. It only had 4 degrees of overlap and drove like stock. I also have an idle clip of the setup and dyno video.
Last edited by Wooo; 08-18-2018 at 12:31 PM.
08-18-2018, 01:07 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
08-22-2018, 09:46 AM
#10
Hello guys.
I have a few cars with high HP and nice sound. I bought my wife a 2012 GS back in the day and I’m looking to “make it fun”. She also has a 56 nomad with a GM crate LS3 525hp drivetrain.
My goals are:
- SOUND
- SOUND
- RELIABILITY
- HP/Torque.
Give me input in how to approach this.
-CAI (which one)
- headers (which one)
- cam (which one)
- tune (which one)
or any other thoughts.
thx for being polite with replies.
-
I have a few cars with high HP and nice sound. I bought my wife a 2012 GS back in the day and I’m looking to “make it fun”. She also has a 56 nomad with a GM crate LS3 525hp drivetrain.
My goals are:
- SOUND
- SOUND
- RELIABILITY
- HP/Torque.
Give me input in how to approach this.
-CAI (which one)
- headers (which one)
- cam (which one)
- tune (which one)
or any other thoughts.
thx for being polite with replies.
-
CAI - Halltech with Vette Air Scoop or Vararam;
Headers - ARH or Kooks 1 7/8”;
Cam - BTR Stage 2 with the necessary spring kit and 7.4” pushrods. (I’ve just finished installing one of these in my brother’s 2010 A6 Camaro and it idles beautifull with a nice slight chop, makes very good power and was very easy to tune. Best cam install I’ve ever done, period);
Tune - dyno tune is the quickest, safest way, but you have to find the right tuner. I’m not even going to try to tell you who that is.
Now, if you really want to wake that car up, get an FTI, Circle D or Yank 2800-3200 stall converter. You could go bigger, but for regular street driving, I would keep the stall under 3200.
And invest in some new rear tires - you’ll need ‘em.
Last edited by CI GS; 08-22-2018 at 09:46 AM.
08-31-2018, 05:41 PM
#11
Instructor
CAI -> halltech w/ vette air
Headers -> speed engineering (I've never really spent big $$$ on headers, as long as fitment and quality is ok)
Cam -> custom from brian tooley or pat guerra
Tune -> search ls1tech forums for reputable tuners near you, kkperformance seems to be the consensus
Headers -> speed engineering (I've never really spent big $$$ on headers, as long as fitment and quality is ok)
Cam -> custom from brian tooley or pat guerra
Tune -> search ls1tech forums for reputable tuners near you, kkperformance seems to be the consensus
09-01-2018, 01:04 PM
#12
I have a 2010 GS with an auto and NPP exhaust also. I do not want to add a cam to the car unless it idled like stock and I want to keep the factory mufflers. I wouldn't mind adding the american racing headers and an intake and tune and CAI but I'd like a touch more power without having to add a converter. I plan on driving this car across country and I do not want any drivability issues.
09-02-2018, 01:31 AM
#13
Safety Car
Cam, headers and ported intake will get you over 500rwhp. It'll sound great and still be reliable. You can also get a torque converter since youre an auto and really get the car into the cams power band.
09-04-2018, 07:54 PM
#15
Race Director
Have the torque management removed and the shifting tweaked. You will think you are driving a different car. If that's not enough I agree a 3200 stall will wake it up as well.
09-07-2018, 10:17 AM
#16
Former Vendor
We just got through building our Sales Managers 2012 Grand Sport. Here is a link to the build thread.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-455rwtq.html
The LS3 is a great platform to start with and there are many options to "wake" it up with more potential.
Feel free to check out our performance packages to get an idea of what combinations are out there.
https://vengeanceracing.net/packages-c6-2008-2013.html
We are happy to assist you in anyway. Call or email us with any questions. 678-513-7105 or Sales@vengeanceracing.net
regards,
David @ Vengeance
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-455rwtq.html
The LS3 is a great platform to start with and there are many options to "wake" it up with more potential.
Feel free to check out our performance packages to get an idea of what combinations are out there.
https://vengeanceracing.net/packages-c6-2008-2013.html
We are happy to assist you in anyway. Call or email us with any questions. 678-513-7105 or Sales@vengeanceracing.net
regards,
David @ Vengeance