So I figured I'd start my own personal build thread. For one, to keep record of my mods, dates, etc and two, for anyone looking to get ideas for similar modifications or simple interest in following.

The car is a 2010 Grand Sport M6 w/ 40k miles.

Today the car made a trip to James @ Shortuning to get a baseline dyno run. Car pulled 343RWHP (Dyno Dynamics) bone stock with no tune.

Over the winter car will be receiving multiple modifications at once, then will head back to James for final tuning.

Current list of mods going on over winter are:
- Halltech MF103
-B&B Fusion Axle Back
-ARH 1 7/8" LTs w/ 3" CATTED X
-ATI 10% UD Balancer w/ ARP Crank Bolt
- Elite Chain Drive Timing Set
-BTR Stage 4 N/A Cam, Springs, Pushrods, Ti Retainers
-CHE Trunion Upgrade
-ARP Head & Cam Bolts

Possible additions to go with list above:
- Aftermarket Heads
- Rod Mod Intake Porting

Plan is for the car to remain N/A for a couple years or so. And if all goes as planned, build the drivetrain up for a boosted application down the road. But this should be a fun car to play around with for now. Hoping by early Feb ish, reach around 450RWHP, or a little over 100RWHP with soon to be installed mods. I'll update periodically as the progress takes place in a couple months.

 

If you are replacing the head bolts you should probably upgrade the lifters while you are in that deep. Stock lifters will work for a while but don't really like the extra spring pressure or aggressive cam lobe profiles over the long term. I have a bunch of pretty glitter in my oil filter right now from a lifter failure, 50k miles after a LS3 cam upgrade using BTR springs. I replaced the springs after 35K miles as recommended. Some Johnson or Morel lifters would be some good insurance while you are in there. You will hear LS7 lifters are all you need. They will work, but your build would be more solid if you spent the B&B Exhaust money on some Johnson 2116 LSR Linkbar Lifters.

 

I am upgrading those as well. I knew I had forgot something. I didn't purchase the link bar lifters though, but the Johnson 2110 drop ins

 

Those will be fine.

 

Have you purchased cam already?

 

Did everything you have in your list except for U/D pulley, rocker upgrade, and lifters (off road X-Pipe). Made 491/444. I have had this setup for over 20k miles, I probably need to address the lifters soon..

 

You don't need a cam anywhere near that big for 450rwhp. I did 465 with just a 226/234 114+2 cam and bolt ons. Did 500 with a similar cam, Tx Speed heads, rod modded and ported intake, etc. Unless you like buck, surge, and crappy fuel eco, I'd go a little more conservative on the camshaft.

 

In hindsight i would have gone more conservative with the cam shaft. Its fun as **** but buck and surge is there even with a spot on tune.

 

Some can deal with that and some don't really want to. I liked my high overlap cam for a little while and it just got old. No wrong choice here. Just wanted to open the OP's eyes a little. With ported heads and a mild cam, you can make some really good power. Add in a bigger cam and you can make even more. Just choose your spot and jump in. The water's fine!

 

Nice build here definitely fun don’t think there will be much anxiety for boost ones done just a lil grain of salt here buck, surge, and crappy fuel eco is lack of diff gears a set of 4.10 in this GS will wake a dead drivetrain and your clutch will thank you and so will your zero to 60 at the bragging Wright’s day plus will make the car a joy to drive plus need not worry about cruise rpms with double overdrive.

With gears the falling can will be a great choice...
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-5768-t...-camshaft.aspx

 

I have purchased the cam already, although still not positive that's the route I'm going to go. Not due to the surging or any potential driveability issues. It doesn't bother me at to deal with that. But more so along the lines of PTV clearances. Of course they say everything will be fine but when you are at very thin margins, it doesn't take much for disaster to strike. .035 on the intake side and less than .070 on the exhaust side.

I know I see on here ppl hitting 480-500+ but I'd be willing to bet none of them would hit that margin on this dyno. It reads very low, which doesn't bother me personally. Most LS3, manual cars read between 375-390 baseline also on many dynos. The 450 goal was in reference to this one in particular.

I spoke with Tony Mamo the other night and could potentially go that route. Using his LS3 260X heads with a custom spec'd cam by him & Yella Terra rockers. That's a lot more coin that I was planning on though in this already tight budget. I'm still taking a few days to work out some numbers. I'm trying to accomplish a lot in very little time. We will see how it pans out.