3000 to spend on hp What should i get?
02-04-2010, 12:00 PM
#21
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I'd focus on the headers and your air intake. Bigger TB and Intake Manifold.Perhaps a FAST 92. Maximize your air intake/output first..LS1's are always begging for more air. The more the better. Go with longtube headers..Melrose or LG's. Not sure what kind of "intake" you have now but it's best if its pulling "true" cold air from outside. All these things should be within your budget.
H/C and GOOD headers are the way to go LG Streets great for the $
02-04-2010, 05:37 PM
#22
Race Director
Headers are a given., have to do those if you are going to do more in the future, that is the logical part.
After that I would do gears, if you have a 6speed, 390 or 410's.
If not the above, I would just save up more, and do as the rest have said, get a supercharger. Best power bang for buck.
Heads/cam is ok, but you'll get more power from a blower, and stock drivability.. vs. going with big cam and heads you start to sacrifice drivability, even with the best of tunes.
After that I would do gears, if you have a 6speed, 390 or 410's.
If not the above, I would just save up more, and do as the rest have said, get a supercharger. Best power bang for buck.
Heads/cam is ok, but you'll get more power from a blower, and stock drivability.. vs. going with big cam and heads you start to sacrifice drivability, even with the best of tunes.
02-04-2010, 08:49 PM
#23
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15, '19
I question the logic of paying for a cam install if you're going to run the stock heads. You won't get all the results from the cam you want. If it were me, I'd do the long tubes (install them yourself, its easy and you can use the money elsewhere), gears and a good dyno tune. Then take the left over money and put it into the suspension to make the car handle crisper.
02-04-2010, 09:00 PM
#24
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '06
I question the logic of paying for a cam install if you're going to run the stock heads. You won't get all the results from the cam you want. If it were me, I'd do the long tubes (install them yourself, its easy and you can use the money elsewhere), gears and a good dyno tune. Then take the left over money and put it into the suspension to make the car handle crisper.
It's a process, one thing at a time. Just make sure you know what end result you're after. That's the most important point, where you want to be in the end....
Definitely headers first as most would agree. If you have enough $$$ left, go for the cam. Gears may be dependant on what HP level you're after. But, nothing wrong with gears before cam if the end result is compatible.
Good luck,
Nick
02-04-2010, 09:08 PM
#26
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15, '19
So how much do you gain with head,and they cost what about $2500-3000?
Last edited by mojo1; 02-04-2010 at 09:14 PM.
02-04-2010, 09:29 PM
#28
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
02-04-2010, 10:13 PM
#29
Drifting
I guess gaining 30-40 hp from a cam is'nt worth doing till you have heads. The people saying its not worth doing a cam till you do heads are wrong. Yes you will see better gains if you do heads at the same time but a cam only will have very nice gains.
My personal order was intake, catback, headers, cam. Heads were next but I broke the timing chain on my LS6. 80k miles and lots of racing. I never upgraded it and probably should have when I did the cam. Gave me a reason to build a 408 though.
My personal order was intake, catback, headers, cam. Heads were next but I broke the timing chain on my LS6. 80k miles and lots of racing. I never upgraded it and probably should have when I did the cam. Gave me a reason to build a 408 though.
02-04-2010, 11:58 PM
#30
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St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
Without a doubt...gears will give you the biggest bang for the buck..especially if you have something tall like 2.73s right now..even a 3.15 to a 4.10 will make an incredible difference...Go to a 4.10 and you'll think youre driving a COMPLETELY different car 
...and that's even without cam, headers, tune..etc..Plus, you wont risk damaging your engine like you will with nitrous or a supercharger..
...and that's even without cam, headers, tune..etc..Plus, you wont risk damaging your engine like you will with nitrous or a supercharger..
02-05-2010, 09:56 AM
#31
Race Director
I re-read the OP, and for 3000, you are pushing it trying to get even headers and just cam package,, even without heads.
Headers will run you about 1400-1600 that's without labor. If you throw a cam on top, thats another 400, just the cam itself without labor. Then add rods, springs etc.. and your talking a another few hundred depending on the package
Now you have about 1k left, and you still have to pay for the install and tune.
Headers will run you about 1400-1600 that's without labor. If you throw a cam on top, thats another 400, just the cam itself without labor. Then add rods, springs etc.. and your talking a another few hundred depending on the package
Now you have about 1k left, and you still have to pay for the install and tune.
02-05-2010, 10:09 AM
#32
I re-read the OP, and for 3000, you are pushing it trying to get even headers and just cam package,, even without heads.
Headers will run you about 1400-1600 that's without labor. If you throw a cam on top, thats another 400, just the cam itself without labor. Then add rods, springs etc.. and your talking a another few hundred depending on the package
Now you have about 1k left, and you still have to pay for the install and tune.
Headers will run you about 1400-1600 that's without labor. If you throw a cam on top, thats another 400, just the cam itself without labor. Then add rods, springs etc.. and your talking a another few hundred depending on the package
Now you have about 1k left, and you still have to pay for the install and tune.
get your budget up alittle bit and you will be able to do it right! 
THE FIRST TIME
02-05-2010, 10:27 AM
#33
Without a doubt...gears will give you the biggest bang for the buck..especially if you have something tall like 2.73s right now..even a 3.15 to a 4.10 will make an incredible difference...Go to a 4.10 and you'll think youre driving a COMPLETELY different car ...and that's even without cam, headers, tune..etc..Plus, you wont risk damaging your engine like you will with nitrous or a supercharger..
...and that's even without cam, headers, tune..etc..Plus, you wont risk damaging your engine like you will with nitrous or a supercharger..
02-05-2010, 10:37 AM
#35
Race Director
Gears will make a difference, however in a Z wtih the M12 Tranny, your 342 stock gear, 1st and 2nd gear is really like having a 390 Ratio due to the different gearing in the M12. I would leave it alone because if you ever start to add alot of power, you will have traction issues. Lots of gear is gonna require lots of Tire
02-05-2010, 11:02 AM
#36
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St. Jude Donor '11,'13
"I voluntarily took 60 days off from OT"
.....Keep in mind changing gears doesnt give you any more HP...it just allows you to use what HP you have to the fullest
02-05-2010, 11:13 AM
#37
Thanks for the quick replies...I'll leave it as is for now. Already doing a lot of stuff right now beyond what the wife gave me permission to do...I'll leave this one alone.
02-05-2010, 11:25 AM
#38
Burning Brakes
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It was a nice thought though. I want some LT's and a tune just reading this.
02-05-2010, 11:30 AM
#39
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I guess gaining 30-40 hp from a cam is'nt worth doing till you have heads. The people saying its not worth doing a cam till you do heads are wrong. Yes you will see better gains if you do heads at the same time but a cam only will have very nice gains.
My personal order was intake, catback, headers, cam. Heads were next but I broke the timing chain on my LS6. 80k miles and lots of racing. I never upgraded it and probably should have when I did the cam. Gave me a reason to build a 408 though.
My personal order was intake, catback, headers, cam. Heads were next but I broke the timing chain on my LS6. 80k miles and lots of racing. I never upgraded it and probably should have when I did the cam. Gave me a reason to build a 408 though.
02-05-2010, 11:55 AM
#40