I have been calling all over the state trying to find a shop other than Moore Performance that will do heads/cam install and tune on my LS1. Moore Performance in Charlotte (6 hours away) prices are over two grand for the install and tune. The rest of the shops I have called want $1600 just for the install and no tuning. You would think that this being the racing state that it is there would be alot more high performance shops around....

Anybody know of any shops in Eastern North Carolina that do quality work, have experience with LS1's and don't charge more than the price I paid for heads to install them?

With our workup schedule I just don't have the time nor the patience to do this install myself this time. Any help greatly appreciated! Nick

 

Jeff Creech (Milkman)
Carolina Auto Masters
113 S. Elizabeth St.
Durham, NC 27701
Ph. 919-680-3966

The prices you mentioned are about the going rate to my knowledge. Jeff isn't the cheapest around, but he'll do it right the first time (which is worth a lot to me) and he's one of the best PCM tuners anywhere. Oh yeah, he has a nice Dynojet in-ground dyno too to verify his tuning

Another shop in Charlotte is F-Body Motorsports. Their one technician, Rocky Varicola, is very good too. But their prices will be similar to Moore's probably.

 

Either Jeff at Carolina Auto Masters, or RPM (Ryan's Performance Machines) in Raleigh.
www.carolinaautomasters.com
www.ryansperformance.com

 

another vote for all the three that have been listed
although i am biased twords fbody motorsports
either them Carolina automasters
or RPM would be excellent choices you would not go wrong and i would suggest not to get it done at more

 

I got my cam package, headers, etc. installed at Warren Engines in Clinton, NC. He does a great job with the LT1, he has a couple f bodys that he drag races that are very nice cars. Im not sure about the LS1. Gotta be careful because you get what you pay for......much better to have it done right!

 

Rocky over at Fbody Motorsports in Charlotte is one of the best in the business. Ive seen him do countless LT1 and LS1 packages and never heard anything negative about him.
In fact he is performing the install of the H/C package in my sig come February 1st.
Im sure he can probably do the install for $1400 or less.

Later

Mike

 

Awesome, thanks for all the help. What really sucks is that LS1Tech.com (LS1 Speed) will do the install and tuning for $1200.00. When you say, that you get what you pay for I'm sure that it doesn't apply here or everyone else is just charging way too much. I know this is a quality shop based on customer service and customer testamonial. I am tempted to drive to Chicago...... What do you all think. Would it be worth it???

 

Just a thought, but phone calls are cheap compared to driving somewhere. Call the 3 places mentioned and ask them what they would charge I can give you phone numbers for C.A.M and Rocky if you need them, but not RPM (don't know it).

 

I just shot them all an email with a price request. LS1Tech responded 1st with 1200. Moore responded second with 1500 + 250 for a quick tune. Still waiting on the others. I am hoping CAM and others are more reasonable. I think I would pay as much as 1450 with tuning to avoid a drive to Chicago.

 

Just got one from Jeff Creech at CAM. He said he would do it for $1600 with tuning and free updates that don't require dyno tuning.... He said he would do the work in the evening after the shop closed. He said that he tunes for RPM also...??? He also recommended RPM....... Still more than I want to pay.

 

I swear by Rocky Varicola.
www.fbodymotorsports.com



When you call dont even ask any questions from the guys in the front. Ask to speak with Rocky and tell him Mike Martin and Thomas Hawkins is sending you to get his advice and price on an install. Tell him you dont want anyone else to touch the car but him and he will treat you right.
Just Ask Raptor , he knows the quality of work Rocky does.

Rocky built the 383 stroker motor thats in my bud Thomas' green 93 TA and it run 10.80s at Darlington back in November.
Keep in mind that this is car has leather, air conditioning, and is very streetable. Thomas even goes as far to tell me that it passes emissions with no problem...hhhmmmm I dont know about that , but I do know that Rocky takes care of his cars and wont steer you wrong.

 

I just talked to Ryan at RPM. He is telling me that it will cost $525 for the install. WTF? That is way too cheap. Something tells me that it's not all it's cracked up to be. Anyone here actually have them work on your car?

Mikie,

I am calling them right now.

 

Cool ,
I dont know if Rock is still there , but if not give him a yell tomorrow.


Let us know.

Mike

 

Yeah, you can throw my name in there too if you want (in my sig), or just mention "Raptor" with the dark green Trans Am GT - he'll know who you're talking about.

I gave more of a plug to C.A.M. because you didn't sound like you wanted to drive all the way to Charlotte and I trust Jeff Creech like I do Rocky. But then you mentioned Chicago....

Rocky did my heads/cam/headers back in late '97. He asked me how fast I wanted to go. I told him high 12's without putting the car on a diet (check my race weight) or any suspension mods with just a pair of DR's. He put in a small Crane cam (smaller than the LT4 hot cam), CNC heads and 1 5/8" JBA shorty headers and promised me it would run 12.6 in good air. To be honest, I didn't really believe him. And for a while it didn't come close - low 13's. I was dissapointed to say the least because I wasn't even in the 12's. Rocky stepped up without me even asking him to troubleshoot the car. A new Opti, a new coil wire and 62* air in November and it was running 12.4's all day Rocky was at Rockingham Dragway that day and told me the car had a 12.3 in it. I told him I didn't think so, but after Jeff Creech tuned it, it ran a 12.38 at Darlington and it was missing a little in 2nd and 3rd gear (I think the coil is going bad)! Yeah, Rocky can do it right

One more thing: There's something to be said for having someone local do the work. If there is a problem you're within easy driving distance. If you have someone far away do it and you have a problem the only way you'll get any satisfaction is to take it back to them.

 

Yet another vote for RPM and/or CAM....
I can vouch for RPM's work personally, and I know Jeff very well @ CAM-he's a damn good tuner on LS1's!!