OK so I just bought a 2000 Z28 M6 with 56K miles and I know the rods and fuel pump (I guess) are the weak points. What all do I need to change before I can mod this car the way I want to ? Such as heads, cam, headers, bolt on stuff and things like that ? I guess what I'm asking is what did you guys with 98-00 cars with big power do to make it hold up besides going through the whole motor ? (not ready for that yet).

 

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Bolt-ons? Nothing. The rods and fuel pump are fine for tons of power.

99-00 were the years for the small injectors (26#), so you'll probably want to change them when you do a cam swap.

The rod bolts are kinda questionable pre-2001 as well.

Also, the oil pump should be changed when doing a cam swap on any year LS1.

Clutches are LS6 in 2001+.

Intake Manifolds are LS6 in 2001+

Oil pumps are LS6 in 2001+.

Heads are 241 in 2001+.

Basically, you won't need anything until you start digging into the motor.

 

So tell me this, if I want to go big cam, bolt-on's and kooks lt's with full exhaust along with gears do you think I'll be ok with 54K miles on the car. I understand the rear end can go but I'm just worried about the motor. I'm an old LT1 guy and always heard the horror stories about rods shooting through the oil pan and block. If I change (and will) the things mentioned above what do you think ? Kraest I really appreciate your input since I've been back and want to say thanks!

 

As long as you keep the rpms under 6200-6300 you can run as hard as you want to. if you want more revs then change the rod bolts.
I have a motor here out of a 98 that had heads cam and all of the bolt-ons that spun 2 rod bearings but that was caused by faulty installation pf the oil pump pickup tube o-ring. Everything else in the motor looks good. You can still see the crosshatching in the bores and there's no ring ridge. And here's the punch line, the motor has 150k moles on it.

 

Definitely.

My heads/cam C5 that put down 471rwhp had nearly 70k on it.

My cam-only LS1 Z28 I just sold had 165,000 on it and put down 415rwhp -- of course the motor had 75k on it.

I recommend the Futral Motorsports F-13 for that task.

 

Kraest

Any sound clips of your cars or anything with the Futral Motorsports F-13 and 14 cams ? I'm planning on making this car pretty radical since it's not my dd. Would you still suggest one of these cams ?

 

Yes and Yes. I have one of my Z28, but none of my Vettes.. I have to dig them up from somewhere.