I'm looking into the idea of doing a heads/cam package. I wanna get the most power and keep good drivability/gas mileage. Can you guys give me your opinion of the best heads/cam package and maybe a website to get pricing?
Also, if i chose to get it professionally installed, what kind of installation cost am I looking at? And what kind of power gains? I'm open to allllll suggestions, please help!

Chris

 

The best price per-gain on heads is going to be patriot performance. Their heads are hangin with the very expensive heads, and in some cases, making better numbers. As far as cams go, The thunder racing 220/220 and the 224/224 are proven performers. I would say get the Patriot Stage 2 5.3 truck heads and the thunder 224 cam on a 114 LSA. This would put you around 420-430 HP at the wheels, and you only spent about $1600 bucks.
www.thunderracing.com -cam
www.patriot-performance.com -heads

 

Thanks, i'm checking those out! Any other opinions?

 

I'll put another vote for the Patriot heads, I've had 3 sets of them. 5.3 stage I's, 5.3 stage II's, and now the new LS6 style stage II's. When I had the TR220 and the 5.3 stage II's my car sounded almost stock, but made 416rwhp and 392rwtq, the mileage was wonderful. Since I've upgraded to the TSP 231/237 and the LS6 style heads.. I'm making more power and the mileage hasn't really suffered at all. Now the IDLE is TOTALLY nasty and scares small children and some adults.. but that's what I like.

 

The more & more I read there's no reason why not to go with patriot. With a nice sized cam you can easily get right near what other heads are making. Plus even if patriot make 10rwhp less than other heads they cost in some cases almost $2k less so you can take that extra money & do more. But seeing some patriot heads with a nice sized cam & headers making 440rwhp is damn good in my book.

 

I decided to go with Patriot Performance heads and a CC-4 cam from LS1Speed.com.
How hard is this project going to be if I do it myself? I really want to do this myself, but don't want to screw anything up. Should I attempt to do this myself? And am I going to be bald when I'm done?

Thanks,
Chris

 

Wow I didnt realize what a good deal the patriot heads were. Yeah I vote for those. But a 224/224 CAM was the biggest one I saw on Thunder racings site. Better off with a bigger cam than that. Thats a baby cam. Im planning on a 232/240. Thats gonna idle real rough but will make incredibly wicked power.

 

Thunder racing's TR230 is a wicked *** cam, you can call them and ask them about it. It's a reverse split and makes really good power. I was going to go with that cam, but chose the TSP grind since it is a little more nitrous friendly. I really need to install that TNT kit now!!

 

So can I confidently do this myself?

 

black01_Z:

from TR website:
Thunder Racing Custom "Reverse Split" Camshaft - 230/224 .575/.563 111 LSA 2200-6800 RPM Power Band. Excellent mid-range & high RPM power. Automatic cars require computer tuning and it is recommend for optimum results on manual transmission cars . Due to the fast ramp rate of this camshaft, the use of 1.8 rockers is not recommended.

price: 429.99

and now for my questions

says not recommended for 1.8 rockers. what size are the stock rockers? (my guess is 1.8 )

also im thinking really considering this:

Thunder Racing LS1 Cam Swap Package Includes:
- Your Choice of Thunder Racing Custom Grind Camshaft (the one i listed above )
- Comp Cams 26918 Valve Springs
- Comp Cams 772 Titanium Retainers ($100 Additional)
- Thunder Racing Stock Length Pushrods (7.400)
- Cam Swap Gasket Kit (Specify Year of Car) (1999)

does that sound reasonable? also do u think ill be needing the Comp Cams 772 Titanium Retainers cause they're an addition $100 for a grand total of $799 for that package or $699 w/o the retainers which is better for me if its one of those sooner-or-later things then id go ahead and get them or if they are needed id go ahead and get em. im not to knowledgeable about the interior the block

/tek.

 

Stock are 1.7's.

 

So does anybody have advice whether to tackle this on my own or not?

 

Unless your a mechanic I wouldn't try a H/C install.You need headers before you go head & cam.Also with 400+rwhp your stock clutch will nlt last too long.

 

Thanks. I was planning on headers, and a stronger clutch after the heads/cam.

Any others?

 

Have a shop do it. Sure it may cost alot of money, but they are experiencecd in the field and have done this alot more times than you have so at least you know your installation came out right. Plus if something goes wrong and its because of the install its covered by the shop so you dont have to pay for very costly repairs if something goes wrong. Whether you can convince the shop that whatever went wrong was from the install is a different story. If you take it to some place where a bunch of a$$ sh*ts work like Speed Inc they wont care, but if you take it to a good and reputable shop it shouldnt be a problem.