i hate these posts...but i'm just looking for some other opinions.

car is in the signature.

looking for mods that i could do myself that would be logical to try and get before getting the car street tuned.

i'd love to do heads....but i'd like to do them right...which means $2000-2500 for the heads alone (TFS or AFR, or maybe the terminators). on top of that i'd need injectors, gaskets, studs...which puts me WAY over budget. this is a street car...peak hp numbers are great...but i want to maintain low/mid range too.

i could go more budget on the heads, and gain less power...say 30hp. i could get a basic port job ons my stock heads, and mill them, could probably get out for under $1000. not sure that would get me the 30hp though. not to mention my low/mid range could suffer...

or

i've been throwing around the FAST 90/90....but i'm concerned it wouldn't really be worth the money. i'd probably try to touch up and port them myself. TSP offers the setup for about $1100....with a chance of finding it cheaper used.
the nice thing about that would be i could install it myself, with minimal "extra" things to purchase. and on top of that would be the $300+ i could get for my ls6 intake and ported TB.

i figure i could probably see 20hp out of a ported FAST on my setup (sound about right?)

and then when i have the $$ for the RIGHT heads...the rest of the engine will be ready.

not sure what other options i have as far as "next mod"....

electric wp for $550?


hmmmmm...decisions....INPUT anyone??

 

If I were you, I'd be saving for the big items. I don't see mention of a 12-bolt or 9-inch. Something like that plus sticky tires make for fun days at the track.

 

Don't see a TB in your list.

Loyd Ports LSx heads for a very reasonable price and the flow #s he quoted me were competitive with much higher priced heads.

Re'

 

Dana 60!

 

http://www.livernoismotorsports.com/...t.phtml?p=1350

Or perhaps the Stage 2 for just a touch more.

 

had the car for almost 5yrs.....have yet to take it to a track. closest track is over 3hrs drive.
in the same time i've had ONE street race...kindda....so i don't even street race. i just drive sprited.

so the rear is not a huge thing on my list....figure i'll crosss that bridge when the first bridge breaks. got the girdle for now. and happy with the gears due to gas prices.

ported TB is on the car.....

nitto DRs are on it now...they came on the rims

 

Supercharger. Save for it. You won't regret it. I just need to get a cam and up the boost....

 

With stock heads there is no way you will see 20+ hp at the rear wheels from a 90mm manifold. Your best bet is to get a set of ported LS6 heads, or perhaps something like the TSP stage 2.5 5.3 heads, have them milled a tad to up the compression for more torque, and go from there. Its not that hard to do on an LS1, and with gaskets and new bolts you should be able to do this in the $1300 - $1400 range, provided you do it yourself.

 

$1500 Dart 225cc heads or nitrous.

Mike

 

TURBO!

Honestly, some of those "budget" heads have had some impressive results. You could also get a good set of ported heads from places like MTI, GTP, Meaux etc. MTI is having a sell right now. Plus if you are patient you can find some great deals on used heads. I had to talk myself out of a set of MTI stage 2R heads for $1300.

 

boost and nitrous are out of the question...for 3 reasons

1 - had a hose clamp in the engine for a while...scarred the pistons. so the engine won't last long with either boost or n2o due to hot spots and detonation.

2 - price....its taken me a year to get enough money to consider a $1000-1500 head swap or intake....how long do you think it would take to afford a $6000 turbo or SC??

3 - for n2o....i don't go to the track, or street race...what am i gonna do, hit the juice leaving the office parking lot every day?





i've really considered some budget heads. i know TSP has some good ones, although the springs on them are not adaquate...but i think my 918s are still in good shape, so thats no big deal.

but the head swap for $1300-1400 seems hard to do to me. on top of the heads...
gaskets - $150
studs (everyone says well worth it over bolts) - $250
injectors (stockers will probably be maxed) - $250 or more...maybe used
pushrods (doubt what i have will work) - $150

so that's creeping up towards $1700+ depending on the exact head cost. then there is the tune on top of that.





how much would i be able to mill a set of the 5.3L heads before PTV is a concern? i know my cam isn't as big as most on the market when it comes to lift, so i would think i could get them down pretty good....between milling an the gasket that is.
59cc?


don't get me wrong, been here long enough to know speed takes money...

i like to work on the car myself....which is why the intake is tempting. and the small ticky-tacky stuff for the heads is what's killing me.

the intake would be $1100, and the resale of the ls6 would cover the tune...and i cold do it myself fairly easily.
even if it's not a huge gain...its tempting for the simplicity of it.

 

PRC 5.3's from TSP come with their dual springs and Ti retainers for $1100. Where do you get $150 for gaskets?! MLS gaskets should run you about $40. As far as studs go... yes, they're worth it if you like to play musical heads. If you plan on doing this as a 1 time deal, just get some new GM bolts. Injectors... look in the for sale section on here, LS1tech, and Corvette Forum. Stockers off of a 2000+ are 28 as opposed to 26. Not a big difference, but on a fairly mild setup you should be fine. As far as pushrods go, you can find new ones all day for $100, and used even cheaper. However, if you don't mill the heads you should be fine with what you have in there. You can also sell the ones you have in there, assuming they are hardened. You might even get a few bucks for your stock heads with the 918's on them. Quit being a ***** and doooo it!

 

I was joking about the turbo thing. I'm all for modding within your budget. I also like to buy used parts when it makes sense.


Why would you need to mill 5.3L heads? They come w/59cc chambers. Thats the perk of them Vs LS6 w/64cc. As Mike mentioned, PRC coms with their gold springs which are the same as Patriot golds. They'll be more than adequate. Or you could cut costs further and order a set w/out springs and reuse your 918's.

I can see where the FAST is tempting because of easiness of install, but you'll get more from a set of ported heads at this point.

 

I would recommend the Darts they work well for me, and they are cheap! :

If you do find yourself selling the LS6 intake lemme know

 

what do you guys think i'd get out of a set of the 59cc stage 1.5 5.3L heads?

i figure i'm at 400rwhp now...

seems like i've seen similarly modded and cammed cars only put down 430rwhp with even the 2.5 heads...and the torque is usually kindda low.

wouldlove to stick with the small runners of the terminators or darts (or afr for that matter) to keep my useable power up.

hmm...