I have budgetary constraints due to my wife,lol. As such I have to space out my rounds of mods. Ultimately, I will probably do them all.

I am considering two options.

1. Jet Hot Long Tubes and LS-6 intake.

2. Cam Swap with dyno tune.

I figure both should rund in the same price range with labor etc. The cam swap would actually probably be a few hundred less.

Based on the mods in my sig. below, what do you think would give me the bigger initial bump in power and performance?

 

Depending on the cam, I would say cam. I have the TR230 and got 45 RWHP out of it.

 

any cam is going to be choked without at least the headers first.

the ls6 intake would be a bonus but you could save that money towards the cam and get it earlier.

i say at least do headers

 

Teke,

I see you are in the Keys. I was just down in Isla Morada at mile marker 82. Spent to much time at Wood'ys watching Big Dick and the Extenders.

 

Definitely the headers. Without them, you won't see nearly the same gains with a cam. The headers just help the cam that much more. It's kind of like buying a pair of running shoes, but not buying the laces with them. It seems pretty cool, but you'll not get to really use them. Strange comparison, I know.....

 

why not just get some cheap pacesetters or flowtechs and a cam. you figure the cam is like 700 bucks which would cost for the headers and the ls6 would probably run you for the price of a pacesetter or flowtech!!problem solved...

 

does it really matter? sure you'll see less gains with a cam but you could say the same thing about headers.

your gonna get both eventually anyway.

i say cam first.

 

save money on the retune because you'll need to do it after both mods anyways. good choice of mods though

 

Headers and intake, then cam kit.

 

why are you even asking this?

headers. Its simple. 99 manifolds suck and will choke your engine. Get a set of MACs off ebay for ~500. That or get pacesetters for about 550. You MIGHT be able to find 01+ manifolds as they flow better than the older ones.

And a cam is more expensive than you think. Im an LT1 guy, so im not sure how much lift LS1 springs can handle, but you will most likely need new springs which will run you at least 200 for a good set and retainers.

If you get a decent size cam with a powerband over 6200, then you will need to upgrade your entire valvetrain with Comp-R lifters, chromoly pushrods, double roller rockers (stock roller base would prolly work if you wanted, but im not sure if it can handle the high lift #s that LS1 cams tend to like).

But either way, i would get comp-r lifters because with 1.7 or 1.8 rockers and anything over stock spring pressure, at high RPM the engine will collapse the lifters. Thats why LS1s eat up lifters.

 

Headers without a doubt, especially if your on a budget considering you can install headers yourself without much trouble and take the money y save on the install and buy the intake manifold. You wont regret it.

 

But what good are a pair of laces?! At least you can run (although not as fast) with shoes!

If you plan on doing both mods eventually anyways, then I'd say the camshaft will give you more initial SOTP gratification. It may not be "the best" mod to do first, but IMO, headers won't give you the same amount of power as the right cam will. Then once you install headers down the road, the cam will really start to work, and it will be a whole new car again.

My plan is to do both around the same time though.....BUT, if I were only going to do ONE or the other, headers don't have the same potential on their own IMO.

 

why dont you port and polish the heads you have rather than buy new ones?

 

I am in the exact situation you are right now (wife and all). I researched, spoke with some places, like MTI, and found the following. A cam kit will run you $800-1500 depending, as springs, retainers, retune, possibly pushrods, nstall tools, etc will be needed. This will yeild around 30hp for a cam ALONE on an engine with stock heads and exhaust manifolds. That # will go up a lot with headers.
The headers (LT's) add around 25hp and cost $1300 total for good ones with ceramic coating, cats, y-pipe, etc.

Essentialy, both cam or headers alone yeild similiar results. Headers are easier to install and don't require a retune. Later on you can add the cam and reaize a better gain (Like 50HP vs 25-30HP). So, my opinion is to do the headers first . This is the route I will personally be taking as well. I'm currently looking at either Kooks or SLP (and leaning towards SLP). I HIGHTLY recommend from prevous experience to stick with the same brand concerning headers/ y-pipe. I had massive fitment issues on my former 97 LT1 using different header/ y-pipe manufacturers. I'd also suggest keeping cats, as you WILL lose low end torque and gain engine noise by eliminating them. Overall HP may be up without cat converters....but it's not without cost. Also, definetly get ceramic coated headers. Worth the $$ in the long run. Just my $0.02

Hope this helps.

Schantin
2002 Camaro Z28 M6

 

Have you ever installed cats on a car that didn't have them before? Well I did, on my '81 Z28 with the 383. It had headers and true duals, but they started emissions testing cars when I had it, so I had to put cats on. WELL, the first time I got in the car and drove it with them on, I thought I was towing a Mack truck!!! I swear to God, I could feel the instant, immediate loss of power, and this was right off idle, all the way through the power band.

.....and you want to hear the irony? The car failed emissions worse WITH the catalytic converters! Go figure.

Since LS1's run so clean & efficiently, I would almost consider getting rid of the cats when doing a header install.