Hello,
This is my first post here, but I read here quite frequently. Your LT1 tech is far more extensive than any of the impala forums. I love reading stories about you crazy *** camaro drivers stuffing 847's into stock headed/bottom end cars and winding them up past 7K! Most Impala guys think anything bigger than a hotcam is too big (cuz we're HEAVY) and not too many would dare to spin past 6500rpms. Anyway, I am asking you guys because many of you are big fans of XE grinds. I am currently having a set of iron heads ported by Lloyd Elliot with stock valves/backcut, milled to yield 10.5 compression (remember, iron here). These will be installed with the already installed 502 cam (218/224) 112 with 1.6 rockers (.528/.536), tri-y headers to 2.5 high flow cats to dual 2.5 hooker cat back with h-pipe. Built 4L-60E with 3000 Edge Racing stall out to 3.73s w/ Eaton posi.

1) What do you think she'll put down with a dyno tune here in Chicago by Brian Vorphal?

2)I've only found a few dyno graphs here on the 502, 2 at most. Tons on the 224/230 and 230/236 though! The one I remember was stock heads, 1.6s, and netted 343hp/343tq SAE, that was a nice pull (prolly M6 though, I don't remember for sure). What do you think the max hp/tq the 502 is capable of with decent ported heads and through an auto?

Thanks guys.

 

Honestly, I think you'll be selling yourself short on the 218/224. That cam is well matched for the flowing capability of the stock heads. With ported heads, you probably won't see too much of a huge gain. I'd bet probably around 350-360 max on both HP and TQ, SAE of course. I could be wrong though. Just my $.02

 

Yeah...I've contemplated stepping up to the 224/230. The thing is, I wouldn't go any higher than that, and I'd hate to have to pull the 502 out for 6 degrees, but I don't know...Do remember though these 4400 pound beasts love low end torque.

 

Quite true. While I don't have a graph of the 218/224, look here for my dyno chart of my ported head/224/230 car. Granted, they didn't tip it in until 2800, but it's still making a nice amount of torque lower than that. Add in some 3:73's or better and it's a good combo.

I will say that I'm actually a little curious as to how the 218/224 would react to a set of ported heads though.

 

I think 350-360 rwhp will be very attainable, and with the reasonably mild cam, your car should have great torque and driveability. Should be a quick Impy!

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I've also been contemplating trying out a "XE 305" by using the new 221 lobe from CM with the 230 lobe giving 221/230 112 .542/.544 (w/ 1.6). What do you guys think? I've been thinking about this for awhile now, I just hate to stuff it in there, it not perform well, and then be stuck with it.

 

Have you called combination motorsports? They helped me out a ton. I think you should go bigger. I have an XE 224/230 in my car but it is on a 114 LSA with stock heads. It idles great at 900 rpms. I am still on my stock 2.73 gears and the car does fine cruising at 1300 rpms (3.73s are going in soon). I think if I was going to do it again, I would go even bigger. I know the impala guys go a little smaller because the car is heavier and you don't want it too wild if you are going to haul the family around but I would say you should go with at least a 224/230 or bigger since you are going to have ported heads.

Dustin

Edit: That 221/230 sounds good but why the big split? It sounds like a blower grind or something. I don't know if it would have any benifits over a 224/230

 

Yeah I've talked to Combo plenty of times. Sam was the one who recommended the 502 to me originally. Im real happy with the 502, but I could definitely sacrifice some more driveability for more power since the 502 is quite tame. The reason for the large split is I was trying to mimick the 305's characteristics, a proven performer, with XE lobes. It was a just a thought. I think about the 224/230 almost everyday Is that bad? Again, I just keep coming back to whether or not it is worth it. I don't know the specs for the stock f-body cam off hand, but lets say its 203/210, no one here would recommend swapping out cams for a 209/216, it just wouldn't be worth it. Same dilemma here.

 

224/230 is very mild with ported heads. 218/224 is better suited for stock heads. Go bigger, low end torque wil be bacically the same with both IMO.

Brad

 

You ImpySS,

Hello fello Impy owner. I went with the XE 305 equivalent from CC(220/230 114ls), it was nice with the ported heads and the ATI, but it would not be enough without the SC. Go 224/236 at least.

Mav

 

Hey watch who you say that to! lol

 

Hehehe....see, I knew you guys would convince me to go bigger...Damn crazy *** camaro drivers

 

Those damn camaro drivers... Haha, GO BIGGER! I went fairly big from the beginning to avoid this problem. I would say get the 224/230 at least. If not, the 230/236. Both cams have had great results on track and dyno. And I believe quite strongly that with some Lloyd ported heads and a decent XE grind you will easily be at around 360 with the automatic.

My friend has a 96 impy and he is always telling me about the goings on of the imp forum. He tells me that the b-body lt1 cam is a bit different to give a little more low end torque. If that is true, I would stay with a cam that has good low end power and no questions asked get a torque converter with the cam. I would say cc305 if you don't want to rev past 6k and want good low end, but to sacrifice a teeny negligable bit of low end for beautiful top end with a bigger grind would be my choice, especially with a stalled auto - it would get off the line in a hurry and follow through all the way to redline =) But then again I'm a crazy trans am driver.

 

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...a&pagenumber=1

In that thread a dude has the 502 with ported heads and pulled 367.

Yes my car is a manual.

I'm not saying the 224 wouldn't make a lil more peak power, IMO the difference is not as large as most guys think.

-brent

 

367 out of that little cam on ported heads is pretty good. I only pulled 375 with my 224/230, but there's tuning to be had still.

The 218/224 is a great stock head cam.