I did a cam only car....
used cc503
set of k-750 springs
timing chain from napa
gaskets from napa......

under $300 and it runs 12.40's

plenty of people have done this stuff for years and years.....do your homework

 

from the man himself... so i guess it wasn't 100+ passes to get a 12.0 pass..

 

I have had a few friends with cam only cars....they ran well, one had a small, nitrous grind and ran 12.3's@111, but, he wanted more and put a Vortech the car and on 5 lbs. ran 11.3's@123 on a slow, uphill track.

Another ran 12.6's@111, pulled it apart and put AI heads, nice cam, automatic and went 11.50's@119.

They wasted time and money by not getting the right stuff to start with.

 

I ran my car with that cam only setup for 3 years because at the time (2003) it's what I could afford. I had lots of fun with that setup and it was much more tame and drivable than what I have now that's for sure.

How is that a waste of money? And time? It takes a day to put a cam in, big deal.

Assuming you are not going with all used parts, skimping on parts, etc... it takes much more $$ to build a heads/cam car. A heads/cam car done right needs a supporting drivetrain which a cam only car usually does not. I got away with a stock 4L60E and a stock rear for a long time cam only. Put the heads/cam setup on and I instantly needed a build that could hold the power and a Ford 9" went in... else you end up with a car like alot of those on here that make alot of power but can't put it to the ground. $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

You are better off buying the right parts out off the bat.

I know this over years of buying the wrong parts.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree then.

 

I have their 226/234 kit being shipped to me today. There is a guy on LS1tech that made very good numbers with one of their cams, and talking to him via PM basically sold me on their stuff. I am very surprised people still run cc503s and cams like that with the packages AI offers. Im pretty sure its even cheaper than the 503 setup i was pricing out, so i feel like i got a great deal and i cant wait until my car is running again

 

yeah he got good numbers with the less desired factory unported head, i forget which casting number it was. so enjoy your car and do what you can when you want to and can afford to.

 

Joelius, I'm actually going with the same kit and getting my intake ported. We'll have to compare numbers when all is said and done..

 

Im not porting my intake, but I am milling my heads a little for some extra compression.

Lets def compare. I dont plan on dynoing it but Ill have track times

 

You are milling your heads...but nothing else? Why not port them then?

If someone puts a cam only setup in the car, they are probably doing it because they do not want to pull the heads....

 

same here.. im gonna see how i do on a mail order tune

 

your really gonna fly off the handle when you hear my setup

11.3 comp
zero deck
stock, unported heads w/ LT4 valves
CC306 w/ type Rs, GMPP 1.6 RRs, Comp dual springs
Full bolt ons exc. EWP
LE ported/welded intake, 58mm TB, 42lb SVOs

Car does low 12s at full weight on DRs.

 

more like why not? Im replacing the valve seals and all the hardware on my heads. It is going to cost me $100 to have my heads cleaned and milled .025. $100 (plus 35 for gaskets) and a couple extra hours of work is worth having 11.6:1 compression IMO.

Porting costs substantially more than that, and personally i dont think its necessary for my goals anyway.

 

Pocket porting would help, and not be that much more money. With that much taken off the heads, is your intake manifold going to line up ok? Same thickness on the gaskets or thinner?