Well Guys, I have a few questions. My car currently has 96K on the clock. I have a set Pacesetter Longtubes/ORY/Taylor OVC Wires/NGK tr-55's sitting in my room waiting to be installed. Well I have been contemplating the idea of throwing a cam in my car very soon. I know a guy that will install the headers/cam/tune for $375.00. So my question is...Would you guys wait and do it all at once or do the headers/ory now and wait until spring for the cam? As of now my car has CAI,Catback and Cutout.

I wont have the money for all the cam parts and install until probably late spring. I have school strating in Jan and money and time will be hard to come by. He will do headers and tune for 200.00. And cam only install for 325.00. So I would be saving over 100.00 by doing everything at once.

Sorry for rambling on....all I want ot know is your opinions. Wait and do cam and headers all at once or headers now and cam in spring???

Thanks

 

I would do it all at once to save money. But then again I do all of my own work, I don't trust other people with my car.

 

I'd say install the parts you have now by yourself. Headers are a good size project, but you have until school starts back up, do it yourself. Then take your time and save your money so as not to skimp on the cam and valvetrain. Then the question you have to ask yourself is if you want to risk a new cam and more hp in a motor with that many miles. If I were to do it again, I'd just get a new shortblock built and put the bigger cam and better parts in that. Then just swap it in when you can and get that all tuned. Just my opinion since I ended up with spun bearings after my cam install. I'd recommend doing it all yourself and learning as much as you can. Never can know too much about the car you drive, especially if you wanna go fast/race. That way, if something goes wrong, you know exactly what it is and how to fix it, but that's up to you.

 

96K is kind of pushing it, but plenty of people do cam swaps and their motors continue to live long and happy lives. If this guy is a compentent mechanic or do-it-yourselfer, then for what he is asking, that is a very good deal. But once again, I would make sure this guy knows what he is doing if he is not only going to be swapping your cam, but also doing the tuning.

 

Not being a Smart A$$, but anyone who would do all that work for that price is either a GREAT person or has no idea what is involved in the work.JMHO

 

I agree.

Also, why is there a $150 savings if you do both things at once? It's not like one thing is easier while you're doing the other. They're completely different jobs.

 

It is if you pull the motor.

 

I would be kinda hesatent, $375 is cheap for all that. And I'm at 96k miles and I'm about to put my 3rd cam in.

 

thats a good labor price...i'd do it all at once, as long as he knows what he is doing. go LE2!

 

Trust me guys, he knows exactly what he's doing. He specializes in tuning of LTX's and LSX's. He does installs, he's a local guy(kind of) that most everybody has tune there car. I have thought about doing the install of the headers myself but, he tunes the car for 100 and installs the headers for 200. So I figured for 100 bucks it wouldnt be that bad to pay for the headers. Also Like I said with school and stuff, I would really rather wit until the spring semester is over that way I wont have to worry about needing the car as much. Thanks Guys for the opinions

 

You don't hear of too many people that pull the motor to install a cam or headers.

 

No, but someone mentioned about them doing both at once, and it would make sense if you have the room and resources to do this. It's not that hard from the bottom at all.

 

Our engines can't pass smog too easily if you go past 230i/240e degrees, and a cam's only worth 25hp tops with stock heads. You'll need a cam, but you'll also go with new lifters and most likely a new timing gear set. Parts including gaskets should set you back about $550. That would be around $800 for about 15 to 20 realistic HP.Is $40 per horsepower a good deal or not such a good deal? Maybe you want to pick a different case?

 

I've seen bolt-on HR cammed cars pick up 50-60 rwhp with stock heads. Bolt-on SR cammed cars have been known to pick up 80+ rwhp with stock heads.

 

my bolt-on car ran 13.3@105 on street tires now after i cammed it i ran 13.4@109 on 7 cylinders taking it out of the hole like a snail and with the tranny shifting at 4500rpm in 1st and 2nd. my car definatley picked up more than 25 hp, but that might be true with smaller cam like the hotcam, 305, 227, 846. even then those cams pull good #'s as well.

basic 300hp bolt-on LT1 with:

hotcam 330hp avg
xe224/230 340hp maybe a little less
cc306 340-360hp

to original post, i would say just wait till you got the $$$ to do everything all at once. just have some diapers handy cuz a stock LT1----> cam + boltons is a real jump in power. good luck!