My first question is what is the most RWHP are people pushing somewhat reliably on the stock shortblock?

Second question is, should I go with the LE 1 head/cam package, which is $550 cheaper and still makes around 370 rwhp with the Auto trans, and then go with a 125-150 shot of nitrous, putting me around 500 at the wheels.
OR would I be a lot better off going with the 100 shot on the LE 2 head/cam package? either way it'll make around 500 at the wheels, just trying to figure out some pros of going with the bigger cam?? the couple cons to it that I could think of was the fact that i am not planning on spraying out of the hole and the LE 1 cam would make more low end torque getting me out of the hole a little better. The other thing I could think of that is kindof pushing me toward the LE 1 cam is that the LE 1 cam only makes power till 6200 rpm meaning it should be easier on the motor (more reliable) than using the Le 2 cam which would require shifting at the minimum of 6500 to the most out of it..

 

I had both the LE1 and LE2 but preffered the LE1 for a streetcar with a 3.42 gear and a tighter converter. Now if you want to run a bigger converter and lower gear the LE2 will make more power but less streetability will be the problem. The LE1 with a 150shot works really well together. I was making around 400rwhp N/A with the LE1 awhile back. I ran 11.61@117mph N/A and went 6.90@102mph in the 1/8th on a 150shot before I had some engine trouble(oil pump broke off the engine?). I am now running an old CC306 with a tune from Brent's site and it's a beast both on and off the n2o. Good luck either way.

 

You could go with a LE2 head and a LE1 cam for it.... That would keep the RPM down and you would still have the better flow numbers from the heads and then run a whatever shot on top..... The RPM and N2O are the killers here, so both combos have a minus.

Bret

 

not a bad idea.. roughly how much extra rwhp will I pick up by going with the LE 2 heads on the 125-150 shot? the LE 2 heads flow about 15 cfms better, i know that, but how much of a difference will that make in overall hp gains? i'm just trying to figure out if it is worth the extra $550..

one more thing, do you have any idea of how much rwhp the stock shortblocks are good for? i've heard that they are good for 450-500 rwhp, although there are people making more than that with stock short blocks, i'm just trying to make a decent hp but with some reliability (i'd like the shortblock to last 15-20k, hard street driving) But i also don't plan to spray all the time, just at the track and when I got a race lined up..

 

If you talk to him, I'm sure he can make something in the middle that will make you happy like this>>>

I'm talking to him about doing a Le2(lt4 head) and le"1.5" cam to work with the crane dual coils already on the head. He knows how to get you what you want, and he has more than just the LE1-3 packs. Those are just popular examples.

 

I wouldn't do heads/cam/nitrous on a stock bottom end unless I had money set aside for a rebuild.

 

I wouldnt be skurred of H/C + nitrous on a stock bottom end unless its got alot of miles. HP is not what kills motors... it is bad tuning and RPM. Be careful with the nitrous and do it right, you should have no problems.

I say you go with the LE2 heads and LE1 cam. Then put the juice on top of that. You will like the results. Its a strong setup.

 

My setup through a 12 bolt is making 420RWHP with LE3 package reving to 7K RPM all the time for years now.