Quick rundown of situation. Turns out that Headers, wires, and plugs will put me back about 1200$ after install (WIth labor, if I don't do it myself).

XE 227/233 Cam... with the hardened pushrods, springs, 1.6 rr and all that stuff that is needed to insure a clean and safe working cam... this will put me back about the same, maybe a 100 or 2 more.

Question is... do you think I should go for the cam first? It will be my first real mod done to the car. The car by then will only have a tune from Ion, 160 Thermostat, and thats about it. I want some power added to car... I want to end up hitting mid-high 12's... with the headers, cam, and traction, I could hit that number fairly easy. Or should I just get the headers out of the way? They will have to be about 5-6 months apart from each other, and I think pretty satisfied with my cars exhaust sound, just a little low but i'll get over it if the cam goes in first with all the extra power.

What would a cam like that put me at before headers on a 96 WS6 M6 TA?

 

Do the cai and headers first. You must get the air in and out of the motor, in order to get the benefits of a larger cam.

 

 

I agree with what is said above, but there is also an argument for doing the cam first. If you do the cam now, you will see a power gain, no doubt about it, but not what you could see with the proper breathing mods. Now if you had a cam, and then did headers, intake etc. You would see larger gains than if they were put on a stock motor. In the end, you will be in the same place power wise. It's up to you as far as the order you get there in.

 

So it really doesn't matter which direction I head in? I want the cam first for 5 reasons...

Lope
Lope
Bigger power gain
Lope
Lope



The XE 227/233 should give me about how much extra power you think on a stock exhaust? Probably like 35-45 extra ponies right? What about the torque?

 

Without headers, a cam will net you maybe half or less of what you said above...the other half will come with the headers

 

So then it's mostly for the lope... :-) 20 extra ponies isn't to shabby anyway.

 

Of course, those numbers can vary GREATLY depending on which cam you are using...

I'd do headers first personally, but that's just me. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

You'll probably need a new tune after adding the cam though.

 

I'd have the heads done first. If you go with stock heads and get a really good do on them, including your springs, RRs etc. you will have the flow numbers to go by when deciding which cam will work the best with your heads.

The heads are the biggest expense and something you shouldn't do yourself.

Your stock intake should be fine. If you can get away with it, go for some LT headers.

Then I'd have the "right" cam installed to complete the combo.

Going with the cam first and your restriction is going to be your heads.
Going with headers first and your restriction is going to be your heads.
JMHO

 

I would do headers.

 

Not doing heads for a while

And the dude from Combination is the one who told me about the rwhp... with that cam and headers he said 380 has been done. Not often, but it was. 360 is more likely

Thats why I figured cam first... get the big power added out of the way, then just do the headers when I get the cash up again. Is that stupid?

 

If you want to do the cam swap first, that will be ok, but just think this way.

A roof on a house offers the best comfort, but without the foundation of the house, the roof is useless.

 

Do the other stuff first... when it comes to a cam you gotta know what you want and what you plan to do wit the car in the future.

 

headers first, no doubt.