i've been looking into doing the LE 2 cam with the LE 3 heads with a port matched manifold and have been acutally pricing things out and it seems like its going to be a lot more cash that i expected, comes out to arond $5500-6000 with dyno tuning and parts. Right now my car is stock, is there a better way of going to make more hp for less cash, cuz it seems like im gonna end up throwing a lot of cash into my car just to run mid-high 11s... Any good blower, cam combinations or anything like that i could go with and run better times for less.... only thing i dont want to do is go with nitrous, just because its not always on and for my application it seems like it would be a waste...

 

is it an auto or a 6 speed?

 

Im on a similar budget as you, and I am hoping to see 450rwhp out of my 355.. It will include LE3 heads/cam and port matched intake, and currently features a Scat crank and probe rods/pistons (all forged of course)

I will probably go over budget by a couple hundred $$$, but it will still come in under $6k.

Like I said, Im shooting for 450rwhp, and I am expecting/will be happy with anything over 420rwhp..

Hope that helps!

 

When doing my LE3 h/c I spent right around 3k. But I also already had rockers, 58mm tb, and ported itake. If you do the heads/cam package and do it yourself it shouldnt be much more than 3.5k. If you have a shop do it, then it will probably be around 5-6k. I'd suggest supercharging, but I doubt that your motor would last on stock internals. IMO h/c is the best first step in making big power.

 

auto

 

actually it came out to around 5500 not counting install, unfortunetly, I actually priced everything out based on prices i'm finding on used stuff on here and here's what I got...

-Impala head gasket
-head bolts
-intake manifold bolts
-valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gasket, header gaskets (~$150 for first 4 items brand new)

-GM hi-tech pushrods -(~$75-100)

-Comp R lifters (~$250)

-Electric waterpump and Double roller timing chain set (not sure on this one but guessing around 300 new)

-vigilante 3600 stall converter (~$600)

-3.73 or 4.10 gears (~$250 with install kit)

-Shift kit for trans (~$80)

-160 degree termostat (~$50)

-Flowmaster X-pipe (`$80)

-58 mm TB (~$250-300)

-1 3/4 headers (~$450)

-42 lb/hr injectors (~$275-300)

-1.6 Comp 7/16 Rocker arms (~$300 with studs and guideplates)

-walbro 340 fuel pump (~$100)

-cam bearings (guessing ~$50)

-Dyno Tune (~$400)

-LE 3 heads, LE 2 cam, LE ported intake ($2000)

-Trans cooler (~$100)

**i'm sure there other stuff im missing too but that alone comes out to around $5560.... estimating a little high on a couple items i'm sure but thats also not including any suspension components...

I'm just trying to get an idea of what else I could do to see more gains for that much money i guess, it just seems like im paying a lot to run only 11s, if it were 10s it wouldnt be as bad, but for 11s im questioning whether its worth it...

 

160* thermostat is $50?

 

What all parts are you getting to keep the price so low.... are u including the cost for the rear end ring and pinion and TC? what about headers.... I dont get it, how are u doing everything i am plus rebuilding the shortblock to a 355 for under 6 grand????

 

$700 set of forged pistons, balanced+polished factory rods+crank, and spray the crap out of it.