LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Old Mar 23, 2005 | 07:58 PM
  #1  
KillerTA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

I want to get both but right now I only have enough money for one. Would a cc306 cam do me any good without headers or is it better to do headers first?

I'd prefer to get the cam first because you get power and sound.

my car is a mostly stock m6 TA
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:04 PM
  #2  
Beyonce Knowles's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 542
From: Ballin' in Hotlanta
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

If you only have enough money for one, then you don;t have enough money for the cam. Doing the CC306 right is going to cost over $1000. (Pro mag rocker arms, lifters, springs, timing chain, consumables) Do the headers first. You wouldn't be getting near the potential out of the cam without them. I'm pretty sure everybody else will agree with me here.
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:22 PM
  #3  
jchevy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,531
From: Tucson, AZ
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

If you go with a cam as big as the 306 your also going to need gears, clutch and a tune,so add another $1000 on top of the $1500 it costs to do a cam. $1500 for a cam swap is assuming you can do the labor yourself.
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:26 PM
  #4  
KillerTA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Originally Posted by jchevy
If you go with a cam as big as the 306 your also going to need gears, clutch and a tune,so add another $1000 on top of the $1500 it costs to do a cam. $1500 for a cam swap is assuming you can do the labor yourself.
What would I need gears and a clutch for? I wouldn't think it'd make that much power where my clutch couldn't handle it?
I've got 3.42 gears
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:27 PM
  #5  
KillerTA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Originally Posted by Beyonce Knowles
If you only have enough money for one, then you don;t have enough money for the cam. Doing the CC306 right is going to cost over $1000. (Pro mag rocker arms, lifters, springs, timing chain, consumables) Do the headers first. You wouldn't be getting near the potential out of the cam without them. I'm pretty sure everybody else will agree with me here.
But power-wise, would one be better over the other? I don't realy care about not reaching its potential right now.
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:28 PM
  #6  
ChrisUlrich's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,668
From: Cliffside Park, NJ
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

I got a cam and no headers

Put 302/304 down with a few hickups on the pull
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:35 PM
  #7  
KillerTA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Originally Posted by ChrisUlrich
I got a cam and no headers

Put 302/304 down with a few hickups on the pull
Which cam do you have?
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:38 PM
  #8  
Randomsoleil's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 147
From: Charlotte, NC
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Do the headers...b/c by the time in order to do it all right you will end up spending close to 2500 dollars to do a cam plus or minus reason is like someone said with a cam that big you will have to replace the entire valvtrain and upgrade it. but then you are taking in all that added power and trying to squezze it out the hole the size of a peanut...THAT AINT GONNA WORK!!!!! just get a good header y and even an exhaust put down about 280 plus or minus and save up for a nice cam job
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:45 PM
  #9  
jchevy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,531
From: Tucson, AZ
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

You can probably hold off on the clutchthen, but you need the gears. The cam is big, doesnt make crap for power down low. It will be horrible driving you car in parking lots with stock gears, it will be bucking like crazy. Its bad enough with the 4.10s
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:54 PM
  #10  
Beyonce Knowles's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 542
From: Ballin' in Hotlanta
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

I good tune should take care of most of the bucking. Add another 250 onto the price. See where this is going?
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 08:56 PM
  #11  
jchevy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,531
From: Tucson, AZ
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Originally Posted by Beyonce Knowles
I good tune should take care of most of the bucking. Add another 250 onto the price. See where this is going?

It may help, but with the overlap of that cam ist not gunna be smooth by any means. The 3.42s will just magnify it.
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 09:36 PM
  #12  
truedualws6's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,406
From: Downey, CA
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Small cam with no headers is better than a big cam. Do what makes you
happy. If you want the sound and have the time, do the cam. You can
always put the headers in later. You may want to consider a step down
on the cam like a GM 846, CC305 or CC503.
Old Mar 23, 2005 | 10:55 PM
  #13  
Red on Red WS6's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 353
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

IMO I think you should hold off, save up your money and do both at the same time. It will make the install much easier. Standing in the engine compartment my headers took about one hour to install. Plus going from stock, to cam and headers at the same time would make a very noticable power gain and you will not be disapointed.
Old Mar 27, 2005 | 10:13 PM
  #14  
KillerTA's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,119
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

Originally Posted by Red on Red WS6
IMO I think you should hold off, save up your money and do both at the same time. It will make the install much easier. Standing in the engine compartment my headers took about one hour to install. Plus going from stock, to cam and headers at the same time would make a very noticable power gain and you will not be disapointed.
Thanks for the replies.

I have a mechanic who will do the cam as a side job for $300 but he won't do the headers because he can't use the shop lift for a big side job like that.

I'm pretty much set on a cam, springs, and rockers this year and probably headers next year.

So....I just need a few more defininitive answers on the cc306.

I know the cam is big and isn't going to reach its full potential, but would it be about equal to the power of the cc305 given my mostly stock setup?(I have a catback)

I'll probably never get anything more than headers, a y-pipe, and computer tune while I own this car.

So, what do you think? cc305, cc306, or?
Old Mar 27, 2005 | 10:15 PM
  #15  
1quikZ's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 293
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: What do you think about doing a cam without headers?

where are people getting this amounts for doing a cam swap, since when do you need gears????? I did mine for $1000 even and thats including the exchange i paid to get the parts

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:16 AM.