I'm throwing around the idea of doing some winter mods and was wondering about best ones to do and prices involved with them.

I would like to do a cam setup, I'm thinking Hotcam would be nice but I'm open to suggestions on other better streetable cams. Although I'm a bit of a backyard mechanic, I've never done a cam swap. Is this something a guy with a garage should attempt?

Need to open up my exhuast will become the next thing - so I'll be looking for a set of good headers. What's the best? I plan on having to pass aircare.

What other mods would compliment these ones?
The only other mod I plan on is 4.10's but will be leaving that up to pros, I guess that would likely cost around a grand or so.

I appriciate any input you have to give regarding prices and such.

Although I'm a bit of a backyard mechanic, I've never done a cam swap. Is this something a guy with a garage should attempt?

 

If you are going to do a cam and want to get the most out of it, I’d look at also getting a set of heads or at least your own ported. Also have your pcm tuned to what your mods are. The hotcam is a nice mild cam for someone that wants to have a stock sounding car at idle but wakes up at higher rpm’s. Another cam that is similar but is a little more aggressive is the CC305. The nice thing about both these cams is that they can still pass aircare with a stock tune. SLP mid-lengths are really nice but are pricey. I’d look at Mac’s mid-lengths for a good flowing middle of the road header. If you were looking to buy the cam and headers new I’d say you’re looking to spend between $1400-$1700 for the parts. Now if you can find some good deals on used parts you could drop that down to about half the cost.

 

After reading your post again I saw that you are also looking to do your rear end. 4.10’s seem a little big to me but that’s just my opinion. I’d go with 3.73’s and keep some fuel economy. Right now my with the stock 3.42’s I get just as good if not better gas mileage then my Dad does with a V6 in a van. It just seems that unless your car is only a track or race, you really don’t need the 4.10’s. As for the cost on getting the gears installed, I would think that you could get it done for about $350 plus the cost of the gears. And the gears shouldn’t cost more than between $250-300. The reason I know the approximate price for the rear end install is because I had mine re-done at a local shop in Chilliwack. I had them replace all my rear end bearings, because it was howling and check to make sure nothing else was wrong with it at the time

 

What you say makes sense. I've read that if a person with a M6 has stock power then 4.10's are the way to go - with some sort of power adder, 3.73's is the one. I suppose with all of the above mentioned mods, they could be considered a power adder.

Local shop in Chillliwack? That shop would be local for me too - which place are you talking about, and did they do good work?

 

for a emmisions legal cam you may want to look at the hot cam, cc305 and xe 220/224 or a 224/236 cam. porting your own heads is a lot more work then one would think. if your serious about heads buy a set from the US. for exhaust, id suggest macs, and a aftermarket cat back with ORP. for the rear id leave it alone till after the engine mods and see how you like it first.

and if you want to pay someone to do it id suggest bunker. hes done more lt1s then anyone around here.

there are little things that add up as well as valve springs, retainers, gaskets possibly pushrods, roller rockers, header bolts, new lifters depending on milage of yours you may want a electric water pump at this point as well etc. just to keep all that in mind.