Where to go now?

[PerfectCreature]

I have been working on a mild build for sometime now, I just placed the order to the last of it. I am wondering where else to go now?
I currently have the follow: Stage 1 heads, stage 1 lower intake manifold, and stage 1 upper intake manifold (ordered). I have a short ram intake and the 2.5 inch Pacesetter exhaust.
At this point I figure I have some decent gains, but not really sure how decent.(I do not know how to read flowcharts or anything like that and do not have access to a dyno to accurately rate the gains) I also ordered the PCM tune as well, in hoped that would bring out some of the potential.

I am now thinking of headers, but not sure if they would be worth it with what build I have now-and I have yet to find a set of S&S headers and I really do not want the Pacesetter ones due to the complications in fitment.
Cost wise; a camshaft is not really an option to me as I was quoted an insane amount f coin for an install.

I am considering a TB, but am thinking it may be too touchy for two driving. I have lots of stoplights and intersections.


What else could be recommended?

[TGP37]

Get HP Tuners package from wot-tech and learn how to tune. That will really open up the mods you put on. Having the ability to tune, change settings as needed will do wonders for your cars performance and will aid a lot when diagnosing issues. Especially intermitent issues that occur only when driving as you can log the car.

[PerfectCreature]

Well, for now I was able to get a tune from Ben which included all the mods I have done to my car. The tune file was from a Stage 1 build, so it will compliment my car very nice.
I do not plan to go turbo or charged or anything.
As far as the HPTuners? I have considered it, but never had the money to drop on a brand new one, and used ones are gone within hours of posting. I have been keeping my eye open.
I am thinking at this point my only options left are to get headers, a TB, or a camshaft. My internals have all been upgraded. Push rods and bigger injectors are not needed as they are more then sufficient for what mods it has on now.
If anyone has any ideas I am open to them as well.

Thanks.

[young gun]

Buy a reliable DD and then do everything you ever wanted to this one?

Headers are always a big gain to be had.
TB will help and it won't be too "touchy". I have a 65mm. When other people first drive my car I tell them it is touchy but after you touch it once you realize how easy it is to ease into it. Just a small learning curve

[PerfectCreature]

I will look into the headers first and see if that satisfies me.
The S&S are the ones to look for right? Not the Pacesetter?

[mfuller]

I think Ben told me that he still had a set of S&S headers; I'd do those before Pacesetters.


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[ericjon262]

Big lumpy cam, and a converter is it's an automatic.

[PerfectCreature]

I mentioned above, I am avoiding a cam at the moment due to the large amount of labor cost involved, and I do not have the equipment to do it myself either.
As for the headers, I will have to ask Ben.
A converter is also a large amount of money, a couple grand last I checked to turn it manual.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

[TGP37]

More air in + more air out = more power

You are avoiding the one part that will tie all that together, the cam. You reduced restrictions in/out, other then cramming air into the engine a cam is the next ideal investment IMHO.

You can slide the cam out the wheel well if you are willing to drill a 2" hole in the right place. Then bolt a cover back on. That is how you could remove the cam w/o having to remove the engine itself.

[pocket-rocket]

You can slide the cam out the wheel well if you are willing to drill a 2" hole in the right place. Then bolt a cover back on. That is how you could remove the cam w/o having to remove the engine itself.

I wouldn't do this to my car. I'm unsure on others, but on my car the end of the cam (intermediate shaft in my case, but same exact location as a pushrod cam) is pointing right at the unibody frame tube. Now if you boxed it in, that would be a different story, but if you are going to go that far you may as well just drop the pass. side of the subframe a few inches and slide the cam out under the unibody tube.

As for my $.02 where to go now? You can only go so far with these engines without adding some form of power adder, be it N2O, S/C or a snail.

[PerfectCreature]

Yeah, I figured as much.
I will pass on the camshaft then. The gains per $$$ spent is just far too low from what I looked at.
I think I have it as good as I will get it at this point.
I am still looking at a solid improvement even without the camshaft.
I did talk to Ben, I will have to do some hard consideration on whether or not I want to get the headers.....
I will get the PCM and the UIM sometime next week, and I will be done with it.

Thanks for the input.

[ericjon262]

I mentioned above, I am avoiding a cam at the moment due to the large amount of labor cost involved, and I do not have the equipment to do it myself either.
As for the headers, I will have to ask Ben.
A converter is also a large amount of money, a couple grand last I checked to turn it manual.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

No, a torque converter, not a manual conversion. get a higher stall converter if you run a lumpy cam, but since you don't want to swap a cam, you don't have to worry about that.

[Superdave]

you can still put a bigger converter in it and have some more fun, something in the 2500 ish RPM range.


Revmax built mine for like $350 or so, it's a great upgrade.

[TGP37]

As for my $.02 where to go now? You can only go so far with these engines without adding some form of power adder, be it N2O, S/C or a snail.

or all three, NOS, Super & twin turbo.....

[pocket-rocket]

or all three, NOS, Super & twin turbo.....

I would love to see carnage pics after killing a bottom end like that, hahaha!

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