Head Swap Input Needed

[MunsterZ28]

IMO its not gonna be done for $1500 unless you find a deal on tech that comes with everything you need. Not even going to be close. Just to swap a cam cost about $1000 when all said and done.

for a cam (decent cam that you wont waste your time on) you will need:

1.6 roller rockers
new springs and hardware
7/16" rocker studs
moly pushrods
gaskets
lifters
guideplates
cam
tune
etc.


I think if you want to do a performance upgrade and spend a little money, I would definately, hands down do a cam only setup. The newer cams make these cars run pretty strong and you are definately not going to go overbudget with a cam swap.

cam only stock head LT1 > ported heads with stock cam/hot cam LT1

but honestly lt4 hotcam kit and a tune call it a day. well under budget. and i know at the time when i was looking for a budget build and for people who still are i advise the same kit i got. yea its nothing thats gonna lay down crazy impressive numbers but you cant do that if your on a budget. but i do agree a car with ported/aftermarket heads on a stock motor isnt even going to show much of a difference.

[ThreeHonks]

Nick,

an LT4 hot cam kit would even be LESS expensive, but I would not use that cam with ported heads. Its not a bad cam for someone wanting to do a mild cam only setup. You prbly wouldnt even have to get a tune

[93formulalt1]

IMO its not gonna be done for $1500 unless you find a deal on tech that comes with everything you need. Not even going to be close. Just to swap a cam cost about $1000 when all said and done.

for a cam (decent cam that you wont waste your time on) you will need:

1.6 roller rockers
new springs and hardware
7/16" rocker studs
moly pushrods
gaskets
lifters
guideplates
cam
tune
etc.


I think if you want to do a performance upgrade and spend a little money, I would definately, hands down do a cam only setup. The newer cams make these cars run pretty strong and you are definately not going to go overbudget with a cam swap.

cam only stock head LT1 > ported heads with stock cam/hot cam LT1

Problem is this: The car needs to either have the stock heads rebuilt, or get new heads. The threads in 3-4 of the spark plug holes have been stripped out, and it's got bad valve seals, it smokes on startup. That's a problem I'd like to take care of.

In all actuality, I'm sure I could buy the parts I need for a cam swap, and save up for a set of heads, or vice versa. I have $1700 coming in from taxes, I just wanted to make sure I was able to get a few things on the Jeep fixed as well.

Another thing I'm contemplating is keeping my eyes peeled for a nice deal on a T56 swap, I've wanted to put a 6 speed in this car since I bought it. I think I'd probably be happier with a 6 speed swap and gears/locker than I would with a cam, but that doesn't fix the issues with the heads.

I'm going to keep looking around for deals, I've seen some SMOKING deals on ported heads online, but I wanted to go with something proven, as opposed to something worked on by someone I've never heard of.

Ricky (Boost Addict), you'll be hearing from me. I'll throw the money down on stock rebuilt heads w/ a valve job before I'll spend 3x that on ported heads that won't do me any good.

I'll probably wind up selling my AR15 as well, I've had it for 2 months already, and haven't even so much as fired a round through it. It just sits there above the bar looking pretty. That would fetch about $1000 as well.

[93formulalt1]

Nick,

an LT4 hot cam kit would even be LESS expensive, but I would not use that cam with ported heads. Its not a bad cam for someone wanting to do a mild cam only setup. You prbly wouldnt even have to get a tune

I can accomplish that for around $500 + cost of gaskets, lifters, and moly pushrods. Assuming the cam that was on here last week is still available, and I'm buying the heads that were originally on the motor that cam came out of. . . Plenty of money leftover to start looking for a good deal on a T56 swap.

[MunsterZ28]

Nick,

an LT4 hot cam kit would even be LESS expensive, but I would not use that cam with ported heads. Its not a bad cam for someone wanting to do a mild cam only setup. You prbly wouldnt even have to get a tune

mine hasnt been tuned in 2 seasons lol

[93formulalt1]

OOOHHHH!!! I just found a Vortech supercharger kit for an LT1 for $1800. . . . I so want it. . . I don't think my 170k mile LT1 would handle it very well, though. . . lol

If I had about $5k to put into this car, it would be cammed, stalled, blown, and rockin'. Too bad I don't have that kind of money. lol

[93formulalt1]

Found a LT1/T56 parts car, runs and drives, on another site. . . If I can talk him down at all, I may be bringing it home as a donor for the T56 swap, as well as a possible LT1 project a buddy wants to start soon.

[bri2203]

I don't understand why everyone says you NEED to buy all of this stuff if you going to install a cam.
It is recommended but you do not NEED to buy roller rockers, new pushrods, or lifters(depending on miles)

[JoeliusZ28]

Another thing. You're going to take those heads off and probably find you need a valve job. Thats what happened to me, and that was $400 bringing my total for a cam swap to over 2k.

[93formulalt1]

Another thing. You're going to take those heads off and probably find you need a valve job. Thats what happened to me, and that was $400 bringing my total for a cam swap to over 2k.

Got a line on a set of stock heads that were already rebuilt, that had a valve job done, still in the bags from the machine shop, for $400 through a member here.

Just talked to a guy about a wrecked '94 Z28 that a friend and I are going to be taking a look at on Wednesday, he told me $1700 takes it. Runs and drives, 6 speed LT1 car with 113k miles. I'd be taking everything for the T56 swap and t-tops swap, friend of mine would be taking the engine and interior, and we'd part out what we could and scrap the rest. Should break even, considering what everything would have gone for had we bought all that stuff separately.

[Fbomb]

If you're getting heads rebuilt and a tune I would definitely mill them. Looking back on it, I wish I would've milled my heads even if I would've had to flycut.

[JoeliusZ28]

yes cammed LT1s like compression. Im running 11.4:1 and it has worked out well

[93formulalt1]

If you're getting heads rebuilt and a tune I would definitely mill them. Looking back on it, I wish I would've milled my heads even if I would've had to flycut.

I'm not getting mine rebuilt, I'm buying a set of heads that have already been rebuilt.

[JoeliusZ28]

You've already eaten the same cost though. And i forgot to mention my $2000 total did not include a tune as i did that myself.

The 6 speed car sounds like a good buy if you get him down in price some more. 1700 is alot of cash to recoup from a partout when youre using a lot of the good parts and others are obviously smashed.

[JoeliusZ28]

I don't understand why everyone says you NEED to buy all of this stuff if you going to install a cam.
It is recommended but you do not NEED to buy roller rockers, new pushrods, or lifters(depending on miles)

If you have the factory hardened pushrods you should definitely be safe with those, but running the other ones is kinda risky IMO. I'm still running my original lifters in my car, they are fine.