Here's the build:

Stock LQ4 bottom end with ported LS6 oil pump
LS3 heads (stock form)
Stock LS3 intake from a 2010 Corvette GS
Stock LS6 cam from a 2002 Z06
New ls7 lifters
New pushrods, etc...
LS2 timing chain
Custom Tune

Basically I'm looking to get the car running and its going into a convertible where I wouldn't mind seeing a good amount of mpg with a nice bit of bottom end and the budget, especially this time of year, can only go so far.

Potential later upgrades will be a TR224 cam and spring upgrade, along with CNCing the heads.

Thoughts on hp and torque? Would like to get 400 at the wheels.

 

I wouldnt waste the time to put a stock ls6 cam in it now to only change it later.And the tr224 is small for a 6.0,id got slightly higher if you want 400 at the wheels.What trans do you plan on using?

I think you would be around 380hp without knowing exhaust and trans.

 

Will probably get close to 400 with that setup.

 

The reasoning for the LS6 cam is:

A. Cheap to pick up
B. Can use with stock LS3 springs
C. MUCH easier to pass smog

C. is really imperative here in California, unfortunately. The 224 has been recommended over and over again as the biggest I could feasibly run, with a great tune, to pass smog out here. Were talking a $600 minimum cost difference which means getting the harness done now so that I can drive it now. Plus I want to drive it for a little while before I implode the 10bolt.

 

Your 10 bolt will be ok unless you beat it at the track in stickies. Thr ls6 cam will have you wanting more and the 224 will satisfy you.

 

The 224, I was told, could be putting close to 500 at the wheels. Even on a "daily driver" I didnt think those rear ends held up to that. No stickies will ever be on this car. Its a "Restomod" pro touring kind of configuration. I want to be able to drive, but no racing. In cruises with the old L03 I could barely keep up with other thirdgens. It was a dog.

 

I say you'll be just fine with the LS6 cam, the 224 swap isnt going to be just buying the cam, theres going to be a 600-800$ price difference, not even counting tuning etc.

My guess is very close to if not over 400whp with it, provided you do something to get the compression reasonable with the dished pistons.

 

The 224 cam will not make 500 rwhp. 400ish, yea. The torque will be there for sure.

 

Are you overlooking the LS3 heads completely ?

Usually they seem to like big splits in intake vs exhaust duration, not to mention realistically he'll get close to 400whp with those heads even on the LS6 cam.

 

http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation...s-learned.html

http://ls1tech.com/forums/11328001-post7.html

" I sound like a broken record on the phone telling guys to shrink down the valve timing events when using the L92/LS3 heads. These heads provide plenty of airflow at the faster cycling speeds and the shorter seat timing makes the low speed manners very tame. The result is a very wide powerband with lots of pedal responsive torque. IMO this is the real virtue of these heads.
Of course in the end it's really about what the guy driving the car feels he wants."

 

you want a cheap cam, buy a ls9 cam. they are like 110 for them, you would be better off with the ls9 cam since it is for rectangular heads.+ the ls9 cam will pass smog. Also the lq4 block wont pass in cali if u are putting this in a car,just either go around smog or it will become very pricey to become cali legal swap.

 

The LS6 cam has a large split between intake and exhaust duration like whats generally a good idea for the rectangle heads...

That being said the LS9 cam may work well also, though it has quite a bit of LSA.

The LS7 with its same specs but a little less LSA would be an even better choice, though i'm not sure what they go for.