I've got a 92 rs 305 with blown head gaskets. I'm going to swap the heads over to Vortecs. Here's my part list and prices along with some questions before I make the wrong purchases, I may be forgetting or not including small things. I am removing all the air management on the car also.


(2) Reman'd 520/059 castings $450 done
Flowtech ceramic headers and Y pipe 161021 $527
Percy's aluminum exhaust manifold gaskets 66122 $38
GM head gasket set 14096405 $79 for pair
Head bolts and intake manifold bolts local sourced $60
Mr. Gasket locking exhaust manifold bolts 2230g $31set
Professional Products dual plane carb intake manifold 52007 $140
Trans-Dapt throttle body adapter trd 2211 $43
5 layer intake manifold gasket set-local sourced $30
Air pump delete kit GM 10129569 $48
Custom Chips tuner chip to eliminate EGR and Smog Pump $65


Is this a good combination of parts for the job? I hear this combination, or one like it should get me about 60 more horse power-true?

 

Mild cam with the heads would help but need a complete chip tune for the combo

 

A cam would be nice however I'm not taking the engine out.

 

I knew there was something I forgot, probably more than this though. What torque specs and valve lash settings do I use for the heads and intake since I don't know what they came out of. Do I use the ones that are in the Haynes manual for the car?

 

You don't have to pull the engine to do the cam. It's worth doing

 

Changing the cam will be worth the extra effort. The "peanut" cam will negate most of the gains that you're seeking.

 

Hey mikeyt,
The Flowtech ceramic Y pipe 161021 looks like more of a restrictive factory -style "T" pipe.
You might be leaving a couple of ponies on the table by going with Flowtech's design.
A slightly larger cam than the glorified factory broomstick would probably make all this better breathing head swap work a little more worth it.

 

I was told by Jegs that the "Y" pipe was needed because the headers wouldn't bolt up to a factory one. Does anyone have a set of shorty's that are bolted up to a factory "Y" pipe. Also, what cam should I use if I go this route to match the heads and how can I remove it out the front, there's not enough room to pull it out?

 

I see you posted $65 for a custom tune. Must be talking to John Wayne. That's what he charges. Speaking from experience, don't get a chip from him. He told me I would have it in three days. Three days turned into 6 weeks and I ended up not being able to contact him and got another chip from Scott Hansen. Great guy, much more knowledgeable about everything, and actually delivered on his promise of getting the chip in 3 days, actually got it in 2. And the best part is that he only charges $50. Still have to get the Moates G1 adapter but its like $44 shipped. Scott Hansen's tune worked much better in my car and I actually got it on time.

 

John is his name, he's out of California. I hope this doesn't turn out like that. Thank you though for the warning, I'll press him for sure. Can you send me a pm with that other guys information. I guess it went up it's actually $75

 

I already paid for it yesterday. What is this adapter if I need it and where can I get it, if I have to go that route?

 

You would have to get the adapter either way unless you have someone like Scott burn you a factory style memcal. His website is scotthansen.net pretty sure. Just get on his site, and give him a call, he'll help you out. The adapter is the G1 from moates, you can get an adapter like it elsewhere but everyone usually gets it from them. That's at moates.net. Scott can burn you a factory style memcal, but since they aren't really around anymore he charges $200 for that or I guess you could send him yours. But its cheaper and easier to get a G1 and use that. Plus with a cable to plug into the aldl connector and a laptop with the right software you can do data-logging and then have him send you a better tune so its well worth it to go that route. I would call John back and ask if he made your memcal yet and if he didn't get your money back. He's a weasel and will lie and cheat you. He did to me. I think I only got my chip after 6 weeks because I called my bank and had them put the money back in my account after a month.

 

Yeah, I've called him a few times after I paid for it. It's only been a couple of days so far but I'm getting a not so fresh feeling about it. Having trouble getting intouch with him. He described this as a pug and play prom with no additional needs, supposed to be a factory style memcal?...We'll see Thanks though, if it doesn't work out, I'll go that route but I won't wait very long if I keep getting the run around.

 

Yep, that sounds just like the same sleazy pos I dealt with. I bet now you wont get it for a few weeks and when he tries to call you back after you dispute it with your bank he'll tell you it got lost in shipping. Oh and he "ships in bulk" and "doesn't get tracking numbers", but he can tell you exactly when you get the one that he really sent out to you 6 weeks late and then he gets a tracking number.

 

I called him today twice and finally got in touch with him. I texted him some parameters of what I was doing to so he could make a tune based off those parts. He told me I would have it Friday, he's in California and I'm in Virginia-you do the shipping math. He did email me a video that I need to use for installation I haven't looked at yet, so we'll see how it goes. I'll keep you posted. I do know this, when I finish this and run it for a while I'm going to put my stock prom back in and send the one I'm getting to Scott and have him take a look see if I really got a good tune or got screwed, and if so get him to redo it.

 

Did you talk to Scott?

 

No, I haven't yet. I went to his website and it says he'll be on vacation till the 27th. I'll give John time to deliver on his word, if he doesn't then I'll know what I have to do, call the bank and go from there.

 

I ordered a prom from Scott Hansen. I got it WAY faster than I expected. Unreal

 

How was your tune? I guess you gave him the parameters of what you did and he made it for you based on those or did you do the datalog thing?

 

Gave him the info about the build he needed and made me one. I'm going to eventually do the data-logging to get an even better match. So far so good on the tune, tons of power, good driveability. I'm happy with it, he did a good job.

 

I actually got a chip from John myself. It did take a lil while to get it back . I had the speed limiter, vats, and egr deleted which was my main reason for getting it. Car does seem to have more pep to it also. Hope your tune works out for you. I was pleased with mine.

 

That's good to hear, you along with the guy who told me about him are the only positive comments I've gotten so far, thank you. I take it you car's stock, what have you noticed the biggest differences in, has your gas mileage gotten any better?