performance mods?

**2002_ss** · 02-18-2008, 06:48 PM

Hi everyone. Newbie here. I am new to the camaro scene, I converted from the dark side (mustangs). Tired of always loosing to you guys. LOL. Anyways, I have a few questions on performance mods for my 2002 SS SOM M6. I am looking to ultimately push over 500 rwhp without nitrous.

1) What do you guys think as far as perfomance mods that I will need to accomplish this goal?
Brand names of proven go fast parts would be greatly appreciated.

2) What size cam, brand of heads, throttle bodys, and intakes are proven to be the best ls1 combinations to push out the max horsepower?

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Mike

**Zedicous** · 02-18-2008, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2002_ss

Hi everyone. Newbie here. I am new to the camaro scene, I converted from the dark side (mustangs). Tired of always loosing to you guys. LOL. Anyways, I have a few questions on performance mods for my 2002 SS SOM M6. I am looking to ultimately push over 500 rwhp without nitrous.

1) What do you guys think as far as perfomance mods that I will need to accomplish this goal?
Brand names of proven go fast parts would be greatly appreciated.

2) What size cam, brand of heads, throttle bodys, and intakes are proven to be the best ls1 combinations to push out the max horsepower?

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Mike

Open the exhaust up and a head and cam package or
a SC will do it too..
As far as what cams you shoud run, speak to a good mechanic.
Thunder Racing down here does me well..

Also i find the K&N kit works better than those SLP covers.
I changed out the SLP cover on my friends WS6 & he is much happier with it..

**2002_ss** · 02-18-2008, 08:24 PM

Thanks Zedicious.

I was thinking of going with trick flow heads with a matched trick flow 228/230@.50,.585/.585 lift cam, fast 90 mm intake, mark williams 90mm throttle body, 3.73 gears, obviously subframes, lt headers, ory, lid. i think that would be a good start towards the 500rwhp.

**basballny2** · 02-18-2008, 08:27 PM

m6 or a4?

**Zedicous** · 02-18-2008, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by 2002_ss

Thanks Zedicious.

I was thinking of going with trick flow heads with a matched trick flow 228/230@.50,.585/.585 lift cam, fast 90 mm intake, mark williams 90mm throttle body, 3.73 gears, obviously subframes, lt headers, ory, lid. i think that would be a good start towards the 500rwhp.

If your not going SC then that sounds good. Ask around about the TB, i've heard a few stories about problems with them(90). With headers i like the Dynatech or LG motorsports. I'm going DT on my C5. Keep in mind the 3.73 will take some top speed off, mine is an auto so i'm going with a 3.42. A cheap mod right this momnet you can do, get the maf housing that mid america sells, i paid 80 a piece for two but is a composite unlike your metal one and won't retain heat. its on sale right now for 39.95. Look under intake for a C5 and you'll find it, i put one on my Z28 & C5..

**Mr. Hyde** · 02-19-2008, 12:59 AM

Welcome Mike!
Long story short,
I blew my original LS1 and replaced it with a crate engine LS6 rated at 405HP. Did all the usual mods and am now right at about the 500HP mark. At the crank. While it is no big ordeal to get a LS1 to that same level, it is another thing to compensate for the drive train loss of approx. 100HP. So you would be looking at getting your LS1 to the 600-625HP level to have a honest 500 RWHP car. Without nitrous, or forced induction, while certainly possibly, it would probably not be a real "friendly" car. Unless you don't mind that, and you understand that going into it, you can accomplish your goal.
Take into consideration that GM used forced induction on the new Vette to achieve 600+ HP (500 at the rear wheels) and you may reconsider.
A good super charger would make for a much more driver friendly car, less $$$ in the long run. Just my 2 cents. Take also into consideration that things start to break after 500HP (typically) on your average LS1 like rods and so on. There are horror stories, and success stories of people pushing much more HP out of theirs with no problems at all!
Let me tell you that even with "just" 500HP, I don't lose very often.

**xxLS1xx** · 02-19-2008, 07:25 AM

Yeah, 500 horses is generally a pretty decent number, but there are some 800-1000 hp cars here in ABQ, including a 900 HP N/A SS.... it's badass...

**2002_ss** · 02-19-2008, 07:55 AM

thanks for the info guys. I am not opposed at all to supercharging it. just hate nitrous. all of my friends run it in their mustangs. cheap horsepower but their cars aren't S*** without it. at the track they are all over the place with their times, no consistency what so ever. Basically, I want to build a street monster with enough power to take to the track and spank my friends without spraying the nitrous.

basballny2 its an m6.

**xxLS1xx** · 02-19-2008, 08:17 AM

you're pretty much going for exactly what I wanna do once I pick up my maro. I agree about the nitrous... gay.

**Zedicous** · 02-19-2008, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by xxLS1xx

Yeah, 500 horses is generally a pretty decent number, but there are some 800-1000 hp cars here in ABQ, including a 900 HP N/A SS.... it's badass...

I'm sure there are but there not daily drivers and
with that much work done upkeep comes into play..

**xxLS1xx** · 02-19-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Zedicous

I'm sure there are but there not daily drivers and
with that much work done upkeep comes into play..

Of course, the only 900 HP LS1 in town only comes out on the weekends to play

and that guys got some extra cash lyin around... so he can afford to have a toy like that.

**2002_ss** · 02-19-2008, 02:23 PM

Forgot to mention also, that the camaro is my 3rd car. It can be a weekend play toy. The whole practicallity thing need not apply in my case.

**2002_ss** · 02-19-2008, 02:24 PM

I agree about the nitrous... gay.

**Zboner** · 02-19-2008, 02:27 PM

why do you consider it gay??

**konigandy6** · 02-19-2008, 02:46 PM

lol wrong place to make fun of n02. a lot of people here swear by it. me personally am all about n/a monsters, or the occasional blower, but theres guys here that think n02 is the cats pajamas.

**camarojunky74** · 02-19-2008, 05:38 PM

welcome to the boards mike, nice car btw, i was looking for a som, here is what i would do,

get some ported ls6 heads, or trickflow as you said before
a 231 237 cam, good springs pushrods oil pump, if i was you i would get pacesetter headers and a ory, but cut off the pacesetter exhaust union and weld in a flowmaster one, if this makes sense, your gonna need a new clutch soon enough along with a new rear end,

as for the 3.73's i think you would be wasting your time, i went 4.10's and should have gone with a built 9" with 4.30's

you will learn that these cars have rear ends that break under stock hp, good luck on your pursuit to 500hp

***Ed Blown Vert*** · 02-19-2008, 05:45 PM

If you can afford it, I would do a Procharger. Drives like stock. Until you get into boost.

**Zedicous** · 02-19-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by camarojunky74

welcome to the boards mike, nice car btw, i was looking for a som, here is what i would do,

get some ported ls6 heads, or trickflow as you said before
a 231 237 cam, good springs pushrods oil pump, if i was you i would get pacesetter headers and a ory, but cut off the pacesetter exhaust union and weld in a flowmaster one, if this makes sense, your gonna need a new clutch soon enough along with a new rear end,

as for the 3.73's i think you would be wasting your time, i went 4.10's and should have gone with a built 9" with 4.30's

you will learn that these cars have rear ends that break under stock hp, good luck on your pursuit to 500hp

Paceheader is cheap crap

**Midnight02** · 02-20-2008, 12:45 PM

The cam choice you mentioned is exactly what I have in my car. Matched with full bolt ons, a set of quality flowing heads and a FAST 90/90 intake, you should have no trouble putting down 440 - 450 rwhp N/A. As for the cam, it offers reliability on the streets, a ton of midrange power and the idle has a nice bit of chop to it.....I've been very pleased with it.

One alternative to this would be to put $6K into a Procharger, add on your most basic bolt on mods and you should easily be close to 460 - 480 rwhp. Match a cam to that combo with the right tune and then you should be close to the 500 rwhp mark.

Finally, a very easy way to hit 500 rwhp would involve a 125 - 150 shot of N20. We all have our preferences, however there is a reason why so many on this site swear by the juice.....for $1,000. you can get 150 rwhp (albeit not constant power) from a relatively safe setup. There are plenty of LS1 drivers out there that are getting a TON of passes with a 100 shot without any troubles at all. The same cannot be said for the stock 10 bolt rear end!

**Mr. Hyde** · 02-20-2008, 12:56 PM

No kidding!!! First mod on the list has to be to heave the 10 bolt as hard and as far as you can. If you need to rent heavy equipment to accomplish this task, so be it. Launch that nightmare piece of crap out of your life! Get a solid, well built rear end of your choice, we all have our preferances, I went with a Moser 12 bolt with a 33 spline and a 4:11 set up, depending on where you buy it, you're looking at approx. a couple grand for new. This must be your first consideration if you're going to make serious HP.