Cam vs. Heads

[cags07]

I am looking to get the best bang for my buck. I have a 2002 SS and I have already done Headers Cat Delete, Borla Exhaust SLP intake and a couple of other little Mods. I was wondering if I would get more HP out of a new set of heads and which would be the best, or if I was to do the Cam Springs and push rods. I still want to make it my daily driver so I do not want to get too wild or too expensive. Any suggestions would be appreicated.

[c5z28]

I have sen one thread where an ls-2 with afr's only made 400rwhp+, have not seen any gains like that or remotely close to that since. Cam only would do you right what you consider to radical is up to you. There is a thread "I need your dyno numbers" posted by luos has a lot of H/C setups you could look at.
If your going for cheap you can always pick up a ls-6 cam (tiny I know), with some stock 243's.

[devildogws6]

i have stock 243s and pic up some good number but i also already had a cam

[c5z28]

i have stock 243s and pic up some good number but i also already had a cam

Some specs would be nice

[m1a2d3]

auto or 6 speed ?

[cags07]

sorry it is auto

[shady milkman]

dont look at it as heads or cam....heads play a huge roll in power/torque of a cam....you wont see much of a gain if you bolt on a set of afr 205s with a stock cam...but you will see 10-30rwhp more off of a cam swap with the afr's than with some stock 241s or stock casting heads and a cam. ..personally i would wait until you have enough to do both..it is much easier and save some money on the tune that way.

[c5z28]

If you get a common cam like the 224, 228, tsunami, f-14, etc you will see a gain with heads. However there are cams specd out to optimize what your current setup is or what you want it to be, and can actuall show little games with heads. A guy with an ls-2 vette, fast, headers and a cam made 502rwhp.

[devildogws6]

its a custom grind cam for cnc'd 243's
the guy doesnt want me to give full specs, at .050 23x 240 dur and 61x and 60x lift 111lsa when i finish porting the heads and get it tuned i can let you know

[0rion]

I agree that if at all possible the smart thing to do is wait and do both at the same time. If that's just not an option I would probably do just a cam first. I believe the TR230 from thunder racing was designed to run on stock heads and it's a pretty decent cam. Local guy running that cam only was well into the 11's with it. My buddy has it in his 98 vette with home ported stock heads and although he's only ran a 12.05 he's trapping 115's so he should be into the 11's.

[shady milkman]

If you get a common cam like the 224, 228, tsunami, f-14, etc you will see a gain with heads. However there are cams specd out to optimize what your current setup is or what you want it to be, and can actuall show little games with heads. A guy with an ls-2 vette, fast, headers and a cam made 502rwhp.

i think the fact that it is a ls2 helps that statement quite a bit. larger bore and better breathing make those heads and i assume the cam happy

[c5z28]

i think the fact that it is a ls2 helps that statement quite a bit. larger bore and better breathing make those heads and i assume the cam happy

Of course that helps but how many n/a 402/408's are making only 20-30 more hp than that?

[shady milkman]

Of course that helps but how many n/a 402/408's are making only 20-30 more hp than that?

true ^

[0rion]

I believe I was wrong in my post.....seems now that I'm thinking the trex was the cam designed for stock heads.

[cags07]

Then what would be a good set of heads that would give me good performance but again this is going to be my daily driver

[shady milkman]

well any heads ..from the 5.3s to the tf215s will give you good driveability..if you want the best ..id go afr 205s or tf 215s.