Humor me...

[Mr. Luos]

...well...haha but your trans am is a beast...
i was looking at the more subtle solutions now and the build up as my budget allows me...

Mine is mild.

Could have gone a little more nuts with it....although cost wouldn't have changed all that much. Just more into the heads.

[BashamWS6]

well i was just thinking the 6.0L Iron with Stage 3 ported heads and the ls6 intake, ls6 oil pump, and a ported thottle body...
i dont know what all is needed for the swap...care to summarize?

and no i dont want this to be a drag car. i just want some power for...say...when i run into a Z06 or if i want to make a few passes. plus i figure TSP engines are built to take a little more abuse

[silverWS6]

Just cam it with some heads for now and a intake. You'll be happy with that for now. May I suggest 228r cam, LS6 heads, FAST 92 intake and with your full exhaust then you will be making at least 430hp and that should be enough for you man. Save up money for more important things right now like COLLEGE for example. Sorry to sound like a father here but hey man we will have our LS9 Trans Am's when we are 40 and can handle that power, for now we are still somewhat kids and I know for a fact that I would go nuts with that much power and be really stupid. IMO.

[Mr. Luos]

First thing...
TSP is selling a BARE LQ9 block for $750. No crank, no anything.

My shortblock was $3750 from TSP.
This is what you get....

No heads, no cam, no lifters, no covers, no pan, no intake, no injectors, just a rotating assembly and block (balanced and blue'd of course).

Shortblock = $3700
Heads = $1300 (if you go cheap)
Cam and valvetrain = $750 (depends on the heads as well)
New gaskets and bolts = $400
Intake/TB = $400 (I have $1700 into my FAST)
Suspension/tires (otherwise you basically waste the power) = $1300 min.
Rearend = $2500

Transmission when it gives out = $2000
LABOR (you mentioned not doing the work yourself because of a certain reason that doesn't matter here) = A FUCKING LOT OF DOLLARS

[BashamWS6]

Just cam it with some heads for now and a intake. You'll be happy with that for now. May I suggest 228r cam, LS6 heads, FAST 92 intake and with your full exhaust then you will be making at least 430hp and that should be enough for you man. Save up money for more important things right now like COLLEGE for example. Sorry to sound like a father here but hey man we will have our LS9 Trans Am's when we are 40 and can handle that power, for now we are still somewhat kids and I know for a fact that I would go nuts with that much power and be really stupid. IMO.

arent we already?

but lets see...
cam...... $300
heads.......... $1800
intake.......... $600
dyno........... $400
so about $3100
compared to $7500+....and i could always transfer the heads and intake and cam into the 6.0 later on right?

[silverWS6]

arent we already?

but lets see...
cam...... $300
heads.......... $1800
intake.......... $600
dyno........... $400
so about $3100
compared to $7500....and i could always transfer the heads and intake and cam into the 6.0 later on right?

sometimes...

Anyways if you do go with a bigger engine down the road then our gonna want a bigger cam and better heads to go with it too

[BashamWS6]

First thing...
TSP is selling a BARE LQ9 block for $750. No crank, no anything.

My shortblock was $3750 from TSP.
This is what you get....

No heads, no cam, no lifters, no covers, no pan, no intake, no injectors, just a rotating assembly and block (balanced and blue'd of course).

Shortblock = $3700
Heads = $1300 (if you go cheap)
Cam and valvetrain = $750 (depends on the heads as well)
New gaskets and bolts = $400
Intake/TB = $400 (I have $1700 into my FAST)
Suspension/tires (otherwise you basically waste the power) = $1300 min.
Rearend = $2500

Transmission when it gives out = $2000
LABOR (you mentioned not doing the work yourself because of a certain reason that doesn't matter here) = A FUCKING LOT OF DOLLARS

^^^^under certified and noob


give me a few years...


so bascally. put money down on suspension and transmission mods
-MWC/Moser 9" $2700
-T56 Level V $2400
-LS7 Clutch/Master Cylindar/SpeedBleeder/Pro 5.0 $1020
-UMI LCAs/SFCs/Panhard bar/Torque Arm $853
-PST 3.5 Aluminum DriveShaft $420
-Strano's/Konis $1050
-Nitto's $1000+
..................$9,443
am i missing anything suspension/chassis/tranny wise?

[Mr. Luos]

It all depends on what order you plan on doing things. And how far you eventually plan on going with it.

A solid base is worth every dime though.
Our cars with a good suspension and 350RWHP are a TON of fun to drive.

[BashamWS6]

yeah its fun now...i love these cars...always have and probably always will
well not now with 3/4" ice and a possible bent rod/lifter/etc.etc.

ill probably end up with the rear end, new tires/rims, ls7 clutch kit, and LCAs this summer.

wish i knew more about engines and shit. id love to get into this stuff but i guess im skidish about getting under the hood and making a $1000 fuck up...

[silverWS6]

It all depends on what order you plan on doing things. And how far you eventually plan on going with it.

A solid base is worth every dime though.
Our cars with a good suspension and 350RWHP are a TON of fun to drive.

[BashamWS6]

dude.. these cars with a V6 are fun to drive....just not as easy to get into trouble

[wooddaniel]

dude.. these cars with a V6 are fun to drive....just not as easy to get into trouble

I have good suspension, and just under 430 RWHP (In 80 degree weather and florida humidity.) I smile every time I start my car (As my neighbors all scowl at me) and it is an absolute blast to drive. It only cost me around 3K to do the heads, cam/exhaust/gears. Its a small cam too, good daily driver. I bought everything piece by piece and the majority of it used. You can do it on a budget as long as you look for deals on here and Tech and craigslist. I bought an LS6 intake for 100$ on craigslist. I just drove to Mississippi and back a couple weeks ago. I averaged 25.5 MPG on the highway, not bad for a H/C car with 373's( you were talking about mileage somewhere.)

You're young. Plenty of time to save up for a bigger motor later on. 430RWHP is PLENTY to have a good time. Plus, if you are going to go insane with power you want to have enough $ saved up to A: buy a Daily Driver and B: make sure you do things right with your car.

Be safe and try not to get tickets. I had a 97 Z28 when I was 17 and my driving record paid dearly for it...

[godless-phoenix]

"im constantly changing my mind..."

...because your 17 ...haha, just messin with yah

dont try and make it a drag car you will NOT be happy with it. i promise a mild cam wheels tires and all the suspension upgrades will bring such a big grin to your face each and EVERY time start her up

dont make the same mistakes so many others do and go over board with a DD

+1 to this

[WICKEDLS1]

your 17, your mind will change a lot more before you make up your mind.

cam it, do some wheels 224R 228R no bigger please. do LOTS of handling improvement mods you will be happy you did! and as i always say..install SUB FRAME CONNECTORS FIRST! save your car some hard times and do it a flavor.
good luck on any decision you choose though..enjoy the car. just not to much lol

man i cannot wait till we do mine lol

[BashamWS6]

alright. well then. lets talk about heads, cams, intakes/TBs

and question. i notice in '99 they put 26lb fuel injector when the 98&00-02 had 28lbs... would larger fuel injectors help?

[pajeff02]

As you increase the engine's ability to ingest air -- ie. heads, cam, intake, you also need to make the appropriate upgrades to your fuel system. There is a formula for sizing injectors once you know what you want to go with.

[WICKEDLS1]

alright. well then. lets talk about heads, cams, intakes/TBs

and question. i notice in '99 they put 26lb fuel injector when the 98&00-02 had 28lbs... would larger fuel injectors help?

yeah talk to TmexicanA he did the cam in his ws6 and his dads gto so he kinda knows whats up and what to look out for

[Mr. Luos]

You need to keep your injectors at right around 80% duty cycle when WOT.
Anymore and it is time to step them up.
Also do not want to go too big.

[BashamWS6]

well i figured that if i went with the ls6 intake and ported TB...and with my exhaust...then i would need to atleast step them up to 28 right?

[Mr. Luos]

well i figured that if i went with the ls6 intake and ported TB...and with my exhaust...then i would need to atleast step them up to 28 right?

Doubt it.