what path for gradual upgrades?

[wylde1]

hey guys,

I know how I would go about this if I was building a motor from the ground up. But lets say I want to add bit by bit to this LS3. What would you guys do first?

put a s/c on and go with low boost, then cam/valvetrain/intake upgrades? or upgrade the top end first and THEN a s/c?

I'm coning from the school of thought of how I build my hobby motors. where I just make the bottom end as strong as the budget will allow, then pick my heads according to the C/R I'm looking for, use those flow numbers to choose an intake and cam so they all work together in unison.

I just have trouble picking one place to upgrade at a time because I know how much they all depend on one another.

on a side note, what kind of boost are you guys running with stock bottoms? 7-10 lbs?

I figure chargers are a great bang for your buck power option. as long as I run low boost while the rest is stock, I could get away with that. then upgrade the top end to maximize the potential.

but i'm certainly no expert, what do you guys think? poke any holes in that?

[600hp-lpe]

I would do suspension, wheels/tires, brakes, then engine.

After getting the engine modded, my Camaro needed SERIOUS TLC with the suspension and Tires. Brakes are OK on the SS, they don't need too much.

[wylde1]

phhh brakes just slow you down........


haha I do see your point though. However none of that stuff is as interesting to me as engine parts.... I know it's all important and it will all likely get upgraded eventually, but i'm not racing it, I just want it to be a snarling beast I can drive every day.

I do all my own work because I just enjoy it, and engine mods are what I enjoy most

[SSTony]

Horsepower is an addiction so be careful

[wylde1]

I'm already long gone my friend..... long gone haha


btw where did you get that decepticons logo????

[old motorhead]

Start from the back end and work your way forward and upward. Just about any upgrade you do to the motor will need exhaust upgrades. High flow mufflers and cats (if you have to have them)...then LT headers unless you're thinking of adding a turbo or two.

Upgrade the cam next. 118 to 224 duration on the intake and about 10 degrees more on the exhaust side using a 114 to 118LSA. The cam will be a nice upgrade even if you never add a blower. Pin the crank while you're at it.

Don't fool with the heads. Stock LS3 heads are bad ass as is. Ported heads aren't a good bang for the buck mod unless you're shooting for some sky high power numbers.

For a cold air induction, it would help if you knew your type of blower. Some fit better than others with different blowers.

Somewhere during this process, you need to consider where you eventually want to be power wise. Clutch, brakes, and rear end upgrades need to be done if your power goals are "lofty". Same thing on the handling mods. How fast do you want to go around a curve?

[wylde1]

I like your thought process. I tend to agree now that I think harder about it.

in all reality there likely won't be any engine upgrades until the warranty is up. in that time I plan on doing exhaust, LT headers and a CAI. and if time/money permit probably suspension upgrade by the time the warranty is over. I figure one big upgrade per year and i could get all that stuff done easily in the warranty window. then once that's done it'll be on to engine mods.

I did a little more reading on this ls3 and you aren't kidding. they are indeed bad ass! 2.16/1.60 valves stock! that's some serious breathing room. and the stock valvetrain is roller, so that helps alot when upgrading cams as well. just have to buy the cam and springs really. Is it true it's got 1.7 rockers? i know the stock cam says about 550 lift, but if it's 1.7 rockers that'd be some serious valve lift.

my goal will be 500 rwhp... but of course, the closer you get the more you think about pushing it a bit more haha

[old motorhead]

Originally Posted by wylde1

I like your thought process. I tend to agree now that I think harder about it.

in all reality there likely won't be any engine upgrades until the warranty is up. in that time I plan on doing exhaust, LT headers and a CAI. and if time/money permit probably suspension upgrade by the time the warranty is over. I figure one big upgrade per year and i could get all that stuff done easily in the warranty window. then once that's done it'll be on to engine mods.

I did a little more reading on this ls3 and you aren't kidding. they are indeed bad ass! 2.16/1.60 valves stock! that's some serious breathing room. and the stock valvetrain is roller, so that helps alot when upgrading cams as well. just have to buy the cam and springs really. Is it true it's got 1.7 rockers? i know the stock cam says about 550 lift, but if it's 1.7 rockers that'd be some serious valve lift.

my goal will be 500 rwhp... but of course, the closer you get the more you think about pushing it a bit more haha

The lift figures are quoted at the valve with the stock 1.7 ratio rockers. If you added 1.8 ratio rockers, the lift would be higher. 550 lift would turn in to .582 lift and a little extra duration at .050 lift.