$1,650 for cam install and street tune?

[dekan513]

Originally Posted by ackeight

It's 100-120 down here at the well known shops but they can get it done quicker since they've done a ton of lsx work.

yep , a good shop that does this almost daily can get them done faster them most ppl can change headers.

[Lethal Racing]

Not sure if thats just labor, but I'll give you a breakdown.

Cam Install - $850
Street Tune - $300 add $150 for dynotune
Fluids - 130.00
Gaskets - $68

Shawn

[WHAMMO]

Sounds not too bad if its really good lsx shop. Lethal is a good exemple!!^^


I have some reflection about doing the work yourself; It can be done by any guy that has good tools and some good knowledge about the lsx engines. BUT I came to a point in my life where Id rather pay true specialists to do the work. Ive learned thru the years that trying to save 4-500 $ for a job like this is not worth it. Why? Ive read a lot of stories about blown engines, valve float, hp missing, parts mismatched and so on. Mesuring the pushrods length/preload and degreeing the cam can be tricky. I want the most hp out of my lsx and have some sort of peace of mind about it. Thats why I prefer to pay a real pro to do it ( not an local wannabe shop).

[Mr. Unassailable]

Originally Posted by Nightmare2012

Try doing it yourself you'll learn your car like never before and save you cash.

this.

I ordered the kit from Jannetty and it was very straight forward. The only advice I have for someone going at this is to get a GOOD valve spring compressor. I ended up buying 2 at local auto parts stores which both failed. Then I looked up a good one, took out the metal working tools, and created my own which worked well. Get up early one morning and knock it out. There's plenty of sources for the information needed.

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by Frid

Are they a big and reputable performance shop or a hole in the wall shop?

I'll take a 1 or 2 person hole in the wall shop that will take their time, do it right, be proud of what they did...

As opposed to a "big reputable performance shop" that looks at headers, cams, and tunes as filler material until they get the big projects...

I mean really, cam swap and tune in 8 hours? You can spend days tuning a car if done properly.

[Juice2SS]

I was quoted $3995 to put an LS9 cam in my L99 car with a tune. $3995!!! WTF?! lol That was from a shop that is highly talked about on here. That's $4000 for one days work. I cant see me doing that.

[Neumatic]

Originally Posted by Mr. Unassailable

this.

I ordered the kit from Jannetty and it was very straight forward. The only advice I have for someone going at this is to get a GOOD valve spring compressor. I ended up buying 2 at local auto parts stores which both failed. Then I looked up a good one, took out the metal working tools, and created my own which worked well. Get up early one morning and knock it out. There's plenty of sources for the information needed.

We tried using one we had and got 2 of them on but it was taking way too long and it was being way too difficult. So we took a piece of steel and cut our own out for it. Here is a good picture to give anyone that wants to make one to give them an idea of what is needed, its extremely simple to make and in the time we did the first 2 springs we did a whole side with this one.

[429]

^ $39 ebay tool for me. Same idea

[2SSRSinBama]

Originally Posted by WHAMMO

Sounds not too bad if its really good lsx shop. Lethal is a good exemple!!^^


I have some reflection about doing the work yourself; It can be done by any guy that has good tools and some good knowledge about the lsx engines. BUT I came to a point in my life where Id rather pay true specialists to do the work. Ive learned thru the years that trying to save 4-500 $ for a job like this is not worth it. Why? Ive read a lot of stories about blown engines, valve float, hp missing, parts mismatched and so on. Mesuring the pushrods length/preload and degreeing the cam can be tricky. I want the most hp out of my lsx and have some sort of peace of mind about it. Thats why I prefer to pay a real pro to do it ( not an local wannabe shop).

that is what my "hole in the wall" shop just finished up, made almost 1300whp on just 25psi... P.S. its on low boost for shakedown




that one was trailered to the track, ran a 5.68 in the 1/8th and DRIVEN home, its a 1hr long drive home from the track

and yes there are faster cars out there, but both of those cars are tagged... the Cobra is far from a "street" car.. the TA has a passenger seat, a horn, even a radio... it does not have an AC... but its literally not far from a daily driver, I pass it in town all the damn time, lol

now you gotta remember, I live in Bama where the cops are very relaxed on cars... my header'd Camaro with no cats, no resonator, and bullets barely even bats an eye, lol

[TRIPWIRE]

i paid 2200 parts+labor and mine is an L99. its a bit too much

[Joe@CPR.com]

that is super high for labor!! i'll post openly we charge $756.00 for a cam on a gen v camaro. our labor rate is $84.00/hr i know it's lower than most but even at the regular $95/$100 you should not be that high! are they buying you a nice steak dinner afterwards lol

[WHAMMO]

Originally Posted by 2SSRSinBama

that is what my "hole in the wall" shop just finished up, made almost 1300whp on just 25psi... P.S. its on low boost for shakedown




that one was trailered to the track, ran a 5.68 in the 1/8th and DRIVEN home, its a 1hr long drive home from the track

and yes there are faster cars out there, but both of those cars are tagged... the Cobra is far from a "street" car.. the TA has a passenger seat, a horn, even a radio... it does not have an AC... but its literally not far from a daily driver, I pass it in town all the damn time, lol

now you gotta remember, I live in Bama where the cops are very relaxed on cars... my header'd Camaro with no cats, no resonator, and bullets barely even bats an eye, lol

Im not the one that mentionned anything about any "hole in the wall shop". Since I have to drive all the way from Canada to NY or NJ (7hours aint too bad) to meet any real LSx specialists who know what theyre doing and that I can trust, I cant afford to take a guess on a 'hidden gem' small shop that I dont know the existence of!! I have to hang on forums like LS1tech /C5/LS1GTO/Corvette forums and decide for myself. I wont go after the biggest shop, but for the guys that I feel have the most results/expertise for the buck.

BTW, your work is impressive!!

[stangkilr]

Book time is 23hr's for a cam swap. Performance shops cannot go by book time though.

[DuskSS]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

I'll take a 1 or 2 person hole in the wall shop that will take their time, do it right, be proud of what they did...

As opposed to a "big reputable performance shop" that looks at headers, cams, and tunes as filler material until they get the big projects...

I mean really, cam swap and tune in 8 hours? You can spend days tuning a car if done properly.

and this is exactly how Lethal does things..
took 8 hours to do the install.
and another day and a half to tune mine and get it where they were happy with it.

Shawn and Nick DO care even about cam swaps.. and not just their "big" jobs.