Quality engine shop

[SSeniorMoment]

Looking for a quality engine shop to install a 3-bolt low lash solid roller cam, dyno tune with 6L80E trans.

Kip @Cam Motion put the parts package together, T&D shaft mounted rockers , Frankenstein heads and Circle D 3600 stall.

[tribone]

Hey there. I would recommend J&R Performance. Myself and a couple of other guys have driven out there from California. They worked on my 2010 LSX and did an awesome job. Not only with the Performance aspect, but also how clean and organized they left the Engine Compartment. I also know a few guys that have taken their Camaros to them from Texas and Nevada.

I personally will be taking my 2015 1LE once I get all the parts that I want installed. Definitely recommend them.

[SSeniorMoment]

Originally Posted by tribone

Hey there. I would recommend J&R Performance. Myself and a couple of other guys have driven out there from California. They worked on my 2010 LSX and did an awesome job. Not only with the Performance aspect, but also how clean and organized they left the Engine Compartment. I also know a few guys that have taken their Camaros to them from Texas and Nevada.

I personally will be taking my 2015 1LE once I get all the parts that I want installed. Definitely recommend them.

Thank you, I'll give them a call.

[Unreal]

CPR is the only local shop I would consider having touch my car. If pressed hard enough, Top Gear in Mesa is 2nd choice.

You couldn't pay me enough to even let other places change the oil let alone tune/install anything.

[SSeniorMoment]

Originally Posted by Unreal

CPR is the only local shop I would consider having touch my car. If pressed hard enough, Top Gear in Mesa is 2nd choice.

You couldn't pay me enough to even let other places change the oil let alone tune/install anything.

Thank you very much for your input, I'll do more background checking.

[376LS3]

Originally Posted by Unreal

CPR is the only local shop I would consider having touch my car. If pressed hard enough, Top Gear in Mesa is 2nd choice.

You couldn't pay me enough to even let other places change the oil let alone tune/install anything.

This guy gets it....

[SSeniorMoment]

It always pays to double check, and sometimes triple check, before laying down hard earned coin; thanks guys.

[Unreal]

Well and of course AGP for turbo goodness. They do a great job installing/tuning their kits. They are pumping out a car a week making 750-800rwhp with just a kit bolted on. Surprised more people don't go that way.

[gotroost]

Top Gear did my cam and I was perfectly happy. Small shop so it takes some time, but Sean is very particular. Very happy to answer every question.

[Bodywerks]

Originally Posted by Unreal

Well and of course AGP for turbo goodness. They do a great job installing/tuning their kits. They are pumping out a car a week making 750-800rwhp with just a kit bolted on. Surprised more people don't go that way.

Probably because of the added weight, inherently aggressive torque curve, cost, and probably not ideal for twisty track/road course use? I'm sure it'd come as quite a surprise for all that power to come online gassing it out of a turn.
That kit is about $9k, and doesn't include a cam, which is surely recommended, so there's still that cost to consider. It also doesn't include labor for those that can't do it themselves. So these guys must be writing checks for what, $10-15k or more to drive away with that package installed? That's a lot of up front money. And then, with 600-800+ rwhp a clutch upgrade is in order, like now.
If all I wanted to do is go fast straight I'd probably do the turbo option, though.

[Unreal]

Originally Posted by Bodywerks

Probably because of the added weight, inherently aggressive torque curve, cost, and probably not ideal for twisty track/road course use? I'm sure it'd come as quite a surprise for all that power to come online gassing it out of a turn.
That kit is about $9k, and doesn't include a cam, which is surely recommended, so there's still that cost to consider. It also doesn't include labor for those that can't do it themselves. So these guys must be writing checks for what, $10-15k or more to drive away with that package installed? That's a lot of up front money. And then, with 600-800+ rwhp a clutch upgrade is in order, like now.
If all I wanted to do is go fast straight I'd probably do the turbo option, though.

Kit is $7500. No cam needed. They do installed/tuned 750-800rwhp for less than $10k out the door installed. Works fine on twisty track/road course. Just size the turbos properly. Don't run the huge ones that come on late.

As for doing it yourself, it isn't much harder than a header install. Bolts right on, no cutting, drilling, welding, or anything. Just undo factory cats, bolt turbos in place, run pipes and mount intercooler. Easily done in a day. Several people have made 1000+ on stock cams or ls9 cams. Doesn't take a big cam. Let the turbos do the work.

Porsche, McClaren, Ferrari, GTRs and the list goes on do just fine with turbos for twisties. You can run the smaller turbos that would max out around 850rwhp and have pretty much instant power and full boost around 2200-2500rpm. If you are lower than that on a road course, probably need driving lessons. Even the 56mms that hit full boost at 3200ish would have no issue. Plus with a boost controller you can just turn it down to 5psi, make ~500rwhp, and not worry. If you needed more power to pass on a straight could just hit an overboost switch and make 800rwhp to pass then back to 500rwhp.

Clutches are an interesting thing. If you just daily driver and road course, stock clutch holds up pretty damn well. It is sticky tires, drag raciing, and launching that kills clutches. Friend had a 750rwhp vette driving around for years on a stock ls3 clutch. Everyone kept telling him it was going to die, so he finally put a RXT in it. When he pulled the stock clutch, it still looked new. Never slipped, never had an issue. He never drag raced, and just did canyons/twisties.

Added weight is very minimal and it is low to ground. Turbos weigh about the same as the parts removed, so all you have is the oil pump, some piping and an intercooler.

[SSeniorMoment]

Originally Posted by gotroost

Top Gear did my cam and I was perfectly happy. Small shop so it takes some time, but Sean is very particular. Very happy to answer every question.

I learned that there are shops that don't want to mess with installing a solid roller cam, Sean will, just coordinating with Nic for the tune. Nic is about 2-3 weeks out, so the Camaro is getting closer to getting its mods.

Getting any time in at INDE? Planning on Cars In The Park?

[BigD6.6]

I had J&R do my cam and supercharger, extremely happy with the results. I would definitely recommend them. They actually referred me to Camaro5 and a couple of other Camaro clubs here in Phoenix. They do a lot of Camaro work. Now that they did mine I have been seeing quite a few Camaros rocking the J&R logo around here.

[Joe@CPR.com]

We are here to help in any way we can. Look at the omega events, shifts3ctor, texas invitational, etc. No one locally has more car's in those events and winning than us. We use Nic D to tune our stuff and his work speaks for itself, combine that with our attention to detail and background and you have a winning combo right there! If you decide to not use us though I would recommend Sean @ Top gear, he is good people and we have been friends for quite a long time now.