Originally Posted by
WishIHadaSilvia
I haven't bought a cam yet, so I'll check out Thunder Racing. I am trying to stay under 400....shit I am trying to stay around 350 at first. That will be a 100 hp jump for what I'm used to in my car, not to mention the torque curve/numbers haha.
I want to pick up a timing chain and oil pump kit, so thanks for the info on the LS4 oil pump (and recommendations as to a good site to go through for good prices online?). Do you have a gasket set that you'd recommend? I need head gaskets and I wanted to be able to replace everything else I encounter along the way. I am keeping the rings with the pistons but have new rod/main bearings.
I need to go pick up an engine stand and get this bitch ripped apart!
A bone stock LS1 will make 300-310 rwhp. So w/ a 224/224 cam and some good exhaust you'll be 360-370 for cheap. I'd go w/ a LS4 or ported LS6 oil pump. For the chain you don't need the complexity etc. of a double-roller. Just get the OEM LS2 chain... it's $30ish bucks and is much beefier than the LS6 chain I took out of my car.
You can buy a "cam kit" from many places... this typically includes the cam, springs, pushrods, etc. They can also include the oil pump and timing chain etc. As for gaskets... OEM all the way. GM makes great stuff. Scoggins-Dickey sells a cam install kit which has all the gaskets etc. that you'll need and a new crank bolt.
I buy my OEM parts from them or GMpartshouse.com. I got my cam kit from LGM. FYI when working on these cars follow LS1howto.com very very closely when it comes to replacing the front main seal, installing the front cover, instalilng the pulley, and most importantly torqing it to spec. Done wrong and you'll have a leaking front main and a pulley that wants to back off.