Advice on cams

[Cory281]

Hey guys, I've been thinking lately that I really want to put some more aggressive cams in my car. Right now it is a 01 GT, 5spd, it's pretty much stock except for a mgw shifter and flows, and some cosmetic stuff.

So my plans right now are cams, shorty headers, a new catted h-pipe, and a flowmaster catback.

I've heard good things about VT and I've heard Comp cams are good. Which would be the best? My car is a daily driver and has 80,000 miles on it so I should probably replace the springs to, where should I get these? I'm thinking of going with VT stage 1 cams. Would this be good for a daily driver?

The reason I want to go with shorty headers is so my car still passes emissions. What would be a good choice?

Then onto the exhaust I want an H-pipe because I'm looking more for the sound then I am for power, what are some good catted h pipes? Then I'm going to finish it off with flowmaster 40's.

Thanks for any help. :SNSign:

 

[Dusstbuster]

Most people will tell you to go with LT headers or no headers at all. Id think that since you want to pass emissions though and should take any gains you can get shortys would be fine. On the subject of cams it seems like you can't really go wrong with either VT or Comp. I think in the end you'll have a response that leans slightly towards VT though.

 

[Cory281]

Are shortys just not worth the money for the power you get?

 

[Miles]

I was looking at comp cams until the guys here convinced me to go VT. VT Stage I's are a great cam for daily driving - nice and mild. Some of STII's sound good too, but all depends on what you want from your car..

 

[Cory281]

Yeah I was thinking that stage 1's would work out great. Wheres a good place to get them at?

 

[Built98GT]

Are shortys just not worth the money for the power you get?

Yes they are worth it. I wish I would have gotten shorties. Lets just say plan on spending about 700 bucks labor just to change a clutch if you get longtubes.Just to change my clutch we the shop had to drop the K member and drop the motor a little and take off the passenger side header just to get the tranny off. Neways If I could do it again I would go with shorties.

 

[Pennywise2]

VT cams are the poop!

 

[steveb24]

vt 1 or comp 262's, off road prochamber, no headers

 

[BooWFO]

Are shortys just not worth the money for the power you get?

I'd say they were worth the money. 20rwhp, but what do I know, I wanted them so I could swap out clutches.

I really like the vt stg1's and if staying NA or nitrous I'd go that route. If a blower is possible in the future I'd lean toward the comp cams 262's, of course the 270's are so much nicer but they need a spring replacment.
But there are TONS of cams out there been hearing good things about the crower's and a few others. Might want to check with the companies and see if there are any that might pass a sniffer test though.

 

[Cory281]

I think that I'm going to go with VT stage 1's. I know a lot of people here have them and like them. I'll go with something tried and true. Where should I get the valve springs from? I should probably replace them since the car has 80,000 miles, right? Or am I ok?

Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Stang|ess]

Yes they are worth it. I wish I would have gotten shorties. Lets just say plan on spending about 700 bucks labor just to change a clutch if you get longtubes.Just to change my clutch we the shop had to drop the K member and drop the motor a little and take off the passenger side header just to get the tranny off. Neways If I could do it again I would go with shorties.

Hookers, Bassani, and Kook headers do not have to be removed to do tranny work.

Sucks that you had to pay that much .

 

[Stang|ess]

I think that I'm going to go with VT stage 1's. I know a lot of people here have them and like them. I'll go with something tried and true. Where should I get the valve springs from? I should probably replace them since the car has 80,000 miles, right? Or am I ok?

Thanks for all the help so far.

I'd replace them for insurance and peace of mind. Get Manley, or Comp springs.

 

['03GTinFLA]

I'd say they were worth the money. 20rwhp, but what do I know, I wanted them so I could swap out clutches.

Maybe I'm still a little sleepy but did you say you got 20rwhp from shorties. Doe s that include the cams? I've seen dyno graphs for shorties and it makes minimal difference. Maybe if you had a blower or something but I've never seen more than 4-5 rwhp.

 

[Pennywise2]

The problem with going to a bigger cams is when you have
to change valve springs labor will get very expensive if you
have someone do it for you.Also some bigger cams are not
smog legal if you live in a place where emissions is strict.