Cams are a good idea, especially if you've got a non revup, which if you have a 5AT is you. The normal DE cams are pretty weak. But the heads flow really well, if you open them up any more with a port / polish, etc. you're going to lose air velocity and as such lose power. You really need to be looking around 6-700+ whp range before honest head work is needed. Only other time to touch the heads is if you need to grind out clearance for the big *** JWT C9s

 

 

Not really trying to put more than 3-4 grand into the car engine wise.

 

3-4k for a turbo or a supercharger is not doable. I'm just being realistic. If you do it that route you will ruin something else int he process. I promise. Just do all bolt ons. It will get you close to 300. If your going to go the turbo route you better be prepared to drop 7-15k and up. I rebuilt the whole motor and a few other things. So I was well over 20k.... With a proper tune in there it gets expensive.

 

FYI my friend owns a shop and I work on my car there every now and then. I can get tuning/installation done for free since we've worked on cars since we were kids. He's more experienced with internal work so if I have any issues or questions I can call him for reference. I'm just paying for the parts themselves in actuality.

 

Hahaha me 2. I do work on my car myself.

 

So you see how paying 6k for a turbo kit or 4k on internals alone isn't that big of a deal for me.

 

Right, I was just saying when you said 3-4k for everything I was just saying don't try a turbo.

 

Injectors, clutch/flywheel, fuel pump, uprev, maf, exhaust, gauges, oil cooler, spark plugs, etc

Not including if brakes and rims/tires need to be upgraded to do it safely.

 

You should have said that in the first post, it would have made this question much easier. You are not going to be able to do sh*t for 3-4 grand.

 

I can spend more it's just what I want to limit myself to.

 

Then you are pretty much only limiting yourself to a couple bolt ons and maybe a 20hp gain.

If you want any significant gains, you have to be ready to spend atleast 10k for decent used turbo install, at least 12k for NA build with cams and internals. But if you have someone willing to help with the work, LSx is the cheapest, more powerful, and most reliable of all the routes; also about 10k. Another side benefit, LSx Gs resale much higher than turbo Gs.

 

Rebuild the engine with the thought of going FI once she's broken in, then include the Vortech S/C. You'll still have a DD but with way more zzzzip...
Gary

 

if your budget is 3-4k then you really wont get much.

consider that the uprev tuner version is 700 alone without any type of included tune. If your friend has a dyno and can tune it, then that would be the extent of that tuning cost but if not I would pay someone reputable to do a dyno tune which is like 4-500

so considering tune-minimum 700
n/a boltons:
5/16 spacer 200
exhaust 700-1200+
test pipes 200
headers 400-1200 + install(unless DIY)
youd be at your budget limit, and as whosurbuddie said will probably net you around 20whp on a DE/revup. youd probably dyno like 270/280 at the wheels.



rebuilding engine would cost quite a bit more if done right even in parts alone considering decent pistons would probably run you like 1k and rods 1k. cams alone are also over 1k not including valves, springs etc.so all said and done a proper internal build would probably run about 5k+ in parts alone once you add in all the small parts to complete it such a gaskets, bolts etc.

if you only want 350whp just throw on a used vortech kit as is(with vortech fmu) with a tune which can be had for like 4500 tuned and call it a day.

 

I mean 3-4k for the ENGINE alone, not breathing mods, I already have HFC, exhaust, plenum, z-tube/pop charger