2006 LS2 GTO - What to get for up to $5K?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
AdamK47

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,782
3,606
136
I've had my GTO for over 6 years now and I think it's time to do more modding. Right now the two somewhat performance oriented pieces I have are a fully functional shaker hood and a 3" SpinTech catback exhaust. I want to go NA this year with possibly going supercharged next year with a ProCharger.

Here's what I'm thinking at so far.

1. $931.89 - Kooks Long Tube Headers 1 7/8"x 3"
http://marylandspeed.com/kooks-long-tube-headers-1-78x-3-20052006-ls2-gto-k6703-p-496.html
2. $219.69 - Kooks 3" Off Road Mid Pipes
http://marylandspeed.com/kooks-3-off-road-mid-pipes-200506-pontiac-gto-k6703-oc-p-523.html
3. $386.95 - Lingenfelter GT11 Camshaft 350-383-427 LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6 215/231 .631/.644 w 1.7 rocker 118.0 CL
http://marylandspeed.com/lingenfelt...44-w-17-rocker-1180-cl-l210065297-p-2281.html
4. $134.95 - Comp Cams Hi Tech 5/16" Chromemoly Pushrods - GM LSx Engines
http://marylandspeed.com/comp-cams-...x-engines-various-lengths-comphtl-p-1244.html
5. $197.95 - SLP Harmonic Balancer/Underdrive Pulley
http://marylandspeed.com/slp-harmonic-balancerunderdrive-pulley-200406-gto-slp100226-p-253.html
6. $275.00 - Patriot Xtreme LS Dual Valve Spring & Titanium Retainers Kit
http://marylandspeed.com/patriot-xt...etainers-kit-ls1-ls2-ls3-ls6-8501-p-3531.html
7. $22.46 - SLP 160 Degree Thermostat
http://marylandspeed.com/slp-160-de...c6-g8-gt-thru-early-2009-slp100228-p-474.html
8. $159.95 - Elite Engineering PCV Oil Catch Can
http://marylandspeed.com/elite-engi...an-20042006-pontiac-gto-elite-gto-p-3587.html

The total is $2328.84 without shipping, install, and tune (install and tune will also need to be considered).
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
That $5k not enough to cover the blower and install ? (Clueless as to blowers and prices for American muscle, I know $5k will get your a very basic blower, installed and tune for a vq35 )
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
Yea I figured so, 350z vortech kits are like $3800 or so.

Friend has a mild cam and long tubes on his c6 vette. That thing sounds awesome! Do it.
 
AMCRambler

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,715
31
91
A maggie will cost like 5-6k and you'll still need some money left to tune it. With a pro charger if you're gonna put some serious boost into it you really got look at engine interals. At least beefed up heads and push rods.
 
AdamK47

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,782
3,606
136
shabby said:
But the ecm will think the car isn't warmed up yet and will run rich.
Click to expand...

A good tune can compensate for that. I'd rather have a cooler running engine than a hotter running one anyway. It may be a problem in the Winter, but this car doesn't run in the Winter.
 
S

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
91
AdamK47 said:
A good tune can compensate for that. I'd rather have a cooler running engine than a hotter running one anyway. It may be a problem in the Winter, but this car doesn't run in the Winter.
Click to expand...

Today's engines run better when they're hotter, this isn't the good old days anymore where people pulled their tstats completely.
 
manimal

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
13,559
8
0
I would do the pulley and exhaust and save the rest for the procharger. Spend 2k now and do what you really want sooner.
 
J

j&j

Senior member
Oct 10, 2011
246
0
0
shabby said:
Today's engines run better when they're hotter, this isn't the good old days anymore where people pulled their tstats completely.
Click to expand...


you have no idea what you're talking about. it has nothing to do with the actual motor. the ECU will pull more timing with hotter temps and you have a better chance of seeing knock retard.

every tuner demands/requires a thermostat for this very reason, it allows you to better tune the car for max power.
 
S

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
91
j&j said:
you have no idea what you're talking about. it has nothing to do with the actual motor. the ECU will pull more timing with hotter temps and you have a better chance of seeing knock retard.

every tuner demands/requires a thermostat for this very reason, it allows you to better tune the car for max power.
Click to expand...

You do realize gm does their testing in the harshest and hottest conditions and even on the nurburgring with stock 180-195 tstats.
I see 1 degree of timing being pulled in my tune starting at 225F, never have i reached that temp yet when racing, and if it does reach that temp it has nothing to do with the tstat but the efficiency of the stock radiator.
 
Don Karnage

Don Karnage

Platinum Member
Oct 11, 2011
2,865
0
0
To hell with Kooks. Yes they're nice but EXPENSIVE.

Texas Speed has Pacesetter Long Tube's for 369 Coated

http://www.texas-speed.com/p-1297-pacesetter-long-tube-headers-2004-gto.aspx

Add in a Off Road Pipes for 134.99 and you save 646 dollars for exactly the same performance.

Add in a Texas Speed Camshaft package for 599.99 and you still have 3900 more to spend.

http://www.texas-speed.com/p-1157-texas-speed-camshaft-package-w-single-beehive-valve-spring.aspx

With that 3900 dollars left to spend i recommend a Nitrous Kit. Wet kit.. Not a dry. ;)
 
9

96Firebird

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
5,742
340
126
AdamK47

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,782
3,606
136
I went to a local place called Cincy Speed on my lunch break to see what they could do. They had a bad rap in the past, but I think they do a good job now-a-days. I gave them the list of parts and they agreed with the majority of it. Changed the cam to a Comp Cam with nearly similar specs (can't remember it off the top of my head). They an ASP pully in stock, so I'm going with that. They could also get the springs, retainers, push rods, and thermostat (yes, it will need it) through their supplier and a lower cost. All that I need to order myself is the headers, mids, and catch can.
 
AdamK47

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,782
3,606
136
96Firebird said:
And here I was going to suggest American Racing longtubes w/connection pipes... :eek:

Pacesetters may be cheaper, but they aren't exactly the same performance, nor as durable.
Click to expand...

You get what you pay for with Pacesetters. I would never get them.
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
j&j said:
you have no idea what you're talking about. It has nothing to do with the actual motor. The ecu will pull more timing with hotter temps and you have a better chance of seeing knock retard.

Every tuner demands/requires a thermostat for this very reason, it allows you to better tune the car for max power.
Click to expand...

iat != ect. What you refer to is intake temps which must be monitored carefully with respect to timing advance on boosted engines that suffer from intercooler heatsoak, a side effect of compressing air.

Also ECT should never change if the cooling system is working properly. If the engine starts to get hotter due to WOT use, thermostat opens more and maintains constant ECT under all conditions. It is desirable for ECT out of range to prompt a complete limp mode. At which point WOT timing considerations for max power tuning are irrelevant, as engine temp exceeding thermostat regulation capacity is a "catastrophic failure" that needs to be addressed mechanically, not tuned around.
 
Last edited:
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
AdamK47 said:
That's later. Along with a FAST intake.
Click to expand...

Honestly, if the budget allows for it I'd do cylinder heads at the same time as the cam. This because the engine is apart anyway, and cam + heads + intake + exhaust all work together as a team, so ideally the cam grind will take the head airflow into account.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom