Okay in the next few months I'm going to be building a head for my Cavi in my garage and later slap it on and get it re-tuned. It's main purpose is to sustain use (Not abuse, that's why I'm building it) to 7,000rpms max. I am wondering what needs to be added/removed from this list to build a successful N/A spec head for daily fun driving (Seldom track use) but capable of supporting 11.5:1 comp ratio when I build the bottom end later. (This setup will be fed by AMMfab's N/A Spec Intake Manifold and RC 32# injectors, exiting out AMMfab's Custom 4-1 longtube header followed by a 2.5" cat-less exhaust.)
Here is the list, I appreciate any and all feedback.
~Stock Head (From Pick n' Pull)
~Sandblast, Port and Polish
~JBP ECO Valve Springs
~JBP Steel Spring Retainers
~JBP Steel Valve Locks (This is in an automatic Cavi, so the RPM hang is high in 4th/OD)
~JBP Bronze Valve Guides
~Bates Engineering Valve Seals
~Bates Engineering Spring Seats
~JBP Stainless Steel Valves (8 Ex, 8 In)
~Delta Cams
Duration @ .050*, Valve Lift
Intake 228*, 446
Exhuast 232*, 448
~Ecotec Head Gasket
~ARP Head Studs
This will all run me about $2,200 said and done, with labor done by myself.
Any suggestions?
"Vroom."
"Yo I wouldn't race him, there's not even an interior in his car man."
"Vrooooooom PSSSSHHH!"
"Oh sh*t. F*ck that, dude..."
I'll be the first but not the only to caution you against JBP.
I've been running my stock valvetrain to 7k rpm (albeit on stock cams) for about 40k miles now with no issues.
With higher lift cams, you should only need upgraded valve springs. supertech 78in/lbs are good to a certain lift, and then GMPP/Bates/Ferrera are needed.
I'm very interested to see other replies to this thread.
Jim,
I'd look into the Comp Stage II cams, and source your parts somewhere other than JBP, I've been reading a lot about people not being able to get a hold of them for a while now. Check out the SuperTech 78lb spring kit (comes with new Ti retainers and dual springs). Also, with your build you could still use stock valve seals with those springs. Lemme know if you wanna take a look at it, it's chillin in my house, and you have my number. Give me a call sometime and I'll tell you about the build that I'm looking at, its very similar to yours.
Also, call Karo at AllEcotec/CarCustoms and ask him about this stuff.
Thanx Larry. Lookin forward to your next post.
"Vroom."
"Yo I wouldn't race him, there's not even an interior in his car man."
"Vrooooooom PSSSSHHH!"
"Oh sh*t. F*ck that, dude..."
What I'm doing for my head is the following:
Full radius valve job
Clean up the intake and exhaust side
Port match intake and exhaust
Stock size stainless valves
Supertech 78lb spring kit
Comp stage 2 cams, though those deltas sound like a good idea now that you've told me about them
ARP head studs
Felpro head gasket kit (comes with literally EVERYTHING to swap a head on)
LSJ injectors in an 02 fuel rail
And that's pretty much it, all the rest of my build is on the intake/exhaust sides and in the bottom end, but that's a whole nother thread lol.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edited Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:18 PM
Where can I buy the spring kit at?
"Vroom."
"Yo I wouldn't race him, there's not even an interior in his car man."
"Vrooooooom PSSSSHHH!"
"Oh sh*t. F*ck that, dude..."
I'll be doing a mild head build this fall/winter and i'll be using:
L61 head with a mild P&P
Supertech 94lb Valve Springs(same specs as the GMR springs)
LSJ valves and hardware
Comp Cams blower grind cams
If you want a serious head build i would get a LSJ head. It flows the same stock, but has a better casting and allows you get get a more aggressive P&P done than the L61 head.
Also get some 1mm oversized valves(Ferrera i believe) instead of the JBP crap.
Click for supertech springs.
Tinkles
2003 Cavalier 1SV
Bagged and Blown
Yeah i have a suggestion for you Jim... GO TURBO!
.... you have to look at your goal... if your goal is only 250hp that is easily obtained with a turbo setup for the price of the "built" head... and you will be cutting your 1/4 mi time by 2 seconds... just go turbo and i will personally see to it that you get the right parts and that everything is running correctly...
...I am the BEST at what I do...
"I guess your right[BlueBoost]. Me and my slow car are failers."
GM race eco head
comp cams turbo cams
ferria vavles
GM Racing Dual Valve Spring Kit With
Ti Retainers
Spring Seats & Valve Stem Seals stock cam gears
ARP head studs
is what the head im currently running has
RIP JESSE GERARD.....Youll always be in my thoughts and prayers...
Aaron, give me the list and I may consider it bro.
"Vroom."
"Yo I wouldn't race him, there's not even an interior in his car man."
"Vrooooooom PSSSSHHH!"
"Oh sh*t. F*ck that, dude..."
Ugh... Aaron and Tinkles here have a great point...
Maybe I can go the route Aaron's going; throw a little boost at the motor now and in the mean time build up another motor and drop it in when its done... then I can up the boost levels on the new motor. The complete new motor would take me around 8-9 months to build though on my budget... but it'd be able to handle about 400whp safely... ugh the dilema.
Aaron, dude shoot me a list of parts I need for the boost build and I'll weigh the differences. Oh yeah, with the places I can find the parts at if ya can. Thanks bud.
"Vroom."
"Yo I wouldn't race him, there's not even an interior in his car man."
"Vrooooooom PSSSSHHH!"
"Oh sh*t. F*ck that, dude..."
