next mods: NOS or heads/cam

So im thinking far ahead as usual, and was pondering my next mod. Its narrowed down to what the thread title states.

Now, with the nitrous I would probably do it in 6 months to a year, but the other option I would wait longer due to extra labor and much higher costs.

With a modest nitrous setup, Im looking at like 40-50hp. But what kind of gains would new heads and a cam bring? Im thinking of going with a stage 3 setup. Enough to have a noticeable difference, but manageable and still fairly reliable unlike a stage 4 setup. If Im only gonna get 50 hp from it, I will just stick with my nitrous plan.

Im all ears guys. Ive got zero experience in either of these realms so any opinions are appreciated.

I depends on how much money you want to spend on the extra 50 HP. Both ways get you there. Heads/cam could cost you 2-3x as much as N2O, and you'll need to lose the 1.9:1 rockers.

N2O is easy to install, cheap (maybe $500 or less), but it only lasts so long before you refill, and I've heard that's not so cheap. Lots of car guys love N2O, but a lot think of it as cheating. They'd rather beat you with "all motor" HP.

AA wrote:

I depends on how much money you want to spend on the extra 50 HP. Both ways get you there. Heads/cam could cost you 2-3x as much as N2O, and you'll need to lose the 1.9:1 rockers.

N2O is easy to install, cheap (maybe $500 or less), but it only lasts so long before you refill, and I've heard that's not so cheap. Lots of car guys love N2O, but a lot think of it as cheating. They'd rather beat you with "all motor" HP.

well I dont think of it as cheating, since I will only be using it against cars that deserve it. Heavily modified stangs/camaros and corvettes. I consider a $45,000 sports car cheating, but Im sure the driver of it does not.

Im leaning towards nitrous but not necessarily due to cost. after all, I just blew $1500-2000 total for the intercooler. But since I dont need new heads and a cam, I consider it wasteful. If I blew my motor, then may as well go all out since you gotta tear it apart anyways. Granted, nitrous might help me accomplish the blowing of my motor And I got all that room in my trunk, so I need something to fill it up since Im not putting subs back there. Any extra weight on my car is for hp purposes only.

I know I would need to lose the rocker, maybe luck out and trade them for some 1.6's or 1.7's. I still have my stock 1.6's but wouldnt want to use those on a new head and cam setup.

Another angle to consider is, N2O is a type of intercooler, which you already have. Running heads and cam could take advantage of your existing IC, but with N2O I'm not sure you gain much by having the IC.

dreww wrote:

So im thinking far ahead as usual, and was pondering my next mod. Its narrowed down to what the thread title states.

beef up your transmission.

I suggest heads and a cam. I prefer increased airflow as the main priority.

deekster_caddy wrote:

beef up your transmission.

My interpretation of that statement is to rebuild after you blow your current trans, or have rebuilt one ready when it happens. Might as well get some miles out of the one you have.

[quote="deekster_caddy"] beef up your transmission. [quote]

X2

as they say, it's no longer a matter of if , but when

so it seems everyone is pointing to the heads and cam option. I gotta ask, what does everyone think of the aluminum heads? I cant see them being worth twice the cost of the iron ones.

AA wrote:

deekster_caddy wrote:

beef up your transmission.

My interpretation of that statement is to rebuild after you blow your current trans, or have rebuilt one ready when it happens. Might as well get some miles out of the one you have.

thats the route Im taking right now. keeping my fingers crossed.

I think aluminum heads are great because they're super light compared to iron, and they conduct heat very well. I'm no thermodynamics expert, but I'd think they would help keep the combustion chambers cooler, lowering knock.

But...

If you ever overheat, you'll probably have a set of warped heads. Cast iron is much more durable under high levels of heat.

I wouldn't bother with aluminum heads unless you are building a race only car.

AA wrote:

If you ever overheat, you'll probably have a set of warped heads. Cast iron is much more durable under high levels of heat.

exactly what I was thinking. And aluminum heads on iron blocks can lead to gasket problems if a heavily modified motor.

Another thing to consider, is I kinda wanna wait to blow a motor to do this so I can put in better pistons, maybe bore out the block, and perhaps run higher compression along with the new heads and cam.

What is everyones opinion on that. Anything worth doing, is worth doing well! How much hp gain with that major overhaul?

just get a S1X or XP that would be perfect for you.or if you want to be a bad ass like i am. you can go balls to the wall and get the crazy NIC. i dont recommend that for a DD unless if ur a bad ass like me

palermocorey90 wrote:

just get a S1X or XP that would be perfect for you.or if you want to be a bad ass like i am. you can go balls to the wall and get the crazy NIC. i dont recommend that for a DD unless if ur a bad ass like me

Or have an ego like corey.....

yupp i got an ego as big as travis GF

palermocorey90 wrote:

yupp i got an ego as big as travis GF

K my buick really isn't that big....

palermocorey90 wrote:

just get a S1X or XP that would be perfect for you.or if you want to be a bad ass like i am. you can go balls to the wall and get the crazy NIC. i dont recommend that for a DD unless if ur a bad ass like me

but those arent Stage 2 or 3 cams are they?