I was wonderin what would be the best horsepower per dollar increase.

A new cam or springs, rockers, pushrods??

I was lookin around on intense and read that they recommend timing chain, and other upgrades to go with the cam.

The other option is just what it says rockers, springs, and pushrods.
Which would give the better gain per dollar.

We got a baby on the way and I need to maximize my mods.

Thanks,
Bonnevillemac.

For the money per HP, the rockers are the cheapest way to go.

once you get into a cam you have all kinds of supporting mods you need to consider that add significantly to the price - timing chain, roller rockers or not, springs, retainers, pushrods, possibly 42# injectors (and possibly a new fuel pump), HEADERS (CHA - CHING!!) and of course the install which is a big step above rockers for how much you need to tear into your engine.

but i will say this, i have rockers installed now and an S1X sitting in a box awaiting install, once you get a taste of that power you will want just that little bit more ...

Thanks XAC,

Could you tell the difference with the rockers?? Did you go with new springs and pushrods also??


One other thing tweaks me just a little... the stress on the engine and drivetrain
is it signigificant??

Thanks for all your help.

Tim

I have rockers and always tell others to go with a cam. Sure its more money and time but its more power across the rpm band and like Xac said once you get a little you want a lot

OHHHH YEAHHHH! you can tell the difference with the rockers! look at my 1/4 mile time. of course that is with the FWI and the 3.4.

Also, my first mod was just the 3.4 pulley and you will feel some extra power with that too.

i have the ls6 springs and OR pushrods too (also in my sig - ).

As for stress on the engine and drivetrain - ANYTHING you do to your car is going to add stress. Pulley is the least, then rockers, then cam, then heads, ... the drive train really feels the stress once you get to the cam phase more than the rocker phase (i believe - and i am sure some of our other gearheads will jump in here on this) because it is at that point we, race types, get "serious" and either use slicks or DRs (Drag Radials) - neither of which i have ... YET!

let me know if you have any other questions, if i don't have the answers, there are several i know who frequent this forum who will know.

The rockers gained me .5 sec improvement in the 1/4 mile. A cam would gain me another .2 sec but as others have said there are other benefits like a broader power band and the ability to do more mods for further gains.

Well, I guess that settles it. Looks like wish list stuff for Christmas.

I just hope that Santa is a gearhead that drives a Bonny

Peace,
Tim

Looks like Bonnevillemac and I are in the same boat. I also have an 02 SE, and am getting a 40 series flowmaster and high-flow cat put on before the end of the month. Sometime next spring, I plan on getting a cam or rockers. I am leaning towards the cam, just because I think I will be happier with the results.

You have an SE so I would recommend a cam. The SC guys have a lot more pull from a dig than us N/A guys, with a cam you could easily be looking at very low 15'* rather than mid'*.
Rockers are far quicker and easier to install though.

Being N/A rockers really aren't going to do a whole lot for you. You'll get a noticable gain, but for the cost and amount of work it is (an hour or two labor for just the rockers, not including springs, pushrods, etc...) it just doesn't seem worth it to me. I would go with a ZZP GT2 cam or an INTENSE S1X cam. You will see a nice gain, but they will work well with your stock heads and should be very streetable. A cam is a lot of work so thats really the main concern. Overall the cost isn't much more than what the rockers are unless you have someone else install it. If it were blown I'd tell you rockers, but with an N/A car I just can't see it being a big gain.

Shawn