I've been contemplating mods today.

I would say in about 9 months or so from now, I want to do something really big for my car. In a few months, I'm gonna buy the 3.4 pulley. After that, I'm doing something BIG.

I was thinking about either a Cam, Rockers, or an IC.

A cam would be a real pain to install, but offer me a ton of power, and allow me to run a smaller pulley. I was looking at the VS cam from ZZP. I would probably upgrade the pushrods and springs, put on a new timing chain, get a Stage 1 PCM, and drop my pulley size. The only problem is, I really don't want to tear apart the engine so much.

The second idea would cost around the same as the cam with the accessories, but it is less labor intensive, and I won't have to worry too much about the engine after it is installed: Rockers. I would upgrade the pushrods and springs, and that is it. I won't get as much power as I would from a cam, but it is a much easier install. However, in the future if I do get a cam, these 1.9 rockers are rendered useless.

The third idea I am starting to like. An intercooler. ZZP has a short stack intercooler that is very affordable. That with a smaller pulley would cost about as much as the cam set or rocker set would. And I could run a TON of boost. I would be able to run close to a 3.0" or 3.1" pulley on 93 gas. It isn't as effective as a standard IC, but it is way more affordable, and there have been good results from it.

All of these will give me huge power gains, but I am having a lot of trouble deciding what I want to do.

I'd go with opt. 3, because you don't have to tear into the motor and it offers just about the same gain, maybe a little bit less, than a cam.

go with the IC. It will allow you to run the most boost with the least amount of KR.

Yeah, the IC. But one thing to watch for with this is pump which is supposedly very prone to failure.
But I would suggest getting Rockers to compliment that IC. There'd be a world of difference with both versus just the IC or Rockers.
Also, go on ebay or to www.justmagnaflow.com (they sell on ebay so you can use Paypal) and get a high flow 2.5" cat and get that u-bend deleted -all for under $100. I bet the cat, u-bend delete, IC, rockers, PCM, OR pushrods, LS6 springs, and 3.0/3.1 pulley would put you solidly around 350 hp, but then you're realy getting into tranny weakness area.
Can't wait to watch your car evolve It'* too hard to watch GTP'* evolve from a street terrorist to a track mutilator over on clubgp because there are so many others distracting you, whereas here on BC there still aren't hardly any H-bodies (or W-bodies for that matter) to distract us from watching all of the big dogs (what is there -6? 8? certainly no more than 11 or 12 which is not too hard to keep track of and it really makes them elite members here) tearing up their PB'* monthly.
Hopefully Seth, 95nSTA, myself and one or two others can be the big dogs of L36 H-bodies while Jason (BonneMeMN), and Jason (Jay -CSFiend) can pioneer the L27'* down into low 15'*, and maybe 14'* if they ever get cammed.

Sol, upgrade your valvetrain regardless of what you decide. Get INTENSE 1.6 rockers if you plan on a cam WAY down the road so you got them there, but don't just skip this step. I agree with Todd'* statements that you probably don't want to be revving up to 6k on a stock valvetrain. I've talked with a few heavy GTP modders and the general concensus is that the valvetrain is a point of weakness.

So get pushrods, springs, retainers, and 1.6 rockers if you plan to cam.
Get all of the above but with 1.9 rockers instead of 1.6'* if you plan to be a high end freak like myself.
Get either-or if you plan to IC.

The cam is your best choice for power but you will probably want headers to take max advantage of it. Next choice would be rockers but use 105 springs in case you move up the cam and keep your stock rockers as replcaments.

I would not choose the IC until you do extensive exhaust work (headers, cam, u-bend,e tc...) as the max pulley size you will probably be able to use with the shortstack is 3.2 and a 2.8-2.9 with full size IC. The power gains from the smaller pulley sizes will not be as much as the rockers or cam unless you do the exhaust work as well.

Stock rockers will work fine for the VS or Stage 1x cam (be sure you change springs, retainers, timing chain, dampner, and rods for maximum valvetrain strength). The adjustables are only needed when you start changing cam sizes beyond that. INTENSE makes non-adjustable 1.6 rockers as well but will only net you 2-3 HP over stock although they will be more reliable with the added power and being roller type rockers will help keep the valvetrain lubed and the lifters pumped up.

Does Sol really want to be reving to 6k on a stock valvetrain with an aftermarket PCM? Maybe this is more of a personal paranioa I have.

As long as the mods dont affect the lift then the stock valvetrain will probably hold. The problem with 6grand shifts and the stock valvetrain is he will be out of his powerband for approx 500 rpm in each gear.

To get more power in the higher rpms he will need rockers or a cam. Since either of these affect the lift the valvetrain should be fortified with springs, retainers, rods, etc... This will also help keep valve float away.

If I get the PCM upgrade, I might as well upgrade my valvetrain, since I will have the higher shift points. I want to keep everything lasting as long as possible.

If I make a lot of money next summer when I'm out of school again, I may just go all out and get 1.9:1 rockers (and springs/rods/etc) and the SS I/C, along with say a 3.1" or 3.2" pulley. Can we say high 12'* ... ok maybe low 13'*.

Otherwise, to keep things as reliable as possible ... I'd go with rockers. Would that be the most reliable?