Where i am at, and where i am going......

[Hunter SS]

I have had the SS for almost 3 years now..... got it with 45k on it, not it has 115k on it. I was always impressed with the way it drove.... figured it had more than enough power than i could use legally

anyway, I always wanted to make it sound like a V8... the stock system on the SS sucks balls!! so i cut some small resonators out of another stock system to replace those friggin huge assed rear mufflers that must choke the living shit out of the exhaust. It sounded better!! but droned like a bitch!
I saved some cash and got a 2 1/2" Hurricane system including extractors with 1 7/8" pipes. Made a huge difference!! it sounded very nice under lots of go pedal. But after fitting the exhaust it kept coming up with O2 sensor error codes..... (my "excuse" to get it retuned ) so now after getting it tuned on the dyno and dragging an extra 60 rwhp over a stock SS i am impressed with the way it drives... so much so that the 245 rears will break traction without too much dramas from a standing start with the auto.

Now..... the bug has bit me! AFter i return from my Gold COast holiday in January..... i am going to get a new cam for it VCM-10 Camshaft - VCM Performance Online Store Plus springs and push rods And a 2,500 stall converter. All up, more than 5 grand worth of expenditure for what i estimate will be better than 300 rwkw..... that's what i am aiming for anyway!

I am hoping for an engine that will have a loping idle (that sound gives me wood!) will behave in traffic (kinda, not much in the way of traffic where i live) and be a pantie moistening monster when the loud pedal is used in anger... i am even considering heading down to Eastern Creek for the street drags. Not to see who i can or can't beat, just to see what it will do.

2 questions.....
What are the pro's and con's for what i am planning?

and

Will i need therapy?



excuse the crappy typing.... i am/was in a fair degree of pain and Dr Tooheys is helping to relieve it for me

[RiCeY]

Only real downsides will be fuel economy and comfort (as in smooth quiet driving), lower rear tyre life and possibly more attention from the po po.

[Hunter SS]

Only real downsides will be fuel economy and comfort (as in smooth quiet driving), lower rear tyre life and possibly more attention from the po po.

the po po up here aren't too bad unless you drive like a tool. Fuel economy.... it's not too bad unless i am driving hehe Rear tyres... they are wearing thin now!! i drive a loaded hilux every day... i sometimes only drive the SS once a week when i go to SES training..... the other day i went around a slow bastard taking his time turning left and gassed it at the lights in town like i would in the hilux and it spun the tyres all the way across the intersection : SMooth quiet driving won't be a major problem in longer trips... the Minister for War & Finance is usually in the car and i have to kinda behave

[RiCeY]

Well if its not your daily driver then I see no real issues.

[Hunter SS]

Well if its not your daily driver then I see no real issues.

yeah but the Minister drives it every day.

[RiCeY]

Oh she may scare herself frequently in that case.

[FATMOE]

Hahaha "Minister for War and Finance" good one I've never laughed that ####ing hard in ages lollll

[Hunter SS]

Oh she may scare herself frequently in that case.

she loves it now..... and even agrees that a cam would make it sound even better. Ther only thing that worries me is that when i do drive it and i decide to overtake a slow moving farker... i sometimes get carried away
I REALLY need to go through the right channels and go to a track day!!

[Hunter SS]

Hahaha "Minister for War and Finance" good one I've never laughed that ####ing hard in ages lollll

hehe!! i have always called her that... she thinks it's cool

[Lumps of cheese]

Ok, i have just gone through what you're planning to do so here's my side.
If i had my time again, i probably would have to rethink the cam. I only drive the car on the weekends, like you i have a hilux which is my daily so getting into the calais for a cruise is awesome and after the suspension work, tune, exhaust etc. i found myself wanting more. My wife drives the car daily, something which i failed to consider when choosing the cam. Now, the boss is getting used to the way the car behaves now (phew!) but originally wasn't happy with the lopey idle the car delivered.
I don't have to tell you mate, the cook needs to be happy!

[UFO]

behaves in traffic, easy for mrs to drive, higher power output, and lumpy cam??? nup.... this aint gunna happen mate.

i completely agree with you, a lumpy cam on an 8 sounds awesome... but as a daily driver for the mrs I think its a mistake.
not because the mrs cant get used to it, she will.
but a lumpy cam in traffic sucks balls.
you're going to use a crapload more fuel because the revs you'll want to use it in crawling along will make the engine struggle (think of it this way, any gain you get up top has to come from somewhere).

either get the mrs a different daily driver and then go nuts, or dont go changing engine dynamics on a car used every day like that.
you'll regret it.

but dont take my word for it, go waste some poor shmuck's time whos selling a cammed 8 and take it for a test drive. you could be nice and tell him the truth, and go drive him to a bottle shop for a free case of his choosing though (thats what I would do). bring the mrs along and both of you test drive it.... at snails pace to see what I'm taking about.

the $50 beer investment is well worth it considering the $5,000+ you are thinking of spending.

but i still vote no. spend the 5k on other bits and pieces instead.

[TinSnips]

Charge it instead.

[UFO]

Charge it instead.

now youre talking!

[Hunter SS]

Ok, i have just gone through what you're planning to do so here's my side.
If i had my time again, i probably would have to rethink the cam. I only drive the car on the weekends, like you i have a hilux which is my daily so getting into the calais for a cruise is awesome and after the suspension work, tune, exhaust etc. i found myself wanting more. My wife drives the car daily, something which i failed to consider when choosing the cam. Now, the boss is getting used to the way the car behaves now (phew!) but originally wasn't happy with the lopey idle the car delivered.
I don't have to tell you mate, the cook needs to be happy!

yeah i know what you mean... happy wife, happy life!

[Hunter SS]

behaves in traffic, easy for mrs to drive, higher power output, and lumpy cam??? nup.... this aint gunna happen mate.

i completely agree with you, a lumpy cam on an 8 sounds awesome... but as a daily driver for the mrs I think its a mistake.
not because the mrs cant get used to it, she will.
but a lumpy cam in traffic sucks balls.
you're going to use a crapload more fuel because the revs you'll want to use it in crawling along will make the engine struggle (think of it this way, any gain you get up top has to come from somewhere).

either get the mrs a different daily driver and then go nuts, or dont go changing engine dynamics on a car used every day like that.
you'll regret it.

but dont take my word for it, go waste some poor shmuck's time whos selling a cammed 8 and take it for a test drive. you could be nice and tell him the truth, and go drive him to a bottle shop for a free case of his choosing though (thats what I would do). bring the mrs along and both of you test drive it.... at snails pace to see what I'm taking about.

the $50 beer investment is well worth it considering the $5,000+ you are thinking of spending.

but i still vote no. spend the 5k on other bits and pieces instead.

I understand it will use a bit more fuel.... the cam i am looking at isn't a big one. Most of the driving it does here is on the highway. The town i live in only has about 4,500 people in it. The wife drives it about 60 or 70km a day, 55 of that is at highway speeds. Lots of things to consider i know...... and a SC is being considered!!

[Nuddy989]

you can get a milder cam that still gives it that nice lumpy note at idle but when you take off it has a very similar torque curve to the standard one and being an auto I think he wouldn't loose to much driveabliity. Like mentioned some of the cams are very aggressive and you won't be able to drive them below 2-3000RPM. As for fuel economy on highway driving you would expect 12-15L per 100 depending on how much lead she has in her shoes. I think you would find highway driving it would be around the 11-13 mark at the moment. So in terms of fuel consumption unless your mashing the loud pedal like its a spider on the floor I think it shouldn't be a whole lot worse.. i mean after all it is a 6.0L V8 Just speak to the person doing it and see what they say

[Hunter SS]

you can get a milder cam that still gives it that nice lumpy note at idle but when you take off it has a very similar torque curve to the standard one and being an auto I think he wouldn't loose to much driveabliity. Like mentioned some of the cams are very aggressive and you won't be able to drive them below 2-3000RPM. As for fuel economy on highway driving you would expect 12-15L per 100 depending on how much lead she has in her shoes. I think you would find highway driving it would be around the 11-13 mark at the moment. So in terms of fuel consumption unless your mashing the loud pedal like its a spider on the floor I think it shouldn't be a whole lot worse.. i mean after all it is a 6.0L V8 Just speak to the person doing it and see what they say

i am only looking at a cam that is supposed to work between 2,000 and 6,800 rpm. At the moment it averages around 11.7/100 for the week... highway only it will do under 10 if you behave yourself. I can afford a rise in consumption.... the boss pays me plenty.

[Nuddy989]

11.7 for the week lol.. mine is average 18.8 redline shift every gear if i put a cam in mine id probably also need a tow ball so i can carry a trailer full of fuel drums

[pjdm1980]

Charge it instead.

Going to cost a bit more than $5000 for that! LOL

[UFO]

Going to cost a bit more than $5000 for that! LOL

yep, $6,000 .

CAPA : Supercharger Kits
(yes yes, i know there's more to it)

[BlueSteele]

behaves in traffic, easy for mrs to drive, higher power output, and lumpy cam??? nup.... this aint gunna happen mate.

i completely agree with you, a lumpy cam on an 8 sounds awesome... but as a daily driver for the mrs I think its a mistake.
not because the mrs cant get used to it, she will.
but a lumpy cam in traffic sucks balls.
you're going to use a crapload more fuel because the revs you'll want to use it in crawling along will make the engine struggle (think of it this way, any gain you get up top has to come from somewhere).

either get the mrs a different daily driver and then go nuts, or dont go changing engine dynamics on a car used every day like that.
you'll regret it.

but dont take my word for it, go waste some poor shmuck's time whos selling a cammed 8 and take it for a test drive. you could be nice and tell him the truth, and go drive him to a bottle shop for a free case of his choosing though (thats what I would do). bring the mrs along and both of you test drive it.... at snails pace to see what I'm taking about.

the $50 beer investment is well worth it considering the $5,000+ you are thinking of spending.

but i still vote no. spend the 5k on other bits and pieces instead.

are you saying getting a cam altogether is a bad idea and a waste if your car is going to be used everyday?? Im about to book my daily in for a mild cam 221 ect ect..am i going to regret this? Im not very knowledgeable on this stuff. Or are you saying its a waste if it is just a weekend car and your mrs is going to be drivin it?

[GKW]

Here's my set-up and experience which appears to be along the lines of where you are heading Hunter SS.

2008 SSV A6
2.5' XForce stainless system, high flow cats, 4-1 headers
Orssom OTR
tune
Stage 2 cam
25% u/d pulley
double value springs, rods, valves

result: 310rwkw

Whilst not a daily drive, it behaves very nicely on the road without the need for a stall converter and would be fine as a daily for me or the wife. The only downside is that with the larger cam, the idle was increased to about 850rpm so you don't get too much lump whilst stationary. The higher idle also wants to pull you harder, so need to be wary of that at the lights re auto trans creep.

As for fuel economy, stock it is was like everyone else 11-12l / 100k. After the exhaust, headers, tune and OTR, it got down to the low to mid 9's on the highway. But what surprised me was what happened after the cam. Not long after getting the cam, I was driving back to Sydney via Hume / M7 / M2, which is relatively flat route, re-set the trip computer and after near 80k's sitting on the speed limit (no heavy right foot, just standard / gentle throttle) got this result.



I know the around town ecomony will be relatively crap given the cam, but the highway result was a very pleasant surprise. Heading north or south out of Sydney I wouldn't expect this number, as the flatness of the Hume from south of Camden through to the end of the M2 meant that given the increased torque from the cam, it held in 6th for longer periods without shifting down.

I was tosing up the blower option too, but to be frank, the above set-up is enough for the road (for me anyway) and she's aready a handfull at 310rwkw.

Good luck with the mods. Looking forward to hearing how things progress.

[kuzman89]

If it's a daily, and you only want the power when you drive the car (ie not the missus) could always do a NOS install. Could take it out when you're not driving, I know it's illegal to have a can in there, but there are ways of hiding it.

[Hunter SS]

Here's my set-up and experience which appears to be along the lines of where you are heading Hunter SS.

2008 SSV A6
2.5' XForce stainless system, high flow cats, 4-1 headers
Orssom OTR
tune
Stage 2 cam
25% u/d pulley
double value springs, rods, valves

result: 310rwkw

Whilst not a daily drive, it behaves very nicely on the road without the need for a stall converter and would be fine as a daily for me or the wife. The only downside is that with the larger cam, the idle was increased to about 850rpm so you don't get too much lump whilst stationary. The higher idle also wants to pull you harder, so need to be wary of that at the lights re auto trans creep.

As for fuel economy, stock it is was like everyone else 11-12l / 100k. After the exhaust, headers, tune and OTR, it got down to the low to mid 9's on the highway. But what surprised me was what happened after the cam. Not long after getting the cam, I was driving back to Sydney via Hume / M7 / M2, which is relatively flat route, re-set the trip computer and after near 80k's sitting on the speed limit (no heavy right foot, just standard / gentle throttle) got this result.



I know the around town ecomony will be relatively crap given the cam, but the highway result was a very pleasant surprise. Heading north or south out of Sydney I wouldn't expect this number, as the flatness of the Hume from south of Camden through to the end of the M2 meant that given the increased torque from the cam, it held in 6th for longer periods without shifting down.

I was tosing up the blower option too, but to be frank, the above set-up is enough for the road (for me anyway) and she's aready a handfull at 310rwkw.

Good luck with the mods. Looking forward to hearing how things progress.

thanks for that. Makes sense. I had considered underdrive pulley.... wasn't too sure until i did a bit of research... i might include that in the upgrades. The cam i am looking at is 225˚ / 225 .578" 112.5˚
Already got the extractors and 2 1/2" system and the CAI, although it's not OTR, it does the same job. The current retune was with the MAF, next one will be MAFLESS. I'm going to buy all the stuff i want/need and then just drop the car off to G-Force and tell them to go their hardest.

[Hunter SS]

keep in mind the change in diff ratio as well. Should make a big difference from 2.92 to 3.45