Thread: Top Swap Or Cam?

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  1. #1 Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    Hey guys quick question. I have an 02 gt slighty modded. HV3, 4 inch cold air intake, prj wires, 2.5 zzp down pipe, 180 thermostat, slp resonator with dynomax mufflers, and a 3800 performance race computer. The motor now has 150k but i still wantt more power while still trying to save some money. i was either thinking of getting the gt1 cam from zzp or doing a decent top swap butting leaving on the same heads. Any ideas?
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  2. #2 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
     

  3. #3 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GTX Level Member EJOUIE's Avatar
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    I'm pretty sure you have to swap the heads for a top swap. The other way would be the SS M90 kit, that would allow you to keep your L36 heads.

    Sell you HV3 and your down pipe, and buy some headers (much cheaper and better than the plog route). Ditch your 180 t stat and your "race computer". Your going to need a tune with a top swap and you can tune for a stock t stat.
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  4. #4 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GTX Level Member EJOUIE's Avatar
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    If you still have your stock tranny, then why not wait till rebuild time to do a cam, then you can save labor and get both.
    97 GT white 4 door-SOLD

    Cherry 2005 Impala LS- Front and Rear GMPP Strut Tower Braces
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  5. #5 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    I have had my tranny serviced many times. I have had the car since 98k and i have done a fluid and filter change on the tranny 7 times. i know its in good shape i am looking to spend about 500 or a little more if needed
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  6. #6 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GT Level Member zipper's Avatar
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    Top swap for sure. Yes, the difficult parts of a top swap are that you have to do it from the heads up and you have to swap the balancer (not to mention that you'll need a custom PCM which ZZP does offer). But it's all worth it. If you stay NA, the MOST you could ever make going all out would be somewhere around 250-260whp I'd imagine. If you did make that kind of whp NA, you would have spent a fortune because you'll need it all. A cam, p&p heads that have been milled, thinner head gaskets, 4.2 stroker, and any other bolt on you could get.

    If you go top swap, all you would need are some headers, rockers, and a 3.2" pulley with a few other supporting mods to make that same whp.

    Or just go turbo. Best bang for your buck.

    NA dyno: 222whp
    Novi 1000 dyno: 348whp
    Novi 2000 dyno: 372whp Best 1/4 mile: 13.2634@105.12mph
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  7. #7 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    I wanted to get headers but not sure which brand. My goal is to get more power without blowing everything apart.
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  8. #8 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    But turbos are the cheapest i found 2000 dollars. unless you count ebay which is 550 shipped.

    PONTIAC UNIVERSAL 8psi UPGRADE T3/T4 TURBO KIT AR .63 | eBay


    i would even turn the turbo down to like 5 psi if i bought a turbo. i want to leave my engine stock. but which turbo kit whould you suggest?
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  9. #9 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GrandPrix Junkie redlinepontiac's Avatar
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    top swap would be wayyyyyyyy more reliable then some chincy ebay kit
    RayRay
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  10. #10 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    Alright well if i was going to do a top swap could i leave mt gt heads? or do i need gtp heads?
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  11. #11 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    gtp heads for top swap, gt heads for Super Sport.
    wbodystore has a $900 kit with a list of everything you need.
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  12. #12 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GrandPrix Junkie NegativeOne13's Avatar
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    Like someone said, it all depends on your goals. If you want to stick to N/A, keep the mods you got besides the 3800 PCM. Then throw a cam and some ER rockers on it. Then have a proper tune done. Some say you make a bone stock GTP run for its money with HV3, cam and rockers. If you truly want to do a top swap, you will want to get headers and few others along the way. I'm thinking about doing a top swap with few other mods for around $1300. You could go cheaper if you got a GenIII blower, but I'm going GenV. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you keep stock heads you'll have KR out the butt. The exhaust and intake valves are slightly larger on the GTP thus allows for more intake and outake. Or, if you want to go all best bang for a buck, save up your money and go turbo. I wouldn't buy that turbo off ebay. I'd get one from a reputable 3800 performance supplier. Not including ZZP.

    And smile it's Blacktooth Grin!
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  13. #13 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    The Blue One blueguy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by L36pro View Post
    gtp heads for top swap, gt heads for Super Sport

    What does this even mean kid?

    Your steering people in wrong directions again that you know nothing about.
    Sold WBody's: '03 Blue GTP/'98 Green GTP/'98 Silver GT/'05 GXP
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  14. #14 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GTX Level Member EJOUIE's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bluegtp91 View Post
    What does this even mean kid?

    Your steering people in wrong directions again that you know nothing about.
    GTP heads for top swap = standard top swap

    GT heads for Super Sport = SS M90 kit.
    97 GT white 4 door-SOLD

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  15. #15 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    The Blue One blueguy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by EJOUIE View Post
    GTP heads for top swap = standard top swap

    GT heads for Super Sport = SS M90 kit.
    No one makes any titled "Super Sport" heads is what I was getting at...

    Cap'n O.
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  16. #16 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    GrandPrix Junkie redlinepontiac's Avatar
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    and ten points for our fearless leader
    RayRay
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  17. #17 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    cammed L36 = so much win
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  18. #18 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    club of used to own a gp 99prixgt's Avatar
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    m90'd and cam'd L36 car is uber sexy win
    16' wrx sti- stock
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  19. #19 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
    honda owner. jerZcavy4120's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 99prixgt View Post
    m90'd and cam'd L36 car is uber sexy win
    yes. yes it is
    Jenny, The '99 Silvermist GTP. With the mod's that matter.
    I would rather lose by a mile because I built my own car, than lose by an inch, because someone else built it for me. Your car is your story, so don't let someone else write the book.
    http://www.grandprixforums.net/threads/76250-Jenny-(Picture-Heavy)/page2
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  20. #20 Re: Top Swap Or Cam? 
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    Alright well where could i buy a ss m90? i want to keep my stock heads but still bolt on power, while not spending to much money you know. And what would i need to bolt this kit up?
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