Thread: Advice on new Regal Build

Hey guys,

Most likely getting a 99 Regal GS soon, already done some thoughts about modding my next W-body. Here are my thoughts and I'd like some opinions.

Street only / Daily Driver use. Want some extra power when passing on the highway and what not, occasionally peeling out from a stop light or parking lot for fun. Nothing competitive. Guessing around 280 WHP tops.

Stock Intake (For quieter engine sound, and at these lower HP levels, shouldn't be a restriction at all).

SD Headers (Coming off of my GTP)

Gen V w/ N* throttle body (Already got both dirt cheap from rednecks and junkyard, figure, why not use?) Probably end up using 3.6 MPS Pulley

Self tuned with HPT.

105# valve springs and retainers, depending on the needs of the rockers/cam.

Close to stock shift points, rocker/cam really needs higher to benefit.

This is the part I need some more advice on: 1.9 rockers or XP cam. I know that power wise, the XP cam will blow the rockers out of the water, no question. My concerns are:

Want to keep build costs low. Valve springs / retainers don't bother me, but add on things like double roller timing chain, machined oil pump cover, gaskets, etc, it seems to add up fast. Not to mention the increased labor.

I want the motor to last a considerable amount of time (~100K) before needing more internal work.
Want to put less strain on the transmission (if transmission needs a rebuild, then I'll go with a bigger cam like an XPZ at that time.)
I seem to have more than enough torque in the low-mid powerband (no traction to about 30mph on good street tires) but I feel like the car could pull a bit better up top.
Since this is a daily driver, I want to keep the gas mileage up and vibration down.

Considering this, maybe rockers are the best solution for this particular situation?

Stock car + mild turbo kit probably close to the same cost as what is above but add another 70-100whp

Originally Posted by Elite6

Stock car + mild turbo kit probably close to the same cost as what is above but add another 70-100whp

Normally, you would be right, but the only things I would have to pay for are the rockers/cam and supporting items such as springs and retainers. I already own everything else, it would just come off of my other car.

Like this one...

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...00-Finders-Fee

haha......

Originally Posted by matt5112

Sounds like you want a VS cam, not an XP.

I was strongly debating the VS cam for some time, but I saw a few comments suggesting that the VS wasn't worth the hassle of installing a cam, or wished they had gone XP.

It's not really about the type of sound, I'm not really concerned with it sounding stock vs not... I'm just going for quieter than most 3.4 setups.


Obviously, if I went with something like an XPZ later down the road, the noise issue would be out the window... but I'll have a built trans before that happens.

you say you want quiet engine noise but want a cam, possibly a XPZ? if you want stock sound with a little more power say the gen V, rockers, and tune it to hell and back. not worth installing a cam only to rev to stock limiter ...and it will not sound stock

If you want a stock sound. VS or rockers are likely your best answer. I haven't paid much attention to the sound of a VS though. Might be rocker only. Even an S1X/XP sound cammed from the exhaust.

And who are those guys that say the VS wasn't worth the hassle?