my car is a stock '02 coupe with the 6 speed manual. It is a daily driven street car but I would like a bit more power out of it. I was thinking about a supercharger but at the end of the day I want reliability and since I plan on keeping this car for a long time and daily it I don't want any issues. So I was thinking of doing a cam swap and some heads.

I've read a lot about big cams vs small cams. I want something that will idle smooth and be smooth at low rpm cruising down the high way. I don't want to lose any low end torque and I don't care at all about sound. A lot of people want that choppy sound and although it sounds cool, I want useable power and like stock driving. Something with a nice broad power band. good low end but still a bit more hp up top. I'd also like to put some better flowing heads on the car while I'm at it.

Does anyone have any cam recommendations and heads? I don't care about a crazy high redline I know some bump it up to 7,000. I'm fine leaving it at 6.5k or even 6k for reliability.

Anyone having done a mild build regret it? Big loss of MPG? Bad manners on the street?

I was looking at the GM Hot Cam and the GM Chevy LSX-L92 Small Bore Cylinder Head. Figured sticking with GM shouldn't cause me any reliability problems however I'm not sure if there's better aftermarket options.

My list of importance in order is:
1) reliability
2) good manners on the street
3) USEABLE broad power band. Nothing super peaky

if anyone has anything else to recommend I change while it's torn apart let me know. I know a common upgrade is the LS2 oil pump and a new harmonic balancer?

 

Don't have any real recommendations but I do know if you get better flowing heads and a different cam then you will need to open up the exhaust for better flow.

 

I was planning on keeping the stock manifolds. The Z06 has better flowing heads and a different cam but has the same stock exhaust as a base C5 minus the mufflers. Which I've already changed to higher flowing ones. If it came like that from the factory wouldn't I be able to do the same via aftermarket? Or would that cause problems.

 

I don't think that would cause any problems. I have seen recommendations for using an RV cam to get more torque at the low end. For what it's worth that's what gets you off the line and good 0 to 60 times. 😊 Horsepower gives you high top end. 🤔