A friend of mine has a stock 5.3L short block, the heads from a LS1 Camaro, and CAM and Springs from a Z06 Vette. He would like to know if this combo would work well together or if it will even work at all? What will it do as far as compression ratio? Approx HP? His plan is to put this in a Chevy II with a manual trans, 4.10 gear, and the Mickey Thompson Drag Radial. The lil chevy II weighs about 2800lbs.

 

It would work ok for a forced induction application but because you'd be dropping compression it wouldnt make as much power N/A or on nitrous. I'd mill the heads and have them cleaned up a bit if you are trying to go the cheap route, otherwise check LS1Tech.com for sales on heads. There are ALWAYS heads for sale there, better cams as well.

Wait a Chevy II/Nova? Why is he even bothering with a heavy iron block 5.3L anyway? Just find a used LS1.

 

I agree and already told him that.....but the reason he is going this route is the price. He only has $200 in the above mentioned parts.