Hey guys, I just bought a 2004 VY SS ute. 170k on the clock, had a genuine holden rebuild at the 99k mark due to carbon deposits, apparently they're really bad for it, so I'm being sure to use engine detox on all my oil changes, running royal purple oil and a K&N magnetic oil filter. Aside from that I've done a mafless tune, twin 2.5 inch exhaust, and I'm putting on a set of 1 3/4 tri-Y's this weekend and 100 cell highflow cats. Its auto, rebuild 4L60E, 2500 stall, and it chirps into second and third gear without an issue in the world. Manual LSD so I believe its 3.45 ratio? I'm finally getting into a V8 so its all a bit confusing for me at the moment. I surely do love the torque though.

Now for the kicker, I've been quoted $2000 cash from a fairly reputable shop, Isky 232/236 cam, springs, ARP balancer bolt, and a tune, says it'll make anywhere between 380-400rwhp on a healthy motor.

Is it worth me buying the parts myself and paying a few of the guys on this forum that have done it before to give me a hand? I'm pretty mechanically savvy, I'm happy to pull all of the stuff I consider to be annoying, as in the radiator and condenser and anything else you guys tell me. But I'd really rather not drop 16 lifters into the sump and make a weekend job into a 2 week job at holden.

From what I can work out the dyno tune itself would only be around the $200-$300 mark as they generally have a tune fairly similar they just preload and tweak to get the setup to match the engine correctly.

As for a price on the cam and springs, I'm a little in the dark. I've been priced anywhere up to $3500 for the cam and springs installed and a tune, which is way out of the ballpark.

I'm one of those people who'd rather see everything done, so I know what my motors made from, and I know its all done right.

Anyway guys. Let me know your opinion, I'm more than happy to supply as much beer as you can drink and pay anybody that's done one of these before to give me a hand. Well, more like me give them a hand.

Located in Brisbane, but i'm happy to travel.

Regards guys.

Alex :-)