BJHardin

So to start, I did try a search and didn't find much info to help with what I'm looking for.
I bought an 05 cts-v a few months ago with a valve tick, and am pretty sure it's a lifter. So I already bought lifters, head gasket kit, and decided to put in some long tube headers at the same time. I'm starting to think the cam could be damaged if the lifter in question has rotated at the bottom and want to be prepared with what kind of cam to put in if I have to replace it.
I know I need Springs, pushrods and all that jazz, litterally just went through this last year when I did a major overhaul on my 02 LS1 Trans am.
What I want is recommendations on a cam that gives good power and good low end toque in these cars.
The cam I put in my TA is a 233/240 and 112 LSA. It sounds bad *** at idle, and runs like a scalded dog, but it has nothing below 2k rpm, and really is still sluggish under 3k, but above that it hauls.

The cts-v is heavier, but stock it feels playful with the power it has under 2k and up. Most of my driving is around town and the low rpm torque is fun in this car, and the TA is not as fun to drive anymore with its setup.
What cams have people had good experience with for the V that gives great torque over peak hp?

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

Id call Brian tooley or another vendor and have them set you up. A cam on the smaller end is probably what you are looking for.

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

You did a search and in not one of those other cam thread you saw to give a cam expert/vedor a call like stated above!?! I call bs.....nice try though.

bigti99a

iTrader: (16)

^ saw that **** coming lol. as stated cam vendors like tooley or martin will set you up nice.

Brian Tooley Racing

iTrader: (13)

It's good that you know what you don't want. Many guys want a big cam until they actually own one.

We have some smaller cams in the 220-225 intake duration range that you should consider. We even have some low lift cams that allow you to run LS6 springs and stock pushrods.

We have dealers across the country who can set you up if you want to deal with someone local to you.

Brian

Naf

iTrader: (1)

Daily driver or weekend warrior?

Daily driver i would suggest ls9 cam with 1.85 rockers.

Weekend warrior gt11 cam

In either case they pull very good from down low and hold good till redline.

I used both, the ls9 in my tahoe and the gt11 in my caddy.

Idle quality is great with the ls9 and good with the gt11.

Brian Tooley Racing

iTrader: (13)

The LS9 cam has a 42.5 IVC due to the ultra wide 121 LSA which is okay, but a cam with a earlier IVC is going to make more average torque.

The LS9 cam also has a much quicker opening ramp than what you'd think, we've seen this cam break Comp 918 and PAC 1211X springs with stock 1.7 rockers, 1.85 rockers would be more difficult to control.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

It worked great in my tahoe for pullin boats and gettin up to speeds of 80mph with great milage to boot

Brian Tooley Racing

iTrader: (13)

Check out the LS9 cam test results in this article, low end torque on the cam was down 40 lb/ft at 2500 rpm compared to the stock LM7 cam, this is on a 5.3 not a 5.7

You'll notice the aftermarket 224 cam made more power everywhere.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...st-comparison/

Brian Tooley Racing

iTrader: (13)

Another thing to note, if this is a LS6 engine the LS9 cam doesn't have the required camshaft position reluctor.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

I know of this article, but all cams were tested with 1.7 rockers and not 1.8 with either the ls9 nor ls7 cams.

If you read up on their ls2 with ls3 heads cam shootout they switched the 1.7 for 1.8 rockers for more bottom end torque.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

Easily fixed with ls2 timin cover and cam sensor extension wire

Martin Smallwood

iTrader: (2)

The LS9 cam is not what I would recommend either.

Something in the range of a 222/226 .603/.587 113+2 would be my recommendation for great low end torque, mid-range torque and still pull to 6500rpm. That would create a very wide torque minded power band for sure.

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

Both Brian and Martin speced a cam in the range that I was expecting....Ive seen some TR224 cams in fbodies put a hurting on some big cammed cars.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

As a user and i have tried mild to moderate cams. I found when the intake duration is below 220 the car idles and behaves closer to stock. Once you get over 220 idle quality drops and you have to be on your A game for the tune. Exhaust should be higher duration than intake and the wider the lsa the wider you power band is. With a heavy car its better to have a wider power band than a narrow one.

If it were me i would have a cam with 218/23x and a lsa of more than 116. Idle quality will be good and power also would be steady..

But thats me.

My caddy has 229/242 with a 114 lsa. It idles ok, but the power is mainly above 3500rpm. But everything on the top and bottom of the engine are nothing close to stock...

gedupont

iTrader: (6)

[QUOTE=Naf;19110546]

..... If it were me i would have a cam with 218/23x and a lsa of more than 116. Idle quality will be good and power also would be steady....

How about an LS7 cam - 211/230; 121 LSA; lift of .591/.591 with 1.8 rockers or .571/.571 with the stock 1.7's?

George
TX

Naf

iTrader: (1)

[quote=gedupont]I already said that option but with 1.85 rockers and these guys pretty much blew me out of the water

BJHardin

No, I did see suggestions abbot talking to vendors. But I'm not looking for suggestions on who to call to buy it from, I'm looking for real experience from other V owners on what they enjoy driving and what they don't.
I talked to Martin when I got the cam in my Trans am, and while I don't think he described it wrong, it definitely preforms completely different than I expected and I jumped the gun going with a bigger cam than needed. That's what happens with inexperience though, I had wide eyes looking at peak power numbers not thinking about how it would perform overall. But I don't drive that car much, its more of a play toy so it's still fun. The V on the other hand is more of a DD, even though I don't actually driver it to work, I use it for around town commuting and long highway trips.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Your best option is this right here: http://www.guerragroup.com/#!camshaft-help/c1mq5

PatG is the best one for you to talk to. Tooley and AI are right up there too but PatG's MO suits what you're looking for.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

Then go for the ls7/9 with 1.85 rockers and call it a day. Better milage and smoother power. Not to mention you can still show them you have a beast under the hood. Like i said i used it in my tahoe and even towed a boat with no issue.