Best Cam for LQ4 6.0 Liter
04-12-2009, 01:08 AM
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Best Cam for LQ4 6.0 Liter Looking for advice on a cam for a stock LQ4 6.0 Liter in a 1972 Cutlass. I'm using truck intake, injectors, etc I want to get the most out of the stock components with out going overboard. I'm used to regular small block Chevy stuff new to LSX but I can see the LSX is much better!!
04-12-2009, 06:20 PM
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A stock LS6 cam - P/N 12565308 - 270.00 at Summit Racing. This is a great cam for the lq4.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku
Also, you will have to replace the valve springs - stock LS6 springs - - P/N 12586484 - are a great, cheap way to go:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Have fun.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku
Also, you will have to replace the valve springs - stock LS6 springs - - P/N 12586484 - are a great, cheap way to go:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Have fun.
04-12-2009, 07:25 PM
#5
Honestly i wouldnt bother with a cam if sticking with the truck intake, i believe it only makes power to about 5500rpm or so. Any bigger cam is going to want to pull to higher rpms. Spend a couple hundred on an LS6 intake and TB, you can re-use the injectors im pretty sure just need the ls1 fuel rail, and then do your cam. You'd probably gain a good 30hp from the intake swap and then you could run a larger cam which you'd gain more horspower from. You can get semi-used cams all day long for $300, and a brand new set of patriot dual springs with seals for $250. These are the same springs i run with my cam to 7,000 rpm.
04-12-2009, 08:25 PM
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An LS6 intake is definatly on the wish list. My plan is to do the cam swap before I put the motor in and do bolt on grades after the $$$$ sting of the LQ4 swap wears off. Thanks for the suggestions keep them coming.
04-12-2009, 09:11 PM
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A stock LS6 cam - P/N 12565308 - 270.00 at Summit Racing. This is a great cam for the lq4.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku
Have fun.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku
Have fun.
Good advice....this is the 02-04 Z06 corvette cam, also available in used condition from vette guys who upgrade. I bought mine w/ low miles for $125 shipped.
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04-12-2009, 11:40 PM
#8
I want to start out by saying there is no best cam! I have been keeping an eye open for probably 2 years and there is no single answer. Which is why I`m still running the lame stocker.
I am probably going to end up with something like the 02LS6, but from what I have read as long as I stay less than 220/220 duration that sounds like what I am looking for.
So far most posts I found said that the LS6 cam is not worth the swap, that I will gain 30-40hp but that its going to feel like the stocker and just make me kick myself for not going bigger. My other thought was the HOT CAM, but probably 90% of the posts I have read say it sucks that its hard to tune, needs a higher stall convertor and that there are cams out there that have just as good of driveability but will add a bunch more power over the hotcam. However, I know of one person who thinks the hotcam is great in his LQ4, has stock exhaust manifolds, stock stall, and says it pulls like a stock 5.3L down low, but really wakes the 6.0l up as the RPM comes up. In reality it comes down to the supporting modifications and the person. If you have headers and a 3600 stall you going to want a bigger cam, also watch out with regard to the compression ratio, the LQ4 has a 9.4 to 1 CR which is lower than the 5.7`s and LQ9`s so its easier to end up with a low dynamic CR cause of a big cam and then you have a motor that wants to pull at 5k, but is a slug at 2500.
If you want seamless driveability look for a cam with <220 deg duration, if you want to throw on headers and a stall look for something towards 220-230. Depends what your looking for.
As far as swapping intakes the truck injectors will not work with the car intakes. The truck injectors are about 5/8" shorter than car injectors. It might be possible to mill the fuel rail bosses down on the car intake to get it to work, but I wouldn`t bet on it, because everything I have read says they won`t fit.
I am probably going to end up with something like the 02LS6, but from what I have read as long as I stay less than 220/220 duration that sounds like what I am looking for.
So far most posts I found said that the LS6 cam is not worth the swap, that I will gain 30-40hp but that its going to feel like the stocker and just make me kick myself for not going bigger. My other thought was the HOT CAM, but probably 90% of the posts I have read say it sucks that its hard to tune, needs a higher stall convertor and that there are cams out there that have just as good of driveability but will add a bunch more power over the hotcam. However, I know of one person who thinks the hotcam is great in his LQ4, has stock exhaust manifolds, stock stall, and says it pulls like a stock 5.3L down low, but really wakes the 6.0l up as the RPM comes up. In reality it comes down to the supporting modifications and the person. If you have headers and a 3600 stall you going to want a bigger cam, also watch out with regard to the compression ratio, the LQ4 has a 9.4 to 1 CR which is lower than the 5.7`s and LQ9`s so its easier to end up with a low dynamic CR cause of a big cam and then you have a motor that wants to pull at 5k, but is a slug at 2500.
If you want seamless driveability look for a cam with <220 deg duration, if you want to throw on headers and a stall look for something towards 220-230. Depends what your looking for.
As far as swapping intakes the truck injectors will not work with the car intakes. The truck injectors are about 5/8" shorter than car injectors. It might be possible to mill the fuel rail bosses down on the car intake to get it to work, but I wouldn`t bet on it, because everything I have read says they won`t fit.
04-13-2009, 08:01 AM
#9
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you can never go wrong with a 224 series cam.
Good sound, good power, good drive ability - low and mid range power to low 6,000 rpm. I ran the comp 224 for several years.
Comp Cam, thunder racing, crane, LG, Lingerlefter all make a variations of the 224 series with slightly different lifts and LSA
Good sound, good power, good drive ability - low and mid range power to low 6,000 rpm. I ran the comp 224 for several years.
Comp Cam, thunder racing, crane, LG, Lingerlefter all make a variations of the 224 series with slightly different lifts and LSA
04-13-2009, 09:30 AM
#11
04-13-2009, 09:50 AM
#12
The right cam is the one that works best in YOUR combination.
The stock truck or L76 intake limit flow on these heads. I do not have that restriction with the carb intake. The cam I am running would not be good for a DD. I wanted peak power up near 6800. my suggestion to call mike at Rapid stands, he can tailor a custom to fit your needs using the same lobes, his propreitary design......
The converter is an Ultimate 8", flashs about 4900.
Dave
The stock truck or L76 intake limit flow on these heads. I do not have that restriction with the carb intake. The cam I am running would not be good for a DD. I wanted peak power up near 6800. my suggestion to call mike at Rapid stands, he can tailor a custom to fit your needs using the same lobes, his propreitary design......
The converter is an Ultimate 8", flashs about 4900.
Dave
04-13-2009, 06:52 PM
#14
I have used both the Z06 cam and the hot cam. The Z06 in a 5.3 and hot cam in an lq9 both carbureted though. The z06 does make a difference buut the powerband is so unpronounced that it feels like you didnt make an improvement. However if you look at times or watch the speedo its obvious you've upgraded. As far as the hot cam its preyy similsr to the Z06 just nastier. It pulls from idle to 6k in a 6.0 and makes good power while still having good manners and decent engine vacuum (about 15-18") The only real difference is the lope since the lsa is 112 versus the 117.5 of the Z06. Hope this helps. BTW definitely try finding a different intake at all costs. I also happen to be selling a hot cam kit with springs if you are interested. Just pm or look up my sale posting.
04-13-2009, 10:43 PM
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Thanks for the info. My brother in-law is a tech at a local Chevy dealer. He drug home a bunch of parts he had rat holed and turns out I have a 12565308 cam so based on the advice from here and the price it looks like the Z06 cam is the "Best" cam for my application 
. I really appriciate all the help from ya'll. I have been lurking here for a year or so while collecting parts and info. I should be mocking up the motor in the next week or so.
. I really appriciate all the help from ya'll. I have been lurking here for a year or so while collecting parts and info. I should be mocking up the motor in the next week or so. 
, well we tried to tell him, he'll be swapping it out soon enough 
