Cam for all stock LS1 factory exhaust manifolds
10-13-2014, 08:09 PM
#1
On The Tree
Thread Starter
Cam for all stock LS1 factory exhaust manifolds See my sig....My 2002 factory stock....except for a SLP y-pipe put down 330 hp 342 torque. 6 speed car. Pretty good numbers. Is there a cam that will be easy on springs, get close to the same MPG but will give more power? I want the same power curves but with an additional 50 hp and 50 torque. What is this EPS baby cam I hear about or does Tick Performance have something? I like maybe more torque lower in the curve if possible. Thanks.
10-14-2014, 02:18 AM
#6
cam for stock manifolds, and idle sound.
check out the old TR "old man cam" cheaTR, and I think it was MTi that had a stealth, and stealth II cam. For reading info on something like that. I would think any good cm guy could get you something like that currently. Like ed curtis, hes really good and doing a LS cam for what you want out of it
check out the old TR "old man cam" cheaTR, and I think it was MTi that had a stealth, and stealth II cam. For reading info on something like that. I would think any good cm guy could get you something like that currently. Like ed curtis, hes really good and doing a LS cam for what you want out of it
Trending Topics
10-14-2014, 03:22 PM
#8
Is there a cam that will be easy on springs, get close to the same MPG but will give more power? I want the same power curves but with an additional 50 hp and 50 torque.
If you want power AND mpgs then you need to up compression and get more efficient headflow. I did an hci recently with significantly higher compression and a pretty good sized cam but actually get better mpgs on the highway then when I was stock. Around town is a different story, but I gained quite a bit of power and average mpgs didn't go down at all since cruising efficiency makes up for the inefficiency around town.
10-15-2014, 08:26 AM
#9
My truck has lost no noticeable amount of MPG in town, on the highway it seems like it might have picked up a little under half a MPG but needs to be tested more long term for confirmation.
It uses ls6 springs I got online for $40 shipped. I used stock pushrods and changed literally nothing but the cam and springs.
Most people would look at the cam specs and turn their nose up...I was even skeptical and thought it might gain 10rwhp on a good day. But clearly the combination of a little more duration/lift and Cam Motions lobe profile is one that works well for people who want what the OP wants from his car.
It uses ls6 springs I got online for $40 shipped. I used stock pushrods and changed literally nothing but the cam and springs.
Most people would look at the cam specs and turn their nose up...I was even skeptical and thought it might gain 10rwhp on a good day. But clearly the combination of a little more duration/lift and Cam Motions lobe profile is one that works well for people who want what the OP wants from his car.
10-15-2014, 11:35 PM
#10
Technically installing a mild cam like the old man cam won't kill gas mileage on its own.
Driving it such that you will actually notice the extra hp OTOH, will.
I've gotten 24.5 mpg in a heads/cam LS1 Trans Am on the highway, then 6 the next day at an open road race.
Driving it such that you will actually notice the extra hp OTOH, will.
I've gotten 24.5 mpg in a heads/cam LS1 Trans Am on the highway, then 6 the next day at an open road race.
10-16-2014, 07:45 AM
#11
Technically installing a mild cam like the old man cam won't kill gas mileage on its own.
10-16-2014, 12:48 PM
#13
How does more air get around the throttle plate at idle?
Second of all what decent sized cam (again one that gains 50hp not some baby cam) have you heard of that doesn't require idle tuning aka letting in more air? Not only that, but usually it comes at the expense of a higher commanded RPM which not only draws in more air on it's own but also wastes more fuel due to having more intake strokes per minute of idling.
Seriously, there are tradeoffs, like valvespring life, increased emissions, but fuel economy is a minor one.
10-16-2014, 01:15 PM
#14
A) We aren't talking about a "big cam". It is a relatively small cam.
B) I didn't say no more, I said driven the same, there was very little difference. In reality it is <10%, since my heads/much larger cam 01 Trans Am lost ~10% (certainly <15%) on the highway.
I can probably dig up mileage logs from long ago when my car had a TR220/114 cam, and mileage was close to stock too.
B) I didn't say no more, I said driven the same, there was very little difference. In reality it is <10%, since my heads/much larger cam 01 Trans Am lost ~10% (certainly <15%) on the highway.
I can probably dig up mileage logs from long ago when my car had a TR220/114 cam, and mileage was close to stock too.
10-16-2014, 01:18 PM
#15
Found it. This is a web page from my old website, last write date is 3/23/2003.
EDIT: The tire pressures were lower on the way back because I decided to run an autoX while in St. Louis, and had to let air out at the event to keep them ideal. I didn't have a pump and didn't bother with it.
Gas mileage in a modified 2001 Trans Am 6-speed
The car has a number of mods, but the ones that might affect gas mileage are: TR220/114 cam (220º/.553"/114), FLP long tube headers with cats, Hooker catback, lid, under drive pulley and tuning. In this configuration the car dyno'd 380 rwhp and 372 rwtq. Gears are the stock 3.42:1.
Leg 1: Grand Prairie TX. to Joplin MO.
Tire pressure was at 38 front and 33 rear. There are a number of stop lights and towns to slow down for, but the bulk of this leg was 65-70 mph speed limit highway. The ac was not used, but the (flip up) headlights were run for about half the miles, and the defroster was used for a little while.
Miles driven: 350
Time: 5.6 hours
Average speed: 62.5 mph
Fuel used: 12.7 gallons
Mileage: 27.55 mpg
Leg 2: Joplin MO. to Pacific MO.
Tire pressure was at 38 front and 33 rear. This was all sixth gear highway with no stops. I did have to run the lights and defroster some as it rained.
Miles driven: 251
Time: 3.4 hours
Average speed: 73.8 mph
Fuel used: 8.9 gallons
Mileage: 28.2 mpg
Leg 3: Sullivan MO. to Big Cabin OK.
Tire pressure was at 32 front and 27 rear. This was all sixth gear highway with no stops. I had the T-tops out and did not run the ac or defroster.
Miles driven: 263
Time: 3.6 hours
Average speed: 73.0 mph
Fuel used: 10.1 gallons
Mileage: 26.0 mpg
Leg 4: Big Cabin OK. to Grand Prairie TX.
Tire pressure was at 32 front and 27 rear. I put the T-tops back in for this leg, but had to run the air conditioner for much of it as it was hot. I also drove it to the car wash and around town a little to burn up the rest of the crappy 91 octane I bought in Big Cabin. There were several stops and a traffic jamb on this leg. Still, much of it was spent between 65-78 on the highway in sixth gear.
Miles driven: 340
Time: 5.6 hours
Average speed: 60.7 mph
Fuel used: 13.4 gallons
Mileage: 25.4 mpg
City driving:
The car typically gets 16-18 mpg in town driving with a little highway. Ironically, this is about the same mileage it got when stock making 311 rwhp and 334 rwtq.
Road course mileage:
Tank 1, 2 sessions in the dry. 42.1 miles, 7.1 gallons of gas for 5.78 mpg.
Tank 2, 1 wet and one dry session. 42.4 miles, 5.8 gallons of gas for 7.3 mpg.
Tank 3, 2 wet and 2 short dry sessions. 69.7 miles, 9.7 gallons of gas for 7.18 mpg.
The car has a number of mods, but the ones that might affect gas mileage are: TR220/114 cam (220º/.553"/114), FLP long tube headers with cats, Hooker catback, lid, under drive pulley and tuning. In this configuration the car dyno'd 380 rwhp and 372 rwtq. Gears are the stock 3.42:1.
Leg 1: Grand Prairie TX. to Joplin MO.
Tire pressure was at 38 front and 33 rear. There are a number of stop lights and towns to slow down for, but the bulk of this leg was 65-70 mph speed limit highway. The ac was not used, but the (flip up) headlights were run for about half the miles, and the defroster was used for a little while.
Miles driven: 350
Time: 5.6 hours
Average speed: 62.5 mph
Fuel used: 12.7 gallons
Mileage: 27.55 mpg
Leg 2: Joplin MO. to Pacific MO.
Tire pressure was at 38 front and 33 rear. This was all sixth gear highway with no stops. I did have to run the lights and defroster some as it rained.
Miles driven: 251
Time: 3.4 hours
Average speed: 73.8 mph
Fuel used: 8.9 gallons
Mileage: 28.2 mpg
Leg 3: Sullivan MO. to Big Cabin OK.
Tire pressure was at 32 front and 27 rear. This was all sixth gear highway with no stops. I had the T-tops out and did not run the ac or defroster.
Miles driven: 263
Time: 3.6 hours
Average speed: 73.0 mph
Fuel used: 10.1 gallons
Mileage: 26.0 mpg
Leg 4: Big Cabin OK. to Grand Prairie TX.
Tire pressure was at 32 front and 27 rear. I put the T-tops back in for this leg, but had to run the air conditioner for much of it as it was hot. I also drove it to the car wash and around town a little to burn up the rest of the crappy 91 octane I bought in Big Cabin. There were several stops and a traffic jamb on this leg. Still, much of it was spent between 65-78 on the highway in sixth gear.
Miles driven: 340
Time: 5.6 hours
Average speed: 60.7 mph
Fuel used: 13.4 gallons
Mileage: 25.4 mpg
City driving:
The car typically gets 16-18 mpg in town driving with a little highway. Ironically, this is about the same mileage it got when stock making 311 rwhp and 334 rwtq.
Road course mileage:
Tank 1, 2 sessions in the dry. 42.1 miles, 7.1 gallons of gas for 5.78 mpg.
Tank 2, 1 wet and one dry session. 42.4 miles, 5.8 gallons of gas for 7.3 mpg.
Tank 3, 2 wet and 2 short dry sessions. 69.7 miles, 9.7 gallons of gas for 7.18 mpg.
EDIT: The tire pressures were lower on the way back because I decided to run an autoX while in St. Louis, and had to let air out at the event to keep them ideal. I didn't have a pump and didn't bother with it.
10-16-2014, 01:20 PM
#16
We aren't talking about a "big cam". It is a relatively small cam.
I didn't say no more, I said driven the same, there was very little difference. In reality it is <10%, since my heads/much larger cam 01 Trans Am lost ~10% (certainly <15%) on the highway.
I can probably dig up mileage logs from long ago when my car had a TR220/114 cam, and mileage was close to stock too.
My point is, yes a cam can be done and not affect mileage. But a big enough cam to gain the power that the OP wishes to gain will in fact have a hit on fuel efficiency, especially around town.
10-16-2014, 09:53 PM
#18
With stock exhaust manifolds I'd go with at least a 8* I/E split(@.05") to help offset the more restrictive exhaust.
So, does the car need to be able to pass a tailpipe emission test..?
I'd go with a cam like a 218/226 with a lsa in the 110-114 range(depending on emission testing) and keep the IVC about 38*+ 1* . Overlap will vary from -6* to +2* .
Contact Cam Motion.
http://www.cammotion.com/contact.php
IMO, Cam Motion cam lobes are mild(ramp rate is roughly 55) and can be had with almost lift you want, plus they're cut to closer tolerance and on better cores than Comp Cams. So what you get is a cam that actually very closely matches it advertised specs, and should last a very long time, along with the rest of the valve train.
IMO, Comp Cam still makes a good cam, just the quality standard appears to be slightly lower. If you decide you want to go with a Comp Cam for cost reasons, then I'd recommend go with a custom grind using the XtremeRPM (highlift) lobes for both I & E cam lobes. For slightly more power at the sacrifice of some valve train life go with LXL lobes for the intake side an the XtremeRPM (highlift) lobes for the exhaust lobes. FYI, this will still be milder the EPS cam lobes.
As far as the MPG, on the interstate/freeway I would expect it not change IF you continue to drive the same on the interstate/freeway, but with city/town driving I would expect it to go down at least a little bit since I highly doubt you'll be able to resist pushing the gas pedal at least a little bit harder than normal.
So, does the car need to be able to pass a tailpipe emission test..?
I'd go with a cam like a 218/226 with a lsa in the 110-114 range(depending on emission testing) and keep the IVC about 38*+ 1* . Overlap will vary from -6* to +2* .
Contact Cam Motion.
http://www.cammotion.com/contact.php
IMO, Cam Motion cam lobes are mild(ramp rate is roughly 55) and can be had with almost lift you want, plus they're cut to closer tolerance and on better cores than Comp Cams. So what you get is a cam that actually very closely matches it advertised specs, and should last a very long time, along with the rest of the valve train.
IMO, Comp Cam still makes a good cam, just the quality standard appears to be slightly lower. If you decide you want to go with a Comp Cam for cost reasons, then I'd recommend go with a custom grind using the XtremeRPM (highlift) lobes for both I & E cam lobes. For slightly more power at the sacrifice of some valve train life go with LXL lobes for the intake side an the XtremeRPM (highlift) lobes for the exhaust lobes. FYI, this will still be milder the EPS cam lobes.
As far as the MPG, on the interstate/freeway I would expect it not change IF you continue to drive the same on the interstate/freeway, but with city/town driving I would expect it to go down at least a little bit since I highly doubt you'll be able to resist pushing the gas pedal at least a little bit harder than normal.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; 10-17-2014 at 03:46 AM.