About to buy my cam.. need help!
09-08-2004, 09:49 PM
#1
About to buy my cam.. need help! Ok i'm about to buy everything i need for my cam install.. But i wanna make sure i have all the right parts for the set up i'm going for.. just going cam only.. stock heads..
-Going with the FM11 cam 228/230 .575/.595
$365 plus shipping
-40-144832PKG3 Patriot Dual Valve Springs, Patriot Performance Titanium Retainers, Hardened Spring Seats, GM Valve Guide Seals for texas speed
$295 plus shipping
-11-1140 Rollmaster Double-Roller Adjustable Timing Set, LS1-Based Cars and Trucks for texas speed $92 plus shipping
-25-7400 Texas Speed & Performance Custom Chromemoly 7.40" Pushrods
$110 plus shipping
-cam gasket kit for doing the cam swap
$35 plus shipping
-25-PUMP TSP Ported LS6 Oil Pump, 1997-03 LS1/6-Based Cars & Trucks for texas speed $130 plus shipping
If anyone sees that i'm buying anything wrong or something i should consider other than what i have listed.. please let me know! or if you have better pricing somewhere! Thanks!
-Going with the FM11 cam 228/230 .575/.595
$365 plus shipping-40-144832PKG3 Patriot Dual Valve Springs, Patriot Performance Titanium Retainers, Hardened Spring Seats, GM Valve Guide Seals for texas speed
$295 plus shipping
-11-1140 Rollmaster Double-Roller Adjustable Timing Set, LS1-Based Cars and Trucks for texas speed $92 plus shipping
-25-7400 Texas Speed & Performance Custom Chromemoly 7.40" Pushrods
$110 plus shipping
-cam gasket kit for doing the cam swap
$35 plus shipping
-25-PUMP TSP Ported LS6 Oil Pump, 1997-03 LS1/6-Based Cars & Trucks for texas speed $130 plus shipping
If anyone sees that i'm buying anything wrong or something i should consider other than what i have listed.. please let me know! or if you have better pricing somewhere! Thanks!
09-08-2004, 10:25 PM
#2
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you might have a good idea gettin all those smaller items at one place, jason might be able to save you on shipping. looks like you have everything. just make sure you have some 5/16" stock to hold up your lifters, plenty of shop towels, oil, coolant, some rtv, and loctite. and a good chunk of time set aside
other then that looks like you're good to go. good luck man, let us know how the install goes.
other then that looks like you're good to go. good luck man, let us know how the install goes.
09-08-2004, 10:36 PM
#3
You will be spending too much money for the install. This is what I would buy.
COMPCAMS 918 SPRINGS
COMPCAMS HARDENED PUSHRODS
BUY NEW OEM CHAIN if high milage on engine.Use your old gears.
FABRICATE SPRING TOOL
Your LS1 gaskets are reusable, With the 918 springs you can use your OEM retainers without spring seats, reuse your balancer bolt.
I run a 224@.050, 112 lsa, installed@108 CL and the low end is a little soft with the 3.42 gear untill you hit about 3000 rpm then it comes alive reving to 6500 rpm. A 3.73 gear would be perfect for this cam.
Spend the rest on a good tune because you will need it with your cam choice. Me personally would not go bigger than 224@.050 on the cam. Midrange torgue is better for a street driven car than high revving horsepower.
COMPCAMS 918 SPRINGS
COMPCAMS HARDENED PUSHRODS
BUY NEW OEM CHAIN if high milage on engine.Use your old gears.
FABRICATE SPRING TOOL
Your LS1 gaskets are reusable, With the 918 springs you can use your OEM retainers without spring seats, reuse your balancer bolt.
I run a 224@.050, 112 lsa, installed@108 CL and the low end is a little soft with the 3.42 gear untill you hit about 3000 rpm then it comes alive reving to 6500 rpm. A 3.73 gear would be perfect for this cam.
Spend the rest on a good tune because you will need it with your cam choice. Me personally would not go bigger than 224@.050 on the cam. Midrange torgue is better for a street driven car than high revving horsepower.
Last edited by gollum; 09-08-2004 at 11:33 PM.
09-08-2004, 10:39 PM
#4
Where do i get the 5/16" stock to hold up your lifters? and where exactly does it go in to hold them up? Other than that everything sounds good then.. i should be ready to do.. just need lots of time set aside like you said haha.. Thanks for the quick reply man i really appreciate it!
09-08-2004, 10:46 PM
#5
With the computer tune.. would i be able to send my PCM out to one of those mail tune places? or will i need an actual dyno tune? what would the difference be? anything major? the price difference is $250 compared to $550 plus a diablo sport for $200.. so $750 total for a dyno tune plus a programmer or $250 for a mail tune? Thanks
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09-08-2004, 11:04 PM
#8
Use a tuner that has been in the business a long time www.fastchip.com, www.slponline.com, www.thunderracing.com. I would also try to buy my cam from the tuner if you know what I mean.
09-08-2004, 11:20 PM
#10
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Rollin, go here. JMX's site, LS1HowTo.com. I linked straight to the cam install walk-through for ya. Sure, go ahead and try leaving the lifters in the plastic holders. Have fun finding them if they drop(which they have a habit of doing). Its too easy to go to Lowes or Home Depot and get dowel rod or brake line or any metal rod that is 5/16" and stick it in the slots show in JMX's write up. that will ensure the lifters stay out of the way.
since you're going for a whole package, call jason @ tsp or paul @ thunder and see what they can do for you, minus the cam. that cam isn't too big at all, gollum is just skurred.
pdd runs that cam in his 'vette with no issues. among many other people. look at all those folks runnin the g5x3, t-rex, or magic stick in their daily driver. THOSE are big cams. yours, while still very respectible, is quite a bit less aggressive. much less lift, and quite a bit less duration. you'll still put down some wicked numbers tho 
its all in the tuning. talk to allan @ futral, he'll be able to help you out best w/the tuning bit...it is HIS cam after all.
since you're going for a whole package, call jason @ tsp or paul @ thunder and see what they can do for you, minus the cam. that cam isn't too big at all, gollum is just skurred.
pdd runs that cam in his 'vette with no issues. among many other people. look at all those folks runnin the g5x3, t-rex, or magic stick in their daily driver. THOSE are big cams. yours, while still very respectible, is quite a bit less aggressive. much less lift, and quite a bit less duration. you'll still put down some wicked numbers tho its all in the tuning. talk to allan @ futral, he'll be able to help you out best w/the tuning bit...it is HIS cam after all. 
09-09-2004, 01:50 AM
#12
Originally Posted by gollum
Your LS1 gaskets are reusable, reuse your balancer bolt.
.All gaskets should be replaced to avoid any potential leaks, except for the valve cover gaskets, which are reusable.
If you reuse your balancer bolt, it might loosen up on you and out goes your pulley. It has happened to a couple of guys here, do a search. This bolt stretches out when tightened and is not reusable after removal. I remember hearing my new balancer bolt stretching when I was tightening it.
That gasket kit only costs about 35 bux anyway.
Also, make sure you get a new oil pump pick-up tube O-ring or you might have low or no oil pressure and you will have to tear it all back down.
09-09-2004, 12:29 PM
#13
Do not damage the silicone surface of the metal (aluminum) gasket and you can reuse them. You will need to use GRAY silicone between the corner areas of the oil pan and timing chain cover.
You can use your old bolt if you use red loctite and torgue the bolt to 200 foot lbs. Like I did. You "can not" torgue the bolt to factory specs like the factory or maybe the dealer does.
The plastic lifter holders can be checked. After spinning your cam a couple of times with chain off and cam sprocket bolted on. Push down on each lifter and you will be able to tell if they will hold. If the lifter falls back too easy do not attempt without some sort of holding tool (pin magnets).
After you do it yourself this all will make sense.
You can use your old bolt if you use red loctite and torgue the bolt to 200 foot lbs. Like I did. You "can not" torgue the bolt to factory specs like the factory or maybe the dealer does.
The plastic lifter holders can be checked. After spinning your cam a couple of times with chain off and cam sprocket bolted on. Push down on each lifter and you will be able to tell if they will hold. If the lifter falls back too easy do not attempt without some sort of holding tool (pin magnets).
After you do it yourself this all will make sense.
09-09-2004, 10:03 PM
#14
thanks for all the replies everyone.. looks like i have a bunch of different advice on how to go with tuning.. i'll just talk to texas speed and futral and see what they can do for me on tuning.. the $750 for the dyno tune here is WAY to expensive.. its ridiculous.. hopefully i can get some kind of deal.. Thanks for all the replies everyone and all the advice! i appreciate it! =)
09-10-2004, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by luv2spd
Yeah, def. check out tsp. I've heard nothing but good things from their mail order tunes.
am throwin in a 231/237 soon, and when I do, Jason's def gettin my business for a mail order tune.