Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

I'm getting close to purchasing my cam setup that I want to have done this summer, and I've narrowed it down to wanting to get the GM Hotcam/ LS6 springs setup. And now I have a couple more questions before I make the purchase.

1. Will I be able to pass CA emissions with this camshaft?
2. What pushrod size will I need?
3. Do I need a larger oil pump for this cam?
4. What does this camshaft sound like? More aggressive than a Z06 cam I hope...

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have done a fair amount of searching but I can't find any clear, good idle clips of this cam.

Thank you,

- Robby

KurtRardin

iTrader: (11)

Check out the thread in my sig. You'll find some results plus a video burried in one of them. It sounds good. But it will fool you. It doesnt make the kind of power that you would expect to come from something that sounds that nasty.

Oil pump? Well, you're a 98, and unless you have less that four miles on it then you will most definately need an oil pump. Just go to SDPC2000.com and get the LS6 or HD oil pump. I forget which they call it. Its like $60. Do it and forget about it.

Pushrods. I have comp 7.4 that I bought new for $93 shipped. Shop around. Again, being that you're a 98 you need pushrods too. Comp 7.4s will take you a long long way no matter what you do (unless you mill the heads... but what ever you do dont upgrade the stock heads )

Kalifornya? Dude... you've got LTs and an ORY. You would fail it now. You can smell unburnt fuel with the stock cam. Just wait until you throw a cam with more overlap in!

Honestly though, they're a pain to tune, and the power gains arent worth it in my opinion. Go for something much bigger and dont look back. $429 for a kit? For crappy LS6 springs and a .525 lift cam? No way. TSP sells kits with pushrods, 918 springs, and any cam you want...even a Torquer V2... $599. Thats $499 if you dont count the pushrods. Worth the difference? When is another 30rwph worth an extra $70??? All the time.

If you buy a hotcam used then its okay. That was my story. I had a Vinci tuner which tuned the hell out of my cam, all the tools I needed, and a 98 engine with shot pushrods, springs, oil pump, and timing chain. I had all the parts anyway and then someone offered me a hotcam for $120. What started out as a fresh up turned into a cam swap. The only problem is now I have the cam bug. I need something a LOT bigger!

Next cam is going to be a Vinci 049 cam (228/232 .600/.600 112). Even with stock heads over 400rwhp should be easy

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the info man! Let me just share with you my goals first and the reason to want to go with a small cam like the hotcam. I'm not looking for all out performance rather I am just looking for something that has a nice little lope to it that I can smog. Though I understand that there are alot of greater cams out there, but with a small lift on this cam that means I won't have to change out springs every 15k miles.

As for the exhaust, I will be going to smog legal shorties, and a catted y-pipe to go along with my smog legal cam.

d james

The hotcam isn't a bad cam and can make good power, some guys have posted close to 400 rwhp. I think 390 was the highest I've seen on here. I wouldn't expect everyone to get that close. I also love the idea of never changing springs again I absolutely hate changing those things. you will need a different cam, that hotcam is not smog legal for Cali. A 224/224 114 LSA is the biggest safe cam. I've read of others passing with slightly bigger numbers, but I wouldn't count on it, especialy the way Cali gets tougher laws all the time. Try the SDPC place for other options for another cam if you want to pass

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

are you sure a hotcam wouldn't pass? Its about the same numbers as a 224 isn't it?

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

A hotcam is less duration than a traditional 224 off the shelf cam. You should be able to pass no problem, at least in the cam department. Your exhaust system is another issue.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

thanks for the response. I will be changing the exhaust system to a smog legal one within the next year.

d james

from my calculations the hotcam doesn't look like it would pass it has -0.5 overlap, and the general rule of thumb is -4 to -6 overlap being the max to pass. the 224/224 114 LSa cam has -4 overlap and most people can't get the 112 LSA to pass, but I've read of some people beig able to pass with it, but its hit or miss.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

well there isn't any other cam with low lift that will give me a nice lope and be able to pass smog. Don't the 224 cams have higher lift than a hotcam, meaning more emissions and what not?

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Have a custom cam ground then. It might cost more, but if it's what you want, then it will be worth it.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

ya that's out of budget man. So your telling me that a hotcam won't pass smog?! .525/.525 219/228 112 lsa. There's gotta be a way to make that work.

badmfkr

iTrader: (4)

Georgia has the next strickess emmisions next to Calie.

a friend of mine has a hot cam and I have a little bit more of a cam passing emmisions is in the tune and deltetion of emmision parts.

how are you passing w/ LTs don't get caught without cats it's a 100K fine.


I maybe having some real low miles LS6 valve springs I will sell cheap.

KurtRardin

iTrader: (11)

Nah man custom cams are cheap from TSP. You can get any cam ground for $389 or so. And if I am not mistaken you can get a custom cam in their $599 kit. Well worth it.

Lets say that you got a HotCam kit and paid $429 for it. Then you spent a hundred dollars on pushrods, because you should get them too. Now your up to $529.

Well, for $70 more you can get it all as a kit with a custom cam and 918 springs, as well as pushrods. 918 springs are a million times better than LS6 springs. Just my $0.02

orangefun

iTrader: (5)

I live In visalia. I have a hot cam in my car now, come by and ride and listen, maybe I will sell it cheap, real cheap. I went 12.6 with that cam, only other mods, lid, 3500 stall, ORY and cut out, (no headers, I know I know, they are being shipped right now)

02 Camaro SS

iTrader: (4)

Personally I would get the 224/224 114 LSA. A good tuner should be able to get you through emissions and you'll have some great power on top of it.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

thanks for all the replies folks. How am I passing with LTs? I'm not, they were on there after smog so they will be going off before my next smog. I am aware of the fines, that is why I am going to put a smog legal exhaust setup in the near future. I really would like a used hotcam, that is my budget for this car. I can't afford an awesome tsp package.

Orangefun, I would love to take you up on that offer. I am located near Sacramento, Ca.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

I'm sure it does, but I am looking for more of the sound factor than the performance factor. My car is fast enough for me already, now I just want a little bit of lope to make it sound good. I'm trying to keep need of replacing valve springs alot out because I drive this car ALOT.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Why don't you just lower your idle then? That'll give you some choppyness right there. It's not a wise idea to get a cam purely for the sound, especially with a low budget. It's an in-depth performance mod that has a side effect of changing the sound of the car; it shouldn't be vice versa.

KurtRardin

iTrader: (11)

I think thats even more of a reason to steer away from the hotcam. Yeah, it sounds good, but it also behaves like a big cam. You can find plenty of 224 cams for cheap that sound choppy. But unless you find a hotcam for a smokin deal, I wouldnt go for it. Its borderline annoying if you've still got 3.42s. People say that 224 cams can drive like they're stock, but still sound choppy as hell.

Rob98LS1

iTrader: (5)

i do understand, I don't have a problem with changing the behavior of the car. But like i said, my car is fast enough fo me so I'm not concerned with getting as much as possible out of it, just want a sweet sound, for the most part. i doubt lowering my idle would work out too well, it'd probably die alot on me I'm guessing. If I can find a good deal on a 224 i'd possibly do that to, but it seemed like hotcams were cheaper than those so that's what i was gunnin for.