RUSSH

I'm about to purchase an LS6 cam for my 98. What else do I have to buy to make it work? springs? push rods?

Thanks

DarkLordFtT

ls6 springs and ls6 retiners is all you should need I believe.

RUSSH

Anything else?

SouthFL.02.SS

Crank bolt and various gaskets for the swap.

x phantom x

iTrader: (14)

I would get better springs retainers. After doing the swap myself, its a pain in the *** to do the springs, and if you want to change that ls6 cam for a different one in the future, you dont want to have to spend the money/do it all twice.
Check around and find a good set of springs/titanium retainers to go in. Then just find a cam install kit from any of the sponsors, that will include all the gaskets/bolt/etc that you will need for the install.

good luck

DarkLordFtT

Oh I agree with you . I was just stating the bare min, because his ls1's may not hold up

PacerX

iTrader: (4)

Ummmm....

GM went to a lighter valve gentlemen. Those guys know what they're doing.

Vents

iTrader: (9)

from what i understand you're going to need pushrods too. the LS6 cam has a smaller base circle than stock. roughly 50 thousanths. if you havent milled the heads, you'll need a 7.45" pushrod to compensate. then the obvious, springs, retainers, ect..

the LS6 had longer valves and diffrent springs, thats how they got away with this using stock 7.4" p-rods. you might be able to get away with it, (honestly it's something i'd be inclined to try,) but it's going to be a crap shoot as to how it's going to work. might see if anyone else on here has done this.

boomcase

IMO You need a new crank bolt and front timing cover seal(where the balancer goes through)you will need water pump gaskets,LS6 springs, you can use your stock ls1 retainers if you like , and from what I understand you do not need pushrods your stock ones should be fine, I beleive from what I read there is enough lifter preload to make up the difference. Do a search on the ls6 cam install that should help you out.

boos2

I would call one of the sponsers like MTI or Thunder and see what they recommend too.

Tin Indian

The stock LS1 cam has a 'base circle' of 1.552" (across the lobe). That equals .775" (19.7mm) from 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heal'. In fact, GM states that this distance is in fact 19.7mm on the LS1 cam.

GM also states that the 2002 LS6 cam has a 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heal' distance of 19.0mm. That is exactly .748"

The simple math will tell you that the difference in 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heal' distance between the two cams is 0.7mm or .027"

To be exact, the LS6 cam would require a .027" [longer] pushrod than the LS1 cam if you wanted to maintain the exact lifter preload as you had before the cam swap.

Going to a 7.45" rod (.050" longer than stock) is going to get you too much preload. I would buy Thunder Racing 7.40" hardened rods. They are actually .015" longer than your stock rods. That would make your preload just .012" less than stock ..... No problem at all

Ron,

RUSSH

I think I will call MTI and see what they say. I want to do it right. Thanks for all the replies.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

besides the obvious of needing gaskets,coolant,crank bolt ect i just went with ls6 springs and ive had no problems im aware of.if youre considering going with a more aggressive cam in the future i guess you can get better PRs for later on.

Ireland31

All you need is a cam change gasket kit, the cam and the '02 LS6 valve springs. Highly recommend hardened pushrods (7.40"). Ive got 14000 miles on mine now, zero problems.

Ryan02SS

iTrader: (3)

I used 02 LS6 cam and springs, new gaskets and a new crank pulley bolt. I used my stock pushrods and have had no problems. Also no increased valvetrain noise with the LS6 springs.

Jason99T/A

iTrader: (21)

I would also agree to just go ahead and install a set of Comp 918s in place of the LS6 springs in an LS1 application. The LS6 springs were designed to work with the lightweight LS6 valves. The LS1 valves are quite a bit heavier. This is going to require slightly more spring pressure.

7.400" hardened pushrods would be a good choice as well, but not 100% needed.

Jason

WS6snake-eater

Boomcase is exactly right...I have the cam and did the swap myself. Get everyhing he listed in his post and you'll be good to go. For what it's worth; you should go ahead and upgrade you plugs and wires while you have the coil packs off doing the cam swap. It makes life a whole lot easier. One more thing. This cam does not come alive until after 4500rpm, so if you have an automatic, you better get it tuned to take advantage of the cam, by raising shift points and revlimiters. That is all, good luck.