cooks 7

I am preparing to start the LS1 in my swap application, I've been sorting out little details and was wondering, is there any way to tell if I have an aftermarket cam easily? The engine I got was from a low mileage 01 T/A, it has a polished TB and there are some marks on the crank pulley that make me think a puller made them. Can i pop off a valve cover and measure lift with a dial indicator? is there any other way to tell? I know i wont' be able to tell everything about the cam but i'd like to know if it being aftermarket is a possibility. What could i measure with the valve cover off and what kind of numbers would i be looking for?

fast377

iTrader: (52)

Take off the rear cover and see if there are any numbers or markings ground into the end of the cam.

wtomlinson

iTrader: (6)

not to jack your thread OP, but if you did run into something like this, is there a way you can have the cam checked out to get the exact specs (saying it's an aftermarket cam)?

Funkster

iTrader: (97)

If you removed it you could have it "cam doctored."

wtomlinson

iTrader: (6)

who can do that? any tuner or would i have to send it to a manufacturer?

Funkster

iTrader: (97)

Send it in to thunder racing, they can do it for like $20 or something like that. As someone else stated though, if there are numbers etched on the end of the cam it is probably after market. Look for markings like this:

BIG_MIKE2005

iTrader: (116)

You have to send it in to get it cam doctored.

I'd try the rear cover first if the motor isn't installed. Most places will have the info needed to get the specs marked on the end of the cam.

DaveX

If it were me I would consider going ahead and getting the cam I wanted and putting new valve springs, pushrods, and possibly lifters in it before install since you have limited information on the history of the motor. It would be much easier to do if it's not in the car and then you know you have what you want and parts matched to work together.

s346k

iTrader: (4)

just pull the valve cover and look at the valvesprings. any cam other than a stock ls1 cam requires different springs.

quick346

iTrader: (4)

you can also just measure the base circle and the highest point and subtract the base from the peak and that will give you the cam lift times 1.7 is valve lift. That way if it is a stock spec no reason to cam docter it.

also all aftermarket cams will be marked on the end of them

cooks 7

thanks for the info everyone, I'll try to pull the rear cover off when i take the engine/trans out soon to finish up my engine bay, I thought about just camming it while its out before i start it but i am running short on money, if i do find out it's aftermarket and i can't tell if it's right for me, then i'll probabaly just invest in a new cam, ect. I've had the valve covers off but didn't really look at the valve springs too closely, i'll try that too tommorrow, at least that will put me on the trail.
thanks for the advice, i'll keep you all updated on what i find

DVS99TRANS

iTrader: (7)

I have the thoughts in my mind with the WS6 I bought last September. It puts you in the seat at 2500rpm, then plants you noticably at 4000rpm. My 99 never has done that. I am thinking of getting it dynoed which would be the easy way to find out. I figure I should be able to tell that way. But even if that proves it, i can only guess what cam is in there, lol.