1970

Is it worth the effort?

Will performance change?

Will it need to be tuned different?

Rick Speed

iTrader: (55)

Not really worth the effort. You wont notice a differance and it'll run with no tune required.

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

Id do an LS6 Ive heard they are great cams for these motors and even more so for boost.

71ANTICARB

iTrader: (23)

Might depend on which LS1 cam you choose, but I would definitely go atleast 02-04 ls6 if it was my and you would need atleast valve springs and probably a tune.

Stolen from LS1truck.com.




year/part number/Duration @ .050 lift int-exh/Valve lift int-exh/Lobe Centerline LSA


Corvette LS1

97-98 12554710 199/207 .472/.479 117

98-99 12560964 199/207 .472/.479 117

2000 12560968 198/209 .500/.500 115.5

01-03 12561721 198/207 .467/.479 116


Corvette LS6

2001 12560950 204/211 .525/.525 116 385hp

02-04 12565308 204/218 .555/.551 117.5 405hp


Camaro/Firebird

98 12557812 198/209 .500/.500 119.5

99-00 12560965 198/209 .500/.500 119.5

01-02 12561721 196/207 .467/.479 116


Trucks and SUV with Vortec engine

LR4 and LM7

99 12560966 191/190 .457/.466 115.5

00-04 12560967 191/190 .457/.466 114

the 03-04 LM7 used the 12560967 camshaft


LQ4

99-00 12560967 191/190 .457/.466 114

01-04 12561721 196/207 .467/.479 116

01-04 LQ4 cam is same as Camaro, Corvette LS1 and LQ9 cam


LQ9

02-03 12561721 196/207 .467/.470 116

1970

Stock 2004 LM7 5.3
with LS1 intake, etc.

If I add a 2004 LS6 cam, springs, push rods available for $250

Question: Do I need a tune or can I upgrade to a better ECM?

71ANTICARB

iTrader: (23)

That's a pretty big change in the cam. I bet it would run but prolly would be down on power without a tune. I would think that you could tune the ecm you have.

1970

The stock LM7 uses regular gas.
Will the cam upgraded LM7 require premium gas?

Pocket

iTrader: (22)

No

Octane requirement is based more on compression than valve timing

zipster

iTrader: (5)

Hey 1970,
I wanted a cam upgrade but am on a tight budget. So I had a cam reground by Delta camshafts. My cam is 224/230 @ .050 580 lift on a 112 c/l it was $112.50 including shipping to me. The I bought take off Z06 springs for $50.00. Would I like more cam, yes, but I want to get this car running soon.

Rick Speed

iTrader: (55)

You can run a LS6 cam with out a tune. A tune will give you another 30hp roughly.

71ANTICARB

iTrader: (23)

So without a tune it wouldn't be worth it.

Bankroll Bullies

Where did you find stock ls6 cam and springs and push rods for $250? Thats what im looking for but cant find them for that price.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

You could have picked up a new set of LS6 springs from SDPC... for a few more $$'s (IIRC $54). For that pirce, why use Used one ??

You need to make sure the Push Rods are the correct lenght.. as the LS6 cam has a smaller Base Circle. Most usually go with longer 7.425", other have stated stock 7.4" will work.

You should be ok without a tune for the most part.. but one would be recommened.

BC

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

GM actually installs the LS1 cam in their performance variant of the 5.3 engine. It's the LS327/327 which hints at the fact that they rate it at 327hp. So the gains really are not significant.

I ran the LS6 cam in my wife's 5.3 LS swapped 98 Silverado. It ran pretty good, but much better with a tune. I've recently swapped her to our 214/218 cam and it's quite a bit better than the LS6 cam was. Oddly, driving it feels like both cams have about the same sogginess in the bottom of the powerband (which isn't really that bad but is definitely present) but the 214/218 really comes in when you get the RPM up and the LS6 cam was fairly linear.

Bankroll Bullies

Ok, I just got an ls2 cam, ls2 push rods, and ls6 springs for cheap. What do I need to change on a LM4 or LQ9 to make them work? Im lost when it comes to cams but got a deal on the ls2 stuff and seen they are a good cam for a cheap swap.

Cameron Condy

Bring up and old thread sorry!

New here and to the LS community, purchased a 78 C10 a 99 LM7 swap. It has th400 with very low stall, I have a higher stall converter for it. 12 bolt truck axle with 2.73 gears, that needs changing bad.

I found a 2000 LS1 Corvette cam and springs for $150. Since its the LM7 is a 99 with the small cam think this would be worth the purchase? I still use this as my daily summer vehicle and use it for truck duties. The intention is to eventually make it a weekend cruiser with 400hp.

I have been trying to find 99 LM7 advise with out much luck. I'm not a cam guru to understand the full meaning of cam specs, any advise would be appreciated.

G Atsma

That cam will give it a bit of a kick. You will be going from a 191/190 .457/.466 114 LSA to a 196/207 .467/.479 114 LSA. Can use the same springs, BUT I would put some new LS2/LS3 springs in because of the old one's age

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ls-cam-test-comparison/

All the testing done on a 5.3L.....

Cameron Condy

I realize this, I’m seeing a lot of people saying it’s not worth it on the LM7. Since I have the 99 variant with 270hp, I’m wondering if it’s worth it.

Cameron Condy

I’m not very rehearsed in cam specs, I can see that it’s better just not sure how much. He’s selling LS1 springs with it.