blkbird

iTrader: (28)

Basically my question is, what cams out there will work with the ls6 valve springs without having to worry about changing them out all the time. Would a cam with a .560 lift on it put too much stress on those springs. I got a set of 03-04 valvesprings coming and I want to get a cam also. I know the hot cam will work but I was just curious which other cams out there will be ok to run with those springs.

Casperws6

the asa cam 226/236 .525/.525 110lsa

blkZ28spt

Best bet is probably to get springs that match your cam. Comp 918's work with almost everything. The only three I am aware of that work well with LS6 springs are the hotcam, asa hotcam or the LS6 cam.

Dan_the_C5_Man

I'm going to install an LPE GT2-3 cam, and (I've called twice now) the tech there specifically told me they use stock GM LS6 springs, and it works out great.

GT2-3 specs: 207 / 220 - .571 / .578 - 118.5 CL

ss rally red

iTrader: (8)

I thought that LS6 springs were rated at 550 max

Dan_the_C5_Man

No, I think they are rated at .600. Heck, a stock LS6 cam is .551". Can't imagine they are marginal in the stock application. These items are expected to last 150K+ miles.

Either way, those are the springs LPE recommends (and sells) w/ the GT2-3.

I have to assume they know what they are talking about..

parts@sdpc

The LS6 springs are good to 0.575" lift. Great springs for the price!

DJ_951

would depend on the lobe profile and how agressive it is too. I would look at a comp cam 216/220.

Dan_the_C5_Man

O.k., so are you saying the LS6 springs are NOT a good choice for the GT2-3?? I've called LPE several times about this.. But they are also saying it's o.k. to re-use the stock pushrods, as opposed to longer 7.425" items..

What is your input on this??

blkbird

iTrader: (28)

So something with a .550 lift would be ok with these springs?

Cal

iTrader: (1)

Maybe, maybe not; depends on the ramp rate of the cam.

blkbird

iTrader: (28)

I was thinkin of finding something similar to a 220/224 with a .550 lift on it maybe on a 112.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but what lobes does it have? That sounds like a comp cam; if it has XE or XER lobes, LS6 springs won't be good enough.

blkbird

iTrader: (28)

What would be the max on the lobes do you think?

jmm98LS1

iTrader: (28)

Remember there's two different LS6 springs....the '01 springs are good to around .570 lift and the '02 and later springs are supposed to be good to around .600 lift.....both lift specs are according to GM.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

The best thing would be to talk to the company that makes the cam you want to use, and get their recomendation. I would be inclined to use Comp 918 springs with about anything, unless the lift was way over 0.600 inch.

blkZ28spt

Comp 918's are a very nice spring. I have duals since my lifts are over .600 and they were pretty cheap.... but I wouldn't mind using 918's on my cam even. The 918's were originally rated to something higher than .600 before the 921's came out.

Gary Z

GM recommends using GM 12565313 LS6 springs with their showroom stock racing cam which has .570 lift. They do not promise long life. At .600 lift the LS6 springs are exceedingly close to coil bind. Coimp 918s are a better choice for lifts greater than 0.550, in my opinion.

-Gary

blkbird

iTrader: (28)

I was originally looking for a hotcam but havnt had any luck in finding one without the kit. So my next step is to see if comp cams has something comparable to it. The ls6 springs i have came of the 03-04 heads.

Flareside

I've run my GT2-3 with both the LS6 springs and Comp 915 springs. No issues with either one, but the LS6s were quieter. If I ever run this cam again in another car, I'll run the LS6 springs. When you're talking spring life, you have to look at the ramp rates, not total lift. Aggressive low lift cams break springs just as fast as aggressive high lift cams.

IMO, the 918 is overkill for a cam similar to the LS6 or GT2-3. It's the same spring as the 915, but it's wound looser so that spring pressure is higher when installed at 1.800". Basically, it's got more preload and seat pressure, but these cams don't need or want that.

As far as I know, GM does not list any official max lift specs for their beehive springs, so I believe that everything I've read on the internet is opinion. If somebody's got some real GM specs, I'd love to read them.

Coil bind on a beehive spring isn't an easy factor to measure like it is on a regular even wound spring. The bottom coils will start binding at low lift numbers, and the higher ones will be much later. Which coil are you worried about, just the last one? That's not good enough. More importantly, which coil are you going to measure? You have to know what open pressure your cam needs, and use a beehive that will yeild that figure when it's open. The beehives open pressure rises dramatically as you get near max lift, and pressure will be higher than you want before it binds. I've measured my LS6s at .600 and they are not binding.