Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

yes this is a serious question...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-06-2005, 11:34 PM
  #1  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
1LoudTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Islip Terrace, NY
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default yes this is a serious question...

okay. i don't want to sound cheap or anything but i really want to do my cam swap but honestly, is there no way to get a cam with springs that have the same longetivity as stock?? i mean the ls7 motor has a pretty high lift cam, and im sure GM didn't build it to have to have the springs changed yearly. has anybody looked into the ls7 cam/springs for their ls1's????
Old 09-07-2005, 12:20 AM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (18)
 
DONAIMIAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: NW Houston, TX
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

FWIW: I have a 221/221 and my springs have somwhere around 35k miles on em. I think theyre just now starting to loose preasure.
Old 09-07-2005, 12:52 AM
  #3  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
 
moeZ28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: ashland, ky
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

the LS7 has .591 lift cam on 1.8 rocker arms, not 1.7 like our cars. the lift on that cam in our cars would only be .558. its one of the few spots on the LS7 motor that a person could really gain something. correct me if i am wrong guys.
Old 09-07-2005, 11:54 AM
  #4  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (4)
 
Boostaholic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Your modifying your LS1 with cams and other expensive mods, but your too cheap to replace valvesprings once and a while?
Old 09-07-2005, 12:26 PM
  #5  
TECH Senior Member
 
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: BFE
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

You said it yourself LS7 meaning ~7 liters not 5.7.
That cam is small in a 427 and i'm sure the LS7 springs are up to the task in seat pressures.
Old 09-07-2005, 12:27 PM
  #6  
Launching!
 
krexken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: longview, tx
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

That's a good question. I'd guess that the ramps of the ls7 cam were pretty gentle compared to most aftermarket ones that are trying to squeeze out every last drop of possible hp by outdoing the competition. It does sounds like it might be a pretty decent swap for a lot of guys. I know of lots of folks who swap ls6 cams in their cars because they don't want to jack with springs down the road and they feel more comfortable with a less agressive cam in their motors.
Old 09-07-2005, 12:42 PM
  #7  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
ta_silver_bullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Moundville, AL
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by stang killer
FWIW: I have a 221/221 and my springs have somwhere around 35k miles on em. I think theyre just now starting to loose preasure.
My springs lasted 19k miles and then one broke but i have rebuilt and its a better motor than i started with well it still needs somethings lol
Old 09-07-2005, 12:42 PM
  #8  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Brains's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Katy, TX
Posts: 12,754
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If you want to add more spring longevity than the "common" stuff, you'll need to do some more work. Longer valves, taller, larger diameter springs, new retainers, new spring seats, etc. Simply running a less aggressive lobe profile cam will help quite a bit as well.
Old 09-07-2005, 03:13 PM
  #9  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
1LoudTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Islip Terrace, NY
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

im not being cheap, im just being realistic here, it would suck on a daily driver to be doing springs almost yearly. considering i will be doing all the work myself i just figured that if theres a way to do things nice so you dont have parts that wear off very quickly, might as well find it out. thanks to everyone with non-negative responses.
Old 09-07-2005, 03:22 PM
  #10  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (42)
 
slt200mph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HOT'LANA, GAWJA
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts

Default

Replacing springs is an afternoon job..no big deal..whats an afternoon in the grand scheme of things..FYI LS7 has a baby cam in it.. .591 lift soft lobs 210\230 duration and probably a 116-118 LSA..that motor needs 246\246 .630\.630 110-112 LSA in it to make real HP..but it has to pass emmission and driveability and longevity are things the GM has to deal with..
Old 09-07-2005, 03:27 PM
  #11  
10 Second Club
iTrader: (20)
 
JoeyAnderson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Gotta pay to play bro...

Buy a DD.
Old 09-07-2005, 04:27 PM
  #12  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
1LoudTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Islip Terrace, NY
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

will 918s be good with the f13 or is that margional?
Old 09-07-2005, 06:28 PM
  #13  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (7)
 
Phoenix 5.7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Prairie de Femme, LA
Posts: 3,809
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

how many miles would yall say a set of dual springs should last on a F13? i have no problem with changing springs every now and then, but it can't be rediculus.
Old 09-07-2005, 08:08 PM
  #14  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (100)
 
SSDoubleK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Greenville PA
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Wow, I hope I at least get 25,000 out of my springs.
Old 09-07-2005, 08:14 PM
  #15  
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (11)
 
Full-Force's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Upstate of SC
Posts: 3,069
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

FWIW I think that most info on here about needing to change springs is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that gets passed on and spreads like wildfire.

Not that springs dont loose pressure. But Im talking about the broad statements about brand x springs with brand x cam you need to change springs every 10k miles and so on.
Old 09-07-2005, 08:18 PM
  #16  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
ta_silver_bullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Moundville, AL
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Full-Force
FWIW I think that most info on here about needing to change springs is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that gets passed on and spreads like wildfire.

Not that springs dont loose pressure. But Im talking about the broad statements about brand x springs with brand x cam you need to change springs every 10k miles and so on.

i mean im being honest my springs lasted 19k miles and then one broke and damaged stuff so ima be on teh safe side myself and replace them about 15k miles its better to spend what a couple hundered on springs every 15k than getting the heads redone when the spring breaks and valve hits teh piston IMO
Old 09-07-2005, 09:26 PM
  #17  
jrp
SN95 Director
iTrader: (16)
 
jrp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia, Ca
Posts: 10,755
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

i could of sworn i read that the ls7 cams wont swap with the GenIII or IV motors. cam journals a different size or something to that effect.
Old 09-08-2005, 12:50 AM
  #18  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
schultzsj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by moeZ28
the LS7 has .591 lift cam on 1.8 rocker arms, not 1.7 like our cars. the lift on that cam in our cars would only be .558. its one of the few spots on the LS7 motor that a person could really gain something. correct me if i am wrong guys.
Quoted lift on cams is given at the valve with the stock rocker ratio. If .591 is the correct lift for the LS7 that means the springs are being compressed that much each cycle.

So, back to the question, how is GM getting 100k+ miles on springs that are being cycled .591" (assuming this is the correct lift)?

Steve
Old 09-08-2005, 12:54 AM
  #19  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (11)
 
1LoudTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Islip Terrace, NY
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

exactly what i want to know
Old 09-08-2005, 01:13 AM
  #20  
Staging Lane
 
o2bird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: peoria, arizona
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ta_silver_bullet
well it still needs somethings lol
Like a job?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:03 AM.