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Old Oct 15, 2024 | 10:40 AM
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Default LSA blower build

Just picked up a brand new LSA with a zl1 lid. Not ported, stock pulley. Plan is to install it on my L33 5.3 with a BTR truck norris cam, head work, and new head gaskets with ARP bolts. Jeep has a tremec TKX in it so I'm limited to 600hp. The original plan was to slap it on the 5.3 as is and go from there but I've been toying with the idea of picking up a 6.0 and swapping 823 heads to eliminate the adapters, and also going with a ls9 cam. Thoughts? My goal is 550 at the wheels and pretty friendly driving manners as this is a daily. It's a 2wd street only jeep.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 11:40 AM
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What are you planning on running for a lower pulley? I think you’ll need around 10 psi to reach your goal with a 6.0 and 823 heads. I hit 607 to the wheels with 12.5 psi of boost on e85 with a 6.0 823 heads through a 4l80e.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 11:53 AM
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The factory LS9 cam is tiny. Just get a Stage1 cam from BTR or similar. I would definitely get the 6.0 and then 823 heads to avoid getting adapters etc. Plus those heads flow a ton more air.
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Old Oct 16, 2024 | 11:56 AM
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I picked up a 5% dayco overdrive balancer so far. Also have 850cc injectors.
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Old Oct 18, 2024 | 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by gnx7
The factory LS9 cam is tiny. Just get a Stage1 cam from BTR or similar. I would definitely get the 6.0 and then 823 heads to avoid getting adapters etc. Plus those heads flow a ton more air.
I agree with this. I used a Cam Motion stage 2 PDS cam in a 6.2L and the manners were fantastic and the thing ripped.

Andrew
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Old Oct 26, 2024 | 10:18 AM
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Well I'm picking up an lq4 for this build. Probably going to go with a BTR supercharger cam. Not sure stage 1 or 2 yet. Gonna keep the stock pulley on the blower but run a 10 % overdrive balancer.
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Old Oct 26, 2024 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 1970hemicuda
Well I'm picking up an lq4 for this build. Probably going to go with a BTR supercharger cam. Not sure stage 1 or 2 yet. Gonna keep the stock pulley on the blower but run a 10 % overdrive balancer.
You don't need a huge cam with a blower. Stay with stage 1 and enjoy great power and drivability.

Andrew
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Old Oct 28, 2024 | 03:05 PM
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I agree, you don't need a huge cam to make really good power. I built a stock 6.2 L92, stock 823 heads, Summit 8715 stage 1 ghost cam, stock CTSV lower balancer, and 2.5 upper pulley. I was also on 1 3/4" shorty headers, but it made about 11 psi on that combo. The rest was stock and I made 633 whp and 619 tq. Made 500 wtq at 3k rpm's and like Andrew said, that combo just ripped.
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Old Oct 29, 2024 | 02:11 PM
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Stage 1 cam it is. After looking into the summit ghost cam I may be going with that.

Going to pick up a set of square port cylinder heads and found these on summit.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet

Figured I'd be in the same cost ballpark if i got a used set of 823 heads, machine work. And new seals springs for the cam. Anyone have good things to say about the summit heads?
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Old Oct 29, 2024 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 1970hemicuda
Stage 1 cam it is. After looking into the summit ghost cam I may be going with that.

Going to pick up a set of square port cylinder heads and found these on summit.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...make/chevrolet

Figured I'd be in the same cost ballpark if i got a used set of 823 heads, machine work. And new seals springs for the cam. Anyone have good things to say about the summit heads?
It's a good looking casting and the flow numbers look good.@Summitracing can add more details. By the looks of it, if you use the Ghost cam, you'll need a different set of springs.

Andrew
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Old Oct 30, 2024 | 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Project GatTagO
It's a good looking casting and the flow numbers look good.@Summitracing can add more details. By the looks of it, if you use the Ghost cam, you'll need a different set of springs.

Andrew
Going off summits recommendations, they say the ghost cam would be fine to use with those springs on the heads.
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Old Oct 31, 2024 | 01:01 PM
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There is a shop in Texas that sells 823 heads machined and ready to go with rockers for under 1k for the pair. I could find no faults in their machine work. They sell on Fleabay.

I am also running the Summit ghost cam in an LQ4 forged 408 setup. In my case the cam is very small but I have to admit that it is one of the best all around driving cams I've ever experienced especially with a manual transmission.

That being said I am going to be swapping out the Ghost cam in a few weeks for a different larger Summit cam that is probably a little more appropriate for the cubic inches I am running.

Summit ghost cam in a 408 with 823 heads and the LSA blower at 11 PSI I made 610whp and 710 wheel torque and I honestly feel like there was some power left on the table. That was on 92 octane pump.
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Old Oct 31, 2024 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Black
There is a shop in Texas that sells 823 heads machined and ready to go with rockers for under 1k for the pair. I could find no faults in their machine work. They sell on Fleabay.

I am also running the Summit ghost cam in an LQ4 forged 408 setup. In my case the cam is very small but I have to admit that it is one of the best all around driving cams I've ever experienced especially with a manual transmission.

That being said I am going to be swapping out the Ghost cam in a few weeks for a different larger Summit cam that is probably a little more appropriate for the cubic inches I am running.

Summit ghost cam in a 408 with 823 heads and the LSA blower at 11 PSI I made 610whp and 710 wheel torque and I honestly feel like there was some power left on the table. That was on 92 octane pump.
What's are the new cam specs? I'd be really interested in the power difference between the Ghost cam and the new cam.

Andrew
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Old Oct 31, 2024 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 1970hemicuda
Just picked up a brand new LSA with a zl1 lid. Not ported, stock pulley. Plan is to install it on my L33 5.3 with a BTR truck norris cam, head work, and new head gaskets with ARP bolts. Jeep has a tremec TKX in it so I'm limited to 600hp. The original plan was to slap it on the 5.3 as is and go from there but I've been toying with the idea of picking up a 6.0 and swapping 823 heads to eliminate the adapters, and also going with a ls9 cam. Thoughts? My goal is 550 at the wheels and pretty friendly driving manners as this is a daily. It's a 2wd street only jeep.
I've got a LSA on a 6.0 with stock pulleys, ZL1 lid and 1-7/8 long tubes. I put in a summit 8715 "Ghost" cam while doing the swap and daily drive the thing on an emailed tune. It drives great for the lack of in person tuning.

With an upper pulley swap like ryeguy had done, I'd think you'd be right at 550rwhp, depending on tire size.
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Old Oct 31, 2024 | 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Project GatTagO
What's are the new cam specs? I'd be really interested in the power difference between the Ghost cam and the new cam.

Andrew
Andrew, it is the Summit 8722R1 listed as their Twin Turbo LS Stage 3 cam.

234 238 115+5 625 605 lift. 6 degrees overlap.

I am hoping it will behave somewhat like a Ghost cam for + size engines lol. and maybe give the car a little bit of attitude because honestly the ghost cam in my combo sounds just about stock.

234/238 Dur., 115+5, .625/.605 Lift
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 07:32 AM
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Checked out those ebay cylinder heads and they look good. Would have to change valve springs too on those. I took a look at AFR heads and they are nice as well, but again only use .600 lift springs. I know it's not a huge deal but just annoying if I'm buying brand new assembled heads, I'd have to change out the springs. Seems like no one offers them with .650 springs, atleast in the "budget category". Not looking to spend $1800 on cylinder heads.

I may wait till black Friday deals roll around and see if i can save. Really want to run the ghost cam and don't feel comfortable running a .600 of lift on .600 springs. Seems like a bad idea, unless it's fine?
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 09:53 AM
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Changing springs is not a scary monster. I run PAC beehives in almost all of my builds and you can change them out with a simple 20 dollar Lisle tool on a benchtop.

On the topic of lift vs spring makers max lift, I know some people are terrified to run a cam with lift that matches max recommended from the spring manufacturer. My take on that is if I shouldn't run a cam to max lift of the spring then why is the max lift of the spring the max lift of the spring? see what I'm saying. Maybe the max lift of the spring should be higher lol. In all seriousness, the coil bind in any spring makers spring is generally 40 plus thousands more than their max lift recommendation.

The max lift of a PAC 1219 is .625". I am going to install a cam with a intake lift of .625 and I will not worry about it. To be fair though my stuff is street car builds. If I lived at the race track I would probably reevaluate my valvetrain options.

Also IIRC the shop I got my 823 heads from on ebay was Bishop Engine.

Also if no one else has mentioned it, if you are serious about running the LSA supercharger, MAKE THE SWITCH to square port heads. LSA adapter plates suck!
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 10:05 AM
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Spring swaps are super easy on LS stuff, its not like the old school SBC/BBC stuff where you have to measure height and shim and all that.
BTR makes a .660" drop in spring that you literally just drop in.
I upgraded to these when I broke a spring a couple years back, no measuring, just dropped them in and spun the engine up to 7,500+ rpm.
Been working great for two plus years now.
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 10:11 AM
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Great point Ball! I was speaking on the behalf of drop in springs. Which most non serious race engine builds use just a simple drop in spring setup whether it be a simple beehive spring or dual spring setup.
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Old Nov 1, 2024 | 10:35 AM
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I'm not opposed to changing them myself. I know I could do it. It was more on the fact it felt silly to buy brand new heads with aftermarket springs and then have to buy another set. I have a ton of more parts to buy so the $300 ish for new springs would be nice for other stuff.

This will be in a daily and the one or two times i would take it to the strip. I'm not gonna be spinning it past 6500 at all. The springs in the summit heads are pac dual springs so if people think I'll be okay with those and the .600 lift cam then I'll run it. I always go on the side of caution and overbuild so that's why I was concerned.
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