Ls1 Turbo with VCM710 cam?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Ls1 Turbo with VCM710 cam? Hi All,
I'm building my first LS1 motor after getting fed up with oil leaks on a 400SBC 24x converted motor and I'm not really looking forward to losing power and torque from the swap. 6.6L down to 5.7 is a fair loss of cubes.
Anyways, the LS1 motor is stock bottom end, lightly ported 241 heads, a VCM710 cam 232/234 from memory and .595ish lift along with the lifters, pushrods, springs etc to match, double roller cam, and a holley sniper efi intake.
Car is 85 TransAM with 4l60e transmission, 3000rpm non-lock 9" stall, and 3.46 posi rear end.
I was going to leave it like this, but the idea of a turbo has been eating away in my brain if only for the clearance and alternate route for the exhaust.
I was looking at either going single turbo for the ease of piping, or twin turbo, but my main question is, will a turbo set up (single or twin) work with this cam to give me some decent power and driveability?
My current exhaust system is 2.5 true dual with sports cats, cross over and angled single pass mufflers.
I'm only looking to run a low boost whichever way I go, but can it be done and not run like a pig, or would I have to get a turbo specific cam?
This is a weekend warrior with the odd 1/4 mile run for fun, nothing competition, just street.
I'm building my first LS1 motor after getting fed up with oil leaks on a 400SBC 24x converted motor and I'm not really looking forward to losing power and torque from the swap. 6.6L down to 5.7 is a fair loss of cubes.
Anyways, the LS1 motor is stock bottom end, lightly ported 241 heads, a VCM710 cam 232/234 from memory and .595ish lift along with the lifters, pushrods, springs etc to match, double roller cam, and a holley sniper efi intake.
Car is 85 TransAM with 4l60e transmission, 3000rpm non-lock 9" stall, and 3.46 posi rear end.
I was going to leave it like this, but the idea of a turbo has been eating away in my brain if only for the clearance and alternate route for the exhaust.
I was looking at either going single turbo for the ease of piping, or twin turbo, but my main question is, will a turbo set up (single or twin) work with this cam to give me some decent power and driveability?
My current exhaust system is 2.5 true dual with sports cats, cross over and angled single pass mufflers.
I'm only looking to run a low boost whichever way I go, but can it be done and not run like a pig, or would I have to get a turbo specific cam?
This is a weekend warrior with the odd 1/4 mile run for fun, nothing competition, just street.
I'm no expert (so take this with a grain of salt) but I feel like that's a lot of cam for a street car with "mildly ported 241 heads". Unless you plan on running a smaller turbo for lower RPM boost, I feel like driving it around is gonna be really sluggish.
That being said, why not talk to an engine builder? There are plenty of vendors on the site who will spec you a cam, either something off the shelf or something custom that will suit your motor. Remember that the cam selection should be one of the last things decided upon when speccing your build, so I would decide on what sort of boost route you're going to go, then figure out your cam.
That being said, why not talk to an engine builder? There are plenty of vendors on the site who will spec you a cam, either something off the shelf or something custom that will suit your motor. Remember that the cam selection should be one of the last things decided upon when speccing your build, so I would decide on what sort of boost route you're going to go, then figure out your cam.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
I'm no expert (so take this with a grain of salt) but I feel like that's a lot of cam for a street car with "mildly ported 241 heads". Unless you plan on running a smaller turbo for lower RPM boost, I feel like driving it around is gonna be really sluggish.
That being said, why not talk to an engine builder? There are plenty of vendors on the site who will spec you a cam, either something off the shelf or something custom that will suit your motor. Remember that the cam selection should be one of the last things decided upon when speccing your build, so I would decide on what sort of boost route you're going to go, then figure out your cam.
That being said, why not talk to an engine builder? There are plenty of vendors on the site who will spec you a cam, either something off the shelf or something custom that will suit your motor. Remember that the cam selection should be one of the last things decided upon when speccing your build, so I would decide on what sort of boost route you're going to go, then figure out your cam.
I was thinking the same thing as you mentioned, low boost to help with ridding a bit of the sluggishness if it is there down low.
I'm trying to find a set of 243 heads and I'll do some port matching, remove the swirl port and a tidy up.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
yeah. Sorry forgot to mention I'm in Australia, and there seems to be a drought of ls1 & ls2 motors here, so 2nd hand heads are scarce, and the LS2 motors here just came here in the Holden Commodores and with the 243 heads.
I've got a wreckers that will be getting some in July for $700 a pair which is the cheapest I've seen them for here.
Otherwise I can get a set of 243 cast ETP 210cc bare heads for $1000AU and then put my valves in those, but I'm not sure if it's worth using the chinese ebay heads or just getting OEM 2nd hand ones.
I've got a wreckers that will be getting some in July for $700 a pair which is the cheapest I've seen them for here.
Otherwise I can get a set of 243 cast ETP 210cc bare heads for $1000AU and then put my valves in those, but I'm not sure if it's worth using the chinese ebay heads or just getting OEM 2nd hand ones.
Used OEM sounds a lot better than bare chinese, especially if the OEM is cheaper. July isn't that far off either, I know it sucks waiting but IMO it sounds like the better deal.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
ok so the "mildly ported heads" are now going to be Higgins CNC'd 241 heads so that should open it up a bit more.
I would have thought eh intake with the internal trumpets would have been good for torque, particularly down low as it would increase air veolcity.
Plenty of people have used the VCM710 cam here and had good results on mostly stock motors.
I would have thought eh intake with the internal trumpets would have been good for torque, particularly down low as it would increase air veolcity.
Plenty of people have used the VCM710 cam here and had good results on mostly stock motors.