Z06 cam unsafe for LS1?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Thousand Oaks, Ca
Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? I was about to order the Z06/LS6 cam for my 'camaro and read this note on the SDPC website;
New for the 2002 Corvette, the 405hp camshaft for the LS6 engine option. Please note that this cam has approximately a 0.050" smaller base circle than a stock LS1 camshaft. This smaller base circle will require longer pushrods for applications with stock length valves and no milling for the head surface. It is imperative that you check your pushrod length when purchasing this cam. The 2002 Z06 cylinder heads use a longer valve to make-up this difference!
What the hell does this mean? I was all excited about having an extra 25 rwhp and now I do not know what to do. I like the Z06 cam because is makes power without needing headers. It is less dependant on needing freed up backpressure.... unlike other cams. Will dependability be sacraficed? Any light on this matter will be most welcome.
New for the 2002 Corvette, the 405hp camshaft for the LS6 engine option. Please note that this cam has approximately a 0.050" smaller base circle than a stock LS1 camshaft. This smaller base circle will require longer pushrods for applications with stock length valves and no milling for the head surface. It is imperative that you check your pushrod length when purchasing this cam. The 2002 Z06 cylinder heads use a longer valve to make-up this difference!
What the hell does this mean? I was all excited about having an extra 25 rwhp and now I do not know what to do. I like the Z06 cam because is makes power without needing headers. It is less dependant on needing freed up backpressure.... unlike other cams. Will dependability be sacraficed? Any light on this matter will be most welcome.
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? well you should always replace pushrods with hardened pushrods during a cam install...as well as the springs...
Did you get it from a vendor or used from somebody who upgraded their cam???...the vendors know this and will tell you the things you need...Unless it is a cam for an ls1 that has the same grind as an ls6...and still has the ls1 base circle size....
Did you get it from a vendor or used from somebody who upgraded their cam???...the vendors know this and will tell you the things you need...Unless it is a cam for an ls1 that has the same grind as an ls6...and still has the ls1 base circle size....
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 200
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From: Thousand Oaks, Ca
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? Unless it is a cam for an ls1 that has the same grind as an ls6...and still has the ls1 base circle size....
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Is this offered? I do not want to worry about reliability down the road. Unless there is another cam like the LS6 I can use, i.e. one which needs no tuning, sounds stock, will pass emmissions and fool the dealer.
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2002
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Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? People have succesfully used stock length pushrods and valves with that cam. I believe it should read ~.025 smaller base circle radius which is about the same as most mid lift aftermarket ls1 cams. 7.450 rods would end about as far from the original preload as the stockers but on the opposite side.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Southern California
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? I had 16k miles on an '02 LS6 cam in my 2002 Camaro without a single problem. I used the '02 LS6 springs, and hardened stock length 7.40" pushrods. You have nothing to worry about as long as you change the valve springs. You can use your stock pushrods also if you want, but hardened are definately recommended.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 200
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From: Thousand Oaks, Ca
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1?
I had 16k miles on an '02 LS6 cam in my 2002 Camaro without a single problem. I used the '02 LS6 springs, and hardened stock length 7.40" pushrods. You have nothing to worry about as long as you change the valve springs. You can use your stock pushrods also if you want, but hardened are definately recommended.
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Banned
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Southern California
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? It ran fine with stock tuning, I would have benefeited from tuning, but it is in no way necessary. I cant say I felt a real difference below 4000 RPM over my stock cam, but I didnt even really let the car break in before I swapped the LS6 cam in. I put it in with 1100 miles on the motor. Above 4000 RPM there was a huge difference. If I remember right, at 6000 RPM I was up almost 50 RWHP over the stock cam at the same RPM. I would have traction and it would break the tires loose again in the mid 5000 RPM range in first gear.
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Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? I used the 02 LS6 springs and kept the stock pushrods and retainers. Around 6-7 thousand on this setup and it runs like a champ. I shift at 6500 rpms. I noticed no lowend torque gain until I added my LT headers then the LS6 cam really woke up especially in the midrange and topend.
I gained 61 rwhp and 35 rwtq peak and a very nice increase under the curve that I didn't think was possible with the LS6 cam. However I am currently thinking of upgrading to a larger cam so for any LS6 wanters my cam and springs will be for sale soon.
I gained 61 rwhp and 35 rwtq peak and a very nice increase under the curve that I didn't think was possible with the LS6 cam. However I am currently thinking of upgrading to a larger cam so for any LS6 wanters my cam and springs will be for sale soon.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,975
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From: SW Florida
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1? I don't see how the ZO6 cam is going to be "Unsafe" for your engine.
__________________________________________________ ___
The stock LS1 cam has a 'base circle' of 1.552" (across the lobe). That equals .775" (19.7mm) from 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel'. In fact, GM states that this distance is in fact 19.7mm on the LS1 cam.
GM also states that the 2002 LS6 cam has a 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel' distance of 19.0mm. That is exactly .748"
The simple math will tell you that the difference in 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel' distance between the two cams is 0.7mm or .027". To be exact, the LS6 cam would require a .027" [longer] pushrod than the LS1 cam if you wanted to maintain the exact lifter preload as you had before the cam swap.
Note: The hardened 7.40" Thunder Racing pushrods are exactly .015" longer than the stock LS1 rods.
As stated above; "The LS6 cam would require a .027" [longer] pushrod". However, if the longer Thunder 7.40" rods were used, that would give you only .012" less lifter preload than what you had when your motor was stock (.027" minus .015")
Having only .012" (12 thousands) less preload is NO problem at all.
Ron,
__________________________________________________ ___
The stock LS1 cam has a 'base circle' of 1.552" (across the lobe). That equals .775" (19.7mm) from 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel'. In fact, GM states that this distance is in fact 19.7mm on the LS1 cam.
GM also states that the 2002 LS6 cam has a 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel' distance of 19.0mm. That is exactly .748"
The simple math will tell you that the difference in 'cam centerline' to 'lobe heel' distance between the two cams is 0.7mm or .027". To be exact, the LS6 cam would require a .027" [longer] pushrod than the LS1 cam if you wanted to maintain the exact lifter preload as you had before the cam swap.
Note: The hardened 7.40" Thunder Racing pushrods are exactly .015" longer than the stock LS1 rods.
As stated above; "The LS6 cam would require a .027" [longer] pushrod". However, if the longer Thunder 7.40" rods were used, that would give you only .012" less lifter preload than what you had when your motor was stock (.027" minus .015")
Having only .012" (12 thousands) less preload is NO problem at all.
Ron,
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 200
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From: Thousand Oaks, Ca
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1?
I used the 02 LS6 springs and kept the stock pushrods and retainers. Around 6-7 thousand on this setup and it runs like a champ. I shift at 6500 rpms. I noticed no lowend torque gain until I added my LT headers then the LS6 cam really woke up especially in the midrange and topend.
I gained 61 rwhp and 35 rwtq peak and a very nice increase under the curve that I didn't think was possible with the LS6 cam. However I am currently thinking of upgrading to a larger cam so for any LS6 wanters my cam and springs will be for sale soon.
I gained 61 rwhp and 35 rwtq peak and a very nice increase under the curve that I didn't think was possible with the LS6 cam. However I am currently thinking of upgrading to a larger cam so for any LS6 wanters my cam and springs will be for sale soon.
I wish I could add LTs. But I live in the smog pig state (Ca), so I can't.
Thanks for the input.
10 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 3
From: Berkeley, California
Re: Z06 cam unsafe for LS1?
Unless it is a cam for an ls1 that has the same grind as an ls6...and still has the ls1 base circle size....
Just so you’ll know - you don’t want an LS6 grind with the same base circle as the stock LS1 camshaft. The base circle diameter must be reduced for high-lift camshafts or the lobe peak would extend beyond the bearing journals, making installation impossible.
And while I’m being a pain, I’ll correct Tin Indian’s spelling of “lobe heel”. Heal is a verb.
-Gary
