LS6 cam
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 4
From: Kitchener, ON
LS6 cam When I first got this 01 Trans Am less than a year ago, I made the shallow promise to myself that I would leave it stock.
I've recently popped and decided to go with the LS6 cam. I know some of you guys have gone this route as a "starter cam" and then subsequently went bigger. I think the LS6 will be enough based on the following criterea I'm looking for:
1) quiet idle.
2) fuel economy.
3) cruise at 1200 rpm with the A/C on.
4) performance increase.
The cost of the LS6 cam is reasonable.
Labour is not a problem - I like doing jobs like this when I'm not in a hurry.
Here is what I plan on changing:
12565308 LS6 cam.
Yellow LS6 springs.
LS2 timing chain (car has 44K miles on it).
7.425 pushrods.
valve seals.
160 deg stat.
ORY w/stock manifolds.
Magnaflow muffler.
I want this sucker to look and sound stock. A cruiser that occasionally gets rowed throught the gears.
I know this setup is wimpy, but I think it's going to fit the bill.
Comments?
I've recently popped and decided to go with the LS6 cam. I know some of you guys have gone this route as a "starter cam" and then subsequently went bigger. I think the LS6 will be enough based on the following criterea I'm looking for:
1) quiet idle.
2) fuel economy.
3) cruise at 1200 rpm with the A/C on.
4) performance increase.
The cost of the LS6 cam is reasonable.
Labour is not a problem - I like doing jobs like this when I'm not in a hurry.
Here is what I plan on changing:
12565308 LS6 cam.
Yellow LS6 springs.
LS2 timing chain (car has 44K miles on it).
7.425 pushrods.
valve seals.
160 deg stat.
ORY w/stock manifolds.
Magnaflow muffler.
I want this sucker to look and sound stock. A cruiser that occasionally gets rowed throught the gears.
I know this setup is wimpy, but I think it's going to fit the bill.
Comments?
i was actually going to go this route after reading an article in i think hot rod about a ls1 budget build using a ls6 cam but them i thought if im going to go through the hasel of puting in a dif cam i wanted to go a lil bigger to make it worth while. IMO U can get a mild cam like a 224/224 cam wit 112 LSA and it will have a smoothish idle, you can fing 1 from TSP or a used 1 on site for a pretty desent price and it wont kill ur gas milage. The Ls6 cam realy ist much bigger at all than ur stock cam i'd go a lil bit bigger again IMO
no no no i was actually going to go this route after reading an article in i think hot rod about a ls1 budget build using a ls6 cam but them i thought if im going to go through the hasel of puting in a dif cam i wanted to go a lil bigger to make it worth while. IMO U can get a mild cam like a 224/224 cam wit 112 LSA and it will have a smoothish idle, you can fing 1 from TSP or a used 1 on site for a pretty desent price and it wont kill ur gas milage. The Ls6 cam realy ist much bigger at all than ur stock cam i'd go a lil bit bigger again IMO
id do a 220/220 on a 114....might idle smooth
Another cam that's probably more powerful along the lines of the LS6 that is very stock acting is LPE GT2-3 cam. It's a 207/220 .571/.578 can on a 118.5 LSA. It should work very well with stock manifolds etc. It might be worth a look at it and some of the other similar cams.
I have the LS6 cam in my car now and I do want something bigger but that is me. It is a great cam for what you are looking for, it sounds stock and will run like a sob above 4k, idles perfect and I have an automatic. I would highly recomend that you spend the extra money and up grade the valve springs. Reason is for the extra 100 bucks you will not have to change them again like I will when you want to get something bigger! I also run the factory LS1 pushrods, you are only loosing 0.025" preload on the lifters and I have zero problems or noise. I have 25k on the cam and still smile when I pull 6400 rpm and its still pulling hard and I have had no problems. Put it in and dont let the "Haters" discourage you if that is what you want, but i will agree when they do say you will want more! get the 02 and up LS6 cam though
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
whats the best cam with stock LS1 heads and headers? The biggest that wont be choked? lets assume everything else is high flow but these components.
I was considering this cam as well but the cost/performance was miserable.
I was considering this cam as well but the cost/performance was miserable.
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I like your idea and have given it a lot of thought:
LS6 cam
AFR 205 heads (with LS1 end plates)
Fast 90/92 combo, ground, sanded, painted black
Look stock
Sound stock
Idle and drive perfect
Put down 400rwhp and close to that in torque
Get stock or better mileage
Not the cheapest but talk about quality stealth...and factory reliable too!
LS6 cam
AFR 205 heads (with LS1 end plates)
Fast 90/92 combo, ground, sanded, painted black
Look stock
Sound stock
Idle and drive perfect
Put down 400rwhp and close to that in torque
Get stock or better mileage
Not the cheapest but talk about quality stealth...and factory reliable too!
Last edited by jmilz28; Dec 2, 2008 at 02:47 PM.
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I really liked the LS6 cam and everything in your list with the excepton of the yellow LS6 springs (are not that good of a spring in my opinion) I would get the Comp Cams 918 springs looks good for extra security for the RPMs. And as far a wimpy setup go you said goes LOL) I got 370 rwhp out of this cam in cars I done with the cam and bolt ons go (stock 241 LS1 heads).
I have the TR224 114lsa. Idle sounds a little different than stock but it's very mild. Runs great at very low RPM with the AC on (get a good tune no matter what cam you get). A lot of people looking for great street manners and good power have this cam and love it.
If I was you I would also get LT headers but get a CAT'd Y pipe. It will perform well and sound really good with the Magnaflow. The CATs will mellow the sound of the LT's nicely, no rasp.
If you're going to put in a cam I would recommend a high quality spring that's great for a mild cam: the PAC 1218 spring, $123 from SDPC:
http://www.sdparts.com/product/SDL16...S1Setof16.aspx
A lid looks stock and will help out a bit.
When I got my car I didn't intend to mod much either but now I'm a mod addict.
Edit:
If you keep the stock exhaust manifolds then the TR224 isn't the best cam for you. A cam with more duration on the exhaust like this one will work a lot better:
If I was you I would also get LT headers but get a CAT'd Y pipe. It will perform well and sound really good with the Magnaflow. The CATs will mellow the sound of the LT's nicely, no rasp.
If you're going to put in a cam I would recommend a high quality spring that's great for a mild cam: the PAC 1218 spring, $123 from SDPC:
http://www.sdparts.com/product/SDL16...S1Setof16.aspx
A lid looks stock and will help out a bit.
When I got my car I didn't intend to mod much either but now I'm a mod addict.
Edit:
If you keep the stock exhaust manifolds then the TR224 isn't the best cam for you. A cam with more duration on the exhaust like this one will work a lot better:
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=3&pcid=51
99-TR-CHEATR-CAM Thunder Racing Custom Camshaft
"CheaTR" - 214/230 .601/.575 117 LSA. Off Idle-6800 RPM Power Band. Broad power range. Works well with stock exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters. Stock like idle. Minor tuning required on automatic transmission cars. Responds very well to nitrous. Due to the fast ramp rate of this camshaft, the use of 1.8 rockers is not recommended. Double valve springs and titanium retainers required for this cam. $399.99
99-TR-CHEATR-CAM Thunder Racing Custom Camshaft
"CheaTR" - 214/230 .601/.575 117 LSA. Off Idle-6800 RPM Power Band. Broad power range. Works well with stock exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters. Stock like idle. Minor tuning required on automatic transmission cars. Responds very well to nitrous. Due to the fast ramp rate of this camshaft, the use of 1.8 rockers is not recommended. Double valve springs and titanium retainers required for this cam. $399.99
Last edited by massls1guy; Dec 2, 2008 at 10:45 PM.
I had the LS6 caam in my car 241 heads magnaflow cat-back, Hooker long tubes and MTI lid with a crappy tune lol and 373's, with a 2800-3200 stalled 4L60E and must admit it was very mild mannered and was a blast to drive as a daily. It did haul *** when you wanted it to and out ran a few (obviously not all) simularlly (sp) modded LS1's and I was running a stock LS1 intake and had a poor tune. I think you will be quite pleased with your outcome. Being mine got totalled a few weeks ago I'm buying it back from the insurance co for the motor but am building an 04 Ls1 out of a GTO with a t-56 and I will go with a slightly larger cam this go around.
Here's a deal on a Cheatr, this member has been around quite a while too:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...0-shipped.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lsx-parts...0-shipped.html
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 4
From: Kitchener, ON
Resurrecting a 4 month old thread to give update.
Finished cam swap the other day on my 01 Trans Am. Went with the 01 Z06 #12560950 cam. Runs same as stock with some improvement above 4000 rpm.
I wasn't willing to compromise on any driveability or reliability, so I am happy with the performance of this cam (heck, I was satisfied with the stock cam).
But you guys that gave me advice back in December were right - if you're going through all the work of a cam change, might as well go bigger than stock Corvette. If your looking for a performance increase, get an aftermaket grind.
Thanks for your input, guys.
Finished cam swap the other day on my 01 Trans Am. Went with the 01 Z06 #12560950 cam. Runs same as stock with some improvement above 4000 rpm.
I wasn't willing to compromise on any driveability or reliability, so I am happy with the performance of this cam (heck, I was satisfied with the stock cam).
But you guys that gave me advice back in December were right - if you're going through all the work of a cam change, might as well go bigger than stock Corvette. If your looking for a performance increase, get an aftermaket grind.
Thanks for your input, guys.
I love the pull my G5X2 Cam (232/240 .595/.608 114) has from 2500-6800 cutoff...Go big or stay stock BBBBbbbbbbWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Feels like the power band on a strong 2 stroke dirt bike. Gets a second wind at 4800 and makes a bee line for the red line like you wouldn't believe...once you feel the pull...you'll compromise driveablility below 1800 rpm like i did.
BBBBbbbbbbWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Feels like the power band on a strong 2 stroke dirt bike. Gets a second wind at 4800 and makes a bee line for the red line like you wouldn't believe...once you feel the pull...you'll compromise driveablility below 1800 rpm like i did. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 4
From: Kitchener, ON