LQ4 4L80E Cam selection
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 426
Likes: 45
From: ohio
LQ4 4L80E Cam selection I am starting a hybrid swap tomorrow and am in need of some cam help. The engine going into the car is an 04 LQ4 4l80E from a 2500 van. This will be going into a 95 Mercedes SL600 ( yea the V12 is a real POS). The question I have deals with the cam selection.
I will be trying to fit the truck intake under the hood, but that may not happen. If it wont fit, then an LS6 intake will probably be fitted. The stock stall convertor will be used, and I need to find a cam that will maximize the RWHP potential of the 6.0 without losing the Mercedes like idle.
I have done much reasearch, but most of the answers are for M6 or stalled M4 Fbody cars. At the present time I am leaning toward a Z06 cam, but think I can do better without losing any driveability. I will be getting the car tuned. Any advice would be appreciated. The reason for the 4l80E is the Borg Warner SC400 turbo that will eventually be plumbed in the front (hopefully making it faster than the new "Black Series" SL)
I will be trying to fit the truck intake under the hood, but that may not happen. If it wont fit, then an LS6 intake will probably be fitted. The stock stall convertor will be used, and I need to find a cam that will maximize the RWHP potential of the 6.0 without losing the Mercedes like idle.
I have done much reasearch, but most of the answers are for M6 or stalled M4 Fbody cars. At the present time I am leaning toward a Z06 cam, but think I can do better without losing any driveability. I will be getting the car tuned. Any advice would be appreciated. The reason for the 4l80E is the Borg Warner SC400 turbo that will eventually be plumbed in the front (hopefully making it faster than the new "Black Series" SL)
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 426
Likes: 45
From: ohio
I know this topic is beat to death, but I have searched some truck forums as well. They seem to all go big cam with 3200 to 3600 stall.. Any suggestions or comments will be welcome. Cam selection is vast, but the wrong cam can make the car unfriendly to drive.
With the stock truck intake you are limited, especially with stock 9.4:1 compression. Factor in the SL600's weight and power robbing 4L80E, and you sir are now looking for a smaller cam for a stock converter. There's the Comp Cams off the shelf XR265 high lift which is a tried and true improvement over the 02+ LS6 camshaft, and then there's also the popular Thunder Racing 224. Either will work out great, one's sportier than the other, while one is also more comfortable, so you choose.
XR265 high lift
212/218 .558/.563 115 lsa
TR224
224/224 .563/.563 114 lsa
XR265 high lift
212/218 .558/.563 115 lsa
TR224
224/224 .563/.563 114 lsa
The stock 80e converter stalls to 2500 or so. I will be going with a cam for my 6.0 that's regarded as pretty small, but I'll also be on the stock stall with 4.10 gears. 216/220, 218/224, 222/224, 224/224 those will all be good choices I believe.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 426
Likes: 45
From: ohio
I got the engine and trans in place, and the truck intake wont work. I have switched it to an LS6 intake, so I think it will breathe a little better. What LSA should I get with the 224 224 cam? Do you think it will idle like stock?
The gears in the rear of the car are, get this, 2.65's. Better yet the SL600, performance flagship of Mercedes, comes with an open type diff. It seems the gear selection will only go to 3.46 or so. This car may go 100mph in first gear
with a 2.48 gear in the trans.
I am leaning toward the 220 non split pattern cams for eventual turbo, and hopefully they will work withthe 2.65 gears that are in the car at present.
The gears in the rear of the car are, get this, 2.65's. Better yet the SL600, performance flagship of Mercedes, comes with an open type diff. It seems the gear selection will only go to 3.46 or so. This car may go 100mph in first gear
with a 2.48 gear in the trans. I am leaning toward the 220 non split pattern cams for eventual turbo, and hopefully they will work withthe 2.65 gears that are in the car at present.
