I am looking into getting a Z06 cam and was wondering if there was anything else I needed to get. I have a stock LS1 engine and didnt know if I needed to change springs, heads, rods, lifters or whatever else. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

def need new springs, and new pushrods would be nice.

wouldn't hurt to change the timing chain and oil pump while in there.

 

At the minimum you will need new springs (ls6). If you have high miles you could change the timing chain and oil pump.

 

its alot of work for 25hp

better cams on the market will get you more power, same reliability.

 

there might be better cams but how much more would i be looking at spending. the thing i like about the Z06 is that i can find one for like $100

 

cams are always for sale used...just keep an eye out.

new they would be about $400

 

Don't forget the base circle on the ls6 cam is .050 smaller so get some pushrods too. I had 243 heads and the ls6 cam on my goat and was satisified ...... For a couple months.

 

you can also find used 224 cams on here all the time for $200-250. it would be worth the added power while retaining stock driveability

 

If you're really tight on money then that's probably all you'll find for $100 or less. You will need some LS6 springs to go with the cam and pushrods aren't necessary but it's always a good idea to upgrade to hardened or chromoly pushrods for $110 while you're in there. You can get the LS6 springs for about $80 and reuse your stock retainers and keepers. A tune would help as well. Down the road you could put the LS6 heads on and expect around 360RWHP. Not sure what you would hit with just the LS6 cam but my guess would be only 10-15 HP more than what you're at now. I agree with paying a little more for a better cam like a 224 which is very streetable and will give MUCH better power gains than the LS6.

 

I understand you are tight on money but I think it would be better for you to wait and do it right the first time instead of making do for now and paying for two cam swaps instead of one

 

If you're tight on money, modding your car is probably the last thing you should be doing. When you save up enough money to actually be able to afford to mod your car than put the cam in you want. Just realize its not just a $100 cam you are putting in. If you have higher miles you should do lifters ($120), timing chain (100+/-), oil pump ($100 +/-, head gaskets, bolts, misc gaskets ($150). Just do it right the first time and put a cam in that is not half assed.

 

Couldn't have said it any better.

There is a guy local to me with a cam [ hot cam I believe ], heads and stock exhaust putting down 370

 

Hey I really appreciate all yalls input. I have decided to pick up another job and save enough to get a cam package from TSP, Kooks long tubes with ory, and have the whole engine rebuilt. It has over 120,000 on it so i figure if I do all this I can get a whole lot more out of it than if I were to try and piecemeal something together now. Its like a lot of yall said, its better to do it right the first time than to mess it up by doing it piece by piece. Hopefully now it doesnt take too long to do.