Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Thinking it's time for a new cam.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 11:22 AM
  #1  
ICRAZY6's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (68)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 6
From: Lacon, IL
Question Thinking it's time for a new cam.

Well funds this year are going to be tight with just purchasing a new home ane the wife just graduating school and looking for a job. So I was thinking of forgoing the building of a larger motor and just upgrading the cam in my car.

Details on the motor:
TSP 231/237 .598/.598 110+2
Patriot Performance Stage II heads 59cc .650 lift springs
Fast 90/90
Comp Chromoly pushrods 7.4"
160* T stat
SLP P&P oil pump w/upgraded spring
SLP double roller timing chain
SVO Red top injectors

Trans is built FLT stage 4
SS3600 Yank Stall

MWC 9" with 370's

Car currently puts down 435rwhp and 385tq. I would really like something to work with everything else that is on the car at this time. I'm not sure if there is very much to improve on so I'm throwing this up and seeing what you guys think.

Car is mostly street driven with seeing the track a few times a year. Total miles on the car is 34,900

Thanks,
Ken

Last edited by ICRAZY6; Jan 12, 2011 at 03:24 PM. Reason: added info.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 11:52 AM
  #2  
01ssreda4's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (96)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24,241
Likes: 89
From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Default

Seems to me like you have a pretty solid combo. Going much bigger on the cam is going to push the powerband higher and possibly make the car slower.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 01:26 PM
  #3  
ICRAZY6's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (68)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 6
From: Lacon, IL
Default

So your saying it would be better just to save for a larger motor?
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 02:27 PM
  #4  
TXZ28LS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,163
Likes: 3
From: Classified
Default

Originally Posted by ICRAZY6
So your saying it would be better just to save for a larger motor?


You look like you have a good combo. Only thing i can think of from your current setup right now is bigger cubes, maybe upgrade the heads, or add some spray..
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 02:32 PM
  #5  
JustAFooL's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (45)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 1
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by TXZ28LS1
You look like you have a good combo. Only thing i can think of from your current setup right now is bigger cubes, maybe upgrade the heads, or add some spray..
I would kill to have the combo you already got. Definately put the money you were going to use for the cam into your new motor.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 02:43 PM
  #6  
SSmoken's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Missouri
Default

spray it..............
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 03:24 PM
  #7  
ICRAZY6's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (68)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 6
From: Lacon, IL
Default

I was spraying it. I got into a bind for money and couldn't afford to upgrade the fuel pump. So I decided to pull it and sell it. Needless to say, that money is gone as well. So I guess I'll start saving for an LS2 short block.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 04:01 PM
  #8  
Midnight02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 6
From: Atlanta, GA
Default

Time to add a 100 shot of the good stuff!

I fought with the same question for a while -- should I drop another $700+ on a slightly larger cam to squeeze 15 more peak hp out (at best)? No. Just added 25 more with different N2O jets and put the rest of the money in the bank for the next motor!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 07:20 PM
  #9  
airforcemanss's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
Default

don't touch the combo just start saving...and then sell your current setup as a long block. go for the cubes!
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2011 | 08:09 PM
  #10  
john563's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
From: dayton ohio
Default

we almost have the same combo but my cam is 232 238 and 5.3 heads with a 5c and I put down 435 rwhp as well...I was gonna swap cam but in intsead jsut added a 100 shot :-)
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 09:26 AM
  #11  
ICRAZY6's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (68)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 6
From: Lacon, IL
Default

I had the nitrous. It's fun but not all ways there. So S/c or turbo might be in the future. Oh couse once I have a forged motor.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 02:31 PM
  #12  
john563's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 0
From: dayton ohio
Default

Originally Posted by ICRAZY6
I had the nitrous. It's fun but not all ways there. So S/c or turbo might be in the future. Oh couse once I have a forged motor.
this has crossed my mind too so I just may toss the 10lb bottle for a 20lber so I dont run out lol!
But yeah I would like to go forced induction but with a cam on a 111lsa and a 4400 stall its not ideal..I would have to change cam and stall if I wanted to go F/I RIGHT NOW so nitrous it is for now
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 03:58 PM
  #13  
ICRAZY6's Avatar
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (68)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 6
From: Lacon, IL
Default

I went as far as buying the Nano system for a 10lb bottle. Ran it on the dyno 10 seconds. Car went lean, pulled everything and sold, needed the money. I'm keeping my eye on the classified section for a D1SC set up at the right price.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 04:04 PM
  #14  
Super Speed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: 'Merica
Default

I agree with everyone else, just save up and get a nice ls3 based 418
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 06:09 PM
  #15  
hammertime's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 2
From: Smithton, IL
Default

What is your ultimate goal? You definitely have options, but it may not be inexpensive to make gains with what you already have, especially if the parts you buy are not usable in some capacity with the end result.

You can do a lot with cathedral port heads, and they can work with larger cube setups as well. Your PP heads are a worthwhile upgrade for someone else, but are probably going to hold you back. The cash you get from them can go towards some heads to give you more power now and on a 408 - 418 when you can fund the shortblock.

It would be very difficult to change cams and get more HP on the top end without compromising your low and mid range. Those are tough compromises to make in a primarily street driven car. Better heads will make the most of the cam you have, and the valve events you have now are in the right area for 346 cubes.

Other ways to gain include optimising your 90/90, or better yet, upgrading to the FAST 102 setup. Later, the right porting on the intake and the heads can wring the last bits out of your big cube engine. This is your best opportunity to spread out the cost.

Money you spend now on parts you can use later is likely your best route, even if not the best bang for the buck right now. You can probably sell your cam for a couple hundred and upgrade to a newer design for a couple hundred more, as long as you can live with the compromises. You'll be forced to do it again down the road when you have more cubic inches to feed.

Lots of tough decisions to make - best of luck with your project!
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2011 | 08:30 PM
  #16  
caseypryan's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 689
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Default

Also another option maybe look into some trick flow heads or AFR..just another option to think about
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2011 | 08:01 PM
  #17  
ZROCWS6's Avatar
Launching!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Central, Illinois
Default

Always thought your heads were holding you back on more power.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:17 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE