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Cost of Cam swap?

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Old Mar 18, 2004 | 10:40 PM
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Default Cost of Cam swap?

I've never done this on a LS1 motor myself before and I don't plan to do it on my own. But I'd like to get atleast a guestimate for how much a cam swap would run me.

My criteria for the swap would be a nitrous friendly cam, whatever else is needed to make a safe swap such as : retainers, springs, rocker arms, gaskets etc. and about how many hours do most shops charge for a cam swap?

Thanks fellas
Travis
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Old Mar 18, 2004 | 10:47 PM
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cam $400-$430
Comp 918 or Manley 1423 springs $200
Comp or Manley Titanium retainers $180 (not absolutely needed, but you will need them for the Manley springs)
SDPC gasket kit $45
GM oil pump o-ring $5
Hardened or chromoly pushrods $110
fluids and misc $25

you dont need rocker arms...but good ones are about $700

I did my first cam swap on my car myself with no problems at all. I would guess a cam install at a shop would be a full day....you can do it yourseld, there's no trick to it and you learn a lot.

My cam swap cost me about $700 or so...I bought an LPE cam and the Manley spring/Ti retainer kit from SDPC....that was $600 of the total right there...
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Old Mar 18, 2004 | 10:54 PM
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how much rwhp did you pick up with the cam?
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Old Mar 18, 2004 | 11:02 PM
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I had headers before my cam...and I didnt baseline at all.... I put on my headers on one weekend...drove it all week still with stock tuning...then I put in my cam the next weekend....then tuning on the monday morning....basline was 350...and tuning got me up to 381 horsepower and 364 torque......
I have an X1 cam......
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Old Mar 18, 2004 | 11:15 PM
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holly dog nuts...30 rwhp outta a cam?!?! that sounds awesome. problem is...id still have my 10 bolt ...with a cam, lt's and a shot of juice i have a feeling its not gonna hold up...i think i might just have to be happy with what i got.

thanks for the replies fellas
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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 05:04 AM
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Since you have a 1998, I would get the following parts:

Cam (Futral Grind and there maybe a GP soon)
Manley Springs and Ti Retainers ($178 from SDPC)
Manley ChromeMoly Pushrods ($95 from SDPC)
Rollmaster Double Row Timing Chain ($65 from SDPC)
LS6 Ported Oil Pump ($135)
Gasket Set ($35)
Oil Pump Oring ($5)
Gallon of Dexcool and a gallon of Distilled water
32 Stock Valve Locks ($16)
Valve Seals ($16 from Thunder Racing)

With the right supporting mods, 30-45 rwhp cab be made with a 224+ cam.

Last edited by Blacker; Mar 19, 2004 at 05:09 AM.
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Old Mar 19, 2004 | 05:10 AM
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Ahhhhhhh, the stock 10-bolt has seen 10's. Get the cam and you will not regret it.
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