Budget cam swap questions
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 254
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From: Maine
Budget cam swap questions I'm planning on a "budget" cam only setup on my TA and need some advise!
1: Is an LS2 timing chain good enough for a decent size cam with single springs? Can they be used on stock LS1 gears?
2: Is the stock harmonic damper ok for high rpm, say 6,500rpm?
3: Using the stock 100k mile stock lifters, this a bad idea? Assuming the stock cam doesn't show damage from a bad lifter of course. Really don't want to take the heads off $$ wise. Plus at that point IDK if I could put stock heads back on, ported heads would be too tempting and there goes budget cam swap lol.
4: I believe the oil pan has to be dropped a tiny bit taking the oil pump off, is the pan gasket going to be ok or is this a future leak in the making?
Thanks!
1: Is an LS2 timing chain good enough for a decent size cam with single springs? Can they be used on stock LS1 gears?
2: Is the stock harmonic damper ok for high rpm, say 6,500rpm?
3: Using the stock 100k mile stock lifters, this a bad idea? Assuming the stock cam doesn't show damage from a bad lifter of course. Really don't want to take the heads off $$ wise. Plus at that point IDK if I could put stock heads back on, ported heads would be too tempting and there goes budget cam swap lol.
4: I believe the oil pan has to be dropped a tiny bit taking the oil pump off, is the pan gasket going to be ok or is this a future leak in the making?
Thanks!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 714
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From: Tampa FL
Yeah I don't see headers listed in your mods. You should also look at adding an Ls6 intake manifold along with the headers to maximize the cam. There are cams out there that are advertised to work well with the stock exhausts but it's still best to have headers.
His sig says it's an 01 so he should already have the ls6 intake, definately should get some headers though.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 254
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From: Maine
Yea I have some headers I bought a few months back, Edelbrock 1-3/4" steped to 1-7/8" long tubes. Going to install same time as cam swap hopefully. Also have hp tuners so Ill be tuning it.
As for cam I haven't decided what one yet, but leaning towards something around the TSP 228r size.
As for cam I haven't decided what one yet, but leaning towards something around the TSP 228r size.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 714
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From: Tampa FL
Well if your going to stay cam only and plan on future mods down the road i would go with a bigger cam, not that there is anything wrong with the 228 its a great cam but we could point you on a better direction if we knew what your plans are with the car, is it a m6? Sorry sig doesnt come up on my phone,just imo i would look for something along the lines of 230 range,but thats me,i would talk with a few sponsers before ordering a cam,
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,050
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From: Odessa, TX
Would a 230ish cam produce more power and tq only?
Still have great street manners and would the rpm band bump up from the 228s 1800-6k?
what other benefits of a 230+ as opposed to mine an the OPs choice on 228?
Still have great street manners and would the rpm band bump up from the 228s 1800-6k?
what other benefits of a 230+ as opposed to mine an the OPs choice on 228?
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The more duration the higher you have to spin the engine up. From 228/228 duration and up, the higher you go, the less street manners/drivability it's going to have. Do you want a DD cam or a Strip cam? Bigger isnt always better.
I'm in a similar boat but going to use slightly smaller cam (224/230) I was planning on running Patriot dual springs, and a katech C5R timing chain. Is that adequate? I already have all the bolt ons in my sig and a factory LS6 intake.
I'm planning on a "budget" cam only setup on my TA and need some advise!
1: Is an LS2 timing chain good enough for a decent size cam with single springs? Can they be used on stock LS1 gears?
2: Is the stock harmonic damper ok for high rpm, say 6,500rpm?
3: Using the stock 100k mile stock lifters, this a bad idea? Assuming the stock cam doesn't show damage from a bad lifter of course. Really don't want to take the heads off $$ wise. Plus at that point IDK if I could put stock heads back on, ported heads would be too tempting and there goes budget cam swap lol.
4: I believe the oil pan has to be dropped a tiny bit taking the oil pump off, is the pan gasket going to be ok or is this a future leak in the making?
Thanks!
1: Is an LS2 timing chain good enough for a decent size cam with single springs? Can they be used on stock LS1 gears?
2: Is the stock harmonic damper ok for high rpm, say 6,500rpm?
3: Using the stock 100k mile stock lifters, this a bad idea? Assuming the stock cam doesn't show damage from a bad lifter of course. Really don't want to take the heads off $$ wise. Plus at that point IDK if I could put stock heads back on, ported heads would be too tempting and there goes budget cam swap lol.
4: I believe the oil pan has to be dropped a tiny bit taking the oil pump off, is the pan gasket going to be ok or is this a future leak in the making?
Thanks!
2. Yes, the stock damper/pulley will be ok.
3. Your call on the lifters, but with 100k miles I'd probably get LS7 lifters and 243 heads.
4. The pan gasket is reuseable as long as it's not damaged.
FWIW, I did my cam swap for $500. Initially. A spring broke later in the season and upgraded to patriot dual spring kit. 28# fuel injectors were also at 95% inj duty, had to upgrade injectors later on. Huge pain to tune those green tops!
But for the bare cam swap, ls1tech parts classifieds let me do it that cheap. Used tv2 cam, used ls2 timing chain, new but free to me timing gasket set, self ported and shimmed oil pump, and the "dyno time only" comp 918 springs that didnt even last 1000 miles. Only thing I paid retail on was tsp push rods. It can be done cheap but extras to support the cam add up too. BTW, Im also doing used 799 heads with diy headwork, I hope to do this swap real cheap too. Huge savings if you dont have to pay shop rates!
But for the bare cam swap, ls1tech parts classifieds let me do it that cheap. Used tv2 cam, used ls2 timing chain, new but free to me timing gasket set, self ported and shimmed oil pump, and the "dyno time only" comp 918 springs that didnt even last 1000 miles. Only thing I paid retail on was tsp push rods. It can be done cheap but extras to support the cam add up too. BTW, Im also doing used 799 heads with diy headwork, I hope to do this swap real cheap too. Huge savings if you dont have to pay shop rates!
