LS6 cam swap
LS6 cam swap I have an LS1 2000 trans am with a few bolt-ons (LT headers, no cats, ORY, ls6 intake, ported TB, lid, Hypertech tune, LCAs) and stock internals.
I've been researching about cams for the LS1 and I've decided that I want to go for the not so popular LS6 cam swap: I'm not looking for big power gains and I also prefer this cam for having peak power output at higher RPMs. I don't have any traction at launch as it is, so adding lower RPM power wouldn't do me any good.
I also want to keep stock idle, I like how the aftermarket cams lope sounds, but this is my DD and driving a choppy idle car for a few hours in traffic is no fun for me and it hurts mpg.
Labor is also cheap around here so it will cost me around $150 to have it installed so I don't feel like I have to put something "worthwhile" in there.
I know I need the 02+ LS6 cam, LS6 springs and larger pushrods, the question I have is what size pushrods do I need for stock LS1 heads? Is it 7.450" or 7.425"? Is it also 5/16" and .080" wall? I've searched about this, but I haven't find a definitive answer on the length yet.
I've been researching about cams for the LS1 and I've decided that I want to go for the not so popular LS6 cam swap: I'm not looking for big power gains and I also prefer this cam for having peak power output at higher RPMs. I don't have any traction at launch as it is, so adding lower RPM power wouldn't do me any good.
I also want to keep stock idle, I like how the aftermarket cams lope sounds, but this is my DD and driving a choppy idle car for a few hours in traffic is no fun for me and it hurts mpg.
Labor is also cheap around here so it will cost me around $150 to have it installed so I don't feel like I have to put something "worthwhile" in there.
I know I need the 02+ LS6 cam, LS6 springs and larger pushrods, the question I have is what size pushrods do I need for stock LS1 heads? Is it 7.450" or 7.425"? Is it also 5/16" and .080" wall? I've searched about this, but I haven't find a definitive answer on the length yet.
"Please note that this cam has approximately a 0.050" smaller base circle than a stock LS1 camshaft. This smaller base circle will require longer pushrods for applications with stock length valves and no milling for the head surface."
I've read that the stock pushrod lenght is either 7.400 or 7.385 that's why I'm unsure on whether to use 7.450 or 7.425 lenght.
I'm in Mexico, I've known the guy for decades he built my cammed/pullied/intercooled GTP.
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The sales rep at WS6 store said I should be fine with 7.400 I'm going to go for 7.425 most of the information I've found so far points that way. I know I should be measuring the length, but orders take a few weeks to get here and I can't leave the car at the shop for a couple of weeks waiting for the pushrods to get here. I'll have to risk it lol. thanks for your feedback!
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the ls6 uses the stock pushrod lengths because the sodium valves in the heads a .025 longer than standard valves which makes up for the small base circle. just get the 7.425 push rods and you should be ok
I went with 7.425 pushrods after all and they fitted perfectly. I just took the car out of the shop on Wednesday. I'm still working on the tune and I'll take it to the track next Wednesday. I already have the shift points at 6400rpm and the difference is very noticeable at higher rpms.
I'll post the track times next week.
I'll post the track times next week.
I'm working on the airflow tables now. I had read somewhere that the airflow data would be similar to the stock cam in low to mid RPMs, but that doesn't seem to be the case. All my long term fuel trims are between 7% and 9% in all MAF ranges.
I also installed a perf shift button (it's a 2000 it didn't have one) so I don't have it shifting at 6400 rpm all the time and also to run with stock trans tables on a daily basis.
**** edit: never mind I was looking at the wrong data, the statement was correct. The LTFTs have very few changes in cruise speeds. Idle and higher RPMs are the ones that are out of range.
I also installed a perf shift button (it's a 2000 it didn't have one) so I don't have it shifting at 6400 rpm all the time and also to run with stock trans tables on a daily basis.
**** edit: never mind I was looking at the wrong data, the statement was correct. The LTFTs have very few changes in cruise speeds. Idle and higher RPMs are the ones that are out of range.
Last edited by Juanmiguel; Mar 5, 2013 at 12:29 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan
I bet in a few years your gonna be wishing you had gone bigger...A sleeper cam or atleast a custom 218/220 114 cam (or close to) would've kept it close to stock, loss of no dd ability with alot more power throughout the whole rpm range comparably to the upopular for a reason ls6 cam. If you have no traction now it's because of your tire/suspension setup. Just sayin.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan
I'll bet 100$. I'll win for the simple fact that their are other proven cams that will perform better while keeping it close to stock as you like. Unless your talking about the regret part..I could possibly lose that.
Then you won't pay me nor would I pay you because I don't know you and I don't give a **** about a bet.
Whatever though..have fun with that cam.
Then you won't pay me nor would I pay you because I don't know you and I don't give a **** about a bet.
Whatever though..have fun with that cam. 
I wouldnt try changing this guys mind, it sounds like he had his mind set on 15-20rwhp gain from an LS6 cam.
I do how eve think its funny that you mention not having traction before the LS6 cam...seems like you do your HW, ever heard of Drag radials? or a proper suspension set up? its hard not to give guys like you a hard time LOL its 'DD' with intentions of what? You obviously are curious to see how it performs at the drag strip lol so you like perfomance?
Choppy idle? ever heard of an exhaust or a nice muffler?
MPG? its a ******* Performance V8.... lol i can go on and on....
Anyways enjoy your LS6 cam and its minimal gains on your fbody!
you should just strip the entire car and run a 10 and shut us all up! but oh wait its a DD and that would just make it ubearable to drive in traffic everyday.
I do how eve think its funny that you mention not having traction before the LS6 cam...seems like you do your HW, ever heard of Drag radials? or a proper suspension set up? its hard not to give guys like you a hard time LOL its 'DD' with intentions of what? You obviously are curious to see how it performs at the drag strip lol so you like perfomance?
Choppy idle? ever heard of an exhaust or a nice muffler?
MPG? its a ******* Performance V8.... lol i can go on and on....
Anyways enjoy your LS6 cam and its minimal gains on your fbody!
you should just strip the entire car and run a 10 and shut us all up! but oh wait its a DD and that would just make it ubearable to drive in traffic everyday.
LoL ok I know there are better cams out there. I really didn't wanted it to go any faster in the first place. My objective when I bought this car was to make it as fast as my previous ride which it already was before I got the cam. I payed a total of $180 in labor for the install and $500 for all the parts new.
I'm not sure if I'm keeping the car for more than 2 or 3 years. I want to move to a turbo platform since they have a lot of advantage at this altitude (5000ft), probably a Leon Cupra or Solstice GXP depending on what price I get.
I'm not sure if I'm keeping the car for more than 2 or 3 years. I want to move to a turbo platform since they have a lot of advantage at this altitude (5000ft), probably a Leon Cupra or Solstice GXP depending on what price I get.
I wouldnt try changing this guys mind, it sounds like he had his mind set on 15-20rwhp gain from an LS6 cam.
I do how eve think its funny that you mention not having traction before the LS6 cam...seems like you do your HW, ever heard of Drag radials? or a proper suspension set up? its hard not to give guys like you a hard time LOL its 'DD' with intentions of what? You obviously are curious to see how it performs at the drag strip lol so you like perfomance?
Choppy idle? ever heard of an exhaust or a nice muffler?
MPG? its a ******* Performance V8.... lol i can go on and on....
Anyways enjoy your LS6 cam and its minimal gains on your fbody!
you should just strip the entire car and run a 10 and shut us all up! but oh wait its a DD and that would just make it ubearable to drive in traffic everyday.
I do how eve think its funny that you mention not having traction before the LS6 cam...seems like you do your HW, ever heard of Drag radials? or a proper suspension set up? its hard not to give guys like you a hard time LOL its 'DD' with intentions of what? You obviously are curious to see how it performs at the drag strip lol so you like perfomance?
Choppy idle? ever heard of an exhaust or a nice muffler?
MPG? its a ******* Performance V8.... lol i can go on and on....
Anyways enjoy your LS6 cam and its minimal gains on your fbody!
you should just strip the entire car and run a 10 and shut us all up! but oh wait its a DD and that would just make it ubearable to drive in traffic everyday.
I don't want drag radials, I don't want to switch wheels everytime I want more traction.
I'm not sure how a muffler or exhaust can improve the idle on a cammed car.
I take it to the track every now and then, we don't have a dyno nearby so that's the best tool I have to give me an idea how much it improves with everything I do.
Yes, it's my DD what I'm looking for is to try and get improved performance without going for the biggest everything. I don't know why is that so hard to understand.
I see a lot of assumptions in your comments and most of them are focused on the choices I made. You probably would've gone a different path than me but that's really not the topic of this thread.
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