So I've been searching around and i have some money left over after doing exhaust and have been looking at getting an ls6 cam. I know a lot of people say it isnt worth it, but from what i see it might be the cheapest route for a little more hp. Im going off to college soon and need to conserve some money.

So what i want to know is if installing an ls6 cam would require a tune? I don't know if i can afford a 490$ dyno tune.

Also if i go with 7.4 rods or 7.425, because people have said either will work. And hardened rods right?

This is all going in a DD 2001 z28, with a stock stall, A4, full exhaust and a few other miscellaneous mods. If i do choose to do this i will be getting the yellow ls6 springs and ls2 timing chain

 

I do t think the 10-15 hp is worth it IMO...

 

If you are going to run the stock tune with the LS6 cam, I would say dont waste your time.
You will notice a little more top end pull, but nothing crazy.

With a tune, The LS6 cam makes 25rwhp +/- 5rwhp over the stock LS1 cam past 4500 rpm. Down low you wont notice difference compared to the stock LS1 cam. Yes you can run the LS6 cam on a stock tune but you will be leaving some power on the table.

I ran the LS6 cam in a LQ9 6.0 with boltons and 3:90 gears. I made 380rwhp/380rwtq.
It was alot of fun. I ran 7.425" pushrods and a set of LS6 springs.

 

Yeah understand that its not the best cam choice, i just want something to try out with a little bit more power, keeping it a DD, etc. I'm not going crazy with power..yet. Thank you for an actual reply i was looking for too. I think ill go with the 7.425 pushrods then, and a stock tune for a while.

What about retaining locks? And spring seats? Or this seal kit 12586482? All these things ive heard i should get but am not 100% sure.

 

What all do you have done to your car so far? There are far better mods for the money that you can do. Maybe I can point you in a better direction to go. Don't forget, it's not just the cost of the cam. You also have to buy a timing cover gasket, front cover seal, water pump gaskets, balancer bolt, springs, pushrods, and coolant. It adds up pretty quick even if you get the cam for free, I just don't see it as a worthwhile modification for the money and physical time to install one. BTW, I can see 25+ rwhp in a 6.0 as they have super small cams from the factory for low end torque. Over a stock LS1 cam I can't see anywhere near that kind of power.

Lonnie

 

Heres just a few I found real quick.
Rememeber, 02-04 Z06 typically dyno's 355ish. 01-02 LS1s typically dyno 310 or so.
Z06s do have a better stock exhaust but their drivetrain robs more power than the Fbodys.
stock LS6 heads are worth around 20rwhp over the stock LS1's. So figure 25rwhp from the LS6 cam.


https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...ts-within.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...ls6-cam-2.html

 

Basicslly just full exhaust and ported throttle body and a few other miscellaneous free mods. Id be happy with 15-20 hp gains, im just looking for a little more simple power and seeing what i can get. I like the idea of this cam too because i dont completely need a tune. I calculated the cost already too and ended up about around 620$. What else can be done with that much money? A stall and gears end up 800$+ and a bigger cam and heads end up over 1k.

 

As for the dyno tune, you still might want to look into that. Alot of places will not charge you 500 for tuning a bolt on & LS6 cammed car since it is a stock GM cam thats extremely mild. I think the guy that tuned my 6.0 with the LS6 cam only charged me 350 for a dyno tune.

 

Is that from a stock tune / stock cam LS1 to a tuned LS6 cammed set up? If so I could possibly see that. If it's from a tuned LS1 cam to a tuned LS6 cam I've still got to raise an eyebrow. haha

Lonnie

 

Yeah it says it is a few posts down, he says its an A4 with lid on stock tune

Also, 30th T/A, I've looked around a little and the main tuning guy in my area charges 490$ for a custom tune which is too much, but i'll look around some more. Located in MN. Also thank you for those links too, they helped me some more, and those are decent numbers IMO.

 

If you're dead set on going with the LS6 cam we can do a mail order tune where you send your computer to us and we can tune it according to your mods for $225 + shipping. That being said, what all have you done to your car so far? I still think I could find you better mods for the money.

Lonnie

 

I'm not quite set on it, i'm just exploring my options first, and that's a good deal for sure, i'll keep that in mind! And no offense but my mods are listed twice above^

 

Dang, I don't know how I missed that. Sorry. For that amount of money you could get a 3500 TCI Street fighter stall for $622.99 and tune for $225.00. It wouldn't show anymore power on a dyno but would make your car so much faster than just an LS6 cam swap and tune. Or if your having traction issues now I'd get a set of drag radials, lower control arms and lower control arm relocation brackets.

Lonnie

 

Its alright haha and i really would like a stall but then id also need a tranny cooler too. But those are definitely good ideas and ill consider them too.

 

I got my cooler for 50 bucks.. They're not expensive items at all. Trust me, a stall is worth it. 550 out the door for the cooler and converter, and the car can run 12.8 all day, with nothing but a flowmaster cat back, and a lid. Only traps 103, trapped 104 once so it gets out the gate good. Best bang for your buck, even on the street.

 

That is pretty impressive, if you don't mind me asking, what type of converter and cooler are you running? Especially since you got both for 550 that's pretty cheap!