Jaden Henderson

New cam specs
I have a basic understanding of the attached cam specs but I'd like to know more.

Is this cam meant for high rpm or strong mid range?

I installed it a few weeks ago and just started tuning it the car.

It's in a 1999 C5 (Ls1)
6 speed manual.
STS twin rear mount (T3/T4 highbrid 46mm compressor / .36 A/R exhaust.
65lb injectors.
Everyting else is stock on the motor.

I Haven't gone more than 1/2 throttle yet but so far the idle is nice and Lopey. My low end is a little weaker than before but Its tolerable.

What are your thoughts? What kind of performance change can I expect compared to the stock LS1 cam? (Ex: more mid range or more top end)

Also.. before anyone goes bashing me for going with an STS kit look at my "mustang dyno" sheet. I dynoed it on 93 pump gas with the stock cam. Did all the tuning mysellf with HP tuners (2 bar SD tune) @ 9lbs of boost, 11.0 AFR and 10 degrees of timing the 100,000 mile Ls1 made 580whp / 641wtq.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

might want to research that before installing next time...


Also there is no cam specs or any link in your first post

Also what size engine?

Jaden Henderson

Just finished posting them up, accidentally hit post before I was done typing. It's a stock 5.7 ls1. (Besides the cam and TT stuff)

Mavn

iTrader: (3)

Who specd that cam?

Jaden Henderson

Rick over at STS.
I should have asked for more details about where the new cam would shine when ordering.

I just asked for a cam package that would give me a bit more power and a nice lope at idle and ordered it.

I don't doubt that it will, I'm just looking for some opinions on what I can expect out of it.

(More mid range or is it meant for higher RPM's)

I normally shift around 5,800 to 6,200 and don't want to spin it any higher on the stock bottom end.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

I can definitely tell you that 5800 rpm shifting is to low, even the stock cam will make power passed that
that is a large turbo cam and will probably pull passed 7000

Jaden Henderson

At the expense of low end and mid range I'm assuming? Not what i was hoping to hear..

I'd like to run it up a little higher but ive heard that the stock rod bolts on 98 / 99 LS1's dont like high RPM's a whole lot once you go north of 550whp. I'm assuming I'll be in the low-ish 600's once I get it tuned with the new cam. (Spraying water meth to keep it somewhat safe)

I've got a little over a year before I build a forged motor so I'd like it to hold untill then.
I know there are no guarantees but I'd rather not try and spin another 500 RPM's or so and risk it if I don't have to. Honestly if it starts pulling good in the mid range and I hit 600 @ the wheels by 6,000 rpm I'll be happy.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

obviously it’s making Killer midrange and holding strong untill you let off. Not sure how much it will take away down low
maybe a turbo guy can chime in.

edit: is that dyno with the stock cam and why is it only showing 5300rpm???

Jaden Henderson

Yeah that dyno was stock cam, stock valve springs, even stock fuel pump. It Just had 65lb injectors and water meth with the Sts kit @ 9lbs on that pull. Everything else was stock. (Besides the clutch)

Also, that was with the new STS kit being sold through holley. It just came out back in December.
I know people had some trouble with the older kits.
So far so good with mine though.

I stoped the dyno pull early beacuse my fuel psi was droppng pretty bad with the stock pump.
I upgraded to a racetronix unit since then.

As for the midrange on that dyno pull, the .36 A/R turbine housings seam to be the ticket, spool is fast and nasty hard with them but you loose a little low end and it does die off after 5,500 a bit beacuse they are so restrictive. I've tried changing to .48 housings and I did get a bit more low and top end from them but they just werent fun to drive on the street, the spool up just took way too long.

So the .36 housings are back on and hopfully the new cam can make good use of their quick spooling midrange. If not, I won't make the same mistake agian. I'll be building a forged motor after I get back from an upcoming deployment and I will actually reasarch the cam a bit more this time before I go forged.

Anyone else with opinions on how this new cam will perform? I appreciate the feed back Ls7.

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like id be swapping cams again if you cant rev it out. I bet that thing was a blast to drive with the stock cam!
If anything maybe swap in a cheap ls9 cam or something.

Jaden Henderson

With the new fuel pump in I hold pressure fine now.
I'm not sure what a safe rpm would be to spin it up to though being that I'll probably be in the low 600whp range with the cam upgrade.

Can the 1999 rod bolts handle 6,500 shifts??

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

I didn’t know they were any different, my last car was a 98trans am that I shifted at 6800 with a ms3 cam

Edit: just did some research and there seems to be alot of people saying the 97-00 rod bolts are weaker. Glad I didnt know that lol

Jaden Henderson

Finaly got a chance to do some tuning and open it up a bit. Ran it up to 6,200 on 9psi and it was still pulling pretty hard. It builds boost a little bit slower now but It definitely picked up some power towards the upper mid range / top end. Before it would hit verry hard in the mid range (harder than it does now) but it would die out after 5,500.

Over all I'm pretty happy with it. Its got a little more lag now which is not as much fun on the street but ive only just started on the tune.

I know it is a little too fat during transitional throttle to wide open. Hopfully as i dial in the VE more and play with the timing it will help.

Thanks for the responses.

Anybody got expirence with tuning for faster spool up?