Good cam and spring setup for a bolt on LS2
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 196
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Good cam and spring setup for a bolt on LS2 Hey all. I'm looking for a good combo to squeeze some more power from my LS2. I have an intake and manifold, catted shorties, and full exhaust, and am considering some AFR 205s, possibly with some porting and polishing. It's a manual with 3.90s coming in a just over 3000lbs so I'm not particularly worried about not having enough torque, but I do enjoy using 6th at 45mph so I'd like to retain that if possible. I take the car on road trips and also track it in all kinds of racing, so a nice balance of low end with a bump in top end is what I'm looking for.
I'm thinking something like a TSP 220R on a 114 split with their spring kit may be good, but I don't want to worry about springs giving out while I'm halfway across the country on a trip.
Anyone with any suggestions is appreciated!
I'm thinking something like a TSP 220R on a 114 split with their spring kit may be good, but I don't want to worry about springs giving out while I'm halfway across the country on a trip.
Anyone with any suggestions is appreciated!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
AFR 205's are excellent as-is. Whatever you do might mess up what is there. Nowadays, it is just "porting"; polishing really does nothing more, and isn't done nearly as much as in years past. You will notice AFR heads are not polished. Nothing gained from it.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
Fair enough. I always just called it that out of habit, but never really looked too far into what went into it. I just assumed the process of removing material left it almost polished. As for the 205s only, what kind of numbers can be expected with an LS2? I know old posts mentioned LS1s picking up around 30+whp, and LS6s picking up around 20, so I'm wondering if I could expect maybe 25-30 on the larger bore due to reduced shrouding on the 4" vs the 3.898. The goal is about 450 at the wheel, or enough to trap 120-125. It's not a drag only car, but I feel like trap speeds make the best measurement of power.
Nobody knows the AFR heads better than Tony Mamo. If I were you, I’d contact Tony via email. He will respond in a lengthy reply giving you the in’s and outs of what camshaft works best with your intake and those heads, and why. Tell him in the email your goals and be honest with what your looking for. No better service in the industry, period. You’ll be glad you did.
Im usually opposed to sending folks out to vendors for questions, when they took the time to ask a question on a tech forum, but our resident camshaft expert has left and your going to get a few dozen opinions here. Tony gives facts based on years of hands on testing, and worked at AFR for years. He most likely designed the 205’s.
Im usually opposed to sending folks out to vendors for questions, when they took the time to ask a question on a tech forum, but our resident camshaft expert has left and your going to get a few dozen opinions here. Tony gives facts based on years of hands on testing, and worked at AFR for years. He most likely designed the 205’s.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
TECH Enthusiast
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From: Michigan
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Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Sydney, Australia
Very similar combo to my car but mine is much heavier.
I have an LS1 5.7 manual with intake, tune, short 4-1 headers with cats, twin 2.5" exhaust, 3.9 diff gears, TSP 216/220 .600/.600 112 cam and heavily ported 241 heads. It would be around 400rwhp on a USA dyno. I really like it as a street combo. Very responsive, good all through the rev range to 7000 rpm. 6th is completely usable.
I wouldn't hesitate to go a bigger TSP cam on a 6 litre LS2. A 220/220 would be sweet considering its a manual but you could go bigger.
I have an LS1 5.7 manual with intake, tune, short 4-1 headers with cats, twin 2.5" exhaust, 3.9 diff gears, TSP 216/220 .600/.600 112 cam and heavily ported 241 heads. It would be around 400rwhp on a USA dyno. I really like it as a street combo. Very responsive, good all through the rev range to 7000 rpm. 6th is completely usable.
I wouldn't hesitate to go a bigger TSP cam on a 6 litre LS2. A 220/220 would be sweet considering its a manual but you could go bigger.