Or would the regular Summit stage 3 pro Ls make more sense than the extra clearance for the LS2 heads?

 

OP,

No problem. We enjoy working with the community.

Your friends are right about larger cams affecting low-speed driveability with manuals. With stock gears, we won't typically recommend a cam over 226* @ .050" on the intake. However, when someone has put numerically higher gears in we'll stretch that out a bit. The reason being is the higher gear ratio keeps the rpm's up no matter the gear selected on the trans. This lessens the chances of low-speed surging/bucking with a manual. Obviously, with a combination like this, we wouldn't go straight to the Saturn stage 5 because it has gears, but we can move up from that 226* ish barrier.

The Pro LS stage 3 SUM-8708R1 is what we consider a good cam for a "weekend warrior". Specs on it are .600/.600, 232/242, 113+3 with 11* of overlap. It's very similar to the 8710R1. We just moved the intake valve events around a degree each to get the 232 intake duration. The 8708R1 will provide a touch more of an aggressive idle than the 8710R1. The 8708R1 on a .600" lobe can use those Trickflow by PAC beehives and be plenty happy to 7,000+ RPM. Then if you like the added insurance you could go with the .660" lift duals. Without having the gears or long tube headers we would probably leave out the 8708R1 as a recommendation for your combo and goals. Having those along with a good tune should help tame out some of the character of the 8708 and make it pretty easy to get along with.

Here's a video to give you an idea of the idle of the 8708R1.


It really comes down to what you want out of the cam swap. All three of the Pro LS cams that have been mentioned will work and provide a noticeable idle. The 8707R1 will be the easiest of the three to get along with and give you a steady lope. Then the 8710R1 steps it up from there giving a stronger steady lope and shifting the powerband to the right. A tick up from the 8710R1 is the 8708R1. It gets into the aggressive lope territory and might have a bit of character. We like providing idle videos because it shows you can have a noticeable idle without having a "BIG" cam. We understand sound is subjective and it comes down to personal preference.

Let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

 

I put the SUM-8707 Stage 2 cam with TFS-2500286 springs in a daily driver Chevy SS LS3, manual with 3.70 rear gear and weighs in at 4250lbs with driver. Made 455whp with only a rotofab intake and headers back to stock exhaust as supporting mods. It never bucked anywhere and had solid power right off idle to 7000+. For a weekend fun car\hot rod that's lighter with more rear gear I would absolutely go bigger.

 

I have the BTR stage 2 227/234 (older version) with a M6 and 3.42 gears. I do get some occasional bucking crawling around parking lots but the cam is very livable and I can lug it on the highway at 1200 rpm without issue.

 

Thank you all. I went ahead with the stage 2 for now. I figure it won’t ever see a track and the most fun is roasting the bfgs for now. Plus it’ll probably max out what the stock intake and heads can do and if I go to a 3.73 it will make a nice cruiser and only loose a small go to the stage 3. If when I ever do heads and intake swapping the cam might make more sense then. Just my read on all the good info.

parts are coming with pushrods btr dual springs, upgraded grunions and timing gear. Will be a nice project after New Years. Have to finish my 57 EFI conversion first. Been waiting on a fuel tank from aeromotive since august lol.

 

We think you've made a great choice. Driving that beautiful 71' Camaro around probably brings plenty of smiles. We think you'll have an even bigger smile now with the 8720R1! Make sure to update the community once you're up and running with it

Post up some pics of the 57'. If the 71' Camaro is any sign of your taste we're sure the community would enjoy seeing the 57'!

 

Thanks for all the help. Probably won’t get this done for a few months depending on work.



Here’s the family fleet

 

Now THAT'S a yard full of classy machinery!!