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Hello everyone I’m starting a rebuild of an LQ9 with 243 heads and I am currently trying to decide on a cam for the engine. Any help would be awesome.
car= 73 firebird probably 3600lbs
engine= lq9 with 243 heads 11:1 CR
Trans= either 5 or 6 speed manual haven’t decided which yet
rear end= 3:73
tire= 26” tall tire on 18” rims
intake=ls6
FI= ls3 injectors with Holley terminator x ecu
exhaust= 1 3/4 longtubes 2.5” exhaust
car will be street driven but is mostly a fun weekend car. I want to make good power but not sacrifice too much street ability. Will see the track maybe 2 times a year. So far I have been recommended the tick SNS Torque max 2 ls2 cam and the TSP 228/232 cam. Any advice on these 2 cams or different choices is much appreciated.
Tick Performance "SNS" torqueMAX Stage 2 V2 Camshaft for LS2 Engines Standard Lobes: 231/235 | .625"/.605" | LSA111+2
That's definitely a more aggressive cam than the TSP 228/232.
TSP 228/232 .600/.600 LSA 114 or 112 or 110
Well proven cam with nice gains.
Both would really like an Fast 92 mm intake to excell or other 90mm snout intake manifold. Both are excellent choices IMHO for your goals.
Here are two more cams, I think that are worth considering. They lean a little more driver friendly being slightly smaller and on wider 113 LSA's.
EPS CAMSHAFT - N/A LS1/LS2 - 32634132 Specs: 226/234 .604"/.604" 113+2 This cam is a great all-around cam for 5.7L applications. It will have a very broad, smooth power curve from 3000 to 6800 RPM with a relatively choppy idle. This cam coupled with TFS 215 CNC LS cylinder heads has made 472 RWHP in a 2004 Z06 Corvette. This cam will usually provide power numbers usually associated with much larger cams...per BTR's website
The 14 extra cubes would make for a very nice set up in my opinion. Later if heads & intake are updated the cam still has what it takes to make excellent power with out needing a new cam. Engine Power Systems aka Geoff is excellent to work with and discuss specifics too in my experience.
Cam Motion Titan IV # XA227/360-XA232/350-13+4 Duration at .050": 227/232 113 Lobe Center Angle with a 109 Intake Centerline Lift with 1.7 Rocker Arm Ratio: .612"/.595"
Tested in a 6.2 vs an LS1 cam. image is probably better on Cam Motion's site but graph give generally an idea.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Feb 10, 2022 at 09:23 AM.
I actually tried to get a cam specked by cam motion but made the mistake of saying I lived in CA so they wouldn’t give me a suggestion lol. I was looking at the titan 4 however. I notice you tend toward higher LSA spec cams, any reason in particular?
Ben, would love to see pictures of your car. Sounds super sweet!
California & emissions, JEGS paid like $1.7 million in fines. I understand why Cam Motion was concerned.
Passing emissions sniffer testing 20 years ago in a different state turned me on to my first a custom ground 113 LSA 224/224 XER. It played nice with excellent manners in a daily driver with a mail order tune.
Lot of my friends had nasty sounding 111's & 112's but those cars drove or idled a little rougher than I liked. Tuning about equal. None of them could pass emissions inspection. Two them had to get rid of (trade in/sell) their nearly new cars ultimately.
Developed a personal bias on preference for the ~113's & 114's from that to be honest. Really got spoiled to compared to dealing with 108 LSA stuff from my small block chevy days.
The same 99 T/A that spent years dodging the emissions boggie man with that 113 lsa cam is now so old it's emissions exempt. So anything goes. Ended up with a 114 in the new 416 cause it drives nicer...ironic?
LSA of course isn't what one should choose a cam based on ideally. Valve events are what matter but its nice to get the right valve events and have good driveability and good manners. Tuning is a lot of that etc.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Feb 10, 2022 at 09:57 AM.
My car isn’t much to look at yet it’s got a long way to go before she’s pretty lol. Yeah totally I understand LSA isn’t the end all be all was just curious. I’m so glad I don’t have to smog my bird that stuff is a pain in the butt.
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Lq9 243 head cam 
