Hey all:
I have a 02 Z-28 automatci and I am looking into doing a cam swap with the tr224 cam and a set of springs and retainers. I live in Calif so I have to stay in specs to pass smog. After that I will take it in and have it tuned. Is it worth doing or not?
I have been told either to do the heads and cam or nothing. That the cam only isn't worth doing without the heads.
Just want some input. I was going to do the heads and cam but I have decided to not spend the money. I want more out of it but am keeping it under a certain budget now. Spent too much on my other toy.
Thanks all

Also I live in So Calif in the Hemet area. Is there anyone out there that would like to make some side cash and do the cam swap, springs and retainers for me and must know what your doing. I am willing to pay a very fair price.

 

A TR224 is a great choice and has been known to pass in California with a good tune as long as you get it on 114 LSA.

It will also work great with your stock heads. That's how I ran mine. I did a 161 mph with throttle to spare through stock heads, exhaust manifolds and cats on the Bonneville Salt Flats. And going fast on salt is way harder than on pavement. This is Land Speed racing, not drag racing.

 

A cammed & bolt-on LS1 is a beautiful thing. Yes, you'll add an extra 40 HP or so with heads, but it isn't absolutely necessary. You can make ~400rwhp with the 224 and bolt-ons with untouched heads.

 

Yes, stock LS1 heads are really very good for a factory piece. I've heard they flow better stock than some ported SBC heads. Of course anything can be improved. Consider doing a little home porting since you would like ported heads but are low on cash. There's a lot of information on this forum on how to do it. You need to educate yourself before you try it, but it isn't rocket science either.

 

I did the tr224 cam, lt headers, lid, ud pulley & true duals. It's not the same car. I can't get enough of driving it now, tires are wearing down fast now. I estimate I added damn near 100 horses at the wheels. It was a very cost effective mod.

 

Whoever told you that you have to add heads also can't own a ls1 and know what they are talking about. Yes heads are more power but a cam alone is a very nice addition to power. Just count tuning in the cost of a cam, you will need it.

 

Well since I am not to good with cams yet, how is the TR224 cam for daily drving and driveablilty and does this cam have a lopey idle? What is exactly different between the 114lsa and a 112lsa? Is that how lopey the cam is? How often do you have to change the valve springs with this cam? And also for this cam do you need springs lifters and retainers. Is that it? Ive looked on ls1sounds.com and I couldn't find a sound clip of a TR224 cam on a 114lsa. Does anyone have one? Thanks

 

Good to go for daily driving. Do a search. Its all in the tune. This was with full boltons minus TB and ASP pulley.

 

DD driveability is great. I have a clip; I can email it to you if you want.

 

I know of guys making 420-435 with full bolt-ons and a bigass cam.

'01's and '02's tho.

 

Here it is:
http://users.megapathdsl.net/~hearl/AutoX.mp4

 

Search "tr224" in this forum. All the answers are here. It is probably the most sold and resold cam in our cars. It is a perfect first step. But 99 percent of us want more after a taste of the easy added power!
Put it in, enjoy! With heads and headers it's even better - like an 11 second daily driver. So cam first, then heads later if you want more

 

I know '98s and '99s putting that much and more to the ground and proving it every weekend down the 1320. What was the difference in GMs HP rating between the years 10-20? geesh!

 

You will not be at 400 or over with TR224 only and bolt ons. Its not going to happen. You could hit 370-380 tops.
I have vararam air intake, LS6 manifold, kooks long tube header, High flow cats, true dual X-pipe, and GHL exhaust. Stock LS1 heads on a Y2K C5, with MN6 343 gears, 25% ASP pulley and a couple of little things that are a waste IE, throttle by pass, High flow air duct.
I wanted the car conservitly tuned for drivability and to pass inspection.

im not the beach mark, but Id say im the average RWHP @ 367. Maybe I left 5-10 HP on the table, but that was ok with me.

The TR224 cam I like. Ive had it in for two weeks. You have to give it a hair more gas/clutch out of the hole, and im talking a hair. car drives the same up to 3000 RPM, and then it takes off. I talked to another C5 yesterday that had the same set up as me with out the cam, and he's at 340RWHP. Thunder Racing says you'll get 25-30 HP out of the cam, and I did.
AFR heads will put you at about 410RWHP.
I like the cam and have a video if it helps you. PM me. The cam isnt to crazy, but does give it a differant tone and performance. After I got it installed, I asked myself WOW what the hell would the TREX be like with heads. But, I dont want to blow up a car I paid $40,000.00 for either. Id like to say im done with mods, but im dreaming. I have 5.3L heads that I chickened out of installing at the last minute because I cant afford a clutch in a month. The cam made the car more fun to drive!

 

I pulled 386 rwhp with jethot long tubes, ls1 intake and the factory filter with 4.11's
The 114 will be easier to pass emissions. I had the 112.
My best run spinning was 12.09 @115

 

the tr224 is one bad *** cam. i have it and all i can say is wow. driving up onramps is so much fun. it pulls and pulls. if you live in cal then go with it. i have the lca 114 version by the way.

 

What is the difference between the 114lsa and 112lsa? Will the 112lsa cam pass emissions?

 

The 114 will have the power come on a little later in the power band. If you are in Cali then 114 is what you want to pass emmission with a lean tune. 114 = less overlap = less contamination of unburnmed fuel in the exhaust.

There are other cams in the same power range that have a better chance to pass, like TSP (stealth cam) and of course the MTI Stealth I and II

Those have at least a 115 lsa and therefore less overlap.

 

I run the TR224 114. Passed smog that cam and stock exhaust manifold. Great for a DD.

 

lol, i have seen many many 224 cam only dynos, most are 380+ rwhp with all the boltons, there a lot of them making 395-405hp. i expect to see around 360-370 rwhp UNTUNED with my cam only 224, well as long as my clutch holds up at least, tuned i should be in the 380-400+ range. bought my cam from a sponsors test mule that was putting 405 rwhp to the ground cam only. granted this person is an auto car and his numbers will be lower, anything is possible. the 224 cam is awesome for the street.