cam for ls6 valve springs
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: san antonio, tx
cam for ls6 valve springs Basically my question is, what cams out there will work with the ls6 valve springs without having to worry about changing them out all the time. Would a cam with a .560 lift on it put too much stress on those springs. I got a set of 03-04 valvesprings coming and I want to get a cam also. I know the hot cam will work but I was just curious which other cams out there will be ok to run with those springs.
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The South
Best bet is probably to get springs that match your cam. Comp 918's work with almost everything. The only three I am aware of that work well with LS6 springs are the hotcam, asa hotcam or the LS6 cam.
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
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From: Atlanta area, GA
I'm going to install an LPE GT2-3 cam, and (I've called twice now) the tech there specifically told me they use stock GM LS6 springs, and it works out great.
GT2-3 specs: 207 / 220 - .571 / .578 - 118.5 CL
GT2-3 specs: 207 / 220 - .571 / .578 - 118.5 CL
Originally Posted by Dan_the_C5_Man
I'm going to install an LPE GT2-3 cam, and (I've called twice now) the tech there specifically told me they use stock GM LS6 springs, and it works out great.
GT2-3 specs: 207 / 220 - .571 / .578 - 118.5 CL
GT2-3 specs: 207 / 220 - .571 / .578 - 118.5 CL
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
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From: Atlanta area, GA
Originally Posted by ss rally red
I thought that LS6 springs were rated at 550 max
Either way, those are the springs LPE recommends (and sells) w/ the GT2-3.
I have to assume they know what they are talking about..
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From: Lubbock, TX
Originally Posted by blkbird
Basically my question is, what cams out there will work with the ls6 valve springs without having to worry about changing them out all the time. Would a cam with a .560 lift on it put too much stress on those springs. I got a set of 03-04 valvesprings coming and I want to get a cam also.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Atlanta area, GA
Originally Posted by parts@sdpc
The LS6 springs are good to 0.575" lift. Great springs for the price!
What is your input on this??
LS6 valve spring specs Remember there's two different LS6 springs....the '01 springs are good to around .570 lift and the '02 and later springs are supposed to be good to around .600 lift.....both lift specs are according to GM.
Originally Posted by blkbird
What would be the max on the lobes do you think?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The South
Originally Posted by Cal
The best thing would be to talk to the company that makes the cam you want to use, and get their recomendation. I would be inclined to use Comp 918 springs with about anything, unless the lift was way over 0.600 inch.
Comp 918's are a very nice spring. I have duals since my lifts are over .600 and they were pretty cheap.... but I wouldn't mind using 918's on my cam even. The 918's were originally rated to something higher than .600 before the 921's came out.
10 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Berkeley, California
GM recommends using GM 12565313 LS6 springs with their showroom stock racing cam which has .570 lift. They do not promise long life. At .600 lift the LS6 springs are exceedingly close to coil bind. Coimp 918s are a better choice for lifts greater than 0.550, in my opinion.
-Gary
-Gary
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: san antonio, tx
I was originally looking for a hotcam but havnt had any luck in finding one without the kit. So my next step is to see if comp cams has something comparable to it. The ls6 springs i have came of the 03-04 heads.
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2004
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I've run my GT2-3 with both the LS6 springs and Comp 915 springs. No issues with either one, but the LS6s were quieter. If I ever run this cam again in another car, I'll run the LS6 springs. When you're talking spring life, you have to look at the ramp rates, not total lift. Aggressive low lift cams break springs just as fast as aggressive high lift cams.
IMO, the 918 is overkill for a cam similar to the LS6 or GT2-3. It's the same spring as the 915, but it's wound looser so that spring pressure is higher when installed at 1.800". Basically, it's got more preload and seat pressure, but these cams don't need or want that.
As far as I know, GM does not list any official max lift specs for their beehive springs, so I believe that everything I've read on the internet is opinion. If somebody's got some real GM specs, I'd love to read them.
Coil bind on a beehive spring isn't an easy factor to measure like it is on a regular even wound spring. The bottom coils will start binding at low lift numbers, and the higher ones will be much later. Which coil are you worried about, just the last one? That's not good enough. More importantly, which coil are you going to measure? You have to know what open pressure your cam needs, and use a beehive that will yeild that figure when it's open. The beehives open pressure rises dramatically as you get near max lift, and pressure will be higher than you want before it binds. I've measured my LS6s at .600 and they are not binding.
IMO, the 918 is overkill for a cam similar to the LS6 or GT2-3. It's the same spring as the 915, but it's wound looser so that spring pressure is higher when installed at 1.800". Basically, it's got more preload and seat pressure, but these cams don't need or want that.
As far as I know, GM does not list any official max lift specs for their beehive springs, so I believe that everything I've read on the internet is opinion. If somebody's got some real GM specs, I'd love to read them.
Coil bind on a beehive spring isn't an easy factor to measure like it is on a regular even wound spring. The bottom coils will start binding at low lift numbers, and the higher ones will be much later. Which coil are you worried about, just the last one? That's not good enough. More importantly, which coil are you going to measure? You have to know what open pressure your cam needs, and use a beehive that will yeild that figure when it's open. The beehives open pressure rises dramatically as you get near max lift, and pressure will be higher than you want before it binds. I've measured my LS6s at .600 and they are not binding.
Last edited by Flareside; May 7, 2005 at 07:45 AM.