Many of us enjoy our LS1 engines but think our cars would be perfect if powered by an LS6 instead. We never actually race but we want to be confident that a run-of-the-mill WRX or Boxster couldn't touch us if we weren’t stuck in traffic. We know the '02 LS6 cam will pass California emissions but we wonder how far we can push our luck. We decide "not far" and we choose a cam like the Comp 212/218 on a 115 LSA. I'm very happy with my decision. I don't yet have numbers but I will post them when I do. After I upgraded my hardware, my car ran well on an essentially stock LS1 tune. It ran better on my imitation LS6 tune. My car idles like a Z06 and there is no bucking or hesitation during normal driving. I have some preliminary evidence that the Comp cam will perform better than the LS6 cam. Bear in mind that my current tune is an attempt to duplicate the stock 2002 LS6 tune. With that tune, running MAFless, most of my LTFTs were positive, in the -2 to 10 range. The evidence I mentioned is that increasing all VE table values by five percent decreased my LTFTs into the -2 to 7 range with many more near or below 5. Since the starting point for comparison was the stock LS6 VE table, I conclude that my volumetric efficiency is probably a bit better with the Comp cam than it would have been if I had installed the LS6 cam. I own both cams and was undecided which to install until the last moment. I was leaning toward the LS6 cam because I wanted stock-style reliability. Comp recommends using 918 springs with their 212/218 and I wanted to stick with the LS6 (GM 12565313) springs. When I opened my engine I discovered that my front cam bearing had a little copper showing. That discovery changed my thinking. If, after all the loving care and Mobil-1 I had bestowed on this bitch, she was setting me up for betrayal, I was determined to go out with a bang. While I am, as I said, happy with my cam selection, the old adage is still true. There is no substitute for cubic inches. This cam will not make your LS1 into more of a "torquer". The improvement I'm seeing is up top. That improvement is enough for me to want a Strange 12-Bolt more than I want a bigger cam.

-Gary

 

Nice writeup.

As long as you are happy with your decision after you drove the car thats all that counts.

Now me on the other hand want my car to sound like .... well put it like this:

Say Im sitting at a traffic light idling. I want people to look at my car and think to themsleves " somethin in dat car dont belong "! It may take some of you a few minutes to figure that out.

Once again, thanks for the feedback as Im sure you just helped alot of LS1 folk out.

 

Perhaps you could have narrowed the LSA a bit more. 115 is pretty wide IMHO.

 

Nice cam choice with stock manifolds. Yes, it sounds like a beefier version of the LS6 cam, just without as much split between intake and exhaust. Glad it's working for you. If you get some dyno numbers, post them up!

 

i got that same cam in my truck with a nelson tune and it woke the truck up alot. as for idles it chops really good. i love the way it sounds when it idles. i still have my stock springs in mine as well. nice write up