Biggest cam for a stock motor??
Biggest cam for a stock motor?? I was wondering
1- what is the biggest size cam one can put in a stock LS1 (piston-valve clearance wise) and
2-what kinda duration/lift is the max/best for stock heads? Of course this would all be complemented with new valve springs and such.
3- I've heard people say the stock pushrods are not the greatest, is this true and what brand valve train is most prefered by u guys for the LS1?
I had the cc 305 cam in my 97 z28 and thought for the buck it was a nice cam but for the LS1 what cam is the cat's *** on stock heads??
Thanks
1- what is the biggest size cam one can put in a stock LS1 (piston-valve clearance wise) and
2-what kinda duration/lift is the max/best for stock heads? Of course this would all be complemented with new valve springs and such.
3- I've heard people say the stock pushrods are not the greatest, is this true and what brand valve train is most prefered by u guys for the LS1?
I had the cc 305 cam in my 97 z28 and thought for the buck it was a nice cam but for the LS1 what cam is the cat's *** on stock heads??
Thanks
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,660
Likes: 14
From: England
well there's no point going for a cam until you've got the rest of the mods to support it. As it won't really help much, the intake and exhaust system will be too redtrctive to make use of it.
As for how big?
Well that depends, whats it for? With the additional bolt ons some cams may get you near 450rwhp, but that doesn't mean it'll be the fastest car out.
You need to have a sensible spread of power and low end grunt for a street car. If it's an out and out racer it's slightly different.
For more info look in the internal engine forums and try speaking to some of the manufactures or sellers. Try the sponsors at the side -----> of the screen. Many sell cams and carry info on them.
And state what your goals are and any mods you already have.
390rwhp with a midler cam may yeild better results for you purpose than 450rwhp+ with an out an out race cam that doesn't produce any power below 4500rpm.
As for how big?
Well that depends, whats it for? With the additional bolt ons some cams may get you near 450rwhp, but that doesn't mean it'll be the fastest car out.
You need to have a sensible spread of power and low end grunt for a street car. If it's an out and out racer it's slightly different.
For more info look in the internal engine forums and try speaking to some of the manufactures or sellers. Try the sponsors at the side -----> of the screen. Many sell cams and carry info on them.
And state what your goals are and any mods you already have.
390rwhp with a midler cam may yeild better results for you purpose than 450rwhp+ with an out an out race cam that doesn't produce any power below 4500rpm.
This car would be a daily driver for me when i get back from Korea. I'd like to go about as big as i can, powerband from like 2-6.5k or so with a nice lop[e sound to it. I've been checking out alot thunder racing's cams...that t-rex looks like a bastard of cam! When i put a cam in my LT1 car i wanted as radical as i could go with robing myself too much on stock heads. I know LS1 heads flow awesome though from the factory, which bring me another question, i know the 97-97 LS1 heads have a different casting than the 99+ (or something like that. Which heads are better flowing? or do they flow the same? Also the LS6 cam looks pretty nice but im sure for the $$ one could do alot better as far as performance than just a stock LS6 cam..whats you guys thoughts????
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
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From: The South
An LS1 is an LS1 is an LS1. The earlier heads (97-98) are a tad lower on power but it's nothing to worry about. Yes, you can do a lot better on the performance side than the LS6. People only use it because you can use LS6 springs, have bone stock idle and never worry about breaking or changing valvesprings again due to OEM quality and reliability.
Have you read the cam guide sticky?
Is your engine stock, or the car? If the car is stock you need a lot of other mods before you jump in with a cam.
Have you read the cam guide sticky?
Is your engine stock, or the car? If the car is stock you need a lot of other mods before you jump in with a cam.
M6 or A4 
whats your goals for the car? be honest.
its almost pointless to throw a t-rex in an otherwise stock car, if all you want is lope get a GM hotcam and tune the idle speed down a little.
whats your goals for the car? be honest.
its almost pointless to throw a t-rex in an otherwise stock car, if all you want is lope get a GM hotcam and tune the idle speed down a little.
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
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From: The South
Originally Posted by jrp
man, i havent seen one of these threads in like 2 hours 
I took time off from tech due to the increasing number of the same "what cam" threads and the board getting slower.
Came back and it seems even worse.
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from what ive seen and heard the mti x1 and the newer r1 work well with lightly moded engines.(intake and exhaust bolt ons)
if everything works out, ill have a x1 soon
good luck with your choice
if everything works out, ill have a x1 soon
good luck with your choice
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Brett Foote from what ive seen and heard the mti x1 and the newer r1 work well with lightly moded engines.(intake and exhaust bolt ons)
if everything works out, ill have a x1 soon
good luck with your choice
if everything works out, ill have a x1 soon
good luck with your choice
hehe
Originally Posted by hondo
M6 or A4
Originally Posted by hondo
its almost pointless to throw a t-rex in an otherwise stock car...
Hmmmmm thats funny, I usually don't figure LS1(or even LT1 owners for that matter) doubt all possible potential for their cars, but hey, to each his own.
http://thunderracing.com/customersca...cid=36&x=8&y=8
"Rodney's car has been raced to a best of 10.433 @ 130.19 mph with a 1.401 sixty foot time. All of this was accomplished on the stock rods, pistons, crankshaft, and cylinder heads. He is the current "camshaft only" ET record holder for LS1 vehicles in the country. "
He's talking about lid, intake manifold, ported throttle body, underdrive pulley, headers, y-pipe, cat-back (or duals). If you don't have this you won't have a fun driving car nor a high powered car. The biggest cam that fits without flycutting is the TRex from Thunder racing. Before getting a cam at least get headers, cat-back, and a lid.
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: The South
Originally Posted by Rob M
M6
Hmmmmm thats funny, I usually don't figure LS1(or even LT1 owners for that matter) doubt all possible potential for their cars, but hey, to each his own.
http://thunderracing.com/customersca...cid=36&x=8&y=8
"Rodney's car has been raced to a best of 10.433 @ 130.19 mph with a 1.401 sixty foot time. All of this was accomplished on the stock rods, pistons, crankshaft, and cylinder heads. He is the current "camshaft only" ET record holder for LS1 vehicles in the country. "
Hmmmmm thats funny, I usually don't figure LS1(or even LT1 owners for that matter) doubt all possible potential for their cars, but hey, to each his own.
http://thunderracing.com/customersca...cid=36&x=8&y=8
"Rodney's car has been raced to a best of 10.433 @ 130.19 mph with a 1.401 sixty foot time. All of this was accomplished on the stock rods, pistons, crankshaft, and cylinder heads. He is the current "camshaft only" ET record holder for LS1 vehicles in the country. "
Ummm... I thought the cam only record was a tie at 10.295?
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 1
From: Lake Zurich, IL
Originally Posted by blkZ28spt
Ummm... I thought the cam only record was a tie at 10.295?
correct... it's 10.2xx (not sure of exact) ... It's either shared by 01-z and Magnus or it's very close.... Magnus was running a G5X4 at the time I believe and I think 01-z was running a Trex ... both stock heads
11 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,524
Likes: 1
From: The South
Originally Posted by horist
correct... it's 10.2xx (not sure of exact) ... It's either shared by 01-z and Magnus or it's very close.... Magnus was running a G5X4 at the time I believe and I think 01-z was running a Trex ... both stock heads
Thunder just hasn't updated their webpage...gee I wonder why?
Is Rodney the only one of those three with an M6? I know 01-z has a 5500 stall three speed...(is it TH350 or 400)
Originally Posted by blkZ28spt
That car that ran 10.4 is FAAAAAR from stock. Like I said before, an otherwise stock engine is the NORM as a cam is normally the first internal mod. Putting a large cam on a stock CAR is a different story.
and then some. 
i wasnt trying to be an *** at all, im just saying you should be honest with yourself about your goals, or you'll be unhappy in the end with your car in the end or at worst have to do it twice or more to get where you want.
