Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Yes another "Which is the best cam" question?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2005 | 11:55 PM
  #1  
bigblockquad's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Default Yes another "Which is the best cam" question?

Just bought another project today and need some advise on a cam choice.
Car is just under 2900lbs and here are the requirements.

1)Need operating power between 2500/3000 to 6500 rpm.
2)Will be matched to 1 3/4 LT's and CNC ported Chevy performance LS6 heads
3)Needs to be free of cold weather driveability issues.
4)Will be on an 04 LS6 motor.
5)Will need to run on California 91 octane.
6)Would like the idle to be as choppy as possible yet still meeting above goals

I'm kinda leaning towards the LG X3 camshaft. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, being smog legal is not my biggest concern either.

TIA
Rich.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2005 | 02:38 AM
  #2  
00Z28SS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Kaysville, UT
Default

Originally Posted by bigblockquad
Just bought another project today and need some advise on a cam choice.
Car is just under 2900lbs and here are the requirements.

1)Need operating power between 2500/3000 to 6500 rpm.
2)Will be matched to 1 3/4 LT's and CNC ported Chevy performance LS6 heads
3)Needs to be free of cold weather driveability issues.
4)Will be on an 04 LS6 motor.
5)Will need to run on California 91 octane.
6)Would like the idle to be as choppy as possible yet still meeting above goals

I'm kinda leaning towards the LG X3 camshaft. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. BTW, being smog legal is not my biggest concern either.

TIA
Rich.

Your question is really vague as to "what is the best cam"?

1. most aftermarket camshafts will make power in the range you are looking for.

2. any supporting airflow modification will accompany a camshaft nicely.

3. Even high lift and long duration camshafts can be tuned to behave nicely in cold weather.

4. camshafts have no effect on how much octane you need to run. This is for boosted, nitroused and high compression motors.

5. lift and duration have no effect on how a camshaft idles (how lopey it will be). This is in your LSA, lobe separation.

Hope this information helps
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2005 | 03:32 AM
  #3  
jermzz's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Bay area, ca.
Default

Originally Posted by 00Z28SS

5. lift and duration have no effect on how a camshaft idles (how lopey it will be). This is in your LSA, lobe separation.

Hope this information helps
I dasagree with that. You mean to tell me a Torquer 2 on a 112 will not be more lopey then a 224 on a 112? Or even a MS3 on a 113LSA. Intake duration has effect on lopeyness.

Other then that, I agree on everything else.

You might want to go to ls1sounds.com and listen to some cars with cams and see which one gets your interest. There's plenty of cam threads on here to figure out how much power pretty much any cam ever sold will make.

Good luck.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2005 | 05:58 AM
  #4  
orangeapeel's Avatar
ЯєŧąяĐ Єl¡m¡иąŧøя ™
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,083
Likes: 4
From: Justin, TX
Default

It is hard to decifer what sounds good from audio clips though, but they will definitely tell you what the inconsistency is in the idle. You almost have to hear it in person. If you are talking about california, are you worried about smog realated cams? I didnt think that the G5X3 would be a "smog friendly" cam. But it is up to you. And to beat on the other subject. The "lope" is determined from most of the aspects of the cam. You can't base it on just LSA....but yes, it does play a role in how it behaves. The lift and duration also do. I learned this from experience with high duration and high lift and high LSA. It lopes like a mother and it is on a 115. So it is not just the lobe separation that has to do with the sounds it makes. now you want valvetrain noise? Get a large duration!
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 12:22 AM
  #5  
00Z28SS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Kaysville, UT
Default

I am sorry if I am preaching wrong information. I thought LSA was the biggest factor when it comes to lope.

Another curiosity I had is why do LS1's have so much valvetrain noise? It sounds like a damn sewing machine under my hood. I could understand where the noise would be coming from if they were solid surface lifters, but roller?
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 12:52 AM
  #6  
jermzz's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Bay area, ca.
Default

I'm not sure about this and someone will sure correct me if i'm wrong, but I think it's the valves closing so fast due to the fast ramp rate of the cam. That and better springs. It would make sense anyway.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 01:36 AM
  #7  
orangeapeel's Avatar
ЯєŧąяĐ Єl¡m¡иąŧøя ™
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,083
Likes: 4
From: Justin, TX
Default

It is just cause it was built for economy, and sewing machine is what big performace sounds like. Sort of like solid rod ends...if you want a quiet car then keep it stock. otherwise you are going to have to put up with noises.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 01:41 AM
  #8  
00Z28SS's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Kaysville, UT
Default

I actually very much enjoy the noise. I just wondered if anyone knew why it actually created that much noise.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 06:21 PM
  #9  
jermzz's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
From: Bay area, ca.
Default

Originally Posted by orangeapeel
It is just cause it was built for economy, and sewing machine is what big performace sounds like. Sort of like solid rod ends...if you want a quiet car then keep it stock. otherwise you are going to have to put up with noises.
That wasn't really much of a technical answer, but I can dig it. haha.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2005 | 06:26 PM
  #10  
WKMCD's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 2
From: Northern VA
Default

Originally Posted by 00Z28SS
I actually very much enjoy the noise. I just wondered if anyone knew why it actually created that much noise.
Stiff springs - I run Comp 921's - and an agressive cam (230/236 112lsa .598/.610 XE-R) will make some valve noise. The aluminum block and heads also are a major contributor to the LS1 valve train noise. They don't absorb the sound like an iron block.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:56 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE