I have a 2002 camaro SS w/ 5k miles on it. I'm planing to drop in a Z06 cam along w/ jet hot lt's/cats, ported LS6 oil pump, air lid, ported MAF, Ported TB and posibly a crank pulley. I've seen threads of people using stock lifters w Z06 springs. What I need help w/ is: Should I switch the stock springs to 918 beehives? Would it be better(hp wise) to get .050 longer pushrods?

Eventually the car will become a daily driver and want reliability to go with it, hence the mild cam. I'm looking for a mid 12 sec ET, and plan to eventually change the rear gears (3.73 or 4.10) followed by Patriot LS6 or LQ9 heads and then an STS turbo. To start I'm looking for 400 rwhp and then move up to 500 w/turbo.

 

My advice is to choose a different cam. I currently have this cam and am getting ready to swap in something a little bigger. My car is also my DD. There are a lot of very streetable cams that make real power.

 

Yes, you need to change your stock valve springs. You can use the 918's, or just the stock LS6 springs. If you think you might change cams again down the road, put a good set of springs in to start. You wont gain anything with the longer pushrod except more lifter preload.

 

Yeah, I'd suggest changing the cam, you can probably find much better thats very streetable...

 

If you want the LS6 cam.. do it.. mine works well, I give the big cam cars a hell of a time at the track..

I used Comp 918's and Manley stock length pushrods.. works fine.

 

Lately with the bigger cam craze going on I would say get a bigger cam. The LS6 cam would be good for forced induction, but if you plan to stay N/A I would say you go bigger. You wont regret it in the long run.

 

You have a 02 oil pump with 5K miles on it. No need to replace it. Don't port the MAF. I would run stock length 7.400 push rods before I would run 7.450s. The correct length P/R for an LS6 cam with LS1 length valves is 7.427. No one makes an off the shelf P/R in that length. You could custom order some, but the stock LS1 P/Rs will work fine. That's what GM uses in the LS6. LS6 valve springs are now sold as a kit under part # 12499224 for about 1/2 of what they were sold for individually.

 

CompCams makes a 7.425 Push-Rod. You can purchase them from ThunderRacing... $132 for a complete set I think....

 

I'd put a slightly bigger cam in it for now. LS6 does nice, but you can make more power and have same driveability & ease of tuning with a slightly larger cam such as a 212/218 114 or even a 220/224 115. Otherwise buy a cam designed for the STS turbo if you truly think that an STS is in your future.

 

I like my 216/220 .522 lift cam. Great for my daily driver and still a good performer! I would go ahead and get the 918s, but the stock Ls6 springs are just as good!

 

ill be going with a more agressive cam soon. alot more agressive actually.


for the price an ls6 am is good imo.

 

Agreed, DONT PORT THE MAF, leave it alone! its hit or miss, with more missing than hitting, u dont want to regret it for maybe just a few HP at best. Also think about this: what is your ULTIMATE goal? if you want to eventually wind up wiht a turbo'd car, u need to buiild ur other mods around that to allow for optimum performance. reason i say that is because you want to select ur cam based on the turbo. some cams work much better for turbo'd and blown applications versus H/C. the biggest cam in a blown or turbo'd car may not be the best for it. however, if you are happy with the 02 ZO6 cam, then get it by all means, its YOUR car and YOUR mods and YOUR money, do hav fun man, good luck!

 

Thanks guys, I'm trying to get the Z06 cam for under $200 bucks. I saw that Thunder Racing(I'm in La.) mentioned needing to change P/R, but I'll stick w/ stock then and just pick up the 918's. Now that STS is offering financing, I should have the Turbo by May. So F.I. is in the very near future. Any recommendations for a better cam for the Turbo? Or should I check the FI forums?

 

Hey 2xLS1, Why shouldn't I get the ported MAF? Do you think I'll loose some low end power? Just now breaking into the project. All help is appreciated.

 

What about a stealth 2 cam? That would idle and drive nice.

 

I have the stealth II cam. Setting on my work bench, it's going in the end of Feb. I've seen some very impressive #'s with an almost stock idle. You should check it out. BTW It's 224/220 581 lift.

 

You should call one of the sponsors and tell them about your mods, future mods, and goals. that way they can work with something and select a cam best suited to yoru needs. Im no expert by any means, but my understanding is that a smaller cam will help a forced induction application by taking care of the midrange HP/TQ where the blower/turbo lacks and the FI will take care of the rest on top end. i could be wrong, but thats what i thought. do a search for MAF and u will come up with TONS of results.

 

It will basically screw you more than help you. You will start a mean imbalance of A/F and other things. Leave the screen on there too! it is soooo not worth it. That is what Glen is talking about when he said leave it alone. And it is a hit or miss and about 90% of the time if it is not a miss then you wont be able to even tell one bit of difference.

 

I would actually tell you to get the tornado thing over doing the ported MAF! But seriously. I wouldnt do either.

 

Cool guys! Scrub the ported LS6 oil pump, and ported MAF and that's another $200 towards a bigger cam if the Z06 falls through. Otherwise I'll post some numbers the first week of april with the fore mentioned setup. I'm looking for about 350/350 to rear wheels to start for a small price just to get a little more out of the Turbo.