Choosing cam – what do you think?
Choosing cam – what do you think? I have researched the heck out of this. I have talked to 4 different shops, and gotten 4 different cam suggestions. 
Everyone was very nice, and much more knowledgeable than I, but I am still undecided. 
That being said, I am going to list my goals and mods. Please feel free to suggest a cam. Cough cough Patrick G cough cough. I do not want to fly cut the pistons. LS1 engine is currently stock.
Goals for my fair weather, street toy, 98 TA:
• 400rwhp/380rwtq w/ flat, wide torque curve.
• Relatively low maintenance (valve train).
• Driven ~2k miles per year.
• Some lope is ok, but do not want surging or stalling; do not want to kill mpg.
Current and pending mods:
• PP LS6 heads – assume no milling, stock valves (2.00/1.55),PP Gold springs, 0.45" (3.910” bore) gasket
• Lid
• Ported stock tb
• LS6 intake manifold
• Under drive pulley
• QTP Headers
• Dual 3” exhaust
• 160 thermostat
• Ls6 oil pump
• New timing chain?
I will finish with installation of 42lb injectors and a tune. Thank you in advance for your time and wisdom.
Everyone was very nice, and much more knowledgeable than I, but I am still undecided. That being said, I am going to list my goals and mods. Please feel free to suggest a cam. Cough cough Patrick G cough cough. I do not want to fly cut the pistons. LS1 engine is currently stock.Goals for my fair weather, street toy, 98 TA:
• 400rwhp/380rwtq w/ flat, wide torque curve.
• Relatively low maintenance (valve train).
• Driven ~2k miles per year.
• Some lope is ok, but do not want surging or stalling; do not want to kill mpg.
Current and pending mods:
• PP LS6 heads – assume no milling, stock valves (2.00/1.55),PP Gold springs, 0.45" (3.910” bore) gasket
• Lid
• Ported stock tb
• LS6 intake manifold
• Under drive pulley
• QTP Headers
• Dual 3” exhaust
• 160 thermostat
• Ls6 oil pump
• New timing chain?
I will finish with installation of 42lb injectors and a tune. Thank you in advance for your time and wisdom.
I will start this off. One shop suggested 224/228 .581/.588 114 + 2. I think an LSA of 112 and no advance would be better. According to my calculations, with 112 + 0, SCR/DCR would be 10.9/8.42 with a quench of .038. The cam specs follow.
0.006 0.050 0.200
Intake Duration 273.0 224.0 146.0 3722 XER .581 lobe
Exhaust Duration 277.0 228 .0 149.0 3724 XER .588 lobe
Lobe Center Angle 112.0 112.0 112.0
Intake Centerline 112.0 112.0 112.0
Intake Valve opens 24.50 0.00 -39.0 BTDC
Intake Valve closes 68.50 44.0 5.00 ABDC
Exhaust Valve Opens 70.50 46.0 6.50 BBDC
Exhaust Valve Closes 26.50 2.00 -37.5 ATDC
Exhaust Centerline 112.0 112.0 112.0
Overlap 51.00 2.00 -76.5 degrees
Total Cam Advance 0 0 0
I think the IVC is right on. Overlap seems to be consistent with my goals. Lobes are aggressive, but hopefully, if I treat the car right, the springs will give me 15k miles.
0.006 0.050 0.200
Intake Duration 273.0 224.0 146.0 3722 XER .581 lobe
Exhaust Duration 277.0 228 .0 149.0 3724 XER .588 lobe
Lobe Center Angle 112.0 112.0 112.0
Intake Centerline 112.0 112.0 112.0
Intake Valve opens 24.50 0.00 -39.0 BTDC
Intake Valve closes 68.50 44.0 5.00 ABDC
Exhaust Valve Opens 70.50 46.0 6.50 BBDC
Exhaust Valve Closes 26.50 2.00 -37.5 ATDC
Exhaust Centerline 112.0 112.0 112.0
Overlap 51.00 2.00 -76.5 degrees
Total Cam Advance 0 0 0
I think the IVC is right on. Overlap seems to be consistent with my goals. Lobes are aggressive, but hopefully, if I treat the car right, the springs will give me 15k miles.
Goals for my fair weather, street toy, 98 TA:
• 400rwhp/380rwtq w/ flat, wide torque curve. Easy to do with the heads you own. Cam can be pretty mild.
• Relatively low maintenance (valve train). This rules out LSK lobes. XE-Rs and XFIs will do.
• Driven ~2k miles per year. More toy than daily driver it sounds.
• Some lope is ok, but do not want surging or stalling; do not want to kill mpg. Limit overlap.
Current and pending mods:
• PP LS6 heads – assume no milling, stock valves (2.00/1.55),PP Gold springs, 0.45" (3.910” bore) gasket
• Lid
• Ported stock tb
• LS6 intake manifold
• Under drive pulley
• QTP Headers
• Dual 3” exhaust
• 160 thermostat
• Ls6 oil pump
• New timing chain?
For minimum tuning issues and smoooooth power and street manners, it's very hard to beat the Thunder Racing CheaTR cam: 215/230 .600./.578 117LSA
But since this is a little bit of a toy, I figure you can go with something a little more aggressive. I'd recommend an XE-R version of the cam that's in my car: 224/228 .581/.588 110LSA +0
• 400rwhp/380rwtq w/ flat, wide torque curve. Easy to do with the heads you own. Cam can be pretty mild.
• Relatively low maintenance (valve train). This rules out LSK lobes. XE-Rs and XFIs will do.
• Driven ~2k miles per year. More toy than daily driver it sounds.
• Some lope is ok, but do not want surging or stalling; do not want to kill mpg. Limit overlap.
Current and pending mods:
• PP LS6 heads – assume no milling, stock valves (2.00/1.55),PP Gold springs, 0.45" (3.910” bore) gasket
• Lid
• Ported stock tb
• LS6 intake manifold
• Under drive pulley
• QTP Headers
• Dual 3” exhaust
• 160 thermostat
• Ls6 oil pump
• New timing chain?
For minimum tuning issues and smoooooth power and street manners, it's very hard to beat the Thunder Racing CheaTR cam: 215/230 .600./.578 117LSA
But since this is a little bit of a toy, I figure you can go with something a little more aggressive. I'd recommend an XE-R version of the cam that's in my car: 224/228 .581/.588 110LSA +0
__________________
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
224/228 .581/.588 110 + 0
0.006 0.050 0.200
Intake Duration 273.0 224.0 146.0 3722 XER .581 lobe
Exhaust Duration 277.0 228 .0 149.0 3724 XER .588 lobe
Lobe Center Angle 110.0 110.0 110.0
Intake Centerline 110.0 110.0 110.0
Intake Valve opens 26.50 2.00 -37.0 BTDC
Intake Valve closes 66.50 42.0 3.00 ABDC
Exhaust Valve Opens 68.50 44.0 4.50 BBDC
Exhaust Valve Closes 28.50 4.00 -35.5 ATDC
Exhaust Centerline 110.0 110.0 110.0
Overlap 55.00 6.00 -72.5 degrees
Total Cam Advance 0 0 0
Thanks for the advice. I had already worked this cam up after reading about your “Torque” cam. Is there a rule of thumb that can be applied to valve timing events to determine if there will be PTV issues? Of course, the rule to check PTV at install still applies.
0.006 0.050 0.200
Intake Duration 273.0 224.0 146.0 3722 XER .581 lobe
Exhaust Duration 277.0 228 .0 149.0 3724 XER .588 lobe
Lobe Center Angle 110.0 110.0 110.0
Intake Centerline 110.0 110.0 110.0
Intake Valve opens 26.50 2.00 -37.0 BTDC
Intake Valve closes 66.50 42.0 3.00 ABDC
Exhaust Valve Opens 68.50 44.0 4.50 BBDC
Exhaust Valve Closes 28.50 4.00 -35.5 ATDC
Exhaust Centerline 110.0 110.0 110.0
Overlap 55.00 6.00 -72.5 degrees
Total Cam Advance 0 0 0
Thanks for the advice. I had already worked this cam up after reading about your “Torque” cam. Is there a rule of thumb that can be applied to valve timing events to determine if there will be PTV issues? Of course, the rule to check PTV at install still applies.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Patrick G
For minimum tuning issues and smoooooth power and street manners, it's very hard to beat the Thunder Racing CheaTR cam: 215/230 .600./.578 117LSA
But since this is a little bit of a toy, I figure you can go with something a little more aggressive. I'd recommend an XE-R version of the cam that's in my car: 224/228 .581/.588 110LSA +0
But since this is a little bit of a toy, I figure you can go with something a little more aggressive. I'd recommend an XE-R version of the cam that's in my car: 224/228 .581/.588 110LSA +0
What will this cam put down on the dyno with a nice set of heads (AFR or DART with LT's, LS6 intake) and at what RPM does is redline. thanks
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Originally Posted by Patrick G
I'd recommend an XE-R version of the cam that's in my car: 224/228 .581/.588 110LSA +0[/B]
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https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamometer-results-comparisons/551345-thunder-racing-mission-accomplished.html
Check that thread for some numbers and graph.
JasonG
Check that thread for some numbers and graph.
JasonG