What do you recommend with this....
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 4
From: Burbank, Illinois
What do you recommend with this.... I just got a free!!! GM performance ls1 hot cam, LSA 112, 218/227 Duration, 525/525 Lift. I am looking for durability!!
First of all, what do you guys think of this cam?
Second of all, what kind of heads will compliment this cam?
Why will using cometic thinner gaskets work better?
What are the drawback of using a thinner gasket, is durability an issue?
I will definately want to up grade!!
What kind of Push rods should I get?
Will I need different lifters?
what kind of valve springs?
I will appreciate your comments, and suggestions. I know they are alot but i just want to know what you guys are using, and what has been holding up and what hasn't, cause I just want the good **** for my car. thanks
First of all, what do you guys think of this cam?
Second of all, what kind of heads will compliment this cam?
Why will using cometic thinner gaskets work better?
What are the drawback of using a thinner gasket, is durability an issue?
I will definately want to up grade!!
What kind of Push rods should I get?
Will I need different lifters?
what kind of valve springs?
I will appreciate your comments, and suggestions. I know they are alot but i just want to know what you guys are using, and what has been holding up and what hasn't, cause I just want the good **** for my car. thanks
-Its a baby cam.
-Any head will work with it.
-Thinner gaskets will tighten the quench area of the combustion chamber, which will help in reducing detonation. the thinner gasket will also raise the compression ratio some.
-Durability is not an issue with a thinner gasket.
-Stock PR;s should work i would imgaine since its a GM cam.
-Lifters are not needed.
-You will need an aftermarket spring or at the very least the Z06 springs.
-Any head will work with it.
-Thinner gaskets will tighten the quench area of the combustion chamber, which will help in reducing detonation. the thinner gasket will also raise the compression ratio some.
-Durability is not an issue with a thinner gasket.
-Stock PR;s should work i would imgaine since its a GM cam.
-Lifters are not needed.
-You will need an aftermarket spring or at the very least the Z06 springs.
Any off the shelf aftermarket pushrods...ie: Thunder Racing, TSP, etcthat are stock 7.400 length...You dont need new lifters, and use LS6 valve springs. They are cheap and you will never have to worry about replacing them with the hotcam.
The hotcam is a good cam. It will make pretty decent power and you wont suffer much with gas mileage...but you will definitely need to get the car tuned. The hotcam sounds and acts much bigger than it is.
The hotcam is a good cam. It will make pretty decent power and you wont suffer much with gas mileage...but you will definitely need to get the car tuned. The hotcam sounds and acts much bigger than it is.
I am in the same boat...except I got a hotcam because I am going inside my engine to do chain, oilpump, springs, etc...and I got the cam for $120. I know I know go bigger. $120! This engine is going to be replaced by an LQ4 in about a year. I'll worry about a bigger cam then, 
Is a 7.4 right? Or should I perhaps be going with a 7.425? Also, I've got new LS6 springs, and a set of Dart head "take offs" which behave a lot like 918s from what I understand. I believe they were a brand called PSI? Anyway they have about a hundred passes on them...got them for free. Which spring? I am leaning a little more toward the LS6 since they're new and the specs of the PSIs are a little unsure to me. I am very inclinded to believe that they're identical to 918s because I got them from a very reputable member here.
Wacha think?
Is a 7.4 right? Or should I perhaps be going with a 7.425? Also, I've got new LS6 springs, and a set of Dart head "take offs" which behave a lot like 918s from what I understand. I believe they were a brand called PSI? Anyway they have about a hundred passes on them...got them for free. Which spring? I am leaning a little more toward the LS6 since they're new and the specs of the PSIs are a little unsure to me. I am very inclinded to believe that they're identical to 918s because I got them from a very reputable member here.
Wacha think?
Originally Posted by KurtRardin
I am in the same boat...except I got a hotcam because I am going inside my engine to do chain, oilpump, springs, etc...and I got the cam for $120. I know I know go bigger. $120! This engine is going to be replaced by an LQ4 in about a year. I'll worry about a bigger cam then,
Is a 7.4 right? Or should I perhaps be going with a 7.425? Also, I've got new LS6 springs, and a set of Dart head "take offs" which behave a lot like 918s from what I understand. I believe they were a brand called PSI? Anyway they have about a hundred passes on them...got them for free. Which spring? I am leaning a little more toward the LS6 since they're new and the specs of the PSIs are a little unsure to me. I am very inclinded to believe that they're identical to 918s because I got them from a very reputable member here.
Wacha think?
Is a 7.4 right? Or should I perhaps be going with a 7.425? Also, I've got new LS6 springs, and a set of Dart head "take offs" which behave a lot like 918s from what I understand. I believe they were a brand called PSI? Anyway they have about a hundred passes on them...got them for free. Which spring? I am leaning a little more toward the LS6 since they're new and the specs of the PSIs are a little unsure to me. I am very inclinded to believe that they're identical to 918s because I got them from a very reputable member here.
Wacha think?
No, I meant that I will go to a bigger cam later. I am just putting a hotcam in because my 98 engine has about 100k miles and its time for some valve springs, oil pump, etc. There is no bigger hotcam.
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iTrader: (13)
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 1
From: Gateway International Raceway
If you truly want the best then you should get the top of the line heads AFR, TFS, ETP with 59-62cc chambers. Get some hardened PR, LS7 lifters or the caddy racing lifters, and 1.85 rockers, comp 918's springs.
The best heads have shown significant increases in power even with stock cam so they will help yours. Just a rough guess but the .040 gasket combined with 62cc heads will boost CR to something like 11.2x or 11.3 and DCR to 8.5 depending on advance of the cam.
The LS7 lifters are just better than the stock LS1 units...the caddy ones are the lightweight racing version but double the price.
The hardened PR are the only way to go if you are going to have the engine apart anyway, cheap insurance.
The 1.85 rockers will increase the final lift numbers of the cam.
The 918 springs are...(self-explanatory)
Just my $0.02
The best heads have shown significant increases in power even with stock cam so they will help yours. Just a rough guess but the .040 gasket combined with 62cc heads will boost CR to something like 11.2x or 11.3 and DCR to 8.5 depending on advance of the cam.
The LS7 lifters are just better than the stock LS1 units...the caddy ones are the lightweight racing version but double the price.
The hardened PR are the only way to go if you are going to have the engine apart anyway, cheap insurance.
The 1.85 rockers will increase the final lift numbers of the cam.
The 918 springs are...(self-explanatory)
Just my $0.02
Last edited by ExceSSive; Apr 17, 2007 at 11:14 PM.
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iTrader: (13)
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,575
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From: Gateway International Raceway
Honestly I don't know if the hotcam has a smaller base or not. You could PM Matt@SDPC and ask him, he may know. As far as length he may tell you to use a PR checker and check the length.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 4
From: Burbank, Illinois
I do believe they are the same diameter! I read this that was pretty interesting:
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ls1_engine_cam_install/
http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ls1_engine_cam_install/
Maybe in a year or so I'll yank the hotcam out of the engine after I put my LQ4 in. You can find hotcams for a hundred dollars every once in a while in the used parts. Thats what I did
GO BIGGER DAMN YOU!!