I bet your cam timing was off. Not uncommon with some of the double rollers.

 

How would you know? I lined it up just like I always have, dot to dot. Could the timing make it idle smooth like that?

 

Did Comp. actually do a cam doctor on it or did they just look at the grind number on the
cam? I know this if you install the cam dot to dot with a stock timing set the cam dowel pin would be at the 3 o'clock position with piston #1 being at top dead center. Not sure about any other timing set.

 

Not sure, I have not used an adjustable set on an LSX. But I have read threads where people thought they had it right and later figured out that they did not because it either didn't start or run right. Something with the mark you are supposed to use varies depending on the keyway locator used which can be confusing. If it's off it can still run and be down on power, not sure about the idle either but it's the only thing that makes sense to me.

 

This might (or might not) be helpful. Your timing set may be different:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...+timing+roller

 

If you lined it up dot to dot then there would be no timing advanced or retarded. It would all be in the tune. What you need to do is get a dyno tune, not a mail order tune.

 

Even with his tune, i can't believe how smooth that idle sounds...even little 2001 LS6 cams
wasn;t as smooth as this one..I went to the track if a couple buddies a few years ago
and a LG cam i forget which one by now, but it sounded crazy at idle...I never heard a LG cam idle that smooth, damn strange, i can see advancing it more or less to get the best
overall powerband, but it should still made power and idle choppy with that lsa.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I am putting the cam back in tonight. I am going to use a stock timing set so that I can take that part our of the equation.

Any possibility that a vacuum problem could cause this?

Here is a link to a vidieo of the Trans Am with the cam in it at the last race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGmojIRB-r0

 

my buddy has the same cam. his car chops hard at 900 rpm, it is VERY noticeable and could never be mistaken for a stockish cam. i'd guess you to have improper pushrod length or a different cam than one of the specs you posted up. that cam is very close on ptv, if you have it a tooth or two off i'd be concerned.

on the stock tune his car would hardly idle and actually sounded considerably nastier than it does after a good tune.

 

Here is an update.

I just found what looks like pieces of a lifter in the oil

Any thoughts?

 

Mine did the same thing.

 

Do you have pictures of your findings?

 

I don't have any pictures yet. The pieces are of little springs that look like string and some semi-circles that are about the diameter of a dime.

 

The first time I did a camswap on a LT1 and messed up the valveadjusting, it sounded just like that, and that cam was not suppose to have a stockish idle . After we readjusted the valves right, the lope came right on. It was like a ON / OFF lope switch
Dont know that much onn valveadjusting on LS1 though..