fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

i've done my searching and know that putting in a stall first is way more beneficial but since im in college and am on a budget id rather just put in a cam and save cash. im figuring cam install is $500 and a stall would be $1000+. im thinking a 220/220 on 112 lsa or something along those lines. i want to be able to use my powerband efficiently while adding a little more horse. i will be getting a good tune done and shift points changed to accommodate for the cam. my mods will be ls6 intake, pp TB, lid, LT's and TD's.


also can i use the stock springs/retainers on a cam that small or no?? thanks and lets hear some opinions and im not looking to be told to buy a stall. i may decide to go that route if i get more cash but for now this is what i think will be good esp. for the choppy sound.

johnLs1camaro

iTrader: (28)

no do not use stock springs...you would need atleast ls6 springs, depending on your lift...i would go with bigger,i had a 224/230 591 lift cam with dual patriot springs,and stock stall when i first, did my car and it was fine on the stock stall...the cam swap just for the cam and springs was 550 i think which was a good deal...your gonna have more then 500 in a swap,but your stall can handle more than a 220/220,so i would go bigger because your not gonna be happy with that small of a cam...imo

PowerTalk

Good luck getting people to share their experiences.

Unfortunately most will just say get a stall but anything less than 224 should be able to drive ok with a good tune

Im partial to a hotcam (219/228 .525/.525 112LSA). You can also just use $60 yellow springs with these.

jetlag

iTrader: (32)

I think they'd come out about even in price... cam swap would need a good dynotune, which alone costs $400+, then cam, springs, pushrods...and a cam install is a little more advanced than a stall install...and as you already said, the stall will be more beneficial...

My converter swap cost...I did it myself...can easily be done in one weekend.

Yank SS3600 = $780 shipped
Mail order tune from LSXTune.com = $136 shipped
Big Hayden Trans cooler from O'Reillys = $53 after tax
Fluid = $35

Total = $1004

Now, sure you could do a budget cam swap, with used parts...but the tune itself is still going to cost about half the price of the stall.

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

99blanco ss sales a cam package that works on the stock tune I think its around 500 bucks or a lil more for everything....its an edelbrock cam...

x2 on the stall and cam costing the same....IMO both need tuning...

id look into an 03 up ls6 cam and springs you will see a 20+rwhp gain and if you do the work it can be done very cheap...

I say save your money and do a nice cam and a stall

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

I don't think you want to idle at more than about
700RPM against a stock converter. Or maybe 750
but that may be loading up a bit.

I idle OK at 700RPM when warmed up, I have a
224/224, .590/.590ish, 116LSA cam. It's got a bit
of chop to it but not bad. A 114LSA would not be
that much worse, I would not go to 112 unless
the duration went down or the converter was
changed.

Look for "old man" cams if you want decent idle.

Now I do know in my case, the converter woke
the car up a whole lot more than the cam. But
if you want to do each of them, only once, you
need to think it through and even if you buy them
at different times, make sure you keep to the plan
and get to a well matched combo that you will
still enjoy driving.

XxApollynxX

iTrader: (2)

IMHO, screw the cam swap and buy a stall/cooler you will probably drop more times off doing that then throwing a "sweet sounding" cam into your car that isn't going to help as much as you probably want, plus then later down the road you can put what ever cam you want just a thought.

fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

so how do i know what the cam will idle at?? and i looked up some info on the ls6 cam which i think is a good idea but since its barely bigger than the stocker how does it give gains of 20rwhp?

also i planned on getting a tune anyways since im doing ful exhaust soon and don't want it to be running lean up top.

TXZ28LS1

iTrader: (5)

if yur gonna be getting it tuned its gonna be way more than the $500 that u have budgeted. the cost of tuning most shops charge is about 4-500 bucks depending. but i would seriously do a stall before a cam. or if u can, just save up to do the cam/converter at the same time.

johnLs1camaro

iTrader: (28)

yeah aree'd and then sit on it and think about the right cam for you...cuz i promise you will not be happy with a small cam and you wont hear an ls6 cam at all...then you put all the work into the car for 20hp and then your gonna waste that money because your gonna want a bigger cam.. believe me i put a comp. 224/230 in mine and it sound pretty mean but i want bigger now...so i would think i little bit about cams,or just save the money and do everything at once...put a bottle on the car to hold you off or something!!

JScamaro

iTrader: (6)

A cam swap is going to cost more then a converter swap. When doing a cam swap there is so much more miscellaneous parts involved.

You would need a cam, springs, pushrods, timing chain and a tune at the minimum and that will run you well over $1000.

I would save your money until you can get what you want and do it right instead of cutting corners.

12secSS

iTrader: (30)

Do a true price comparison first:

Cam = $380
Springs = $255
Pushrods = $160
Install = $500
Tune = $500 Tuned
Total = $1795

Converter = $780
Trans Cooler = $150
Install = $300
Total = $1230

With a converter you do not need a tune, unlike a cam swap. Even a small 212/216 cam would benefit from a tune (idle at least).

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

There's a lot of hidden charges that most people forget when doing a cam swap. You should not reuse the stock springs or pushrods and it's not very smart keeping a timing chain with lots of miles on it. And of course, the tune.

So even if you buy a used cam, used pushrods, and used springs, you're still looking at close to $1000 once you add a tune (which you'll definitely need with an automatic).

fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

first i will be doing the install myself. second i was going to get a tune after the LT's/TD's so i was figuring that putting in a baby cam at the same time, i could get another 20rwhp for cheap.

i agree with the cost of the converter.
Converter = $780
Trans Cooler = $150
Total = $930

so don't add in the tune price on top of the cam i was planning on doing that weather i didnt get a cam at all. i didn't know that i would nee new pushrods i thought only springs. the car only has 51k on her so i think the timming chaing/ oil pump would be fine.

if i could find a used 02 ls6 cam and yellow springs, isn't that all i would need with a good tune. that would only cost like $300 maybe and the powerband wouldn't be to much higher so during the tune i could just have him bump up the shift points to like 6200 or something.

and pat g i was considering to pm you with a cam spec. my local tuner is real good so im not worried that my driveablitiy will suffer at all.

silverLSWON

iTrader: (16)

try to find a 05 v6 trail blazer stall. it has like a 2700 stall speed and you don't have to run a tranny cooler. my girlfriend with full bolt ons, that trail blazer stall, 342 gears and a 224/230 cam with stock ls6 heads runs 12.1's on 17 inch DRs full wieght. i think i paid around 175 for the converter which is cheap.

johnLs1camaro

iTrader: (28)

what kinda power is she making just curious..cuz i have the same cam....

5_02ls1

iTrader: (20)

are you serious???try driving a stalled car around on the stock tune....

my 1st cam i done cheap....it was used but never ran...got it on here with new ls6 springs off a member for 320 shipped...ran fine on a mail order i had 80 bucks in....gained 4mph in the 1/4....vinci#66

now the 2nd cam was a differnt story....

OP if you want a good cheap stealthy cam go with the 02 ls6 you can find them used for around 150 i sold 2 sets of ls6 springs not long ago for about 30 bucks a set....then send your pcm to wait4me and have him tune it shipping and all is under 100 bucks......

dont be afraid of used parts just make sure the seller has good feedback...

johnLs1camaro

iTrader: (28)

true that...i am on a untuned converter and it kinda sucks,but i have no money..hey
5 02ls1 did you do a mail order to that guy with your pcm??how did you like it?? what all was done,and what does he tune with??

fbodyman1026

iTrader: (11)

yeah i think thats what im going to do is just a cheap ls6 cam and springs. can i find these somewhere new and is that all i need to replace right??




yeah i would also like to know more about the mail in tune. is it any good because i don't want him to send me a POS tune that will give me horsepower have me screw up my motor in a couple months.

jetlag

iTrader: (32)

But you don't need a fancy $500 dyno tune for a stall..

Check the sponsors...get a basic mail order tune...I got one from LSXTune.com and it was $136...running good numbers!