LS7 cam in LS2?????
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
LS7 cam in LS2????? Hey guys im looking for opinions..
Ive done the whole big cam thing twice in my c5 and now that I have an all stock c6, its nice to have a car that drives completely stock, without, valvetrain noise, cam stink, ect.. My car currently has a vararam and full LS7 exhaust
Ive been really considering an LS7 cam since I could run it on factory springs and it should make for a decent 20hp bump or so. Ive done enough swaps that I could do it in my sleep but If I can pull my stock cam out and throw in the the ls7 without changing springs or anything Id do it. My car has 40k miles. I know technically you should change springs with any swap but do you guys thinks its necessary with my car having such low miles and such a mild cam?
Im open to any opinions, Im just looking for cheap, factory power and I will be going with a procharger next year so I figure the wide LSA would be good
Ive done the whole big cam thing twice in my c5 and now that I have an all stock c6, its nice to have a car that drives completely stock, without, valvetrain noise, cam stink, ect.. My car currently has a vararam and full LS7 exhaust
Ive been really considering an LS7 cam since I could run it on factory springs and it should make for a decent 20hp bump or so. Ive done enough swaps that I could do it in my sleep but If I can pull my stock cam out and throw in the the ls7 without changing springs or anything Id do it. My car has 40k miles. I know technically you should change springs with any swap but do you guys thinks its necessary with my car having such low miles and such a mild cam?
Im open to any opinions, Im just looking for cheap, factory power and I will be going with a procharger next year so I figure the wide LSA would be good
Not to hi-jack your thread but I also have a LS7 cam I was given for my iron 6L build, but I have LS3 heads with 4.030 +4CC flat top pistons (std crank/stroke) and .051 gasket I believe. Heads were hand ported mildly but don't have flow numbers
Looking at a 90% street application with a 6speed. Would this be a good cam to run? I haven't bought rockers because I know the LS7 is spec'd with 1.8 ratio, so I was hoping to find out what to do before I purchase.
Hoping someone can chime in for both me and Jarren.
Looking at a 90% street application with a 6speed. Would this be a good cam to run? I haven't bought rockers because I know the LS7 is spec'd with 1.8 ratio, so I was hoping to find out what to do before I purchase.
Hoping someone can chime in for both me and Jarren.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
Likes: 123
From: Portland, Oregon
K11per, the ls7 cam is better suited for your ls3 rectangle port heads, than it is for jarren's ls2 cathedral port heads. And it will probably work surprisingly well in your 6.0L with either 1.7 or 1.8 rockers.
......Ive been really considering an LS7 cam since I could run it on factory springs and it should make for a decent 20hp bump or so..........I know technically you should change springs with any swap but do you guys thinks its necessary with my car having such low miles and such a mild cam?......
If this is the case, I'd stick with those springs for now. But I absolutely would not use stock LS2 springs.
GM rates those springs to .550" lift; the LS7 cam hits at .558" lift with 1.7 ratio rocker arms.
Jus' sayin'
.KW
I would call kip at cam motion and pick his brain about a mild cam. For shelf cams something like the btr stage 1 comes to mind. You can have a nice driving car that does not stink and have excessive valvetrain noise if you do it right. For starters look into a softer lobe cam then the XER that you had in the C5, Keep overlap under 5 degrees, and get a solid tune.
Are you CURRENTLY running the cam that's in your sig? If so, I'm assuming that the springs are spec'ed for that cam.....and they have less that 10K miles on them.
If this is the case, I'd stick with those springs for now. But I absolutely would not use stock LS2 springs.
GM rates those springs to .550" lift; the LS7 cam hits at .558" lift with 1.7 ratio rocker arms.
Jus' sayin' .
KW
If this is the case, I'd stick with those springs for now. But I absolutely would not use stock LS2 springs.
GM rates those springs to .550" lift; the LS7 cam hits at .558" lift with 1.7 ratio rocker arms.
Jus' sayin'
.KW
Trending Topics
I would call Brian Tooley and ask cause you need to make sure about the cam sprocket you need for your c6 cam sensor but though not my first choice the ls7 cam with more duration and way more lift will wake up the smaller brother for sure.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
After more research, your right springs need to be changed regardless which isnt a big deal since I have all the tools but ill just be installing LS3 springs which from what Ive read are the same as Ls2 springs and rated at .570 lift. Plus they are only around 60 bucks and I can use my factory retainers
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
My next question is- Does anyone know if the Base circle of the Ls7 cam is different from the LS2? I would assume it is and im trying to determine if I need a slightly longer pushrod. I have a length checker but It would be nice to have it all done at once. Im loving the Idea of a "Sleeper" c6. I know there are better cams out there power wise but for my needs and the cost of the swap, it just works for me. I also think it will be a nice blower cam, Im currently looking for a used procharger for my car. Can anyone tell me if I should expect a different pushrod length? and if so, how much difference over stock?
My next question is- Does anyone know if the Base circle of the Ls7 cam is different from the LS2? I would assume it is and im trying to determine if I need a slightly longer pushrod. I have a length checker but It would be nice to have it all done at once. Im loving the Idea of a "Sleeper" c6. I know there are better cams out there power wise but for my needs and the cost of the swap, it just works for me. I also think it will be a nice blower cam, Im currently looking for a used procharger for my car. Can anyone tell me if I should expect a different pushrod length? and if so, how much difference over stock?
Andrew
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
What pushrod length are you currently using?
Here is what Ive found so far
Stock LS2 cam- 1.552 diameter, .776 radius
Stock LS7 cam- 1.45 diameter, .725 radius
Based on that
1.552-1.45/2 = .051 smaller, Meaning I need a .051 longer PR
Stock PR is 7.385+.051=7.436
I have a set of Comp 7.45 pushrods already that I would love to use but they might be just a little too long. Thats why I need to find out what preload is set at from the factory, a little extra preload wont hurt anything but I dont want to hang the valves open if I have way too much.
Let me know what you guys think.. Will 7.45 work or would I be better off with 7.425? or maybe even 7.400
Here is what Ive found so far
Stock LS2 cam- 1.552 diameter, .776 radius
Stock LS7 cam- 1.45 diameter, .725 radius
Based on that
1.552-1.45/2 = .051 smaller, Meaning I need a .051 longer PR
Stock PR is 7.385+.051=7.436
I have a set of Comp 7.45 pushrods already that I would love to use but they might be just a little too long. Thats why I need to find out what preload is set at from the factory, a little extra preload wont hurt anything but I dont want to hang the valves open if I have way too much.
Let me know what you guys think.. Will 7.45 work or would I be better off with 7.425? or maybe even 7.400
1. I wouldn't go with the LS3 springs for that cam. At the very least, I'd use the springs that came on the LS7 heads.....even if total valve lift will be .030" less with the 1.7 ratio rockers.
2. What is the pushrod length for the LS7 engine? Knowing that might help you determine what length push rod you'll want to go with.
3. Best of luck....hope this works out well for ya
!!
KW
2. What is the pushrod length for the LS7 engine? Knowing that might help you determine what length push rod you'll want to go with.
3. Best of luck....hope this works out well for ya
!!KW
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
LS7 springs will not work on an Ls7 head. LS2/3 heads are rated at .570 lift. Ill have barely over .550 lift on the 1.7 ratio rockers. I can tell you right now that If I upgrade the springs to a dual spring or something of that nature I most definitely would not do an ls7 cam. that would be pointless. My whole goal here is completely stock driveability,valvetrain noise, low cost, ect. Think of my car as a sleeper c6, nobody will ever know that the cam and exhaust are anything but stock.
Ls7 pushrod length is 7.750 so not even close. This is different because of the heads
Ls7 pushrod length is 7.750 so not even close. This is different because of the heads
But hey.....your car, your engine
. .KW
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
And why dont they? Ive heard more horror stories of aftermarket beehive springs then GM springs. GM springs have gone hundreds of thousands of miles. They are not necessarily in high performance applications but neither is the cam im installing. If GM let the LS7 leave the factory with almost identical springs and you never hear spring failures on that motor then I dont see why it would be any issue.