Cam for LS3
11-14-2016, 09:17 PM
#1
Cam for LS3 I'm building a LS3 for my 66 Chevelle. Basically a stock type LS3 with 6.125 rods and Wiseco pistons. Stock heads and intake.
I'll be running a T56 and 3.73 gears. I can get either 1 3/4 or 1 7/8 long tube headers and either 2.5 or 3 inch exhaust.
Mainly a street car with the occasional autocross. So street manners are most important.
I've been looking at Brian Tooley cams and zeroing in on Stage 2 normally aspirated ls3 cam. I find a lot of reviews video on the stage 3 cam but not much on the stage 2 cam. There seems to be a few people who have mentioned some low speed drive difficulties with the stage 3 cam, some bucking and surging.
I'm not after a big high end HP number. I'm more after low end performance when driving in the mountain roads around our area.
Thanks for your input.
I'll be running a T56 and 3.73 gears. I can get either 1 3/4 or 1 7/8 long tube headers and either 2.5 or 3 inch exhaust.
Mainly a street car with the occasional autocross. So street manners are most important.
I've been looking at Brian Tooley cams and zeroing in on Stage 2 normally aspirated ls3 cam. I find a lot of reviews video on the stage 3 cam but not much on the stage 2 cam. There seems to be a few people who have mentioned some low speed drive difficulties with the stage 3 cam, some bucking and surging.
I'm not after a big high end HP number. I'm more after low end performance when driving in the mountain roads around our area.
Thanks for your input.
11-14-2016, 10:02 PM
#2
First I'd go 1&7/8" with the 3" pipes, using a mandrel X pipe and some decent super turbo (Walker) mufflers
If using aftermarket pistons with valve reliefs, you'll end up with less than the stick 10.7 compression ratio and need to mill the heads around .030" just to recover that. I'm not familiar with the exact specs of the 2 or 3 Tooley cams, but I would not be afraid at all to run even his stage one for all around great drivability and response. Provided you don't car about lope, otherwise if that's a necessity, perhaps go stage two
If using aftermarket pistons with valve reliefs, you'll end up with less than the stick 10.7 compression ratio and need to mill the heads around .030" just to recover that. I'm not familiar with the exact specs of the 2 or 3 Tooley cams, but I would not be afraid at all to run even his stage one for all around great drivability and response. Provided you don't car about lope, otherwise if that's a necessity, perhaps go stage two
11-14-2016, 10:29 PM
#3
First I'd go 1&7/8" with the 3" pipes, using a mandrel X pipe and some decent super turbo (Walker) mufflers
If using aftermarket pistons with valve reliefs, you'll end up with less than the stick 10.7 compression ratio and need to mill the heads around .030" just to recover that. I'm not familiar with the exact specs of the 2 or 3 Tooley cams, but I would not be afraid at all to run even his stage one for all around great drivability and response. Provided you don't car about lope, otherwise if that's a necessity, perhaps go stage two
If using aftermarket pistons with valve reliefs, you'll end up with less than the stick 10.7 compression ratio and need to mill the heads around .030" just to recover that. I'm not familiar with the exact specs of the 2 or 3 Tooley cams, but I would not be afraid at all to run even his stage one for all around great drivability and response. Provided you don't car about lope, otherwise if that's a necessity, perhaps go stage two
The exhaust components are Hooker as part of the ls swap for early A bodies. The pipes are mandrel bent and do include an X pipe. They do come with their own mufflers that I don't know much about.
The BTR stage 2 is 225/238-612/585 113+4
stage 1 is 221/228-609/571 112+2
According the compression calculator if I run a .041 head gasket with 3.2 valve reliefs I'll be at 10.6.
My block is out getting honed for the pistons so I have not been able confirm deck hieght and finalize compression yet.
Last edited by Senna; 11-14-2016 at 10:48 PM.
11-15-2016, 08:14 AM
#4
The BTR1 is a solid choice.
I went with the Lingenfelter GT1-1 (229*/242*, 114* + 0*) in my daily driver '95 Impala and I find it to be very streetable......so the BTR-2 should give you good street manners. If you're feeling cautious, then the stage-1 is still a excellent option.
As for exhaust, I also say the 1 7/8" headers with the 3" exhaust would be the ticket! Don't buy in to all the hogwash about needing "backpressure" to make torque.....those assertions are being shown time and again to be baseless.
Only consider 2 1/2" if cost and space for 3" exhaust is an issue.
BTW, for additional low-RPM "Oomph", you might want to consider 4.10/4.11 gears. Depending on which transmission you have, that 6th gear is either a 0.64 or a 0.50 ratio. Either will give you good mileage on the freeway with 4.10 gears.
Good luck!
KW
I went with the Lingenfelter GT1-1 (229*/242*, 114* + 0*) in my daily driver '95 Impala and I find it to be very streetable......so the BTR-2 should give you good street manners. If you're feeling cautious, then the stage-1 is still a excellent option.
As for exhaust, I also say the 1 7/8" headers with the 3" exhaust would be the ticket! Don't buy in to all the hogwash about needing "backpressure" to make torque.....those assertions are being shown time and again to be baseless.
Only consider 2 1/2" if cost and space for 3" exhaust is an issue.
BTW, for additional low-RPM "Oomph", you might want to consider 4.10/4.11 gears. Depending on which transmission you have, that 6th gear is either a 0.64 or a 0.50 ratio. Either will give you good mileage on the freeway with 4.10 gears.
Good luck!
KW
Last edited by KW Baraka; 11-15-2016 at 08:19 AM.
11-15-2016, 10:02 AM
#5
The BTR1 is a solid choice.
I went with the Lingenfelter GT1-1 (229*/242*, 114* + 0*) in my daily driver '95 Impala and I find it to be very streetable......so the BTR-2 should give you good street manners. If you're feeling cautious, then the stage-1 is still a excellent option.
As for exhaust, I also say the 1 7/8" headers with the 3" exhaust would be the ticket! Don't buy in to all the hogwash about needing "backpressure" to make torque.....those assertions are being shown time and again to be baseless.
Only consider 2 1/2" if cost and space for 3" exhaust is an issue.
BTW, for additional low-RPM "Oomph", you might want to consider 4.10/4.11 gears. Depending on which transmission you have, that 6th gear is either a 0.64 or a 0.50 ratio. Either will give you good mileage on the freeway with 4.10 gears.
Good luck!
KW
I went with the Lingenfelter GT1-1 (229*/242*, 114* + 0*) in my daily driver '95 Impala and I find it to be very streetable......so the BTR-2 should give you good street manners. If you're feeling cautious, then the stage-1 is still a excellent option.
As for exhaust, I also say the 1 7/8" headers with the 3" exhaust would be the ticket! Don't buy in to all the hogwash about needing "backpressure" to make torque.....those assertions are being shown time and again to be baseless.
Only consider 2 1/2" if cost and space for 3" exhaust is an issue.
BTW, for additional low-RPM "Oomph", you might want to consider 4.10/4.11 gears. Depending on which transmission you have, that 6th gear is either a 0.64 or a 0.50 ratio. Either will give you good mileage on the freeway with 4.10 gears.
Good luck!
KW
Your views of the cam just reinforce my own. As well as the size of the exhaust. How ever I am almost positive I am going with 3.73. the trans has the .64 overdrive.
Troy
