DOD delete cam choice, LS3 or LS9 cam?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 74
Likes: 1
DOD delete cam choice, LS3 or LS9 cam? I haven't pulled it apart yet, but I bought a 2011 Caprice PPV 6.0L L77 car with a warm engine (what sounds like) lifter knock. I had one of these cars last year with a bad dod lifter and cam. Did the repair myself, but kept the original dod style setup on that one.
I plan on keeping this car, and upgrading as I go. I'd like to try a dod delete on this. To keep it within budget, I want to switch to an LS3 or LS9 cam as aftermarket cams are out of budget for now. I also considered the LS7 cam but the price is almost the same as an aftermarket cam for some reason. The cost for new dod lifters alone will pay for the dod conversion parts if I source them right.
For right now the car is totally stock, I will be upgrading gradually (headers, exhaust, etc.). So which cam is better for my application? I know the LS9 cam should put out a good amount more power over the LS3 cam, but will it require new pushrods or valvesprings (I will prob do springs anyway since the heads will be off)?
I plan on keeping this car, and upgrading as I go. I'd like to try a dod delete on this. To keep it within budget, I want to switch to an LS3 or LS9 cam as aftermarket cams are out of budget for now. I also considered the LS7 cam but the price is almost the same as an aftermarket cam for some reason. The cost for new dod lifters alone will pay for the dod conversion parts if I source them right.
For right now the car is totally stock, I will be upgrading gradually (headers, exhaust, etc.). So which cam is better for my application? I know the LS9 cam should put out a good amount more power over the LS3 cam, but will it require new pushrods or valvesprings (I will prob do springs anyway since the heads will be off)?
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
Likes: 6
The cheapest route is the LS9 cam. You will lose a bit of low end torque versus an LS3 cam since the LS9 has a wider LSA. But you may not notice it.
If you can get a cheap, used LS3 cam from a camaro, that is the way I would go.
As far as valve springs, with either the LS9 or LS3 cam you can use GM LS3/LS6 springs. They cost about $60 for a set and are good to .570 lift (I think). Remember the final lift in the LS9 engine is acheived by using 1.8 ratio rockers. The same LS9 cam with 1.7 ratio rockers puts the lift below the LS3/LS6 springs max lift.
If you can get a cheap, used LS3 cam from a camaro, that is the way I would go.
As far as valve springs, with either the LS9 or LS3 cam you can use GM LS3/LS6 springs. They cost about $60 for a set and are good to .570 lift (I think). Remember the final lift in the LS9 engine is acheived by using 1.8 ratio rockers. The same LS9 cam with 1.7 ratio rockers puts the lift below the LS3/LS6 springs max lift.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,295
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
Nope! It's the LS7 that has 1.8 rockers. NOT the LS9. It still has 1.7 rockers. The lobe lift on both cams is the same, or extremely close.
The specs on both cams is about identical, with the LS9 having a bit wider LSA.
The specs on both cams is about identical, with the LS9 having a bit wider LSA.
