L20 cam question
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L20 cam question Looking for some advice from people who either tune or have had this done. I recently picked up an L20 4.8 to swap into my jeep wrangler. Its already going to be a big improvement over the inline 6, but while its out Id like to put a cam in it to make up for some of the lacking low end torque. The jeep is going to be an overland adventure vehicle, occasionally pulling a small trailer and be driven on the highway to get to different places sometimes across country. For this reason Id like to keep the VVT so I can have the best of both worlds. Low end torque when I'm wheeling and good manners and better fuel economy on the highway. I spoke with TSP and Comp and both recommend close to the same grind- 208/214 with .550 lift. Neither of those are VVT specific cams. I fear I'm just getting the run around from salesmen who aren't really realizing what I'm after. TSP said they can grind whatever I'm looking for onto a VVT blank, and the 208/214 is probably what I need in a solid cam, but is it optimal for VVT? Will I run into issues tuning VVT with a cam that wasn't designed with VVT in mind? am I just wasting my time with such a mild cam? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated (as long as its not "get a 6.0"
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From: Ohio
You should always have a VVT specific cam when trying to run VVT.
They sell as 212/218 VVT cam designed specifically for truck applications.
While not intended for a 4.8, its still not a far cry from what you would likely end up with:
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-5330-t...0-112-lsa.aspx
They sell as 212/218 VVT cam designed specifically for truck applications.
While not intended for a 4.8, its still not a far cry from what you would likely end up with:
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-5330-t...0-112-lsa.aspx
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That's the cam I was looking at initially, before I spoke with a sales rep that pointed me in the other direction. I really liked the .550 lift since all Id need is LS6 springs which are reasonable $$$ and keep everything else stock (the motor has only done 58K). I wonder if they could make me that same cam in a low lift, or would that cause other performance issues. Wish I could talk to a tech rather than a salesman at TSP...
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The 208/214 cam might be better for the 4.8 as it will have more low end torque than the 212/218. I would think the same principles that make the 212/218 good for the 5.3 it's intended for would make the 208/214 better for the 4.8.
I am with SeanAllen, I would much rather talk with a tech than a sales person, and get the real skinny on something.
I am with SeanAllen, I would much rather talk with a tech than a sales person, and get the real skinny on something.
That 4.8 lacks alot of tq and i would not use more than the stg2 cam. Upgrade to pac1218 springs though.
For the VVT you will have to verify which cam phaser you have prob. Some require a lockout and some do not apparently.
For the VVT you will have to verify which cam phaser you have prob. Some require a lockout and some do not apparently.
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So then the next logical question is what makes TSPs VVT cams different from their solid cam? Obviously the fact that it can be advanced and retarded with a phaser, but as far as the grind is there anything different? From looking at their website the stage 2 truck cam and the stage 2 VVT cam appear to have the same specs... If that's the case then Ill probably just have them grind me a 208/214 with .550 lift and 112LSA on a VVT core. Does anybody know if there are other differences in specs? Or should I call TSP and keep my fingers crossed for a sales rep that knows?
The cores will be slightly different. the lobes are basically the same. you need to know which cam phaser you have before ordering though.
I would add in a tad more lift to make a bit more power if it were me. .600 is fine. still uses pac1218 for budget.
Do not use ls6 springs for even the .550 lift spring. They wont be able to handle the vvt phaser and lobes good enough.
I would add in a tad more lift to make a bit more power if it were me. .600 is fine. still uses pac1218 for budget.
Do not use ls6 springs for even the .550 lift spring. They wont be able to handle the vvt phaser and lobes good enough.
