Cam for LS3 w Cath Heads
06-04-2018, 11:24 AM
#1
Cam for LS3 w Cath Heads Im about to drop a LS3 in WS6..My intake etc is already set up for cath port heads and would like to stay with that config. I will however be upgrading heads to the PRC as cast heads..Im looking for a decent cam that will work with a LS3 with those heads...I had originally looked at the new TSP Stage 3 cam, but am told it would not work with those heads due to exhaust lobe..I called TSP and one person there suggested the 233/239 600...then got a message from a diff person at TSP that I should go with the 228/232 and the other cam would only give me trouble down low due to overlap and that I would lose bottom end....Soooo, is anyone running a decent cam in a LS3 with Cathedral port heads? And which cam would you suggest? Already have all the supporting mods such as headers, PB Level 2 trans, 3600 stall etc...
Thanks
Thanks
06-04-2018, 11:45 AM
#2
TECH Veteran
Give Pat G a call and buy with confidence.
06-04-2018, 02:08 PM
#3
I've had bigger and smaller cams in bigger and smaller motors. The 233/239 cam is my favorite all around cam. In a Ls2 vette with ported heads and this cam there is some bucking in parking lots trying to idle around and on the highway trying to cruise in 6th at 13-1500. With a auto you'll experience none of the parking lot problems and the couple extra cubes you got will take away the low rpm bucking/stumble on the highway. Not to mention your converter will probly not be locked up down there anyways. Autos and drivability is way better than a stick car by leaps and bounds. Personally I wouldn't go smaller than that cam in a 6.2 auto no matter what type driving I was looking for.
06-04-2018, 03:00 PM
#4
Its a FTI 9.5 Billet at 3600 stall....It usually just locks up once I hit 45 or so. I emailed Pat G about spec`ing a cam for it...he has tuned my cars in the past...Just threw me off 2 people at Texas Speed gave me two diff opinions on the 233/239 cam...One saying it would be great with no issues, then the other saying drivability and loss of bottom end power and possible ptv issue..
06-04-2018, 03:58 PM
#5
Been reading as much stuff as I can on a LS3 long block that I can get...Its a Stock GM LS3 with 832 heads. I think I could pick up a LS3 intake/tb for a decent price or swap my LS6 intake for one..My goal for this WS6 is mid to maybe low 11...Then perhaps cam that long block..
06-04-2018, 04:10 PM
#6
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I really *really* am not trying to start anything with this post.
My advice is keep the ls3 heads. The intake options are so much better. You can rod-mod the ls3 intake for gains or run a midlength fast, mild cam (say 228/240), spin it to 7300 if you like, and in a reasonably light WS6, you could see tens.
My advice is keep the ls3 heads. The intake options are so much better. You can rod-mod the ls3 intake for gains or run a midlength fast, mild cam (say 228/240), spin it to 7300 if you like, and in a reasonably light WS6, you could see tens.
06-04-2018, 04:18 PM
#7
Thanks Darth...Im seriously just thinking about doing the LS3 long block. TSP and several others has the Gen4 to Gen3 conversion harness for pretty cheap....have seen many vids today on the LS3 with diff heads/ cams combos etc...and 99% the stock LS3 engines set up made right at or over 500 on engine dyno..Will search to see what else Im going to need besides harness and intake to get this long block in..I think it would def be more cost effective doing that, than trying to start with a short block and trying to piece together heads and cam it
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06-04-2018, 04:22 PM
#8
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It's not that bad. I got the Gen 4 stuff working with my gen 3 ECU. Gotta place the converter box in a cool spot. or it will randomly lock up on you. But once I got the thing in and running, it really was not that bad. You'll spend more time on knock sensors than on the crank and cam sensor stuff.
06-04-2018, 04:30 PM
#9
True...The guy that's doing the install has done tons of them, Gen4 into Gen3 install... And will get me the parts at his price to boot. I will def be taking it to Pat G to be tuned...
06-04-2018, 09:19 PM
#10
I really *really* am not trying to start anything with this post.
My advice is keep the ls3 heads. The intake options are so much better. You can rod-mod the ls3 intake for gains or run a midlength fast, mild cam (say 228/240), spin it to 7300 if you like, and in a reasonably light WS6, you could see tens.
My advice is keep the ls3 heads. The intake options are so much better. You can rod-mod the ls3 intake for gains or run a midlength fast, mild cam (say 228/240), spin it to 7300 if you like, and in a reasonably light WS6, you could see tens.
06-04-2018, 11:41 PM
#11
Been reading as much stuff as I can on a LS3 long block that I can get...Its a Stock GM LS3 with 832 heads. I think I could pick up a LS3 intake/tb for a decent price or swap my LS6 intake for one..My goal for this WS6 is mid to maybe low 11...Then perhaps cam that long block..
PM me if interested.
KW
06-05-2018, 08:25 AM
#12
Thanks KW....I found a LS3 intake and rails locally for $400 and have someone that wants my LS6 intake for same price...So that's a wash 
I think Im gonna be happy with the LS3 long block in her...It comes with 823 heads. Im prob gonna order TSP new stage 3 cam for it and upgrade the springs on the heads and call it a day..
I think Im gonna be happy with the LS3 long block in her...It comes with 823 heads. Im prob gonna order TSP new stage 3 cam for it and upgrade the springs on the heads and call it a day.. 
……..
06-06-2018, 06:23 AM
#14
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Thanks KW....I found a LS3 intake and rails locally for $400 and have someone that wants my LS6 intake for same price...So that's a wash I think Im gonna be happy with the LS3 long block in her...It comes with 823 heads. Im prob gonna order TSP new stage 3 cam for it and upgrade the springs on the heads and call it a day..
I think Im gonna be happy with the LS3 long block in her...It comes with 823 heads. Im prob gonna order TSP new stage 3 cam for it and upgrade the springs on the heads and call it a day..
06-06-2018, 07:32 AM
#15
i would do a BTR 4 235/242 111+3 LSA on cathedral port heads... i have done multiple over 500whp with 6.0, tfs as cast heads, and btr 4 camshaft...
if you will go back to an ls3.. then either a 228/240 EPS cam or the Lethal Racing 233/242... also multiple vettes/camaro manual tranny made over 500whp..
The IVC on the LS3 heads are usually lower thats why you see a bigger split...
if you will go back to an ls3.. then either a 228/240 EPS cam or the Lethal Racing 233/242... also multiple vettes/camaro manual tranny made over 500whp..
The IVC on the LS3 heads are usually lower thats why you see a bigger split...
06-11-2018, 05:36 PM
#18
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I need to know who/where that is. I'm considering doing an LS3 swap for my Gen. 4 Camaro.
06-11-2018, 11:59 PM
#19
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I've seen a LS3 with TFS 225s go 10.8s at 125 weighing 3600lbs with a 6 speed. Car had a vindicater cam.....
06-12-2018, 05:56 AM
#20
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I just built a road race ls3 for a customer who blew up his ls6. He already had the trick flow 515 kit top end kit on his ls6 so we used all those parts including the trick flow cam. The compression with the 4.070 ended up at 11:0 to 1. The ls3 bottom made 453/450 on the wheel dyno. the ls6 made 447/415. The car picked up 50 ft lbs of tq at 3500.It would probably pick up with a bigger throttle body and bigger exaust