Mild LS3 cam for performance
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: SE, AZ
Mild LS3 cam for performance I expect this subject has been " well covered" in this forum, HOWEVER, I haven't been here much in a while so I am hoping some of you will provide good comments/perspective....
I am helping a friend put together a LS3 from a 2010 Camaro SS for mild performance over stock.
So, I am looking at something like this one (summary for AI):
BTR Stage 2 N/A Cam: This is a popular choice for good daily drivability and strong power gains. It has been noted to produce 470 rear-wheel horsepower (which translates to over 500 hp at the crank and well over a 50 hp gain from stock) when paired with supporting modifications like long-tube headers and a good tune.
What do y'all think?
Thank you.
I am helping a friend put together a LS3 from a 2010 Camaro SS for mild performance over stock.
So, I am looking at something like this one (summary for AI):
BTR Stage 2 N/A Cam: This is a popular choice for good daily drivability and strong power gains. It has been noted to produce 470 rear-wheel horsepower (which translates to over 500 hp at the crank and well over a 50 hp gain from stock) when paired with supporting modifications like long-tube headers and a good tune.
What do y'all think?
Thank you.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: SE, AZ
Thanks guys, for the comments. The LS is going in a 69 Camaro and will just be a hobby type driver car. A little more cam to make it a little more fun. So looking for recommendations for something pretty mild, just to make it fun. This question is really just to pole those who've used a mild cam and se what they liked about it.
12 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 221
From: San Antonio
The Summit "ghost" cam would be a good mild option. I built a 6.1L with it a couple years ago. That engine made 490hp on the engine dyno. It was mostly a stock rebuild with a mild cam. The 6.2L would make a little more hp/tq. The exhaust/idle will sound pretty close to stock.
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 89
Likes: 32
Personally I’d be a a toss between the Stage 1 and the Stage 2. On the BTR site they have dyno graphs for each one. Difference between them is 6 HP. (544 to 550) I personalty find more midrange torque is more fun when you stab the throttle. A sharper push back into the seat than it growing to the peak RPM. If your going for 1/4 mile times, what’s going to matter more?
Your 60’ time or your MPH at the end. How hobby a car is it? 4 link in the rear or stock leafs?
Your 60’ time or your MPH at the end. How hobby a car is it? 4 link in the rear or stock leafs?
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
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
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
LS1Tech Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 1,523
From: Ohio, Georgia, Nevada, Texas
OP,
Our SUM-8715R1 "Ghost Cam" that a couple of other members mentioned would be a great fit for this combo. Specs on it are .600/.575, 222/234, 115+3 with -2* of overlap. We have had plenty of folks use it in 6.2's that want a nice bump in performance but they also want to maintain good driveability. This can have a near stock idle to noticeable lope depending on tuning. Pair it with our .600 or .630" lift beehives and it'll be happy out to 6,800+. It will work with a stock torque converter but a 2,500+ converter is recommended.
Here is an example of its great driveability in a mostly stock LS3-powered Corvette.
Our SUM-8715R1 "Ghost Cam" that a couple of other members mentioned would be a great fit for this combo. Specs on it are .600/.575, 222/234, 115+3 with -2* of overlap. We have had plenty of folks use it in 6.2's that want a nice bump in performance but they also want to maintain good driveability. This can have a near stock idle to noticeable lope depending on tuning. Pair it with our .600 or .630" lift beehives and it'll be happy out to 6,800+. It will work with a stock torque converter but a 2,500+ converter is recommended.
Here is an example of its great driveability in a mostly stock LS3-powered Corvette.
Chop does sound cool, although I suspect as time goes by it will become less popular with younger guys. Probably due to the fact you have modern, stock OEM cars running 10s and 11s in the 1/4 mile that have no chop at all. When my 2000 stock C5 A4 Vert was running 12.50s, I'd pull up to the starting line next to a ragged, chopping idle car in the next lane, and couldn't even hear my car running! More often than not, I'd beat them convincingly. YMMV......
The cam in my LS3 is 216/226-116+3 from Cam Motion and it drives like stock. It makes 420whp and the car traps 117mph in the 1/4 mile. When we were spec-ing it I told them this car would be my daily and I didn't want to sacrifice driveability or gas mileage and they delivered!
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 423
Likes: 131
From: Ohio
I'm no expert in cam recommendation, but talking about show car driver etc.
I used the sum8715 cam in my 5.3 that I took to 7400 a couple of seasons drag and autocross.
Blew engine due to oiling
And I am currently reusing the same 8715 cam in my 2016 3/4 ton as my one and only daily driver. It's barely noticeable chop, but still slightly there. Almost drives completely stock it seems
I used the sum8715 cam in my 5.3 that I took to 7400 a couple of seasons drag and autocross.
Blew engine due to oiling
And I am currently reusing the same 8715 cam in my 2016 3/4 ton as my one and only daily driver. It's barely noticeable chop, but still slightly there. Almost drives completely stock it seems
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 68
Likes: 17
I don’t get wanting chop, back in late 80’s my 71 Plymouth Road Runner had a 11.5:1 CR 440 6-pack w/ longtube headers, H-pipe, and mufflers and I still couldn’t hear an open header car sitting next to me at the lights at our local drag races. And always had to be careful driving home at 2AM or the cops would hear ya coming miles away. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing them at the racetrack and a low rumble at a red light but all these kids (yeah I sound like an old fart lmao) adding a coffee can tailpipe to sound bad but do nothing is a joke to me. I love my quiet *** SUV till I hit 14psi and the kid with the loud exhaust hears the PPPSSSSSSSHHHHHHHT as he watches my taillights disappear LOL😂🤣😂😉
I had the GPI VVT SS3 cam in my 2010 Camaro. Car also had stock ported LS3 heads, rod modded stock intake, Vararam OTR, Hooker 1 7/8 and their 3" full exhaust. Car was auto. I made 475rwhp locked. Car dynoed 317rwhp all stock.
Car went 13.16@106.5 all stock.
Car went 11.84@114 with a converter, headers, drag radial, little weight reduction, air intake, rod mod intake, and 3.91 gears.
Car went 10.90@125.5 with the cam, heads, went from 1 3/4 to 1 7/8 headers. I picked up 10 mph basically from heads and cam.
Idle vid:
Car went 13.16@106.5 all stock.
Car went 11.84@114 with a converter, headers, drag radial, little weight reduction, air intake, rod mod intake, and 3.91 gears.
Car went 10.90@125.5 with the cam, heads, went from 1 3/4 to 1 7/8 headers. I picked up 10 mph basically from heads and cam.
Idle vid: