Stock LT4 cam
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Stock LT4 cam I know someone is probably going to chime in with a "read a sticky" post or something similiar, but I assure you I have searched this forum as well as google and cannot find a direct answer for my question, and I guess with good reason.
If I were to have a '96 LT1 from an Impala, would it be possible to find the same year LT4 and swap that STOCK LT4 cam into the LT1? The reason I never find an answer is because as soon as the letters "LT4 cam" are typed, EVERYONE pipes up about the LT4 HOTcam kit. I do not really want the HOT cam LT4 kit. My engine would be in a DD, and I was just looking for a little extra oomph. I would also probably have the heads sent off to be ported and what not as well as the intake. Any advice and help would be appreciated! Thanks!
If I were to have a '96 LT1 from an Impala, would it be possible to find the same year LT4 and swap that STOCK LT4 cam into the LT1? The reason I never find an answer is because as soon as the letters "LT4 cam" are typed, EVERYONE pipes up about the LT4 HOTcam kit. I do not really want the HOT cam LT4 kit. My engine would be in a DD, and I was just looking for a little extra oomph. I would also probably have the heads sent off to be ported and what not as well as the intake. Any advice and help would be appreciated! Thanks!
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
I know someone is probably going to chime in with a "read a sticky" post or something similiar, but I assure you I have searched this forum as well as google and cannot find a direct answer for my question, and I guess with good reason.
If I were to have a '96 LT1 from an Impala, would it be possible to find the same year LT4 and swap that STOCK LT4 cam into the LT1? The reason I never find an answer is because as soon as the letters "LT4 cam" are typed, EVERYONE pipes up about the LT4 HOTcam kit. I do not really want the HOT cam LT4 kit. My engine would be in a DD, and I was just looking for a little extra oomph. I would also probably have the heads sent off to be ported and what not as well as the intake. Any advice and help would be appreciated! Thanks!
If I were to have a '96 LT1 from an Impala, would it be possible to find the same year LT4 and swap that STOCK LT4 cam into the LT1? The reason I never find an answer is because as soon as the letters "LT4 cam" are typed, EVERYONE pipes up about the LT4 HOTcam kit. I do not really want the HOT cam LT4 kit. My engine would be in a DD, and I was just looking for a little extra oomph. I would also probably have the heads sent off to be ported and what not as well as the intake. Any advice and help would be appreciated! Thanks!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Really? So stick the with the stock cam? I just figured it might give a little extra power to the 96 Impala 350. IIRC, the '96 B-body LT1 only put out some 260 or so horsepower. Now don't get me wrong, when I buy the engine I will still have the heads sent out to be ported and polished, as well as the intake, with a 3" exhaust flowing through a High Flow Cat and Flowmaster Super 44 muffler. Add a good CAI with airfoil, and probably an MSD Ignition upgrade, should I still swap the cams? What HP could I expect with all of those bolt ons? Also, IDK if it matters but the system would have e-fans and the 4l60e tranny would be bolted to a 3.55 rear end.
IIRC the stock B body cam is actually smaller than the Fbody cam. You should pick up power with an LT4 cam but Im not sure how much. If you are going through the trouble of building an engine and gonna have the heads worked I would go for an aftermarket cam. You should look into the Crane 227 or Com XFI 466. Those cams could put you over 300rwhp with ALOT of low end torque.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
IIRC the stock B body cam is actually smaller than the Fbody cam. You should pick up power with an LT4 cam but Im not sure how much. If you are going through the trouble of building an engine and gonna have the heads worked I would go for an aftermarket cam. You should look into the Crane 227 or Com XFI 466. Those cams could put you over 300rwhp with ALOT of low end torque.
But at the same time I gotta watch my budget and this would still be a DD for about 80% of the time. So mpg is still something to watch as well. Dont get me wrong, I'd love to toss a nice Comp Cam in it with the goodies and call it good, but the wallet says otherwise.
You are better off spending money on a good cam and keeping stock heads, than having the heads worked over and keeping the stock B-body cam. ****, you could save the 50 bucks for the air foil and add to a cam fund.
To answer you original question, an LT4 cam will work just fine in an LT1. Just change springs to the LT4 springs. With full bolt ons you may see 300rwhp.
To answer you original question, an LT4 cam will work just fine in an LT1. Just change springs to the LT4 springs. With full bolt ons you may see 300rwhp.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
You are better off spending money on a good cam and keeping stock heads, than having the heads worked over and keeping the stock B-body cam. ****, you could save the 50 bucks for the air foil and add to a cam fund.
To answer you original question, an LT4 cam will work just fine in an LT1. Just change springs to the LT4 springs. With full bolt ons you may see 300rwhp.
To answer you original question, an LT4 cam will work just fine in an LT1. Just change springs to the LT4 springs. With full bolt ons you may see 300rwhp.
Trending Topics
The B-body motors came with Iron heads. I wouldnt spend the money on porting them.
The LT1s came stock with 1.5 rockers and the LT4 came with the 1.6 roller rockers. 1.6 roller rockers are highly recommended but if the budget is extremely limited, the stock rockers are pretty strong and a small cam is fine with them. I ran the hotcam with stock rockers and they held up fine shifting at 5800-6000 rpms. I would at least change the lifters and springs.
The LT1s came stock with 1.5 rockers and the LT4 came with the 1.6 roller rockers. 1.6 roller rockers are highly recommended but if the budget is extremely limited, the stock rockers are pretty strong and a small cam is fine with them. I ran the hotcam with stock rockers and they held up fine shifting at 5800-6000 rpms. I would at least change the lifters and springs.
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
I think you'd be going through a ton of trouble for not much of a gain. The LT4 production cam is not aggressive by any means. If you want more oomph, I'd just use the stock cam with all of the bolt-ons. That will keep your costs down, MPG up, and won't need a new tune to work properly while still providing you with a decent gain, especially since it's obvious that drivability is far more important than anything else to you.
And leave the stock ignition alone. Most of the time adding aftermarket ignition parts just complicates things with less reliability.
And leave the stock ignition alone. Most of the time adding aftermarket ignition parts just complicates things with less reliability.
I think you'd be going through a ton of trouble for not much of a gain. The LT4 production cam is not aggressive by any means. If you want more oomph, I'd just use the stock cam with all of the bolt-ons. That will keep your costs down, MPG up, and won't need a new tune to work properly while still providing you with a decent gain, especially since it's obvious that drivability is far more important than anything else to you.
And leave the stock ignition alone. Most of the time adding aftermarket ignition parts just complicates things with less reliability.
And leave the stock ignition alone. Most of the time adding aftermarket ignition parts just complicates things with less reliability.
My B-body with stock cam (the B-body stock cam), 1.6 RR and better springs, and all the bolt-on's put down 309 STD rwhp on the rollers and best ever ET was a 12.36 @ 108 mph. The heads on that car are the last thing you want to touch; the intake side flows ever so slightly better than the F aluminum heads.
I say go for it. The stock LT4 cam is a good DD cam. I put the stock cam out of my LT4 corvette in my boat with a 305 roller motor. I also changed the springs, ported the heads, screw in studs, and 1.6 RR, It really woke the boat up and ran great.
You could find a set of F body heads that alreday have screw in studs, get some springs, some 1.6 RR's. and there you go. I dont think you will be disapointed.
I ran a set of Ebay Z28 springs, and Summitt 1.6 RRs. The boat ran 5500 RPM wide open all the time and not one problem. The boat picked up power over the entire RPM range.
You could find a set of F body heads that alreday have screw in studs, get some springs, some 1.6 RR's. and there you go. I dont think you will be disapointed.
I ran a set of Ebay Z28 springs, and Summitt 1.6 RRs. The boat ran 5500 RPM wide open all the time and not one problem. The boat picked up power over the entire RPM range.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Listen to this guy.
My B-body with stock cam (the B-body stock cam), 1.6 RR and better springs, and all the bolt-on's put down 309 STD rwhp on the rollers and best ever ET was a 12.36 @ 108 mph. The heads on that car are the last thing you want to touch; the intake side flows ever so slightly better than the F aluminum heads.
My B-body with stock cam (the B-body stock cam), 1.6 RR and better springs, and all the bolt-on's put down 309 STD rwhp on the rollers and best ever ET was a 12.36 @ 108 mph. The heads on that car are the last thing you want to touch; the intake side flows ever so slightly better than the F aluminum heads.
Honestly, finding a stock LT4 cam wont be an easy task even if it was worth doing. LT4 parts were only used in '96 Vettes with a manual transmission so it's not like you'll just be able to find one in any old junkyard.
(to be technical they were used in 100 '97 Camaro SS's and 27 '97 Firehawks...but you REALLY wont find one of those
)
Like the other guys said, start with the bolt-ons and see what you think. It might be adequate for you when you're done, and even if you do a cam swap down the road, you'll still want all those bolt ons to support/maximize a cammed setup as well.
(to be technical they were used in 100 '97 Camaro SS's and 27 '97 Firehawks...but you REALLY wont find one of those
)Like the other guys said, start with the bolt-ons and see what you think. It might be adequate for you when you're done, and even if you do a cam swap down the road, you'll still want all those bolt ons to support/maximize a cammed setup as well.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Honestly, finding a stock LT4 cam wont be an easy task even if it was worth doing. LT4 parts were only used in '96 Vettes with a manual transmission so it's not like you'll just be able to find one in any old junkyard.
(to be technical they were used in 100 '97 Camaro SS's and 27 '97 Firehawks...but you REALLY wont find one of those)
Like the other guys said, start with the bolt-ons and see what you think. It might be adequate for you when you're done, and even if you do a cam swap down the road, you'll still want all those bolt ons to support/maximize a cammed setup as well.
(to be technical they were used in 100 '97 Camaro SS's and 27 '97 Firehawks...but you REALLY wont find one of those
)Like the other guys said, start with the bolt-ons and see what you think. It might be adequate for you when you're done, and even if you do a cam swap down the road, you'll still want all those bolt ons to support/maximize a cammed setup as well.
Really? 300+ rwhp? That's awesome, considering that after much research I can't find an LT4 cam for less than $200. So you're saying keep the stock cam and pushrods, upgrade the rockers to the LT4 1.6 RR's and springs, and bolt ons. By bolt ons, I'm guess this just means CAI, airfoil, headers, higher flowing exhaust, etc?
Here's another idea for you: since you have the engine out and a cam change is easy, a ZZ4 cam is a good cheap upgrade for the LT1. Just a spring/retainer kit to accomodate the lift, and you can stay with the stock rockers .........I've bought two used/takeout cams for $75 ea. - cheaper than rockers!
How are you getting 10.4 CR out of B-body LT1? Stock is 10.0 with the iron heads and .029 head gasket. A common replacement is a .026 gasket.
BTW, you don't want the production LT4 roller rockers. They fit the metric sized studs on the production LT4 engine. GMPP and aftermarket brands will fit the 3/8" pressed-in studs on the iron heads.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Yes really.
Here's another idea for you: since you have the engine out and a cam change is easy, a ZZ4 cam is a good cheap upgrade for the LT1. Just a spring/retainer kit to accomodate the lift, and you can stay with the stock rockers .........I've bought two used/takeout cams for $75 ea. - cheaper than rockers!
How are you getting 10.4 CR out of B-body LT1? Stock is 10.0 with the iron heads and .029 head gasket. A common replacement is a .026 gasket.
BTW, you don't want the production LT4 roller rockers. They fit the metric sized studs on the production LT4 engine. GMPP and aftermarket brands will fit the 3/8" pressed-in studs on the iron heads.
Here's another idea for you: since you have the engine out and a cam change is easy, a ZZ4 cam is a good cheap upgrade for the LT1. Just a spring/retainer kit to accomodate the lift, and you can stay with the stock rockers .........I've bought two used/takeout cams for $75 ea. - cheaper than rockers!
How are you getting 10.4 CR out of B-body LT1? Stock is 10.0 with the iron heads and .029 head gasket. A common replacement is a .026 gasket.
BTW, you don't want the production LT4 roller rockers. They fit the metric sized studs on the production LT4 engine. GMPP and aftermarket brands will fit the 3/8" pressed-in studs on the iron heads.
I have that ZZ4 cam in my pickup - L31 engine with stock 9.4 CR, and I've been able to tune it (more low rpm timing advance) back to the mpg that the stock cam was getting. It has just a slightly rougher idle than the stock cam; a casual observer would mistake it for stock. It would work out even better in the 10.0:1 LT1. You'll just need to replace the dowel pin on the cam nose with the longer pin (I think it needs to stick out about .625") to drive the Optispark. You might even be able to salvage the dowel from your stock B-cam.
If an engine is not in need of an entire rebuild, you don't need to replace the lifters; they last practically forever. Use a Victor Reinz or Mr. Gasket .026" head gasket.
If an engine is not in need of an entire rebuild, you don't need to replace the lifters; they last practically forever. Use a Victor Reinz or Mr. Gasket .026" head gasket.
This is a good site with all the info and differences between the LT1 and LT4
http://www.grandsportregistry.com/lt1vslt4.htm
The Comp 252XFI would make a good DD cam for you. Its real close to the stock LT4 just a little better.
http://www.grandsportregistry.com/lt1vslt4.htm
The Comp 252XFI would make a good DD cam for you. Its real close to the stock LT4 just a little better.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
This is a good site with all the info and differences between the LT1 and LT4
http://www.grandsportregistry.com/lt1vslt4.htm
The Comp 252XFI would make a good DD cam for you. Its real close to the stock LT4 just a little better.
http://www.grandsportregistry.com/lt1vslt4.htm
The Comp 252XFI would make a good DD cam for you. Its real close to the stock LT4 just a little better.
Actually, scratch that. I just looked up the cost for the kit, including the new springs and what not, and my budget isn't ready to take a smack of $800 with everything else I need to do.
Last edited by ProbablyInsane; Sep 19, 2011 at 02:18 PM.