Cammed LT1 Fuel Mileage?
Cammed LT1 Fuel Mileage? Hey guys I have been thinking about doing either a cam swap or a head cam swap. Wanted to get some info out of you guys as to what kind of mileage fuel mileage you are getting with either set-up. Please post all relevant mods as well. Btw I'm looking into doing a cam that is a 234/238 duration, .537/.546lift, and 107/117 LSA measurments. Any idea on gas mileage with that?
Well, its more than likely not going to be good. A smaller cam can do better with the gas mileage, but nothing crazy. I lost a little MPG even with the small hotcam. Your starting to get up to where your going to be hurting with the economy. Granted a 24x/24x type cam with higher lift would be much worse, but you will definitely notice the difference especially with a good set of heads (then injectors ect.. ect...).
whats a little mpg? You can't tell me that you don't do your mileage, so what do you get with what kind of driving? Being stock right now, I do about 20-21 with about 50% country driving, 25% highway and 25% city. That is going WOT probably 2-3 times a day, lol.
Honestly, I havent been paying attention to it lately... But tonight she needs a fillup so I can tell you in a couple days 
Its hard though too, as I almost never let it go below a quarter tank.
It seems like a little drop, but nothing horrible. But when your feeding a larger cam/ported heads setup with bigger injectors, things start to add up.
Its hard though too, as I almost never let it go below a quarter tank.
It seems like a little drop, but nothing horrible. But when your feeding a larger cam/ported heads setup with bigger injectors, things start to add up.
I never let mine go below a quarter tank, but just fill up, set the trip, and then on the next fill-up look to see how many gallons used. Alot more accurate than just trying to run as low as possible and using the max tank capacity.
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6-speed car here and these numbers are making me very happy. The cc503 numbers are very close to the cam that im looking aren't they?
Last edited by k0261886; Sep 5, 2008 at 05:17 PM.
Those are really bad specs. I strongly advise you to pick a different cam. A friend has the AI 218 cam in his cam only Caprice, 3.73s and 3200 stall, he sees about 24mpg on trips, high teens city driving.
care to explain y the specs are so bad? I don't really know much about matching them up.
Cam only with the cc503, 3600 stall, and 3.73's I was doing 10-11mpg around town. After I added heads, went with a custom grind, and switched tuners my mpg actually went up to about 12mpg-13mpg.
6-speed would be much better. The duration is too high and the LSA WAY too wide.
For a stock shortblock you want to keep duration under 230degrees intake and LSA say 108-113 depending on the duratio and whether emmissions is a concern.
Honestly if it is the first "cammed" car you will own I would say keep it to mid-220s or lower on the intake duration.
As you can shop understand most companies list rpm ranges based on older style smallblock intake manifolds the LT1 intake raises the rpm range you need a good bit. A 224 degree intake duration cam like the 503 that is pretty popular will have to hit say 6400rpms when used in an LT1. That is approaching the safe limits of the stock shortblock rpm wise.
Stupidly wide LSA like that is done to bandaid too big a cam. They can make it drive nicely and such by speading the LSA real wide, BUT it comes at a massive loss of performance. On an NA LT1 the only reason to go 112-113 LSA is emissions, if that is not a concern then a lower number yet is probably a good idea. There are exceptions but for most street cars this works.
For a stock shortblock you want to keep duration under 230degrees intake and LSA say 108-113 depending on the duratio and whether emmissions is a concern.
Honestly if it is the first "cammed" car you will own I would say keep it to mid-220s or lower on the intake duration.
As you can shop understand most companies list rpm ranges based on older style smallblock intake manifolds the LT1 intake raises the rpm range you need a good bit. A 224 degree intake duration cam like the 503 that is pretty popular will have to hit say 6400rpms when used in an LT1. That is approaching the safe limits of the stock shortblock rpm wise.
Stupidly wide LSA like that is done to bandaid too big a cam. They can make it drive nicely and such by speading the LSA real wide, BUT it comes at a massive loss of performance. On an NA LT1 the only reason to go 112-113 LSA is emissions, if that is not a concern then a lower number yet is probably a good idea. There are exceptions but for most street cars this works.
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From: fort campbell
re I have LE2 heads and a Bauer 224/230 cam stock displacement motor ( in sig ) I got 26.5 on the interstate@ 80-90 mph with the ac on about 20 mpg for city/highway driving with little stop and go. PCM 4 less tune that is rich!