marty mar

Hey guys I spun a rod bearing on my 89 L98, wich really sucks. I have to fix the car, and I refuse to go the used motor route. I'm ON A BUDGET, and got a great deal on a 383 shortblock. Im re-using my stock heads with LT4 valvesprings, edelbrock lower intake, SLP runners,
I have a choice between the factory cam , or a factory 95 LT1 roller
I also have. I know the LT1 cam has about .450 lift vs my L98s .410 or so. But the L98 has a little more duration ... Im re-using my 1.6 roller rockers. WHICH CAM WOULD YOU USE? P.S I'm not buying another.

Jamie Lennartson

Dam man i would never put a stock cam back in if i did not have to...
id wait afew weeks and save and get a new one...
The L98s cam is whimpy and dies early.

The Lt1s cam has to be better then the l98s cam.

ch@0s

look at thirdgen.com those guys always have cams for sale i saw a ZZ9 cam sell not too long ago.

GREGGPENN

On the cheap, (esp with LT4 springs), I'd be thinking HOTCAM. And, they'll run in an L98 motor. (If you troll for a cheap one, you could really get the price down low.) Heck, they're only $200ish new.

If you're forced to pick between the two,,,I'd favor the LT1 cam. Assuming .450"/.460" is the LT1 cam lift with 1.5rr's, you could at least bump that up to .475" ish with bigger rockers. That's not too much lift for stock heads.

I'm gonna also assume cheap means factory intake. So, the extra couple of degrees for the stock L98's duration ain't gonna get you much.

TheCorvetteKid

One thing to keep in mind: each of the two cams you are considering are designed to work with completely different intake manifold designs. The stock cam is optimized to be used with the long runner TPI intake manifold/runner/plenum design; the LT1 cam is optimized for use with the short runner LT1 intake manifold.

With that said, as per GREGGPENN's post, my first thoughts also turned to the LT4 Hotcam. If you hunt around, you can find a used one cheap and it will give you a nice bump in power. Of course, to get the most out of it would require switching to a short-runner intake like a MiniRam or a converted LT1/4 intake manifold. But since you're on a budget, you can put something like that on the back burner for a while.

GREGGPENN

I wouldn't make that statement. Normally, shorter runnered intakes can take more duration. The OPs L98 cam is 5-degrees LONGER than the LT1 cam. The lift is less though. IMO, they could be interchanged w/o signficant difference under either intake. They might even provide better results if swapped from their respective cars! LOL

I'm guessing GM was looking for more torque from the shorter duration on the LT1. Otherwise, why run less duration? That's my gest guess anyway.

TheCorvetteKid

I agree with both of these statements. But the OP is not running a short-runner intake; he's running a TPI intake. If the shorter duration/higher lift LT1 cam produced a bit more torque with the short runner LT1 intake, what benefit will that shorter duration/higher lift prove with a long-runner intake like the TPI?

Jamie Lennartson

Hmmm wonder how the lt4 hotcam would go with a l98 Hsr build?
I still have not picked out a cam lol.

GREGGPENN

Will the OP be going to a bigger TPI? Is a short-runner intake in his future? Is he willing to try 1.7rr (or bigger) on a stock cam? Does this cam just need to get him until October? Let's wait to see how the OP responds.

He needs to tell us what intake is in his future? Is there really NO money for a different cam? Can the Chiefs win more than two games this year? Is the Big 10 gonna collapse? Will there be a HUGE-***-BIG 22 conference? But I digress....

GREGGPENN

Perfect. Why do you think they call it "HOT"? (It'll even run well with multec or bosch injectors! )

Jamie Lennartson

Hehe i have 32 lb bosch III

tpi 421 vette

The cam is a very important piece of your engine rebuild. Save up the money and get a cam that would be correct for a 383 LTR set up.

I personally think there are better choices than a LT4 hotcam. That was designed for a totally different intake.

GREGGPENN

Agreed.

But I also think the LT4 Hotcam is about the most "agressive" cam he should consider with LT4 springs. I know that's LE's advice. There are better, higher-priced choices for sure. But, this is also much better than a stock cam for something "on the cheap".

The best advice would include heads/springs/intake, etc...

JAKE

TPIS sells a Mini-Ram for the engine. That and the necessary fuel rails, fuel lines and fittings, etc., should put him in the ballpark of $1,500/$2,000 or so. How 'bout that route so he can take FULL advantage of that 383??? LOL

I keep remembering "I'm ON A BUDGET, . . ."

Jake

cv67

Agreed
..and heads.
I doubt hed feel the.difference.between the two cams they are both wimpy to begin withand with a 383 will feel even smaller
Less overlap on a ltr intake=better.

Op-changing cams on a c4.while its in the car us a pain maybe check around for a deal on a used one or call summitracing they have good prices on their house brand.cams

Now if you had to choose....I d pick the lt1 cam between the two

ddahlgren

How about a zz4 pull out? 50% of the people that buy the long blocks pull the cam before doing anything else. Plus he can get by with stock rockers just need some hot cam sprongs and retainers though I some some for sale here on the cheap.

marty mar

WHICH ONE???????

GREGGPENN

Someone call 911!


(Seriously, you didn't see the answer?)

Jamie Lennartson

A used ZZ4 cam cheap way to go.

Sell your 2 cams now should pay for the zz4.

ch@0s

I'm with GP on this go with the LT4 it's a nice budget cam and will go well with your springs.