alleyezonmyZ06

hey guys, i own a 2003 z06 with about 30,000 miles on it. After reading about the phenomenal power gains a corvette gains from a Camshaft upgrade, i decided to go down to my buddies shop and make arrangements to order/install an upgraded Cam, rockers, and springs for my z06.

prior to the install, the car but down 357rwhp and after the installation of the cam and springs (no rockers yet, the wholesaler sent the incorrect rockers) it put down 362rwhp without any tuning what so ever.

the specs on the parts are:
Camshaft: .540/.549 lift. 218/228 on a 114...
Springs: Beehive springs 313 C pressure.
Rockers: Harland Sharp

Is it typically normal to see such little horsepower gain with no tuning done and no rockers installed? if not, what could the problem possibly be? it DOES idle a bit rigorously, and revs much faster, but why such a minor horsepower gain?

Billf6531

I believe that this is the stock cam spec: .555/.551 - 204/218 - 117.5 (part #: 12565308), and you seem to have less lift. Could that be it?

BlueRag

You should have picked up more power than that......Your tune may be way off and you will likely more than make up for it after the custom programming

warriorp

thats a pretty small cam...it will prob pick up with a tune...do you have anyother mods...headers, etc

alleyezonmyZ06

i do not have any other mods on the car yet, a carbon air intake bridge, but aside from that it's stock.

after doing some research, i came to realize billf6531 is probably correct with his proposition towards my issue.

Stock cam specs are: .551/.547 lift, 204/218 - 117.5 LSA

My "upgrade" specs are: .540/.549 lift, 218/228 - 114 LSA

i assume the shop that ordered the part and did the install did not specify that it is a 02-04 z06 and ordered the camshaft and rockers for a 2001 z06 considering the wrong rockers were also sent.

the 2001 z06 stock cam specs are: .525/.525 lift, 204/211 duration - 116 LSA, so in essance, my "upgrade" would be feasable for a 2001 LS2.

so i guess my next step is to contact the wholesaler where the shop ordered the cam from and see exactly what was ordered for my car... i am open for any other suggestions or reasons for my break even horsepower cam upgrade ... thanks

mx597turbo

I have a z06 head and cam. Car is making 375 rwhp with a full exhaust and tune, with LOTS of low and midrange torque.

LT1driver

my stock 03Z with the following add on's: vararam, FLP headers, no cats, no tune made 381rwhp

alleyezonmyZ06

so heres the update. i had the shop do a re-grind on my cam, the new cut is:

Degree of Duration @ 0.50: 234* intake, 236* exhaust
Lift: 0.586 intake, 0.586 exhaust
LSA: 114

Without a tune, it put down 393 rwhp... it should be going back in for tuning in a week or so when the shop gets the proper software for the car. This sounds like a lot more practical gain (36rwhp) as opposed to the 5 rwhp it initially gained the first time around.

ill keep the forum posted with numbers after the tune. Thanks for the help and suggestions

Billf6531

Much better! You'll like that.

tblu92

If your gonna be a bear---be a Grizzly !!! glad to see you get the re-grind---the 1st choice was like kissing your sister !!!!

alleyezonmyZ06

so, i have come to conclude this car now needs to be tuned. i am in southern california, 91208 zip code.

does anyone know of a reputable, yet fair priced shop in my area that has experience tuning a cammed z06?

also, after a tune, how much rwhp should i anticipate to gain?

-thanks

0Josh@Lashway

dude, you went from a flower to poison ivy with you're new cam...haha

ENJOY

chevy406

Wow - I would probably find a different "shop" to get your Corvette worked on. Whoever spec'd that first cam just didn't know much about upgrading an LS engine. Then in post #8 you are waiting for the shop to "get the proper software" to tune your car. You definitely don't want them learning how to tune on your car. It takes a lot of knowledge and time to learn how to properly tune a car. Being a cam only car, you could easily send your ECM to one of the forum tuners for their "mail order" tune if you can't find a compentent person in your area.

golfinz

Sounds like a bad cam choice

hex

Agreed on both. Run like hell.

edcmat-l1

Ditto........

tail_lights

Any updates?

9secondflat

regrind.....run away....

jfruzna

My 03 Z vararam, corsa, tune made 381rwhp very strong

swollix

On my 02 Z06 I made 375/340 with a Ziptie mod and Borla stingers on a reputable local Dynojet. No tune.