LS3 engine, new cam no real HP gain?
04-26-2012, 12:38 PM
#22
Tech Contributor
I am John, Rob who used to have a pretty quick FRC and has HP tuners and a quick Trailblazer SS works for me as a sales guy, he too is baffled by this.
I mean I have done weekend builds before (usually HCI), NOS and turbo installs where you gain a 100 or 200 hp, the difference is night and day, in this case the big difference hasn't happened yet.
My fear is if I keep driving it I will hurt something so it is parked til I can wrench on it.
My goal was a 125mph car in the 1/4, will pull it apart tomorrow eve or Sat am I guess.
I mean I have done weekend builds before (usually HCI), NOS and turbo installs where you gain a 100 or 200 hp, the difference is night and day, in this case the big difference hasn't happened yet.
My fear is if I keep driving it I will hurt something so it is parked til I can wrench on it.
My goal was a 125mph car in the 1/4, will pull it apart tomorrow eve or Sat am I guess.
Shoot me a scan if you like at joegut@gmail.com and I'll let you know if I see anything.
I think using a dial indicator to check is going to be a good move and easy to do.
Tell Rob to get up to the next Musclecar challenge!
04-26-2012, 01:03 PM
#23
Pro
Thread Starter
Sorry about that. I meant Rob but typed John. Rob and I used to chat about HP Tuners when I first got started with it.
Shoot me a scan if you like at joegut@gmail.com and I'll let you know if I see anything.
I think using a dial indicator to check is going to be a good move and easy to do.
Tell Rob to get up to the next Musclecar challenge!
Shoot me a scan if you like at joegut@gmail.com and I'll let you know if I see anything.
I think using a dial indicator to check is going to be a good move and easy to do.
Tell Rob to get up to the next Musclecar challenge!
I invited Rob to that one but he said something about being puss-e whipped, I figured his cat needed a bath
. His trailblazer is running pretty good these days and if he every finishes that LS twin turbo swap into his Syclone we will all be in trouble 
04-26-2012, 05:55 PM
#24
Drifting
I've had friends with the "Spin" cam with the lobes reversed. I swear I hear more about that cam having grind issues but that's perhaps because it's a popular choice. That's why I insisted on having a cam doctor printout with my cam.
It sucks but you might need to take it back out and have it checked if there's not a way to check it when it's installed.
It sucks but you might need to take it back out and have it checked if there's not a way to check it when it's installed.
Last edited by theofel; 04-26-2012 at 06:13 PM.
04-26-2012, 06:39 PM
#25
Pro
Thread Starter
04-26-2012, 09:19 PM
#26
Drifting
04-27-2012, 08:15 AM
#27
Le Mans Master
04-27-2012, 08:53 AM
#28
Tech Contributor
Pitt that is how HPS rolls.
It's easy to have good customer service when everything goes perfectly.
It's how a shop handles things when thing go wrong that separates the men from the boys.
HPS looks past the job at hand and focuses on the customer for the long term.
It's easy to have good customer service when everything goes perfectly.
It's how a shop handles things when thing go wrong that separates the men from the boys.
HPS looks past the job at hand and focuses on the customer for the long term.
04-27-2012, 09:29 AM
#29
Le Mans Master
04-28-2012, 12:12 PM
#31
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CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
04-28-2012, 10:48 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
Still not 100% sure why, but hope to get the cam on a Cam Doctor to find out.
In any case, sure wish I had mine fixed for free... Instead 850 off the R&R (still $2500 outta my pocket with new cam, lifters, etc parts, $4k incl the cam), and incidentally free labor on cam install. And already been over month and half, still havent gotten car back!
Gotta give HPS props for going above and beyond! It says a lot about a company...
05-05-2012, 08:43 PM
#33
Pro
Thread Starter
Pulled it apart today and found some things I really really didn't like,
1) The stock crank bolt was reused and the end was cut to mimic a tap. I am guessing this was due to the fact that the bolt I supplied (ARP) was too short, foiled by that dam Grandsport oil pump.
2) When they switched to a one bolt bolt and cam gear (Grandsport's use a 3 bolt gear design, didn't know that when I ordered the cam) they didn't check to see if the bolt had sufficient clearance with the timing cover, it didn't but it does now, of course who knows where that aluminum is???
3) you can't see the crank gear without removing the oil pump, that most likely didn't happen because it looks like the pan has to come off first, so how did they line up the cam, think they had a piston stop? Still waiting to hear back..
Think I am just going to pull the cam out tomorrow and send it off to a 3rd party to cam dr it, then we'll know what happened for sure.
1) The stock crank bolt was reused and the end was cut to mimic a tap. I am guessing this was due to the fact that the bolt I supplied (ARP) was too short, foiled by that dam Grandsport oil pump.
2) When they switched to a one bolt bolt and cam gear (Grandsport's use a 3 bolt gear design, didn't know that when I ordered the cam) they didn't check to see if the bolt had sufficient clearance with the timing cover, it didn't but it does now, of course who knows where that aluminum is???
3) you can't see the crank gear without removing the oil pump, that most likely didn't happen because it looks like the pan has to come off first, so how did they line up the cam, think they had a piston stop? Still waiting to hear back..
Think I am just going to pull the cam out tomorrow and send it off to a 3rd party to cam dr it, then we'll know what happened for sure.
05-05-2012, 08:58 PM
#34
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
I don't know if the GS is different,but the oil pan does not have to come off to remove the oil pump on the coupes. The oil pump pickup has a little 10mm bolt that holds it on and there is an O ring that keeps everything all sealed up. I can't see the GS being much different but it's possible.
I know it's not funny, but
at those guys not even clearancing the front cover. . . 
I know it's not funny, but
at those guys not even clearancing the front cover. . .
05-06-2012, 03:43 PM
#35
Pro
Thread Starter
Well it looks like the cam was installed correctly, the oil pump on the GS m/t is the same as a zo6 and the pick up is cast into the pan as well as the discharge from the pump to the oil tank, the crank bolt is almost 2" longer than stock and the crank is steel not cast, this is according to what I have seen and a video I found from GM explaining the GS oil system. We could get the pump loose but it doesn't seem to want out unless the front of the pan was loosened, not going to happen.
I am sending the cam off to a third party to cam dr it, then we'll see what is what, I am really hoping there is something wrong with it...
I am sending the cam off to a third party to cam dr it, then we'll see what is what, I am really hoping there is something wrong with it...
