c5vette211

I am getting ready to start buying parts for my cam install. I wanted to get some input. I am trying not to buy "unnecessary" parts. So I am going with a TSP 228R 112LSA (.588). My car is bone stock LS2 with 15k miles on it. I will be upgrading to ported heads.

1. Can i get by with stock springs?
2. Can I get by with stock lifters?
3. Timing chain?
4. Link to build thread with gaskets etc listed.

timd38

Should not need any gaskets, should not need lifters, but I would do springs and a timing chain.

I am sure others will have another opinion, but that is mine!

mysloride

I would do the HB while your in there

c5vette211

I am try to do a budget build so only whats needed. If i did all the things I should do while im in there its no longer a feasible project and the list could be a million miles long. I am getting a set of ported heads that a buddy has. it has upgraded springs on it from his build but one of the springs broke so I may just replace the one that broke. he was running 600+ SC. I am getting a valve job and resurfacing just in case.

timd38

Not sure what HB is, but if one spring broke, I would replace them all. Why you ask, if another one breaks and the valve hits the piston, how much would that repair be? Don't trip over dollars to pick up pennies. Just my opinion.

c5vette211

HB=Harmonic Balanacer

I agree with spending 150$ as apposed to a mopping up the carnage.

timd38

That can be replaced without taking the engine apart. Head gaskets can be almost $100, so don't forget them! You will also need head bolts, another $100.

c5vette211

Yea i dont see HB as a necessity for a cam install.

timd38

Don't forget to budget for new oil and filter, coolant, spark plugs (maybe), wires (maybe), belts (maybe), front seal, power steering hose (maybe, known to fail and easy to replace when apart) and harmonic balance bolt. If you think about it, oil, coolant head bolts, head gaskets, front seal, HP bolt add about $300 to the job.

c5vette211

Thanks@!

mysloride

It is absolutely NOT a necessity.

It is just good insurance for a motor and harmonic balancer that is going to see new power levels and most likely increased RPM’s, resulting different harmonic’s than it’s ever experienced before.

I would not do a cam change on an 8-10 year motor and harmonic balancer without changing the HB, but that’s just my opinion.

BTW…my opinion and $5 will get you a good cup of coffee at Starbucks

Keep us up to date on your build

c5vette211

HAHAA im taking your opinion to starbuck today to redeem my coffee. I would say that i agree on the 8-10 year old motor being a factor if there was appropriate miles to back that up. I have 15k miles on the car. I dont see the HB as something that will effect a 15k mile car.

sevinn

For what its worth, I've had 2 c6s now and had to replace the first HB at 54k miles on the '05 and at 4k miles on my '12. Mileage isn't a safety net with the balancers on these cars.

irok

if one spring broke the prudent thing to do would be replace all.dont count on that stock hb.get an ATI with cosmetic blem if you can find one.call ATI at 410 298 4343 to see if they may have one for you.an ARP crank bolt will make the job a lot easier and replace the oil pump pick up tube o-ring.you will be cursing that o-ring at start up and no oil pressure

c5vette211

Thanks for that

7SECONDS

My car is a 2011 with 6200 miles on it when the cam swap was done. While replacing the valve springs, keepers, locks and pushrods for the new cam they found a broken valve spring. They also installed a new cam gear, ATI Balancer and cross drilled the crank to pin the new balancer. I suggest all of the above. Speed is Not Cheap!

C6z06man

I would do springs and a chain. My z06 has 12k and just did a heads cam build. I replaces the Chain because for $150 I figured it was worth it.

Joe_G

Ported heads aren't going to do much as your ls2 intake is the bottleneck. A used FAST will do a lot more for you and is easier to install.

Couldn't agree more with others that I'd replace all valve springs. They are wear items and I'd replace every 20k miles.

If you do install heads get Cometic .040 gaskets, they will bump your compression to about 11.4 and give you back some of the low end torque you lose with a cam and the add'l overlap.

Are you set on that 112 lsa? A 228 cam is a small cam, not really worth bothering with imho (go big and get a real cam or don't bother, lol) but the 112 will make it unnecessarily lopey and harder to drive. A 114 lsa is better for street use. I'd get a bigger cam with wider lsa and you'll get more of what you are buying a cam for, with less of the drivability downsides.

I daily drove a g5x3 which is a large cam for 6 years in stop and go with no problems. The computer is fast enough to give good drivability with a good tune.

This Dyno sheet with all my mods overlaid might be interesting and useful for you to see how the mods compliment each other.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ast-heads.html

c5vette211

IM not set on that specific cam. I have read good reviews and have a few friends running that TSP cam and are happy with it. I am looking for lope and drive-ability so I will look more into the 114.

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

1. No. Springs need to be matched to a cam. There is more to it than just a lift number but in most cases that will at least point you in the right direction.

2. Yes

3. I would do the C5R single row chain. We used to use OEM chains even in the race cars but started seeing chain failures around 2006 and moved to the C5R chain and haven't broken one yet.

4. www.ls1howto.com had a number of them. General rule as I think it was a C5 but would give you a pretty good idea.