C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Cam Suggestions?

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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:02 PM
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Default Cam Suggestions?

Have a friend with a 86 L98 and he just converted the body to look like a 96. Now he wants some performance to back it up. If he wanted to do a cam swap, what cam would be good for that motor and what else should he consider upgrading also. I tryed to do a "search" but came up rather empty.
Thanks In Advance!
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:08 PM
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For a driveable cam in the LT1 I always recommend the LT4 Hot Cam because it was designed by GM specically for use in the LT1 / LT4. For the L98 though it tends to be less than optimal. Does he have any other engine modifications such as a different intake? Is he planning on a different intake? This will greatly influence your cam choice.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:17 PM
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'86 engine blocks still use the flat tappet cam. No Lt1 or LT4 cam will work, they are hydrolic roller cams. Model Year 1987 is when they went to roller cams in the L98.

As to which one to use, there are plenty of time-tested designs depending on how the engine has/ has not been modified. If it is mostly stock, I would seriously look at TPIS's 'touque secrets' cam. They did a whole lot of testing with the stock L98 and that's what they cam up with.

Of course many of the 'usuall suspects' (LPE, Doug Rippie, etc) have a solution for the tappet L98's. You can't go too far wrong with any of them. (As long as you DON't get one designed for a supper ram or miniram) Just remember that the intake runner length radically changes what cam is optimum. (like Nathan said) Be sure to tell whatever vendor you select what intake you are using.

As far as the search not turning up much; search for super ram or miniram. You should be able to find about 213,000 threads on that and the resulting religious war that results every time somebody askes which one to use.
[edit: like this thread, for example: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...00&forum_id=48 ]

Last edited by Fozzy_Bear; Jul 5, 2005 at 01:41 PM.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 01:25 PM
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What kind of HP is your friend looking to achieve?
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 03:38 PM
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Well it all depends on what goals he has for the motor's performance. If he's willing to change intakes, then that changes the recommendations (see that other thread mentioned above, and various searches under Superram or miniram).

There is also a recent thread here on the main page by darkman5001 i think, that you can look at.
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Old Jul 5, 2005 | 04:32 PM
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He is a totally stock A4 with the performance axle (3.08's?). I don't think he has any specific hp #'s in mind. I'm assuming he will do the intake and the exhaust. I will check out some other threads and do a search on the superram. Thanks
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