need more power!!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Ga
need more power!!!!
Hello all. Lets start with the specs. 91 l98 coupe. auto. 72k mi. k&n filter with cut lid, catless front y pipe high flow main cat and muff. elims.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Hello all. Lets start with the specs. 91 l98 coupe. auto. 72k mi. k&n filter with cut lid, catless front y pipe high flow main cat and muff. elims.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
I would save a few more bucks and get the GM hot cam package. It includes the cam, springs, 1.6 roller rockers, retainers. Everything bolts right in, except you may have to slightly modify the pin on the cam depending on the year you have. Car will have a very noticeable power increase, it will lope at idle and have a significantly healthy exhaust note. . .even with the stock mufflers. THe entire package is around 550 new. There are some folks that sell just the cam, but you cannot use it witht he stock springs.
Stiffer springs are only about 40 bucks for the set.
Took me a weekend to install the hot cam kit. You do not have to take the engine out. (i did but for other reasons Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
Hello all. Lets start with the specs. 91 l98 coupe. auto. 72k mi. k&n filter with cut lid, catless front y pipe high flow main cat and muff. elims.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
my question is: im wanting a cam for some more ponys. i just want one that will go right in and be compatible with the stock engine internals. nothing extremely radical and nothing thats going to destroy my gas mileage, i know my epa will drop a little. cost is kinda an issue around 150-250 bucks would be sweet! but im flexible on these things.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 671
Likes: 1
From: WATERFORD CT
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im not that flexible!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Horsepower isnt cheap, especially with these cars.
When you do the cam you need to also do the valve train; if you do heads it means new valve train too. Either should be worth around 30chp.
If you do FL headers you could pick up maybe 20chp also.
If you still have the frisbee, toss it for some "free" HP and install a 160deg T-stat & sw.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 4
From: Frostburg MD
If you look around, you can usually find a ZZ4 cam pulled from a new motor for ~$125-150, and a new set of LT4 springs, seats, locks and retainers that would work with it for ~$50. With a set of gaskets for the install, that would be right in your budget range.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,957
Likes: 706
From: WI
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: OKC Ok
I'm in the same boat as madman91 for the want of more power 
. I also have a 91. Right now have headers, full 2.5' exhaust, 2800 stall. I'm wanting to go with a hot cam kit as my next step, but my main issue comes with installation. What scource (book, manual, whatever) would be the best to complete this task? I'm really wanting to do it all myself, just need the guidance from a book/manual on how to go about it all.... I'm still pretty young, thus im a n00b in the whole modding scene. This will be the first time i've done anything remotely involved with inside of my engine...
. I also have a 91. Right now have headers, full 2.5' exhaust, 2800 stall. I'm wanting to go with a hot cam kit as my next step, but my main issue comes with installation. What scource (book, manual, whatever) would be the best to complete this task? I'm really wanting to do it all myself, just need the guidance from a book/manual on how to go about it all.... I'm still pretty young, thus im a n00b in the whole modding scene. This will be the first time i've done anything remotely involved with inside of my engine...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,143
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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These things arent cheap, especially if you dont do the labor yourself.
A ZZ4 cam is a nice upgrade for a stock TPI, but personally I would want something with a little more intake duration. Something like a TPiS ZZ9 or Accel 211, or something in that range between ZZ4 and these cams. I dont think anything as big as hotcam is really useful with the TPI intake, but it is cheap.
These cams will need new springs, and even if you wanted to install a cam now that didnt have much more lift than stock (so as not to actually require the new springs) it wouldnt be a good idea to do it without changing springs. You could then go with 1.6RR later.
You can get away with not having the chip done, but it is strongly advised if you go with anything bigger than ZZ4.
A ZZ4 cam is a nice upgrade for a stock TPI, but personally I would want something with a little more intake duration. Something like a TPiS ZZ9 or Accel 211, or something in that range between ZZ4 and these cams. I dont think anything as big as hotcam is really useful with the TPI intake, but it is cheap.
These cams will need new springs, and even if you wanted to install a cam now that didnt have much more lift than stock (so as not to actually require the new springs) it wouldnt be a good idea to do it without changing springs. You could then go with 1.6RR later.
You can get away with not having the chip done, but it is strongly advised if you go with anything bigger than ZZ4.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
but does the frisbee really make that much of a diff?
Also cut back the electrodes on a set of std style AC Delco spark plugs, worth ~8chp and nearly free.
...but my main issue comes with installation. What scource (book, manual, whatever) would be the best to complete this task?
Also get a Comp Cams catalog; it is full of info on cams & valve train as well as a very good description on how to degree a cam.
Last edited by 65Z01; Apr 18, 2007 at 11:14 PM.