Is a Cam worth it?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 2
From: Springfield Ohio
Is a Cam worth it?
Hey guys I wanted some opinions on this. I'm trying to map out my plans for my car and just want to get some suggestions. Right now my car is my daily driver and the only car I have so I want it to be as reliable and livable as possible. I have first put my money into maintenance changing, fluids, brakes etc. I would like to eventually get some more power out of the car. Right now my plan is for bolt ons. I have an intake and muffler eliminators, tried to do Hooker long tube headers but that was a nightmare because the headers they say fit my LT-1 don't because I wanted to maintain my cats and the headers don't bolt up to the exhaust. So eventually I will get a quality set of headers but had to put that off. I was talking to a performance shop about the LT-4 hot cam kit and they said they would need to take out the engine to install it and I would pay more for labor then the actual part. Is it worth it to do the LT-4 hot cam kit for roughly 30hp and would it still be livable and make for a reliable daily driver? I don't plan on racing much but I would like to eventually get it down to the drag strip for a run maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I guess for a benchmark I would like my car to be on the same level or slightly better as a stock C5 in straight line (0-60, 1/4) performance.
Pro
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 670
Likes: 56
I put the LT4 hot cam in last winter, it really adds a nice bump in hp but if you plan to get the most out of that cam you will be reprogramming your computer and often reving past 5500 rpm (the stock rev limit) and if you do that you will spin a rod bearing. If it were my daily driver I would avoid the hot cam and just go with LT headers and a tune, that will get you a nice boost in tq and hp you will feel when you drive, w/o messing with daily drive ability. Good luck what ever.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
first of all understand that a stock LT4 cam alone gives the (advertised) 30 horsepower over an LT cam. An LT4 "Hot Cam" is a substantial bump over the stock LT4 cam.
How substantial ? Back in the day, the factory sold LT4 crate engines with the "Hot Cam" installed (running through headers and an open exhaust I'm sure) and claimed 425 hp.
second, whether you want to or not, do you need to change out cams ? I've read on this and other forums that lobe failure is not an uncommon occurrence. On my LT4 I found 3 failed cam lobes (and I mean grooved round). It's simple enough to pull the spark plugs and valve covers and measure how far down the valves compress when the engine is rotated by hand (all should be roughly equal).
I had already decided to do the "Hot Cam" upgrade; but what was surprising was how well the engine ran even with the bad lobes; so don't necessarily trust your "seat of the pants dyno" on this issue.
How substantial ? Back in the day, the factory sold LT4 crate engines with the "Hot Cam" installed (running through headers and an open exhaust I'm sure) and claimed 425 hp.
second, whether you want to or not, do you need to change out cams ? I've read on this and other forums that lobe failure is not an uncommon occurrence. On my LT4 I found 3 failed cam lobes (and I mean grooved round). It's simple enough to pull the spark plugs and valve covers and measure how far down the valves compress when the engine is rotated by hand (all should be roughly equal).
I had already decided to do the "Hot Cam" upgrade; but what was surprising was how well the engine ran even with the bad lobes; so don't necessarily trust your "seat of the pants dyno" on this issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 2
From: Springfield Ohio
Hey guys thanks for the replies. My car is a 95 auto with the 2:59 gears. I live in Florida so no inspections or emissions. I want a boost in performance but don't want an extremely loud raw car. I find the car to be a very solid comfortable daily driver and I don't want to lose that. I can handle it being a little louder but I don't want an obnoxious loud car. I'm just trying to find that balance and see what can be done before it ends up being more of a track car then a daily driver.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Here is something you might consider first. You will get a noticeable improvement by just changing the gears to the 3:07 "performance" ratio.
Second--if you want to tip-toe into engine work the best bang-for-the-buck I did was to just install the 1.6 roller rockers that came in the hot cam kit. I had my mechanic do this but understand it is a fairly straightforward DIY project. It is also wise to upgrade the valve springs at the same time. After doing the roller rockers I felt a definite improvement in responsiveness and driveability was not at all compromised.
Second--if you want to tip-toe into engine work the best bang-for-the-buck I did was to just install the 1.6 roller rockers that came in the hot cam kit. I had my mechanic do this but understand it is a fairly straightforward DIY project. It is also wise to upgrade the valve springs at the same time. After doing the roller rockers I felt a definite improvement in responsiveness and driveability was not at all compromised.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
If you don't have to worry about emissions, long tube headers will give you increased torque and hp with few compromises. If you go with the cam, you should change your rearend ratio and converter. The first mod to increase horsepower has always been to improve exhaust flow. Then make other changes after.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 51
From: Angier nc
First thing I would do is swap in some 3.07 gears.It will give you the most seat of the pants feel.
You can do the basics like K&N air filter and cut lid,magnaflow axleback,x-pipe in place of resonator,etc but the gears will be the biggest gain in acceleration.
The next step would be a stall converter and maybe a shift improver kit in the transmission.
Cam,long tube headers,heads/head work are way down the road and cost $$$I would not run the hotcam with a stock converter and 2.59 gears.
You can do the basics like K&N air filter and cut lid,magnaflow axleback,x-pipe in place of resonator,etc but the gears will be the biggest gain in acceleration.
The next step would be a stall converter and maybe a shift improver kit in the transmission.
Cam,long tube headers,heads/head work are way down the road and cost $$$I would not run the hotcam with a stock converter and 2.59 gears.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 831
Likes: 31
From: Merritt Island Florida
Hey guys I wanted some opinions on this. I'm trying to map out my plans for my car and just want to get some suggestions. Right now my car is my daily driver and the only car I have so I want it to be as reliable and livable as possible. I have first put my money into maintenance changing, fluids, brakes etc. I would like to eventually get some more power out of the car. Right now my plan is for bolt ons. I have an intake and muffler eliminators, tried to do Hooker long tube headers but that was a nightmare because the headers they say fit my LT-1 don't because I wanted to maintain my cats and the headers don't bolt up to the exhaust. So eventually I will get a quality set of headers but had to put that off. I was talking to a performance shop about the LT-4 hot cam kit and they said they would need to take out the engine to install it and I would pay more for labor then the actual part. Is it worth it to do the LT-4 hot cam kit for roughly 30hp and would it still be livable and make for a reliable daily driver? I don't plan on racing much but I would like to eventually get it down to the drag strip for a run maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I guess for a benchmark I would like my car to be on the same level or slightly better as a stock C5 in straight line (0-60, 1/4) performance.
Hey guys thanks for the replies. My car is a 95 auto with the 2:59 gears. I live in Florida so no inspections or emissions. I want a boost in performance but don't want an extremely loud raw car. I find the car to be a very solid comfortable daily driver and I don't want to lose that. I can handle it being a little louder but I don't want an obnoxious loud car. I'm just trying to find that balance and see what can be done before it ends up being more of a track car then a daily driver.
If you do decide to cam it there are way better options than the Lt4 Hotcam and they will be safe for your stock shortblock. Keep in mind you can make a 12 second car out of yours with just bolt ons while keeping the stock cam. Just keep in mind the cam change can be expensive and a bit of a challenge to get tuned. It may not be needed for your current goals.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 2
From: Springfield Ohio
Thanks guys for all the replies and help. I think I'll end up doing Long tube headers and gears. I can get a great deal on a set of stainless works headers from a local shop here. As far as the gears I think I might end up doing the deal where you send Ecklers your rear end and they send you a rebuilt unit although that is a little pricey everything would be essentially brand new and nice and strong and I live about 50 min away from them. This other place called Corvette Masters in Maitland offered to handle that for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
Start with the 1:6 ratio rockers/springs and rear end gears. See where that puts you. The LT1 exhuast systems actually flow pretty well, messing with the cats will mean some tuning will need to be done, as your SES light will be on and your computer will constantly be trying to correct something it can't fix.
I have a '96 LT4 with the hotcam, no cats, no mufflers, and a dual in/out internal x-pipe muffler. It is rather loud and lumpity. Fun to drive, and I did for a while as a DD. But it gets old sometimes, if you know what I mean.
My lesson learned was that if I'm going to use it as a DD, I would keep it as close to stock as I could. Since it's your only car, as mine was for about four years, reliablity is far more important than power right now. On cars of this age, when we start replacing parts to add power, we also tend to find ourselves replacing parts that break from having more power.
I have a '96 LT4 with the hotcam, no cats, no mufflers, and a dual in/out internal x-pipe muffler. It is rather loud and lumpity. Fun to drive, and I did for a while as a DD. But it gets old sometimes, if you know what I mean.
My lesson learned was that if I'm going to use it as a DD, I would keep it as close to stock as I could. Since it's your only car, as mine was for about four years, reliablity is far more important than power right now. On cars of this age, when we start replacing parts to add power, we also tend to find ourselves replacing parts that break from having more power.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Indeed some A4 mods will really change the feel of the car. I had a 2,000rpm TC & TransGo shift kit and suddenly it was hard to not spin the tires plus it gave a nice chirp & wag on a moderate 1-2 shift...
With an LT1 you might go to a 2,200-2,400 RPM TC and still be very drivable.
With an LT1 you might go to a 2,200-2,400 RPM TC and still be very drivable.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 56
From: West Chester PA
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '25
If you don't have to worry about emissions, long tube headers will give you increased torque and hp with few compromises. If you go with the cam, you should change your rearend ratio and converter. The first mod to increase horsepower has always been to improve exhaust flow. Then make other changes after.
Check this thread out before you buy headershttp://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...e-arrived.html