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

Cam on stock 85 C4?

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Old Mar 5, 2023 | 12:33 AM
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Default Cam on stock 85 C4?

I would love to add a cam to my engine without having to tear everything apart I’m looking for a slight difference in torque but mostly the sound of a cam I’m new to a lot of this and would love some friendly pointers. If I could avoid replacing the rollers/lifter and springs that’s cool if not I could see abt trying to. Anything helps appreciate it!
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Old Mar 5, 2023 | 03:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Xtian Ruiz
I would love to add a cam to my engine without having to tear everything apart I’m looking for a slight difference in torque but mostly the sound of a cam I’m new to a lot of this and would love some friendly pointers. If I could avoid replacing the rollers/lifter and springs that’s cool if not I could see abt trying to. Anything helps appreciate it!
didn't think 85 had roller cam.
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Old Mar 5, 2023 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by mike1111
didn't think 85 had roller cam.
It didn’t from the factory.
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Old Mar 5, 2023 | 01:42 PM
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Nope, stock flat tappet cam. Flat tappet cams come as a kit with the lifters as lifters need to wear into their cam (can't be reused on a different cam once run). You would need to pull the intake and everything off the front and in front of the motor as well as drop the oil pan a little. Not too difficult, but pretty involved. A nice upgrade for an '85 with stock TPI would be something like the lingenfelter 211 cam. Just select a flat tappet cam with one close to those specs, and you'll get what you're looking for (bit more power and a little more sound).
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Old Mar 5, 2023 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Xtian Ruiz
I would love to add a cam to my engine without having to tear everything apart I’m looking for a slight difference in torque but mostly the sound of a cam I’m new to a lot of this and would love some friendly pointers. If I could avoid replacing the rollers/lifter and springs that’s cool if not I could see abt trying to. Anything helps appreciate it!
You can't get the cam out without taking the whole top end off the engine. And if you went with anything other than stock, you'll regret not changing the springs.

After you change the cam, you have to have the ECM chip redone, and 85 is the unique one.

You need to come up with a complete plan and plan for an entirely new top end, exhaust, and chip tune.
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Old Mar 6, 2023 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by vader86
You can't get the cam out without taking the whole top end off the engine. And if you went with anything other than stock, you'll regret not changing the springs.

After you change the cam, you have to have the ECM chip redone, and 85 is the unique one.

You need to come up with a complete plan and plan for an entirely new top end, exhaust, and chip tune.
so does this mean I need new heads and such? Or just new springs and little things?
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Old Mar 6, 2023 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Xtian Ruiz
so does this mean I need new heads and such? Or just new springs and little things?
You would be dumb to change a stock cam out and go with anything bigger and not upgrade or replace the rest of the valvetrain parts, because you're asking for a catastrophic failure.

But the heads themselves on an 85 are terrible, and putting in a different cam wouldn't really give you anything, it'll still be choked down by the heads and exhaust manifolds.
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Old Mar 6, 2023 | 03:25 PM
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Theres not really any point to upgrading anything piece meal on the 85, beyond maybe headers. The whole package is junk more or less.
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