Cam only guys, do it again??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 767
Likes: 42
From: Laguna Beach CA
Cam only guys, do it again??
On the fence about doing a cam swap on my 35,000 mile LS1. I have the money and got a reasonable quote from a well respected tuner but I am just not sure if I am going to be happy with the performance gain and feel of the car. It's a 2001 6spd Vert and I currently don't race it but do enjoy sprited street driving and might take it to the track once or twice in the future. If I do change the cam I'm pretty much sold on a 224/228 581 114+2 grind and ARH long tubes. My question is for you cam only guys (no heads) what experiences have you had with cam only swaps, would you do it again and what would you do differently? What do you like about the cars street manners and what do you dislike? If you could also let me know what cam you are running.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 380
From: South Florida FL
I run a G5X3, If I can do it again, i'll go with a bit less duration an a bit more lift to compensate.
I like the performance gain but would like a bit more drivability/ease of tuning. also consider drivability has to do with the tune.
Cam choosing has alot to do with the individual also, I wont go as small as you, 232ish/235ish seems like a good medium to me.
I like the performance gain but would like a bit more drivability/ease of tuning. also consider drivability has to do with the tune.
Cam choosing has alot to do with the individual also, I wont go as small as you, 232ish/235ish seems like a good medium to me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 20
From: Liberty Hill Texas
I have cam only with LG Streets. I have the G5XE cam. It's street manners are great (to me). It has a little lope at idle and is easy to drive, etc.. Performance is better then stock. I have a 2000 coupe and did not change anything on engine except the cam, Halltech stinger and full exhaust. For the way I use the car (it's my DD), so far it's great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 3
From: Fredericton NB
If that quote is anywhere near the prices for Andy's special on the Vortech I'd say without a doubt ....GO BLOWN.
I've done the cam first thing....
To do it all over again....It just have the blower installed...
Either was is a win win situation though !!
I've done the cam first thing....
To do it all over again....It just have the blower installed...
Either was is a win win situation though !!
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 30
From: WENTZVILLE MO
I did cam only to start just because I didn't want to pay the blower bill all at once. The cam only install allows you to build at your wallet's pace. The blower is a one time hit. You can always go back and get heads, intake, nitrous, etc. after the cam install.
cam = mod fund installment payments
blower = upfront one time $$$ layout
cam = mod fund installment payments
blower = upfront one time $$$ layout
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 767
Likes: 42
From: Laguna Beach CA
I have cam only with LG Streets. I have the G5XE cam. It's street manners are great (to me). It has a little lope at idle and is easy to drive, etc.. Performance is better then stock. I have a 2000 coupe and did not change anything on engine except the cam, Halltech stinger and full exhaust. For the way I use the car (it's my DD), so far it's great.
Good dyno numbers especially with the LS1 intake.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Honestly for me - If I were to go back, on my set-up, I would do the SuperCharger first and do the Cam and Heads etc later!
IMHO!
Thanks,Matt
IMHO!
Thanks,Matt
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I actually did heads also ( I know you said cam only) with my cam, and while the lumpy idle is cool.. Supercharger offers so much more power at virtually stock drivability. Yea it is expensive, but you get what you pay for.Don't waste time with a cam only if you want big power.. You should research over in the Forced Induction Section here on the forum. Lots of guys there with lots of experience.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
I did a cam only (+tune) on my 97 with 85,000 miles. At 92,000 I did 243 (Z06) heads and headers.
I felt more with the cam than I did with the Heads and Headers(+retune). With a better set of heads the story might be different, but cam only is a significant improvement over stock.
In fact I felt more loss of driveability with the heads/headers than I did with cam only. Probably due to the O2 sensor placement.
I felt more with the cam than I did with the Heads and Headers(+retune). With a better set of heads the story might be different, but cam only is a significant improvement over stock.
In fact I felt more loss of driveability with the heads/headers than I did with cam only. Probably due to the O2 sensor placement.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
Im a cam only right now. I went with a MS3 237/243 .609. It has a very rough idle, and I get big smiles any time I take it out. I made great power 413RWHP with 241 heads and LS6 intake manifold and can still drive it as a DD if I wanted to.
Last edited by 0331MARINE; Jan 13, 2010 at 06:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 767
Likes: 42
From: Laguna Beach CA
I actually did heads also ( I know you said cam only) with my cam, and while the lumpy idle is cool.. Supercharger offers so much more power at virtually stock drivability. Yea it is expensive, but you get what you pay for.Don't waste time with a cam only if you want big power.. You should research over in the Forced Induction Section here on the forum. Lots of guys there with lots of experience.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 767
Likes: 42
From: Laguna Beach CA
I did a cam only (+tune) on my 97 with 85,000 miles. At 92,000 I did 243 (Z06) heads and headers.
I felt more with the cam than I did with the Heads and Headers(+retune). With a better set of heads the story might be different, but cam only is a significant improvement over stock.
In fact I felt more loss of driveability with the heads/headers than I did with cam only. Probably due to the O2 sensor placement.
I felt more with the cam than I did with the Heads and Headers(+retune). With a better set of heads the story might be different, but cam only is a significant improvement over stock.
In fact I felt more loss of driveability with the heads/headers than I did with cam only. Probably due to the O2 sensor placement.
Cam Specs?
Last edited by jd86L98; Jan 14, 2010 at 10:38 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: brownsville tx
my car went 11.8 @116 just bolt on's(01 z06) now i added a cam (mti x1 cam)and it went 11.6@118 with some bugs i have to get worked out with the tune.
the car is bogging everytime i shift. so i think after i get it fixed it should go atleast 11.4/11.5. im pretty happy with driveability and still get pretty good gas miliage.
the car is bogging everytime i shift. so i think after i get it fixed it should go atleast 11.4/11.5. im pretty happy with driveability and still get pretty good gas miliage.
