Awes3939

Guys -

Forgive me if I didn't search around the forums enough, just figure I'd ask these questions specific to my situation.

What (in your opinion) is the best/most "streetable" cam (I daily my C5Z basically every day when it's decent enough to drive). It's an '02 C5Z with 20k miles, only mods are Vararam intake + powerduct.

Getting some AR 1 7/8" LT's with catless x-pipe. Leaning towards keeping factory Ti, but not for sure yet.

Along with a cam, what should I absolutely be upgrading? I was looking at the Vengeance Racing Cam Kit Plus and it seemed like a decent deal. I guess I hope to expect around 400-420whp with a mild setup.

I appreciate your input in advance!

Eric

MX621

how much of a smelly car can u tolorate? my cam has 8 deg overlap and sometimes the smell can get annoying. I don't daily the car, if I did no way I would smell it everyday. more overlap, more its gonna have a unburnt fuel smell from the exhaust. my cousin has a 4 deg overlap in his ws6 with cats and it still smells. I think the stock ls6 cam is around -17 deg overlap or something like that.. stay in the 220's and overlap near zero... that's what I would do if it were me.. my current cam is a 230/234 .600/.612 112+4 8 deg overlap.. again it drives fine, but the smell would get to me on a daily basis

zdeckich

Good street manners will be different for everyone. What i think is good streetable cam you might think its not. Also why do you want 1 7/8 headers? For a N/A motor 1 3/4 will be perfect. Do you plan on doing FI in the future? All that being said My cam is 238/240 605/609 112 lsa. with 1 3/4 LG super pros no cats, ported TB, UD pulley, airaid intake and a great tune. Car made 478rwhp and 426rwtq. I daily drove it for about 8 months with no problems.

Awes3939

I've heard so many different views on the stench of the car...I think I can probably withstand a decently smelly car. Would HFC's be a smart move you think? I've heard 220's is where to be for street as well. I didn't think about the overlap, but thats a damn good point. Thanks for the advice! Any brands that are 100% tried and true in your opinion?

Awes3939

Well my prior car was an '06 Evo IX with 501whp so honestly to me, the Corvette feels like a Cadillac at the moment, lol. I went with the 1 7/8's since I found them with the Xpipe for $900 lightly used, decent deal? I'm just more concerned about having minimal low-rpm bucking, being okay with stop-go driving. Stock c5z clutch I assume will be done soon at higher power levels. You have stock Ti on as well? I'm also reading about how tough some cams are on valve springs...thanks also for your input!

0Daniel@Vengeance

FWIW, our VRX4 is my customer's favorite "best of all worlds" camshaft for the C5 Z06's. This is a 228/230 .588/.592 112+4 and offers very easy driveability and will make the 420rwhp number you're looking for with headers and a cold air on the car. Overlap is 5* on this cam as well, so it will have minimal fuel smell.

I do have several customers running the VRX5 if you'd like to step up to a bit more aggressive of a camshaft and still retain good driveability. You'll see a bit more RPM out of it and will be in the 430-435rwhp range based on my customer's numbers.

The Cam Kit Plus does offer absolutely everything required for a reliable and powerful camshaft installation. We install this kit on every vehicle receiving a camshaft here in house.

Give me a call or e-mail at any time at any time and I'll be happy to help if you have any other questions on our line of camshafts.

MX621

From my experience it seems hfc's don't do much far as helping the smell with a cam. My cam pulls 6th gear at 1400 rpm no problem. But sometimes in parking lots If I don't pay attention I get the occasional buck.

DSGCOBRA24

You made those numbers with stock ls6 heads?

zdeckich

Yes sir. I don't know how or why, but it did.

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dagon138

Do some searches for here and LS1tech. Typically most DD setups are in the 22X/22X durations with no or negative overlap, and less than .600 lift with 114+ LSA's.


Best to have save $ and get your stock heads CNC'd, get a valve job, mill the heads down for a tad more compression. Then have the cam matched for your setup. Then 450rwhp should be easy even with stock Ls6 intake and you'll have a way nicer driving car than the guys putting 23X or 24X duration cam-only setups.

Yes, the C5 Z06 clutch will start sticking to the floor or get hard on you after ~390ish rwhp during WOT shifts.

danziger

What is the end goal for your C5Z? Just a fun street car? If so, I would stay in the 228-232 duration range and around .600 or less lift. With LTs/cats and a good tune, you should be at 420rwhp and very drivable.

Even when cold, my Z has great manners and will rarely buck...even creeping through a parking lot. My tuner was pretty thorough, which I think is key...

Awes3939

I appreciate all the input guys. This is alot of help.

I could imagine that getting heads CNC'd etc etc along with a mild cam would be quite the price! At that cost I wonder if I could just toss on a SC.....maybe? But something about the ways the cammed LS sounds is why I want N/A. ARgh

I think I'm going to be doing an LS7 clutch along with whatever I decide.

Awes3939

Yessir, exactly. Fun street car. Anything over 500-550ish WHP I feel like you start to lose streetability, no?

But I want it to reliable. I really drive my cars...hell, that's what they are meant for! 420rwhp + reliability and good manners is exactly what I want.

What did you decide to do with yours?

zdeckich

Get a cam and a blower, 600rwhp+ all day long, and will be reliable.

danziger

I went with a custom Comp cam, which is a relatively mild 228/232 .590ish grind. It made 420/400 with a conservative/street-oriented tune. Supporting mods are Kooks LTs with cats, Halltech CAI and an underdrive pulley.

Runs great, doesn't overwhelm the chassis and has been stone reliable.

Awes3939

That sounds almost exact to what I'll be doing. You left the stock Ti on? How does it sound with the cam / LT's with stock Ti? Videos maybe???

zeevette

I went from a O/R X-pipe to adding HFCs because of the smell. (+8) They made no difference in the smell, but quieted the exhaust quite a bit. Since then I've added a 'charger, and changed to a -2 cam, and the smell is gone.

bikeriderga

If David from Vengeance tells you what you need to meet your needs, you can take it to the bank and draw interest on it.

No one knows Chevy High Performance better. Just take a look in about any High Performance magazine over the years and you are bound to read about many of their builds!

danziger

It isn't loud, if that is what you are looking for. It is noticeable with the growl and chop at idle, but makes a great wail above 3000rpm with almost no burble or popping. Very clean and exotic sound...

Stroker87

my last z06 had 224/230 581/588 lsa 114 cam with hand parted 243's supporting mods made 449rwhp/39xrwtq drove fine tune had to be redone once but after that it was pretty much stock like

my current z06 has 219/230 607/604 117lsa prc 2.5 243's supporting mods makes 430rwhp/390rwtq because of the 117lsa car sounds stock and drives like stock. best run 11.4 @ 120.xx mph (i know it can do better)

i daily drive mine weather permitting