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Just got my first Corvette last week, am '02 hatchback. It has a caold air intake and Magnaflow exhaust. I want to do a few things and want it to have that old school badass loud idle (spitting and sputtering etc). Is this possible and what's needed? Cam and headers?
What would you recommend and would love to hear your car if you've done these upgrades already!
You could go to the tech section and search. There are also some tube videos of cam set-ups and results. Aggressive cam will probably get you the sound you want but who knows how drivable the car will be. Most who are not going cam route do well with headers and an aggressive exhaust for more muscle car sound. Gotta remember that you have a Corvette so these cars are equal parts show and go. It ain’t a Nova!
Spending loads of cash modifying an engine to achieve a sound is going to seem odd to some people. Cam loping is an unintended consequence of long duration cams where the intake and exhaust valves are open at the same time for a brief moment. At low RPM's there is a scavenging problem resulting in poor low end performance, the benefit being better top end torque. If you do most of your driving below 3,500 RPM then your going to experience a performance loss.
You didn't mention how you want the car to perform as a goal.
Don't pay attention to the dumb comments. The best thing to do is contact a shop close to you that has a vette with headers and a cam that you can hear in person, or find a vette owner close by with a cam and headers or listen to a lot of utube clips. I also love the sound and lope of a cam through long tubes. Good luck
I'll try to be as constructive as possible. Educate yourself as to WHY you get that spitting and sputtering sound. Learn the correlation of overlap to powerband. Understand that the modern motors don't sound like the older ones no matter how hard you try (you get close, but nothing compares to the sound of an old big setup lumping and thumping).
YES. You can get there with a cam and headers on your current mods. But to get what you want to achieve, you're going to have to sacrifice some amount of driveability along the way.
You are not going to get the old muscle car sound you are looking for. The firing order is completely different and thus creates an entirely different sound.
I'll try to be as constructive as possible. Educate yourself as to WHY you get that spitting and sputtering sound. Learn the correlation of overlap to powerband. Understand that the modern motors don't sound like the older ones no matter how hard you try (you get close, but nothing compares to the sound of an old big setup lumping and thumping).
YES. You can get there with a cam and headers on your current mods. But to get what you want to achieve, you're going to have to sacrifice some amount of driveability along the way.
Well put.
Newer engines have been engineered to overcome certain inherent losses. The shorter lobe separation required is going to narrow the torque peak substantially. If A cam with longer duration is better suited for forced induction. There has to be a specific performance goal in mind.
Sound mechanical advice is not a negative comment.
I'm as old school as they come, the old days with a big block Camaro with a L 88 cam "Oh My' !!!!!!! BUT !!!! I think the LS engines sound incredible with a cam !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and I have a cam for the sound as well as performance)
Congrats on your new car. Your LS1 will never sounds like a muscle car but it certainly can sound beefier than it currently does. A cam and headers will help with the sound and add HP but it's a rabbit hole and you'll trade drivability for performance. Plan on a clutch or converter along with all the parts necessary for a cam swap. Lots of good reading on the forum.
Good idea example of what maybe needed or done while you’re in it
- seals/gaskets/water pump, rockers, oil pump etc. maintenance/beefier components
- valve springs and cams beat the hell out of these regardless of what you run
- clutch
- tune? ( has anyone cammed and never tuned? Lol )
- drive train stock should be ok up to 600whp I hear”
07-20-2019, 06:08 AM
Will cam and headers give me the results I want?
Well put. 
