Do cams equal less reliability?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
Do cams equal less reliability?
If I install the mildest or wildest cam, and nothing else in the installation, will the cam make my car less reliable? In the summer, my Vette is kind of a daily driver and weekend warrior (I drive the car to the event) autocross car.
Last edited by gpruitt54; Feb 16, 2018 at 05:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,431
Likes: 233
From: Chicago Illinois
Got it. It has to be done as a package of modifications. Like headers and X-Pipe, works better together.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 155
Likes: 20
From: Brentwood Tn
Cam vs reliability
In my experience a small block will last a long time left internally stock. Once you add a high lift cam with stronger springs you put more stress on cam bearings and the rocker arms and engine life will be reduced depending on how much additional power it makes and how you drive.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,983
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
a 475 hp small block no matter how well built will not last as long or go as far as a 350 hp small block, ask me how I know... But it's a lot more fun....we usually go by how many years we've driven our vettes rather than how many miles we've gone anyway, so don't much matter 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
You can't compare an old school SBC compared to any LS engine---A LS engine is far superior in strength and durability then any SBC or BBC engine
The 6 bolt mains and superior modern technology makes a LS far more robust when it comes to any mods
Any LS engine can handle a cam in the 230's to 240's duration at .050 as long as you use the proper valve springs and rocker arm trunion upgrade----Even a bone stock LS with stock springs can handle a cam in the low 220's-----The STOCK rods -bearings-pistons etc can handle up to 450 to 500 crank HP using stock compression---Going beyond 500 crank HP and more than stock compression would then require all forged internals---especially if boosted or having NOS---
I have a 5.3 Silverado with a large cam --hds --etc that makes approx 400 crank HP and it is my daily driver with no issues and it has 175K miles on the clock !!!
The 6 bolt mains and superior modern technology makes a LS far more robust when it comes to any mods
Any LS engine can handle a cam in the 230's to 240's duration at .050 as long as you use the proper valve springs and rocker arm trunion upgrade----Even a bone stock LS with stock springs can handle a cam in the low 220's-----The STOCK rods -bearings-pistons etc can handle up to 450 to 500 crank HP using stock compression---Going beyond 500 crank HP and more than stock compression would then require all forged internals---especially if boosted or having NOS---
I have a 5.3 Silverado with a large cam --hds --etc that makes approx 400 crank HP and it is my daily driver with no issues and it has 175K miles on the clock !!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 66
From: SoCal
Need to have all the supporting mods listed above. That and having to change out springs on your maintenance schedule or have a bad day when one breaks if you go with a high lift aggressive cam profile. So there are things to consider when changing out a cam.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 549
Likes: 102
From: Madison WI
MS4 cam for nearly 40k miles of street and a few track days. Other than replacing valve springs its been solid. MS4 is one of the wildest cams for a street car.
Its not easy to drive but I'm not afraid to go jump in it now and drive across the country.
Its not easy to drive but I'm not afraid to go jump in it now and drive across the country.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
anytime you change from stock you are decreasing long term reliability....a bigger cam is more stress on stuff, it just is..especially a DD....went through this with my wifes 02, she wanted a big cam and it was her daily driver..eventually things went south....more than 40K...but far less than she would have had stock...FWIW the car died at 180K so its not like it wasn't driven...I don't recall when the big cam went in along with the spring upgrades etc.
I know what you are thinking, holy crap 180K whats to complain about
I know what you are thinking, holy crap 180K whats to complain about