Cam question
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Pensacola Florida
Cam question
Hate to bother anyone with ignorance but I am pretty new to the corvette scene and don't know anything about cams or heads and what not, my question is with a new cam, would I need to add/modify anything else? Other than the CAI, my engine on an 01 coupe is stock.
thanks
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,406
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From: Dallas Tx
I would recomend getting at least headers before considering a cam. A set of long tube headers will get your around 30 rear wheel horsepower. And then you'll be ready for a cam upgrade.
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Originally Posted by Shane_S
I would recomend getting at least headers before considering a cam. A set of long tube headers will get your around 30 rear wheel horsepower. And then you'll be ready for a cam upgrade.
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
Check out the Thunder Racing “Cheatr” cam. I understand it works well without headers and will pass California smog tests. They are a supporting vendor.
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=7&pcid=51
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=7&pcid=51
Thanks,
Clayton from Las Vegas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Thanks for the link. Too bad they don't say what kind of gains to expect, nor do they show an recommended supporting parts you might need. Boy, sometimes it's like pulling teeth when you want to spend money. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
Thanks for the link. Too bad they don't say what kind of gains to expect, nor do they show an recommended supporting parts you might need. Boy, sometimes it's like pulling teeth when you want to spend money.
No you do not have to have LT headers to benefit from a cam. Since you are in Cally and have stiff emission standards you can forget cams with more then 45 degrees overlap @ .006 lift. I am assuming they (the State) are still sniffing and ODBII testing. Just ODBII testing is easier to deal with
Look at a 224/224 (XE-R) 114lsa cam. It is right at 45 degrees overlap. I installed one in a forum member’s 02 ZO6 and got 406 rwhp (sae), but he did have LT headers w/cats... You should see 30ish rwhp with an UD pulley also...
Good Luck,
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Tx
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
I can't pass smog inspections with long-tube headers. Do you have to have headers to benefit from a cam?
Shane
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Originally Posted by Shane_S
In that case get yourself a set of CARB legal shorties. I know they're out there but i dont know who makes them.
Shane
Shane
What's your opinion on that?
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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
Originally Posted by Shane_S
I would recomend getting at least headers before considering a cam. A set of long tube headers will get your around 30 rear wheel horsepower. And then you'll be ready for a cam upgrade.
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
When you do decide to get a cam you'll need to replace valvesprings, seals, seats, and retainers. These usually all come as a kit. Comp Cams 918's and 921's do. With cams over .600 lift you want to run the 921's or an equally good dual spring. And of course get Chromolly pushrods.
That's about all the advice I can think off right now without starting a brand war. I suspect people will chime in soon saying "you should get this cam and these headers, blah blah blah"
Weather you do LG, Kooks, Dynamaxx, TSP, or any of the other stainless steel headers. Be sure you do them BEFORE the cam or at the same time.
Shane
Shane pretty much summed it up.. you will also need to take the car to a professional tuner and have the car re-tuned (assuming you don't know how to tune most people don't) this will cost you about 500 bucks give or take.with regards to the Headers , it's not that you have to have headers if you get a cam... but if you use stock manifolds with a bigger cam,, you will be leaving horsepower on the table and not getting all the benefit out of your cam and other mods.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 1
From: Iowa
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
I can't pass smog inspections with long-tube headers. Do you have to have headers to benefit from a cam?
The simple answer is no, you don't need them in order to have a cam. And unless you are going to be drag racing the vette, they won't do you any better than your stock exhaust manifolds will around town and on the street.
There's one feller on here (forget who) that has a 400+ rwhp vette with stock gears, stock tranny, stock heads AND stock exhaust manifolds, but with a big honkin' cam and vararam intake, who runs in the high 11's at the strip.
I put longtubes on mine because I CAN and to get the benefit of the extra horsepower available at the upper rpm's which they can provide.
If you feel the need for some extra "punch" after getting a cam installed.....think about changing rear and gears, and if it's an automatic, a higher stall converter.
Gotta keep them smog-demons in the Republik of Kalifornia happy ya know, (assuming that's where you live).
And then again, what about all this noise I've been hearing about lately that the LEO's there are out specifically targeting "modified" vehicles to cite?
What's THAT all about?
Last edited by MagikDraggin; Mar 17, 2006 at 02:17 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 1
From: Montara Ca
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
I can't pass smog inspections with long-tube headers. Do you have to have headers to benefit from a cam?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by MrLeadFoot
I've been told that shorties aren't worth the expense, but while it may be true that the gains wouldn't be all that much on a stock LS1, I've always thought they would make a difference if you have a cam. But, then again, if I don't need them, even better, because the volume won't go up that much, and I save money.
What's your opinion on that?
What's your opinion on that?
At this time I have hi-flo cats, X-pipe, ZO6 exhaust, Blackwing air filter and a 160 stat.. I passed the smog sniff and visual test with these.
I'll be adding a cam and shortie headers, LS6 intake, oil pump and new valve springs and a tune when the mods are complete.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
Originally Posted by dudleyd
Did you actually fail the CA smog test (OBDII) with Long tubes for high emissions or fail the visual inspection or is this what you have been told?
