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LS6 heads and cam...

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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 03:10 AM
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From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Default LS6 heads and cam...

Will a set of stock LS6 heads, LS6 intake and a ZO6 cam give my C5 LS1 better performance?
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 06:04 AM
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Yes, you will gain some added performance with LS6 parts. However there a lot better cams out there than the LS6 cam. If I were you I would be looking at a more potent cam.
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 12:03 PM
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Yes, 40 HP. You could get close to the same output with just a cam and springs if the cam was more aggresive. That would eliminate a little labor and price of heads/gaskets/bolts. I see you have an auto so remember that the more aggressive your setup the more aggressive TQ converter you will need to buy.

Fair warning: many forum members suffer from "not my car or my money so I think you should..." syndrome. You will hear a lot of people say that you need a cam with .600 lift or a complete 427 ci setup.

If you want stock like drivability (and no, 1000 RPM idles are not stock-like) consider that setup, or ask around and talk to one of the people running a 220-224 with 115+ LSA cam on stock LS1 heads and get their opinions. I read awhile back about a guy dropping a stealth II cam in an untouched ls1 headed car and he was within 10 RWHP of some cars running AFRs, no cats and 90mm TB with similar cams.

If you want your car to get up and move and don't care about noise/stock mannered drivability then you should definitely go for a bigger cam while you are in there.

LS6 setups can be a great upgrade if you get a good deal on parts and want to do the labor yourself... but for a few more clams you can be putting out much more
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 01:13 PM
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From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
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Originally Posted by Casem1
Yes, 40 HP. You could get close to the same output with just a cam and springs if the cam was more aggresive. That would eliminate a little labor and price of heads/gaskets/bolts. I see you have an auto so remember that the more aggressive your setup the more aggressive TQ converter you will need to buy.

Fair warning: many forum members suffer from "not my car or my money so I think you should..." syndrome. You will hear a lot of people say that you need a cam with .600 lift or a complete 427 ci setup.

If you want stock like drivability (and no, 1000 RPM idles are not stock-like) consider that setup, or ask around and talk to one of the people running a 220-224 with 115+ LSA cam on stock LS1 heads and get their opinions. I read awhile back about a guy dropping a stealth II cam in an untouched ls1 headed car and he was within 10 RWHP of some cars running AFRs, no cats and 90mm TB with similar cams.

If you want your car to get up and move and don't care about noise/stock mannered drivability then you should definitely go for a bigger cam while you are in there.

LS6 setups can be a great upgrade if you get a good deal on parts and want to do the labor yourself... but for a few more clams you can be putting out much more
Thanks for this positive input.
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Mitch C
Yes, you will gain some added performance with LS6 parts. However there a lot better cams out there than the LS6 cam. If I were you I would be looking at a more potent cam.
Thanks for the info. I had a 216/220 cam selected but was told by the installer that the ZO6 cam had better lift numbers and would pass smog inspection here in CA. SO I'm look forward to a SOTP feeling.
RSTY
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 05:14 PM
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nice thing about the z06 heads/cam combo, is factory reliability and service intervals.
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by jmautox
nice thing about the z06 heads/cam combo, is factory reliability and service intervals.
Yes, heads are premium, sodium filled valve stems, ti retainers, heavy springs..they have low mileage on them also.
I'll be very happy I'm sure.
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted by RstyNutz
Thanks for the info. I had a 216/220 cam selected but was told by the installer that the ZO6 cam had better lift numbers and would pass smog inspection here in CA. SO I'm look forward to a SOTP feeling.
RSTY
Damn the smog *****
We have smog regs too in parts of Nevada but not as bad yet. Still when I get around to cam selection I will want to go as agressive as permissible by the law, then look to other options to make more power.

Just my .02
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 12:21 AM
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Z06 parts will deff. help, but I would go ahead and find a more lethal cam, while it will be out anyways.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by viper9403
Z06 parts will deff. help, but I would go ahead and find a more lethal cam, while it will be out anyways.

Get something bigger
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 03:58 AM
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Originally Posted by RstyNutz
Thanks for the info. I had a 216/220 cam selected but was told by the installer that the ZO6 cam had better lift numbers and would pass smog inspection here in CA. SO I'm look forward to a SOTP feeling.
RSTY
Your installer gave you inaccurate advice. You can get the 216/220 cam with more lift than the Z06 cam if you like. Simply call Comp Cams and order a 216/220 with more lift. There are a ton of mild cams out there that will out perform the Z06 cam. YOu should also keep in mind that while lift is important the duration the cam is just as important. The Z06 cam is only something like 204/211.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 04:19 AM
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One other thing. Tuning.

All the cams listed will benefit from *some* tuning as well. A good tune can mask the cam quite well at idle for inspection purposes and still pass smog with flying colors.

One guy I heard of passed CA smog on the rollers with a 230-ish cam, 382" engine, headers, AFR heads & a tuneup he wasn't done with.
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Old Mar 31, 2006 | 08:17 AM
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PM C5XTASY. Ed went with a very similar setup.
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