Does adding larger heads smooth out the lope of a cam?
12-04-2006, 05:57 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Does adding larger heads smooth out the lope of a cam?
I have a stock LS1 with a 224/228/595/114, long tubes, 3200 stall converter in my 2000 vette....The car has a nice lope with the cam but I want to smooth it out alittle for when it is idling...would putting LS6 heads on do that? And would putting on a larger pipe diameter exhaust(I have stockers on now to keep it quiet) smooth out the slight shaking of the car(because of the cam?) Maybe it would let the air escape better out of the exhaust while the car is idling at rest? Im thinking of putting on a z06 titanium exhaust to replace the stock one..Are the pipes larger than the stock C5 or the same diameter? Thanks
12-04-2006, 06:04 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
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Originally Posted by mark b
I have a stock LS1 with a 224/228/595/114, long tubes, 3200 stall converter in my 2000 vette....The car has a nice lope with the cam but I want to smooth it out alittle for when it is idling...would putting LS6 heads on do that? And would putting on a larger pipe diameter exhaust(I have stockers on now to keep it quiet) smooth out the slight shaking of the car(because of the cam?) Maybe it would let the air escape better out of the exhaust while the car is idling at rest? Im thinking of putting on a z06 titanium exhaust to replace the stock one..Are the pipes larger than the stock C5 or the same diameter? Thanks
Nope...To lessen the lope you would have to pull the cam and replace with a larger LSA (115 or higher) or even switch to a smaller cam.
Hammer
12-04-2006, 06:19 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
To answer your other question, the Z06 ti's are also 2.5".
They are very quiet at idle and cruise, but much louder under power - great system, zero drone at cruise. Do it.
Funny thing about my baby cam on my 6-speed, it has a little lope at idle, but when the AC compressor is on, the lope totally smooths out.
Both idle settings are 750 RPM, I guess it's just the difference in load on the motor. You could try moving the idle up/down 50 RPM or so, it might smooth a bit and make you happy.
DG
They are very quiet at idle and cruise, but much louder under power - great system, zero drone at cruise. Do it.
Funny thing about my baby cam on my 6-speed, it has a little lope at idle, but when the AC compressor is on, the lope totally smooths out.
Both idle settings are 750 RPM, I guess it's just the difference in load on the motor. You could try moving the idle up/down 50 RPM or so, it might smooth a bit and make you happy.
DG
12-04-2006, 06:57 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by thehammer69
Nope...To lessen the lope you would have to pull the cam and replace with a larger LSA (115 or higher) or even switch to a smaller cam.
Hammer
Hammer
100% ~ I personally would stay with the 114 LSA and go down to like a 220/220 cam If It were me. There are so many cams to choose from as you know. I just like that Thunder Racing Cam. You should check out their site...It's www.Thunderracing.com *Great site I must say 
Best of luck
Last edited by Vetteoholic; 12-04-2006 at 07:01 PM.
12-04-2006, 07:53 PM
#6
Pro
Originally Posted by thehammer69
Nope...To lessen the lope you would have to pull the cam and replace with a larger LSA (115 or higher) or even switch to a smaller cam.
Hammer
Hammer
12-04-2006, 07:59 PM
#7
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You didn't mention what your idle speed is but raising it might help smooth out the shakes. Tighter LSA's mean a more radical idle especially as you increase the duration. Changing anything other than the cam won't help your issue.
12-05-2006, 12:36 PM
#8
Drifting
Thats close to my cam. As stated above, changing the exhaust won't change the lope/shaking very much. I have seen some cars with no cats smooth out somewhat when high flow cats were installed.
However, a good tuner can often make a significant improvement in the idle condition by fine tuning various tables in the ecm. Just had my car re-tuned by Slowhawk (Don Kinder, Dez Racing) and the I would say the lope is reduced by about 25%, idles at 950, still nice lope to it, but a litle more stealthy.
So depending the tune you have in now, you may be able to smooth it out some with a new tune.
Just my .02. Hope this helps.
However, a good tuner can often make a significant improvement in the idle condition by fine tuning various tables in the ecm. Just had my car re-tuned by Slowhawk (Don Kinder, Dez Racing) and the I would say the lope is reduced by about 25%, idles at 950, still nice lope to it, but a litle more stealthy.
So depending the tune you have in now, you may be able to smooth it out some with a new tune.
Just my .02. Hope this helps.
12-05-2006, 01:41 PM
#9
Drifting
ditto for Don, if you want a buttery smooth idle I'd talk to a few tuners (esp Don) and see what they can do before you start dumping $$$$$ into heads and exhaust to solve a problem that can be done thru tuning.
12-05-2006, 11:18 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
thanks guys, I went back to Vette Doctors and Carmine raised my idle from 850 to 900,cut some fuel, and he actually had the stock setting still in for cold start so thats why I was having problems...it runs much better and the lope is alittle smoother, I had a feeling the idle was too low
Last edited by mark b; 12-05-2006 at 11:21 PM.
