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LS7 cam into an LS1?

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Old Jul 10, 2011 | 10:01 PM
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Default LS7 cam into an LS1?

What do you guys think about the driveability of a stock LS7 cam in my 99 LS1? If I do a cam change it has to be something that will still pass CA smog, which the LS7 cam should do.
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Old Jul 10, 2011 | 11:33 PM
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put headers on it
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 12:43 AM
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Use a ls6 Z06 cam. Near the same. You will have to change the front cover and use a ls2 cam sensor as well as do a wiring harness relocate with the LS7. Get a grind ofr your application and save the headache.


To answer your question, they drive fine and are great with turbos setups as well.

Last edited by Slow Z06; Jul 11, 2011 at 12:51 AM.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 12:49 AM
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I wonder what that cam would spec out to on 1.7 rockers.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 12:53 AM
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Call Andy at A&A, he can set you up with a good cam kit and still pass SMOG.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by printmanjackson
put headers on it
I already have headers - listed in my sig.

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I'll wait till I can do it all at once and do it right.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 06:07 AM
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shorty headers i am guessing?
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 07:00 AM
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too big for an LS1

you can do a 224 /228 581/588 on a 113 and pass CA smog with a good tune
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by baxsom
shorty headers i am guessing?
Yep, the only way to do headers legally here. I've had it with smog problems - I'm keeping this car legal with the technical exception of the Vararam which is easy to swap out with the stock airbox if I have to.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 05:31 PM
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Keep in mind the ls7 cam specs are listed in relation to 1.8 rockers...not the 1.7 we have on the ls1.

If you want a smog legal cam, you may be able to get a baby custom cam. Can't really go wrong with the ls6 cam if all you are looking for is a little extra power and stock drivability. There was an fbod that hit 11's with that cam + headers on stock 241 heads. He was lightened, but I believe still heavier than a corvette.

If doing labor yourself, ls6 springs are like 50 bucks and the cam I believe is 200 or so. Throw in an extra $100 for misc parts (bolts, gaskets, fluids) and you are looking at $350 installed...not bad and you will gain a minimum of 20 hp, more if you had real long tubes.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by mchicia1
Keep in mind the ls7 cam specs are listed in relation to 1.8 rockers...not the 1.7 we have on the ls1.

If you want a smog legal cam, you may be able to get a baby custom cam. Can't really go wrong with the ls6 cam if all you are looking for is a little extra power and stock drivability. There was an fbod that hit 11's with that cam + headers on stock 241 heads. He was lightened, but I believe still heavier than a corvette.

If doing labor yourself, ls6 springs are like 50 bucks and the cam I believe is 200 or so. Throw in an extra $100 for misc parts (bolts, gaskets, fluids) and you are looking at $350 installed...not bad and you will gain a minimum of 20 hp, more if you had real long tubes.

Yeah, I've looked at the LS6 cams. If I do 1.8 rockers on my stocker I get up to about the lift of a 2001 LS6 cam and can do all that with just the valve covers off. If I do a cam I know I'm going to end up doing a timing chain, oil pump and who knows what else. I guess no matter what I do I'll at least end up changing springs too. I'm not too concerned about dipping into the 11's, but I would like some more upper end to go with all the other mods I've done so far.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
too big for an LS1
Curious, in what way is it too big?
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by AU N EGL
too big for an LS1

you can do a 224 /228 581/588 on a 113 and pass CA smog with a good tune
Totally. And I'd be willing to bet it'll get better results than a LS7 cam, which is not really suited for a LS6. Hey, you'll even get a bit of that "cammed" sound, which I promise you'll love.
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Old Jul 11, 2011 | 09:16 PM
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Thats the other benefit of doing a cam swap, like you said, it allows you swap the chain and the oil pump. Get a katech ported ls6 pump and at minimum an ls2 timing chain, but if you have the funds, swing for the C5R chain.
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Old Jul 12, 2011 | 03:44 PM
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Definitely give Andy@A&A or Charlie@RPM a call. Overlap is the key to passing SMOG in calif. I barely passed with a 228/232 cam. I've since had a rebuild and run a smaller cam (218/224) and it passed with ease
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