baxsom

So I am putting together parts for a mild cam swap for my 00 LS1. I have an 02 LS6 cam and 01 Z06 heads with the lighter valves etc. I know I could have went with a bigger cam but so far I only have 150 bucks in the cam and heads. The heads have brand spankin new never been fired LS6 springs on them. Then I read about all of the problems with LS6 springs and I have started to wonder if I need to think about replacing them. Were the problems with just production springs and new ones are good or is it all LS6 springs are a no go.

vettenuts

Careful here, the 01 heads didn't have the ligher valves. The 02 cam needs the lighter valves to use the LS6 springs. If you have 01 heads and an 02 cam, I would get the PAC 1218's if you haven't bought springs yet.

baxsom

interesting, i thought all Z06's had the lighter valves.


edit...

the problem is there are a lot of posts out there that say ALL Z06 heads have the same lightweight valves. Finally found out that 01 LS1 and 01 LS6 valves use the same part number. I have read that they use the same spring though. Can anyone confirm if 01 LS6 springs were different than 02+ LS6 springs.
My 01 243 heads have brand new GMPP yellow springs.

vettenuts

No, the springs were different and the cam wasn't as big in 01 as compared to 02. If I remember correctly, the 01 hp was 385 and 02 was 405, with much of the difference being the cam.

With your setup I believe you need a bit more spring to ensure valve control at the upper RPM since you are using the later cam.

ZZ06

01 ZO6 204/211 0.525/0.525 Lsa 116
02-upZO6 - 204/218 0.555/0.551 Lsa 117.5
I would take vettenuts advice on those PAC 1218's. Supposedly GM fixed the issue with the "yellow" springs. I do not recall the correct part #. IMO i wouldnt even bother to risk it. And yes the springs are different in these models. 01's had blue springs not rated as high.

lucky131969

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answe...-article-2.pdf

AU N EGL

why put in the Z06 cam. There are better cams on the market

baxsom

because i paid 150 for both the heads and cam and even that was more than I wanted to spend. If you can find me a bigger cam for the same price let me know.

lucky131969

Yikes......if money is that tight, you should not even touch the motor...

baxsom

money isnt tight, i am. I am not doing it for the power. If I want to drive a car with power I will drive my 450hp C3. I am doing the swap soley for the experience and know how. My C5 does nothing more than take me to work and back so it is not like I need to get there any faster than I already do. I like turning wrenches a lot more than driving so I thought doing this swap would be a nice project to get me back in the garage since I have wrapped up every other project I have started. So thank you for your useless post that did nothing to further my original question.

UstaB-GS549

I got nervous and replaced mine with new at around 20,000 miles. I track mine and decided to go with OEM springs. $60 for the set from Gene Culley.

02 Z06: The original springs were yellow and so were the new replacements. Elliptical wire, beehive design, made by a German company: Mubea.

AU N EGL

Don't open the motor at all. it seems any time a motor gets opened up it is $5,000 over the following year. as most DIYers or low cost wrenches just dont know what they are doing

Even if money is not an issue, may not be worth all the work involved.

baxsom

Jumping jesus on a pogo stick why cant people just keep the conversation relevant. This is exactly the reason why I am doing it. I never have and I want to learn how. If it takes a year and my lifesavings in the end then so what, if I get it back together and it runs then that is all that matters. My original intent was to tear the LS1 cam out and put it straight back in until I was given the deal on the z06 heads and cam. So since ever single z06 cam thread on this forum always ends with get a bigger cam and no actual advice is ever really given, then just never mind. Just forget I asked anything.

vetfeva2

Amen brother, I feel your pain. I have learned the hard way that there are just some subjects it is best to watch rather than ask (i.e putting shorty headers on my car, boy did that get ugly). There will always be those that give you the answers or suggestions that you are looking for. Just ignore those ones that are less constructive.

vettenuts

Bottom line.

01 had smaller cam and different springs along with stainless valves
02-04 had bigger cam, lighter valves and revved higher.

Your combination of the 01 heads with the 02 cam will require a bit more spring to get the required RPM valve train stability. I would install the PAC 1218's as any of the proposed GM springs may not be capable of controlling your setup.

David426

Baxsom..Here is a thread I posted with a picture and price info.. Read it. Replaced my 2002 Z06 springs(yellow) with the new springs (Blue) http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...s-from-gm.html

lucky131969

Useless? I'll tell you what's useless.....proposing to tear a motor apart for no good reason, stating this up front:

Which prompts questions from those who know better. So when you start whining like a little girl, about the $150 you did not want to spend, it leads one to believe you should not even consider going further.

If you are going to author your threads like a woman....i.e. no logic or reason.....be prepared for some questions.

6 Shooter

I replaced my LS1 for an GMPP LS6 Crate Motor. My out the door cost was $5K(2 year/50K mile GM warranty) after selling my used/hurt LS1 for $2K.

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter