Suggestions for Cam Upgrade?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Suggestions for Cam Upgrade?
SO... I just discovered that a bad ticking noise in my '02Z engine is because of a bad cam lobe taking out a lifter (or vice-versa). I was already planning to do lifters and a few other things as a result of this noise, but now it looks like a new cam needs to be added to that list.
My car is an '02 Z with a Halltech Stinger intake, LG Pro Longtube Headers with Cats, and the stock Ti exhaust. How much of a cam can I put in there without affecting any of the fantastic drivability of this car?
My car is a daily driver - #1 priority. I love the way this car screams all the way to 6500+RPM, but I also love how I can throw it into 6th gear and putt along with slow traffic at 1100 RPM, even accelerate reasonably from that engine speed, too. Oh, and I really like how it gets great fuel economy, well, at least when I'm not having fun anyway.
I was looking at the SDPC website and saw this cam:
Z+221 SDPC LSX Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Would a cam like this give the car more power without robbing it of its daily drivabiliity? Are there other cams I should be looking at?
My car is an '02 Z with a Halltech Stinger intake, LG Pro Longtube Headers with Cats, and the stock Ti exhaust. How much of a cam can I put in there without affecting any of the fantastic drivability of this car?
My car is a daily driver - #1 priority. I love the way this car screams all the way to 6500+RPM, but I also love how I can throw it into 6th gear and putt along with slow traffic at 1100 RPM, even accelerate reasonably from that engine speed, too. Oh, and I really like how it gets great fuel economy, well, at least when I'm not having fun anyway.
I was looking at the SDPC website and saw this cam:
Z+221 SDPC LSX Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Would a cam like this give the car more power without robbing it of its daily drivabiliity? Are there other cams I should be looking at?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
I'm not looking for a big increase, just wondering since I'm into doing a cam anyway, is there another cam that offers a little more than what I've got now without having to sacrifice the nice bottom end?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Z+221 SDPC LSX Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
maybe a 224 / 228 .581 / .588 113+0
Pac 1218 or Comp 918 springs
New push rods, ( stock ones may be too long )
New timing chain
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse NY
224/228 wouldn't ruin the manners, but you will need a tune. I have no trouble with cruising in 6th gear at low rpms with my setup.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
So I'm looking into a new cam and these look very promising:
SDPD: Z+221 Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Vengeance Racing: VRX1 Camshaft-220/220 .581/.581 114 LSA
And I'm not sure about this one:
Lingenfelter: LS1-GT11 215 / 231 .631" / .644" 1.7 ratio 118
Any thoughts?
Can I expect the car to run OK without a tune? This is important since I would not be able to get the car tuned right away but would have to drive it. I wouldn't be expecting any performance from the car until I got it properly tuned, I would just have to use it for getting to work and back.
SDPD: Z+221 Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Vengeance Racing: VRX1 Camshaft-220/220 .581/.581 114 LSA
And I'm not sure about this one:
Lingenfelter: LS1-GT11 215 / 231 .631" / .644" 1.7 ratio 118
Any thoughts?
Can I expect the car to run OK without a tune? This is important since I would not be able to get the car tuned right away but would have to drive it. I wouldn't be expecting any performance from the car until I got it properly tuned, I would just have to use it for getting to work and back.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 9
From: Jackson Tn
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
anytime you change the amount of air pumping through the engine you are going to have to tune for it. Why go through all the work and expense of a cam and not consider a tune as part of the upgrade?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by printmanjackson
Why go through all the work and expense of a cam and not consider a tune as part of the upgrade?
Originally Posted by Blue Angel
I wouldn't be expecting any performance from the car until I got it properly tuned...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,983
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
So I'm looking into a new cam and these look very promising:
SDPD: Z+221 Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Vengeance Racing: VRX1 Camshaft-220/220 .581/.581 114 LSA
And I'm not sure about this one:
Lingenfelter: LS1-GT11 215 / 231 .631" / .644" 1.7 ratio 118
Any thoughts?
Can I expect the car to run OK without a tune? This is important since I would not be able to get the car tuned right away but would have to drive it. I wouldn't be expecting any performance from the car until I got it properly tuned, I would just have to use it for getting to work and back.
SDPD: Z+221 Camshaft 221/226 .565/.560 114 LSA
Vengeance Racing: VRX1 Camshaft-220/220 .581/.581 114 LSA
And I'm not sure about this one:
Lingenfelter: LS1-GT11 215 / 231 .631" / .644" 1.7 ratio 118
Any thoughts?
Can I expect the car to run OK without a tune? This is important since I would not be able to get the car tuned right away but would have to drive it. I wouldn't be expecting any performance from the car until I got it properly tuned, I would just have to use it for getting to work and back.
also, re waiting a week or so for a tune, your car will run like crap big time, you'd be way better off getting even a mail order type tune till you have time to get a proper one....
Last edited by dankhts; Aug 26, 2011 at 10:45 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,983
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
it's likely a lifter failure, takes out the cam lobe...the little roller will stick from time to time for whatever reason, marking up the cam.... happened to mine and a few of my friends' too - actually mine didn't take out the can lobe but since I had to pull the cam to inspect it, I didn't want to put the stock cam back in.... so along with a bigger cam came the heads, then may as well do the long tubes, and intake, etc etc, then gears and a TC, etc etc, about 7 g's later, we're all good again!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 9
From: Jackson Tn
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
I wouldn't count on it running "good enough" for anything without some adjustment. I'm sure it won't idle and with a cam pumping more air into an engine it will be running lean. Good luck
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 3
From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada
This is the most accurate thing I've ever read! ONE little lifter is costing me a fortune! 
Well, I just pulled the trigger on the LPE GT11 Cam. Lingenfelter includes this as part of a 500hp LS2 kit and warranties it for three years so it can't be that hard on valvesprings - I hope!
I can't believe it. Most people will laugh at that but this is my daily driver and it's been 100% internally stock since I bought it over SEVEN years ago... LG headers and Halltech intake, that's it, reliable daily driver that just happens to run 11's.
Between the cam, lifters, rocker bearings, oil pump, timing set, crank balancer, pinning kit, studs, lube, gaskets and fluids I'm going to be out over $1800... and I already had the valvesprings installed last year!
Oh, and let's not forget about the custom tune! This will be the better part of $2500 when it's all said and done. Maybe I should be buying HP Tuners and learn tuning as well...
At least I will be able to sleep at night knowing the top of the engine is built reliably and I have a top notch oil pump keeping all my bits and pieces happy.
Now how about those heads...
Well, I just pulled the trigger on the LPE GT11 Cam. Lingenfelter includes this as part of a 500hp LS2 kit and warranties it for three years so it can't be that hard on valvesprings - I hope!
I can't believe it. Most people will laugh at that but this is my daily driver and it's been 100% internally stock since I bought it over SEVEN years ago... LG headers and Halltech intake, that's it, reliable daily driver that just happens to run 11's.
Between the cam, lifters, rocker bearings, oil pump, timing set, crank balancer, pinning kit, studs, lube, gaskets and fluids I'm going to be out over $1800... and I already had the valvesprings installed last year!
Oh, and let's not forget about the custom tune! This will be the better part of $2500 when it's all said and done. Maybe I should be buying HP Tuners and learn tuning as well...
At least I will be able to sleep at night knowing the top of the engine is built reliably and I have a top notch oil pump keeping all my bits and pieces happy.
Now how about those heads...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,856
Likes: 242
From: Hillsboro OR
I went with a 224/230 .581/.588 113. It makes great power (Mustang dyno'ed 416 rwhp 392 rwtq). The 113 LSA gives it a mighty sweet sounding lope.
