Starting cam swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 273
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Starting cam swap
I'm getting ready to do a cam swap with a buddy of mine on my 99 Corvette. I think I'm going to go with the texas speed 228r, comp single beehive, 7.400 push rods. What else should i buy?, What would you guys recommend? Are there any good write-ups out there. I think 228r will be a good cam for my full exhaust c5? On less someone convinces me otherwise. Options and help would be much appreciated
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
You still have the LS1 intake manifold---It will become the limiting factor now in your combination---I would absolutely get the LS6 intake which will give you an honest 12-15 RWHP !!!
ALSO the early LS1 are notorious for sucking oil into the intake manifold via the PCV system--Thats whay there is such a huge catch can business--While the cam and intake are off an easy 1st fix would be to install the LS6 intake valley as well --about $75 helps
quite a bit but not as good as a catch can--
Look inside your T-Body with a flashlight you'll be shocked to see how much oil is in there--
ALSO the early LS1 are notorious for sucking oil into the intake manifold via the PCV system--Thats whay there is such a huge catch can business--While the cam and intake are off an easy 1st fix would be to install the LS6 intake valley as well --about $75 helps
quite a bit but not as good as a catch can--
Look inside your T-Body with a flashlight you'll be shocked to see how much oil is in there--
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 273
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
You still have the LS1 intake manifold---It will become the limiting factor now in your combination---I would absolutely get the LS6 intake which will give you an honest 12-15 RWHP !!!
ALSO the early LS1 are notorious for sucking oil into the intake manifold via the PCV system--Thats whay there is such a huge catch can business--While the cam and intake are off an easy 1st fix would be to install the LS6 intake valley as well --about $75 helps
quite a bit but not as good as a catch can--
Look inside your T-Body with a flashlight you'll be shocked to see how much oil is in there--
ALSO the early LS1 are notorious for sucking oil into the intake manifold via the PCV system--Thats whay there is such a huge catch can business--While the cam and intake are off an easy 1st fix would be to install the LS6 intake valley as well --about $75 helps
quite a bit but not as good as a catch can--
Look inside your T-Body with a flashlight you'll be shocked to see how much oil is in there--
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 56
From: Houston Texas
Here is what I did with my '99 FRC:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/perf...aram-only.html
The 228r is smaller than the Comp LsR cam in mine, so expected power should be a bit lower than the first dyno sheet that was cam/exhaust/vararam intake.
Lastly, don't forget about the TUNE!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/perf...aram-only.html
The 228r is smaller than the Comp LsR cam in mine, so expected power should be a bit lower than the first dyno sheet that was cam/exhaust/vararam intake.
Lastly, don't forget about the TUNE!!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 8
From: Northwest Washington
While you are in there, may as well change the balancer, Powerbond is good, LS2 timing chain and maybe a LS6 oil pump since there were some problems with the 99's and earlier. LS6 intake is a good idea as previouly mentioned with oil catchcan, I like the Elite Engeneering one for ease of emptying.
Didn't notice you mentioning heads, so I would change the oil seals while changing the springs. May consider removing the air system so changing the plugs becomes a little easier. Don't forget to have the codes deleted when you have a tune. P0410, P0412, P0418, P1415 & P1416. Also have the tuner remove the skip shift feature unless you enjoy being shoved into fourth gear.
I would also get new factory rockers, the older ones are known to spit the bearings out. If you do get new heads I would consider Texas Speed since they use steel valve guides which wear better than bronze valve guides and are compatible with factory rockers.
May also want to get a oil pressure relocate kit, I have the TPE kit but have never had the oil pressure switch go bad.
Also replace the power steering pump pulley with LS2 Part no. 12568997, it's steel and the stock one for LS1 is plastic and usually gets broken during cam change
Didn't notice you mentioning heads, so I would change the oil seals while changing the springs. May consider removing the air system so changing the plugs becomes a little easier. Don't forget to have the codes deleted when you have a tune. P0410, P0412, P0418, P1415 & P1416. Also have the tuner remove the skip shift feature unless you enjoy being shoved into fourth gear.
I would also get new factory rockers, the older ones are known to spit the bearings out. If you do get new heads I would consider Texas Speed since they use steel valve guides which wear better than bronze valve guides and are compatible with factory rockers.
May also want to get a oil pressure relocate kit, I have the TPE kit but have never had the oil pressure switch go bad.
Also replace the power steering pump pulley with LS2 Part no. 12568997, it's steel and the stock one for LS1 is plastic and usually gets broken during cam change
Last edited by Rex99Coupe; Feb 23, 2012 at 06:45 PM. Reason: add more info
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 8
From: Northwest Washington
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Good starting place for cam swap, Don't use the info for balancer installation. I would get the Hawk618 balancer install tool instead of using bolt. When installing the new balancer I heated mine for 30 min. at 200 deg. slid on easy with Hawks tool.
Good starting place for cam swap, Don't use the info for balancer installation. I would get the Hawk618 balancer install tool instead of using bolt. When installing the new balancer I heated mine for 30 min. at 200 deg. slid on easy with Hawks tool.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,203
Likes: 63
From: Staten Island NY
I just did a heads and cam install on my 99, same cam.
I would also do the Comp Cam trunion upgrade. The stock rockers are fine for the lift of that cam, its the bearings that go.
The pushrod length needs to be measured, the 7.400 was to long for my car, I needed the 7.325 pushrods.
I would also do the Comp Cam trunion upgrade. The stock rockers are fine for the lift of that cam, its the bearings that go.
The pushrod length needs to be measured, the 7.400 was to long for my car, I needed the 7.325 pushrods.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 43
From: East Aurora NY
I would also change a few things while you are there, like oil pump.
1. HAWK Balancer install tool
2. New O-ring for oil pump
3. New oil pump (LS6 ported from TSP)
4. All new gaskets
5. RTV for bottom of timing cover
6. Locktite
7. New belts
Just off the top of my head
1. HAWK Balancer install tool
2. New O-ring for oil pump
3. New oil pump (LS6 ported from TSP)
4. All new gaskets
5. RTV for bottom of timing cover
6. Locktite
7. New belts
Just off the top of my head
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Beaumont TX
While you are in there, may as well change the balancer, Powerbond is good, LS2 timing chain and maybe a LS6 oil pump since there were some problems with the 99's and earlier. LS6 intake is a good idea as previouly mentioned with oil catchcan, I like the Elite Engeneering one for ease of emptying.
Didn't notice you mentioning heads, so I would change the oil seals while changing the springs. May consider removing the air system so changing the plugs becomes a little easier. Don't forget to have the codes deleted when you have a tune. P0410, P0412, P0418, P1415 & P1416. Also have the tuner remove the skip shift feature unless you enjoy being shoved into fourth gear.
I would also get new factory rockers, the older ones are known to spit the bearings out. If you do get new heads I would consider Texas Speed since they use steel valve guides which wear better than bronze valve guides and are compatible with factory rockers.
May also want to get a oil pressure relocate kit, I have the TPE kit but have never had the oil pressure switch go bad.
Also replace the power steering pump pulley with LS2 Part no. 12568997, it's steel and the stock one for LS1 is plastic and usually gets broken during cam change
Didn't notice you mentioning heads, so I would change the oil seals while changing the springs. May consider removing the air system so changing the plugs becomes a little easier. Don't forget to have the codes deleted when you have a tune. P0410, P0412, P0418, P1415 & P1416. Also have the tuner remove the skip shift feature unless you enjoy being shoved into fourth gear.
I would also get new factory rockers, the older ones are known to spit the bearings out. If you do get new heads I would consider Texas Speed since they use steel valve guides which wear better than bronze valve guides and are compatible with factory rockers.
May also want to get a oil pressure relocate kit, I have the TPE kit but have never had the oil pressure switch go bad.
Also replace the power steering pump pulley with LS2 Part no. 12568997, it's steel and the stock one for LS1 is plastic and usually gets broken during cam change
^^^^X2
