I'm sure this has been asked somewhere but I've done some pretty extensive searches and can't quite find the answer.

Ofcourse as a new C5 owner I'm interested in a cam for that 40hp+ gains talked about.. BUT I really can't imagine having a car that sounds like a full on dragster. All the youtube videos of c5s with cams sound crazy as hell.. I wake up at 530 to goto work everyday, I can't do that to my neighbors.

So I'm wondering what is the largest cam I can get without sounding like an 8 second chevelle. The popping is what I would like to avoid, ofcourse if thats just the breaks then I'm in

Looking at the A&A 224/232 LSA 116

99 stock except for magnaflow exhaust btw

Thanks everyone

 

Fairly mild.......no complaints from neighbors in the 2 years. TSP 228R .588 112 lsa

 

Cams and exhaust are two different items. Here's my Texas Speed 228R with Borla Stingers. If you use a tame exhaust it won't be as wild.

 

Yeah thats definitely doable for me.. love it..I would even be ok with a tad more, I guess most of the youtube videos that are out are just the most extreme examples.

Do you two also have Lt's and xpipes? and what kind of gains did you see from that cam? Also did you have to switch over to a specialty oil with a higher zinc content? I've heard people have been getting premature cam wear using regular oil, or is that for extreme applications?

Personally mobil1 5w30 in a 99 V8 scares me a little. Thats what I used in my 350z which was a hirev 6.

 

what year is your car and what engine do you have?

most OEM heads, 899, 241 or 243 only flow with a cam lift of .550 for the 899 & 241 heads and .575 for 241 heads. and cam lift too much above those numbers wont help and may even hurt performance.

 

99 LS1 stock except for exhaust. I found a thread that said stock is199/207 .472/.479 117 so the 228r should be a big change in power right? Personally I'll be happy if I can spend under 5k and possibly be a bit quicker than a stock c5 z06...for now

 

228r

228/228 588/588 on a 114 would be a good choice

also will need new springs, timing chain and tune.

 

Yes, LG Motorsport Streets w/ x-pipe and high flow cats, NO MUFFLERS.

I think TSP advertises 45 - 50hp for that cam? But you have to have supporting mods.

No, special oil...straight Mobil 10-40

I'm right about 30,000 miles into this build and absolutely LOVE IT!

 

TSP also makes the 224/228r cam. That is a great cam for 243 heads. It also passes emissions. Thats what Im leaning towards here in Cali.

 

I've had many Comp cams but I went with Texas Speed for the Z06 and I'm really happy with it. Great power and great torque. There's a lot of good info over at LS1Tech site.

 

Well I'm in FL so I can run with no exhaust if I want. I think I'll go with the 228 with the 114 tsp offers that nice package with springs and pushrods. I'm near daytona so I know there has to be more than a few places can than tune it well.

Thanks guys I was really up in the air about this. Now I know exactly what I want.

 

Ok back on this.. Finally going to have the money to think about a cam again.. had rattling flowmasters and an exhaust manifold leak so I just got headers and a new exhaust to get rid of those problems and ofcourse pick up some hp, but now back to the real stuff.

Still 100% decided on the tsp 228r, probably with a 114. I also think I should go ahead and get the tsp titanium spring kit for 300$ for peace of mind.. wouldn't that be the best in that price range??

I was also looking over the package offered by corvette central and it made it so I have a few more questions.

305229 1997-2004 Comp Camshaft Street/Street
305261 1997-2004 Comp Cam 5/16" Hi-Tech Push Rods
305327 1997-2004 Hi-Performance LS1 Valve Spring "9/18"
305307 1997-2004 LS1 Titanium Valve Spring Retainers
305356 1997-2011 Timing Chain and Gears- Stock GM
305080 1997-2007 LS1/LS2/LS6 Heavy Duty Oil Pump
305201 1997-2004 Timing Chain /Front Cover Gasket
305276 1997-2011 Crankshaft/Harmonic Balance Bolt LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6
245032 1997-2011 Water Pump Gasket
305213 1997-2010 Engine Front Main Seal

I know I need a timing chain set but how do I know what size rods to get and should I get all the gaskets and the front main seal?? Maybe I could get corvettecentral to give me a deal on the package minus the cam, springs, and timing chain? I want to get a comp cams or tsp tc.

I can't find threads with too many people talking about having to get the hd oil pump. Any opinions would be appreciated, Thanks guys.

 

I had lashway down in Ft Lauderdale put this cam and a set of 5.3 heads from TSP on and it took me from 330 at the wheel to 440 at the wheel. Plus at idle you would be hard pressed to know it wasnt stock,

 

Yeah that would be great, but heads aren't in my budget.. I'd be really happy with 400 and happier to know its definitely NOT stock. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay? I just had a shop in daytona beach (action speed and custom) tell me anywhere from 800 to 1200 and thats with me supplying the majority of the parts.. that seems high to me. I could swear I've seen people claim less

 

This won't end well, or soon. You might want to wait to do heads at the same time, and then a tune. This way, you can match the components to optimize the results. Believe me, you won't be satisfied at cam-only for long.

Do the job yourself. There's plenty of help on this site, and having done it a few times; I know what I'm talking about. Not a mechanic.

 

If I were to attempt to do the install (which I would love to do) arent you not supposed to drive it until its tuned?? The closest place requires a 40 highway run and ofcourse I could be wrong but I read the mail in tunes arent good enough once a cam is involved.

 

Unless you installed your cam off a tooth, you can drive around indefinately, as long as you take it easy. In 6th gear, the engine's only turning 1600 or so @70. This is not the case it you're also upgrading the injectors. Probably the LS6 manifold is worth thinking about, too.

 

Beautiful.. Yeah I'll probably end up with the ls6 man but I want to see if I might be able to get the LSX.. just for the look, its worth it to me to wait.

I just checked out a tutorial on doing the springs.. the whole air compressor thing freaked me out for a second but after continuing it actually looks like a good time.

Gonna start looking into the cam install tutorial too.. worst case I can do everything BUT the cam and I have a local guy thats really good and would give me a great deal. That changes everything, I thought I couldn't drive it until it was tuned.. now I can use my local guy if need be.. hes some kind of bmw genius and he loves working on LS1's because he says he actually enjoys it because theyre "built with sense and the mechanic in mind". He does engine restores on alot of older cars too, for example he just restored an old pantera, before that did a turbo build on a porsche cayman so he's well rounded. And he's a small indian man so he can actually fit IN the engine compartment.

Oh yeah.. also, do I need the heavy duty oil pump??

 

Oh, with the 228r 114 how do I know what size pushrods to get?? or do I just reuse stock?

 

Here's my build list for the cam swap. Get a pushrod length checker to determine the proper length. The length I came up with did not match internet recommendations. The valve train is quiet so it must have been correct.

My car fired right up after the swap. It drove ok but wanted to stall when lifting off the throttle (stock injectors). I had a three hour drive to get to the tuner (ECS) so I sent them the ECU to load up a tune to make the car drivable and allow the larger injectors to be installed.

TSP Cam Kit w/228R @ 112
ARP Crank Bolt
ARP Bolt Lube
Water Pump Gaskets 2 GM 12630223
Front Cover Seal 1 GM 12585673
Front Cover Gasket 1 GM 12633904
LS2 Timing Chain 1 GM 12586482
LS6 Oil Pump 1 GM 12586665
Oil Pump O-ring 1 GM 12557752
Valve Cover Gaskets 2 GM 12637683
Header Gaskets 2 GM 12617944
Crank Balancer 1 GM 12560115
Trunions
Starter Heat Shield
Timing Chain Damper
ARH Offroad Headers w/ Swaintech Coating
LS6 Intake Manifold
Intake Gaskets + Foam Felpro MS 92438
Ford Red Top Injectors
Spark Plugs- NGK TR55
Gasket RTV for Front Cover
Antifreeze
Assembly Lube
Crank Damper Weight
Power Steering Fluid (GM)