GMPP hot cam
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 7
GMPP hot cam
I'm really liking the road course. I've been getting much better at driving on a track and am wanting a little more power. I'd like to do a cam and have read good things about the GMPP hot cam. I read that the cam is really good for road course racing. Great price too.
I've got an 02 Z06. I see it's got less lift than the ls6 cam, .525. That's ok for my springs, I'm installing new GM blues today. More duration, 219/228.
Any experience or thoughts on it? I really like that I can stay with the springs I'm installing.
I've got an 02 Z06. I see it's got less lift than the ls6 cam, .525. That's ok for my springs, I'm installing new GM blues today. More duration, 219/228.
Any experience or thoughts on it? I really like that I can stay with the springs I'm installing.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte NC
Subscribing! I will also be looking to install a cam in the near future. I've read that the hot cam is pretty mild (idle wise) but you can tell the difference when driving. I've been doing some reading on LS1tech also, they have a pretty decent "Cam Guide" thread. What exhaust/Air intake are you running??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 7
Subscribing! I will also be looking to install a cam in the near future. I've read that the hot cam is pretty mild (idle wise) but you can tell the difference when driving. I've been doing some reading on LS1tech also, they have a pretty decent "Cam Guide" thread. What exhaust/Air intake are you running??
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Do some searches for the hot cam dyno charts and see what the power curve looks like. Many seem to discredit this cam and as everyone knows, bigger is always better 
The nice thing about this cam is the lobes and how easy they are on the valve train. The ASA cam is the next step up but not sure how that will be on the street.
The nice thing about this cam is the lobes and how easy they are on the valve train. The ASA cam is the next step up but not sure how that will be on the street.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
Do some searching or actual results. Check here and the LS1 site. People seem to dog the cam because it's old and there's much higher lift cams that make more power these days, but to your original point about using GMPP springs and road corse use, I think something with a lower lift like this might be what you're looking for. Not a huge power bump, but it'll have a nasty idle and give you a bit more top end.
But that said, dual springs aren't THAT expensive, and get you more room to run something up to .6" lift or so, which you'd see nice gains with. Further, unlike the beehive springs, if a spring breaks, the dual springs give you an added safety net that saves the engine...something that would be nice on the road course "just in case".
Pick right the first time. The cam job isn't much fun.
But that said, dual springs aren't THAT expensive, and get you more room to run something up to .6" lift or so, which you'd see nice gains with. Further, unlike the beehive springs, if a spring breaks, the dual springs give you an added safety net that saves the engine...something that would be nice on the road course "just in case".
Pick right the first time. The cam job isn't much fun.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 254
Likes: 36
From: Rotonda West, Florida
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
There's plenty of vendors that road race, I believe LS1tech even has a specific section. I aware your not looking for a monster cam to make max effort power but im sure there's still better options out there w/ either another off the shelf cam or have something spec'd for your car and the mods that it already has.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 7
Do some searches for the hot cam dyno charts and see what the power curve looks like. Many seem to discredit this cam and as everyone knows, bigger is always better
The nice thing about this cam is the lobes and how easy they are on the valve train. The ASA cam is the next step up but not sure how that will be on the street.
The nice thing about this cam is the lobes and how easy they are on the valve train. The ASA cam is the next step up but not sure how that will be on the street.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 254
Likes: 36
From: Rotonda West, Florida
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Nobody hates the cam you asked for opinions. The general consensus of LS owners is for the cost of parts, time and especially labor if your not doing the install you would want more cam. But everybody's different. It has a harsh idle, you'll probably lose some low end but you should definitely pick up some mid range with a good tune. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Why not at least look to a cam with more duration but with at least as much lift if not just a little more? Lingenfelter GT1 maybe?
You could also just talk to a few cam people about what you want if you're worried about the ramp speeds. I'm sure you could come-up with a cam that is much better for not a huge amount more $$, especially when comparing the change in the total cost to do the swap.
I personally wouldn't spend the money for a new hot-cam to put in a LS6. Maybe if it was really cheap or free it's be OK in a LS1.
You could also just talk to a few cam people about what you want if you're worried about the ramp speeds. I'm sure you could come-up with a cam that is much better for not a huge amount more $$, especially when comparing the change in the total cost to do the swap.
I personally wouldn't spend the money for a new hot-cam to put in a LS6. Maybe if it was really cheap or free it's be OK in a LS1.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 208
Likes: 7
I'm not referring to any hate here. Just in general, and across many sites I've read. I appreciate the opinions here!
I generally start to research a mod, or any significant purchase for that matter, way way before I actually do it. That's the best way to get what you want without wasting time or money. The cam "upgrade" won't be happening for a maybe year or so. In that time my needs may change. I may not even end up doing a cam. But in that time I'll sure track down the best direction I should be heading in.
Thanks!
I generally start to research a mod, or any significant purchase for that matter, way way before I actually do it. That's the best way to get what you want without wasting time or money. The cam "upgrade" won't be happening for a maybe year or so. In that time my needs may change. I may not even end up doing a cam. But in that time I'll sure track down the best direction I should be heading in.
Thanks!
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
I ran the Crane HR-216/3241-2S-15 in my 5.3 truck LS engine for over 100K miles. Easy enough on the valve train. 216/224 @ 0.050 duration, 0.551 lift both intake and exhaust.
As vettenuts noted the XER (Comp) lobes are not too easy on the valvetrain. I had a lifter fail and take out a valve lobe in my vette. When I rebuilt the engine I pulled out of it a cam with Comp's XER-lobed part number still on it that a previous owner had installed. Replaced it with a Comp XE-lobed cam, easier on the valvetrain, part number 54-428-11. 228/230 duration at 0.050, 0.571/0.573 lift. Got over 25K miles on it so far and very happy. Pulls hard up to 7000 rpm - afraid to push it any more than that. Note that Comp calls for using this with an LS6 or aftermarket intake. I'm running the Weiand/Lingenfelter intake which was on the car when I got it.
As vettenuts noted the XER (Comp) lobes are not too easy on the valvetrain. I had a lifter fail and take out a valve lobe in my vette. When I rebuilt the engine I pulled out of it a cam with Comp's XER-lobed part number still on it that a previous owner had installed. Replaced it with a Comp XE-lobed cam, easier on the valvetrain, part number 54-428-11. 228/230 duration at 0.050, 0.571/0.573 lift. Got over 25K miles on it so far and very happy. Pulls hard up to 7000 rpm - afraid to push it any more than that. Note that Comp calls for using this with an LS6 or aftermarket intake. I'm running the Weiand/Lingenfelter intake which was on the car when I got it.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 432
From: Atlantic Beach FL.
Nobody hates the cam you asked for opinions. The general consensus of LS owners is for the cost of parts, time and especially labor if your not doing the install you would want more cam. But everybody's different. It has a harsh idle, you'll probably lose some low end but you should definitely pick up some mid range with a good tune. Good luck.
Not hating on it. just not seeing the the cost vs benefit in comparison to the '02 LS6 cam.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Why not at least look to a cam with more duration but with at least as much lift if not just a little more? Lingenfelter GT1 maybe?
You could also just talk to a few cam people about what you want if you're worried about the ramp speeds. I'm sure you could come-up with a cam that is much better for not a huge amount more $$, especially when comparing the change in the total cost to do the swap.
I personally wouldn't spend the money for a new hot-cam to put in a LS6. Maybe if it was really cheap or free it's be OK in a LS1.
You could also just talk to a few cam people about what you want if you're worried about the ramp speeds. I'm sure you could come-up with a cam that is much better for not a huge amount more $$, especially when comparing the change in the total cost to do the swap.
I personally wouldn't spend the money for a new hot-cam to put in a LS6. Maybe if it was really cheap or free it's be OK in a LS1.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
Stock valve springs are apparently good for under .6" lift. It seems that a cam with lift in the .575" range would be pretty ideal...but really, I would just get a nice set of dual springs and run any cam that matches the goals. Keep lift reasonable (around .6") and there won't be much to worry about re: spring life.