I'm trying to figure out what makes sense for a budget valve train upgrade. I think I need to do valve seals, so its turned into a bit of a "while you're in there" sort of thing. This is for road racing, so I'm interested in torque, not just peak HP numbers. I'd like to raise the rev limit a couple hundred RPM so I can hang onto a gear just a second or two longer. The long game on this is I don't want to spend a ton of money juicing a ls1 with 90k when I can buy a new ls3 for $6k. Every dollar I spend on this is temporary.

1) If I'm putting seals in, I might as well do springs. Ls6 springs are cheap, but it seems like as soon as you cross .580 springs the prices double or more. Worth it to goto a 660 spring for a budget build?
2) I'm on 99' ls1 heads will I really benefit much from a big cam? I can get a set of 243 heads for under $500 used, but I'd probably need to get them cleaned up, etc before use. Its a lot of extra work and cash. I'll never throw a $2k set of heads on the car. I'd put that towards a new ls3 block instead. I've read the ls1 heads don't really benefit going much above .580 lift anyways. I'm not above a little DIY porting.
3) Any suggestions on a torquey cam suited for above? I like the idea of the "track weapon" cam motion cam, but the lift looks a little high for the budget springs. I found this handy list on reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LSSwapTheWo...t_can_use_ls6/ Cam specs might as well be latin for what they do.

I guess I'm hoping to keep it under a grand in parts and I'll probably need things like new seals going back together. Is a 50hp bump realistic without new heads?

 

You’re better off with a low lift truck cam for stock heads and road course racing. @Prop Joe put a stage 4 truck cam from Texas speed I believe with about a .550 lift and made 430 wheel horse. He did a full top end rebuild. You won’t make that much with just a cam. Call Texas speed, see what they recommend.

 

Yes, absolutely realistic.

Your story and goals parallel mine quite a bit. I bought my 99 FRC on a budget with aspirations to get into HPDE. I am also building this car, on a budget. I've spent a year researching and building my car in the best bang for the buck way possible. Check out my thread for details on mods and dyno graphs https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...sstimates.html.

Long story short it added 70 wHP with a cam, intake manifold, harmonic balancer, ls6 springs, on a stock valvetrain. All with 177k miles.

As far as looking for a torque cam, that will work on LS6 springs, on stock LS1 heads, I also recommend the Hot Cam (219/228 .525/.525 @112). I'll attach my dyno graph, you will see Tq is a monster from 3k-5700, very flat. It gained everywhere on he graph, gave up nothing except for maybe 900-1500RPM it's a bit of a lugger. That will be the case for any cam however with a 6-speed.

Other cams to consider would be the ASA cam, similar to Hot Cam just moves the peak power up to 6.5k RPM, probably shift around 7k. Uses stock valvetrain (LS6 springs) like the Hot Cam. Sacrifices some more low end.

Elgin makes modern versions of the cams above for a very reasonable price. Summit also has their versions as well, for a great price, very similar specs.

I really like the Track Weapon cam specs, I had my heart set on it. But once you figure in the price of the dual valve spring, trunnion upgrade, hardened push rods, and cost of cam, you're over $1000 quickly here. I talked to Bobby@Cam Motion and he even admitted there was not going to be a lot of gains using the track Weapon Cam over my Hot Cam.

 

Just to clean up my post above. I'm not sure you are already running headers or a better intake manifold. But If an LS3 is on your horizon, no use spending money on too many dead end parts.

Elgin E-1251-P (same as GMPP Hot Cam) $270 - Will let you wind it out to 6500 RPM
LS6 Valve Springs and seals - $150
Add in any gaskets or seals along the way.

Depending on your intake/exhaust setup I'd reasonably expect you to gain 30-50 HP and ~30TQ, while increasing your RPM, all on a tight budget.

 

I used this one (2° overlap):
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-9501-t...-camshaft.aspx
I bought the kit that came with new springs. You can add gaskets, pushrods. CNC ported 243 heads... Well, While you are there. That's how I started
https://www.texas-speed.com/p-1158-t...l-cam-kit.aspx
I've got all the tools I can lend you. I'm real close to Des Plaines. I was born there I have family that still lives there.
All in, other parts being serviceable:

Nothing better than spend others money... JK!!!

Edit: I've also got my old 98' heads (53k miles) and a used Z06 intake if you are interested.

 

I'm liking the look of this
https://sdparts.com/i-24138755-sdpc-...%7Cyear%3D1999

3700rpm and up it looks like all upside. Peaks about 6200rpm. I like it has a noticeable lope at idle.

Anyone heard of Melling for springs? They make the high performance oil pumps, but have pretty cheap higher lift springs over on rockauto. Though if I do a lower lift cam I don't need the fancy dual springs.

@prop joe You have an extra intake manifold? I've been keeping my eye out for one. I haven't been sure they are worth the money given I probably won't be moving to ls6 heads.

So far what I'm seeing is LSA seems to tell you how choppy a cam will me. Lower lsa, more chop. Intake duration seems to scale the high end mostly.

 

I think you got the LSA calculation backwards. More overlap = more chop.
The SDPC cam you listed is -3°
Here is a handy overlap calculator:
https://www.texas-speed.com/t-calc-overlap.aspx

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1607989072

Yes, I have a Z06 intake, actually two intakes. #1 The guy I bought it from tapped it for an intake signal and you can just use rubber hose with a barbed fitting to you MAP sensor back there. I ended up with a FAST intake. If you want to come over and check it out sometime, just let me know. #2 is another Z06 intake that I had TPIS graft an 90mm snout on, but it leaked on the dyno and needs a re-seal

 

That's a nice cam, it will certainly do what you want it to do. That one was on my short list as well.

As far as Springs, the more I talk to people with double springs, the more everyone recommends the BTR version for cost and quality.

Of course with the LS6 variant cam, LS6 springs will be fine, or PAC1218 if you want some more.seat pressure.

 

I would think that if you're swapping cams, you'll want to install the rocker arm trunnion upgrade kit.

 

You're right of course. lower LSA just generally means more overlap looking at similar cams. Supposedly a real low lsa also tends to mean a lot of low end torque look at the truck norris cam. real gains all the way down. Though I understand it also means terrible fuel economy and potential issues with power brakes, etc.

 

I CAN NOT recommend this enough. Especially for the price.

Brian Tooley Racing TK002NB BTR V2 Rocker Arm Trunnion Upgrade Kits | Summit Racing

 

I just wonder how needed it is with ls6 springs and a low lift cam? If I was going to dual springs and something with .6 or more lift... I guess I can pop a valve cover and see how worn my stock ones are. With 90k it might not be a bad idea just for maintenance.

 

i lost a motor with the first iteration of LS trunnion upgrade.
with the new engine oil analysis showed traces of bronze. This was from the bronze trunnion upgrade.
I’ve got a “blower cam” which is somewhat mild.
the previously mentioned upgrade seems to be the best way ahead.

 

If there is any place you want to do cheap upgrades the valve train probably isn't it.Cheap doesn't always mean cheaper in the end.