Today I was on the phone with a tech at LPE inquiring about their 430 HP Heads/Cam package. He said the cam they use with this package has these specs: 207/220 degrees duration @ .050" lift; .573"/.580" lift. Although the lift is generous, the duration seems a bit mild and I asked him why. He said I could have an option of selecting a different cam but that more radical timing will only "rat out the idle" without gaining much power.

Well, call me old-fashioned but I can appreciate a somewhat "ratted out idle" and the added top-end power that would come with a longer duration cam. It seems that most of you guys with heads/cam packages are running cams on the order of 222-224 degrees, which seems more reasonable and a nice compromise between maintaining low-rpm torque with high-end power, a somewhat rumpity idle and the ability to pass smog tests. LPE has an optional (218/229) cam which I'm considering.

What are the stock cam specs anyway, and how much of an improvement would this 207/220 cam be over the stocker? The LPE 430 HP pacakge yields a 10.8 to 1 compression (using ported 5.3L heads) so I know it can handle more cam. I hate to question LPE's recommendation since they seem to have well engineered engine packages, but I sure would hate to be disappointed with my cam choice after spending all the bucks for one. Thanks for your advice!

 

I have a .220/553/114 cam and the idle is just a little more raggedy than stock, nothing at all really. I like this cam, nice power, and because I need to pass emissions.

 

LPE 218/219 cam sounds nice. Just like different automakers have different design criteria, LPE sits conservative on the reliability/drivability/performance tradeoffs.

 

Yes, it's a conservative cam but will give BOATLOADS of low end torque, idle like stock, and pass emissions. You don't really have to go real wild on duration for power, my MMS 218 cam produces very good power, idles almost like stock, gets better than stock gas mileage, and passes smog. It also runs neck and nce, with my bud's simular modded Vette which has a 224 cam. :thumbs:


[Modified by 6Speeder, 9:14 AM 4/19/2003]

 

430 is pretty comparable to what a heads and TR224 cam will do. You also have to remember that very few tuners(I only know of one other) offer over 400 at the wheels and a 2 year warranty. I have seen one of the LPE heads and cam cars at 21st MC and that car was a sleeper(if a corvette can be called a sleeper...) The idle was so smooth and mild, you would never guess it was putting 430 to the wheels(and on the notoriously low reading 21st MC dyno :D )

 

I think LPE is stating 430 at the crank, not at the rear wheels. Also, they have always used mild cams to pass emissons. They have one with a more ragged idle, but they are definitely on the conservative side. They can do them, but most LPE customers want more than stock, but don't want emissions issues, etc... They want it to start every time, not have problems idling, or hot starting, its just the way they do things. Other tuners have more radical cams. LPE does, but they don't normally put them in...

 

J-Rod,

The car that I saw at 21st MC put out 430 to the wheels. If you search for the posts by 21stcenturymusclecar(local branch of LPE) you will see that they have it listed as a 500 hp heads and cam package. With the 2 year warranty:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=515919



[Modified by RunNE1, 12:09 PM 4/19/2003]

 

I use MTI B1 cam 114 lobe,221/221 -.558 lift with my set up.Very strong car for A4 with 3.42 gears. :iagree:

 

I would verify whether this cam is the RWHP or BHP cam. Sounds way too small to put out that much to the rear wheels. I think more than likely it is the cam in this link

http://www.lingenfelter.com/pac350cidls1y.asp

Which is BHP. Make sure you are getting what you want.

 

Yes, that's exactly the package I'm talking about. I suspect it's 430 HP @ the flywheel. Now I'm wondering if their 2-year warranty would apply if I choose to use one of their more radical cams. Maybe I'd better give them another call.

 

I havve the LPE GT-2 Cam and must admit it does what its advertised. Good idile, good low end , the power like the Z/06 cam comes in around 4000 RPM-will pull all the way up to 6500RPM.
It has the nearly same spec as the 02 Z/06 .207/.220 .575/.580 117.5 LSA. the difference seems to be about .25 on the exhaust and .30 on the intake in the lift. I don't know if the higher lift = that more hp over the Z/06. However in the future I also will be looking for a bigger cam.
v/r
THE YAV :chevy

 

I bought a pretty tricked-out L98 383 from LPE several years ago for a C4 that I still have, in addition to others, including a C5; while I realize it wasn't an LS1, the roller cam LPE supplied was 211/219 at .50" on a 112 LSA, which sounds similar to what they're recommending for you. And I'll tell you what: it is by no means wimpy; LPE knows what they're talking about. It plain works and it sounds great (admittedly with headers; no cats; etc.). Bottom line: LPE knows their products. Listen to what they tell you. Good luck with your LPE package. You're on the right track.