LS6 cam in a LS2
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
I swapped cam and springs on my 01 Z28. I went with the TSP 224R (224/224, .581/.581, 112 LSA). It was a nice cam, but there was no mistaking that it had an aftermarket cam in it.
It took me 10 hours to do the swap, but I must have spent 3 hours on the darn springs and at least 2 hours getting the oil pump pick-up tube in place (I went with the double roller timing chain and it was a pain, I kept pinching the oil pump tube o-ring). As far as gaskets, they are reusable on the front of the motor, you are right though, you do need a new crank bolt, but that's really cheap. You don't have to take off the intake manifold or the heads. It's pretty straight forward. One caveat, I didn't have to move the steering rack over with the Camaro. Not sure how long that takes.
But, overall, take the oil tube and springs out of it and it's so easy:
Move the rack, take off the front balancer (not hard if you have a good three jaw puller)
Take off the water pump and front cam cover
Take off the cam gear and timing chain
Spin the cam and then insert some 5/16" diameter rods to hold up the lifters
Pull out the old cam, lube up the new cam and reinstall
Only trick on going back together is to use a longer crank bolt to help pull the balancer on. Tighten it down with the new bolt and then use a breaker bar with the handle from your floor jack over the end and twist it another 120 degrees. You really have to grab it and growl, but a long cheater bar helps.
So, I still believe you are only talkng about a $220 camshaft and another $15 for a crank bolt. The gaskets are reusable. The LS engines are really slick.
So, if someone wants to do this in the Phoenix area, I'll come over and help. Or you can come by and we'll do it in my garage.
Everyone says almost no horsepower, but it's probably good for at least 15 hp. That's worth it to me for $235 (cam & bolt). Go to almost any other aftermarket cam and now you have to add $300 for some decent springs and I hated changing those out. I used the top dead center method and the "Larry" tool. If I had to do it again, I'd spring for the Crane tool.
Thanks,
Glenn
It took me 10 hours to do the swap, but I must have spent 3 hours on the darn springs and at least 2 hours getting the oil pump pick-up tube in place (I went with the double roller timing chain and it was a pain, I kept pinching the oil pump tube o-ring). As far as gaskets, they are reusable on the front of the motor, you are right though, you do need a new crank bolt, but that's really cheap. You don't have to take off the intake manifold or the heads. It's pretty straight forward. One caveat, I didn't have to move the steering rack over with the Camaro. Not sure how long that takes.
But, overall, take the oil tube and springs out of it and it's so easy:
Move the rack, take off the front balancer (not hard if you have a good three jaw puller)
Take off the water pump and front cam cover
Take off the cam gear and timing chain
Spin the cam and then insert some 5/16" diameter rods to hold up the lifters
Pull out the old cam, lube up the new cam and reinstall
Only trick on going back together is to use a longer crank bolt to help pull the balancer on. Tighten it down with the new bolt and then use a breaker bar with the handle from your floor jack over the end and twist it another 120 degrees. You really have to grab it and growl, but a long cheater bar helps.
So, I still believe you are only talkng about a $220 camshaft and another $15 for a crank bolt. The gaskets are reusable. The LS engines are really slick.
So, if someone wants to do this in the Phoenix area, I'll come over and help. Or you can come by and we'll do it in my garage.
Everyone says almost no horsepower, but it's probably good for at least 15 hp. That's worth it to me for $235 (cam & bolt). Go to almost any other aftermarket cam and now you have to add $300 for some decent springs and I hated changing those out. I used the top dead center method and the "Larry" tool. If I had to do it again, I'd spring for the Crane tool.
Thanks,
Glenn
Send me a PM and we can swap phone numbers 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 446
Likes: 10
From: Bonita Springs Fl.
http://www.lingenfelter.com/store/c32.html
They call it the old man cam..mild but great mid and upper range power with little lope. Hope this helps._Bob
They call it the old man cam..mild but great mid and upper range power with little lope. Hope this helps._Bob
