Any one here try this?

 

The LS2 cam is the same as the 01 LS6 cam...385 HP up to 405 HP with the 02 LS6 cam. 20 flywheel hp is not worth the hassle and\or cost of a cam change IMHO.

I went with a G5x3, biggest cam you can put in without flycutting. So keep that in mind when you hear my opinion. :lol

 

The labor alone (whether you do it yourself or pay someone)is not worth the extra couple of horses....

 

I really would like to do this for a couple of reasons. First, it's really cheap, you can pick up the 02 LS6 cam for around $220. Plus, I believe you won't have to change out the valve springs. Second, I really doubt if the dealer could ever tell that you did this so it shouldn't affect the warranty.

It's pretty easy to swap cams without having to change out springs. Most people should be able to swap cams in 5 to 6 hours total. So, for $220 and 6 hours of your time you can pick up 20 hp and that is darn good.

 

What would you suggest if you don't want a head bobbling cam? 20hp more, for a couple hundred bucks more than you might pay for a nice CAI that got you 4 more ponies

 

I agree if you are a DIY person. If you enjoy working on your car this would be a no compromise 20hp upgrade and I might consider it myself. However, to get the 20hp would you need a tune? If so the job adds another $400-$500 to it. If a tune is required then the job is up at $700. At that point why not add another $200 for a better cam and $250 for springs.

Just a guess but instead of an LS6 cam could you get a low lift comp cam with larger duration than an LS6 and not change the springs? What about comp cams 218/224 114LSA with only 0.525 lift? Very mild lift and little overlap but i think this would still be better than an LS6. Would you need to change the springs?

 

 

I cannot find it now on the net but an engineering article with Corvette development showed the various up grades between a 2001 versus 2002 ZO6/LS6...their testing revealed 8 rwhp with the newer cam.

 

IS the comp cams 218/224 114LSA a head shaker at idle? My shop (F-Body central) Jason, said the Thunder racing 222/222 is the way to go if you don't want a head bobbler.

 

Neither cam is a "head bobbler". Ask Jason about my old car --- a Camaro SS LS1. I had the 218/224 cam in it, and lots of experienced guys could not tell it wasn't bone stock. The LS2 is even more "cam friendly". You should be OK even with a 224/224 on a 114 LSA --- that's a VERY popular cam choice, nowadays considered to be a "baby" cam.

 

I personally used a 224/224 .581 on a 112 LSA on my LS2 GTO and it was a baby cam and I ran a 12.00 in the 1/4. So with a 114 and a good tuner you would be in great shape, I guess you might also try a little less lift around .565.

 

check out the thunder racing CHEATR LS2...but will need better valve springs.

 

Thanks for this good info.

 

I thought about this as well a year ago or so. At the time, I was looking for a stock sounding engine, picking up 15-20 rwhp or so. I ended up going with 1.85 rockers so that I didn't have to crack open the engine for such small gains. Looking back, I should have done the cam but not the LS6 cam. In the future, I will cam my car but will go with a medium sized cam, getting rid of the rockers. Via the dyno, the rockers gave me 18rwhp/23rwtq SAE but we had to retune and lost a few ponies and torque, the original tune was a bit to aggressive. There were no gains at the track however, just not worth it in my opinion.

 

Only a hardcore racer would be able to swap a cam in 5 hours, that same hardcore racer would never settle for almost no HP.
The average person would spend at least 10 hours on the and sure the cam is cheap but you still need, gaskets, oil, filter, dexcool, crank bolt etc.. Now your talking a possible 20 HP for $400.

You are right about the warranty though, the dealer would never know.

 

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

 

yes, but will it get by california's smog laws?

 

That is another plus for the 02-04 LS6 camshaft. Even though it may only be 15 hp, it will pass California emissions.

 

when are we doing this on your car? you see LG put in a cam in the ls3 without a tune, and dyno like a beast. wonder if the stock ls2 tune will run with ls6 cam without any issue? you do have hptuner if it run crappy.

 

Maybe when it cools off.