LS7 cam on an LS3 engine?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
LS7 cam on an LS3 engine?
has anyone done this? i bought a new Ls7 cam for 200 bucks. but i was wondering if itll make a big difference if i put it in my LS3.? if anyones has done this i would love the help as far as power increase
thanks
thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 10
admoreno,
No, you wont see a "big difference" with an LS7 cam (the OEM LS7 cam is VERY mild). You need to have a custom cam ground for your mods - or call a vendor like LG who makes the GX53....
Folks usually do a cam and header/tune package and see NICE gains.
No, you wont see a "big difference" with an LS7 cam (the OEM LS7 cam is VERY mild). You need to have a custom cam ground for your mods - or call a vendor like LG who makes the GX53....
Folks usually do a cam and header/tune package and see NICE gains.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
Lift on that cam is no good for LS2/3. These engines have 1.7 rockers, the Z06 has 1.8 rockers, so the LS7 cam would produce anemic valve lift on a LS2/3 engine. Besides which, the duration is pretty tame and the LSA is super conservative. Better off with a LS2/3 specific cam like Comp's 224/228 114 .582 / .588 XER grind.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,247
Likes: 8
From: Austin TX
dont forget to upgrade the rockers, and other valve train components. Do it right and not the cheap way like some of these shops. I see more and more places on this forum that advertise bang for the buck, you're motor will go BANG allright...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Hardened pushrods and dual springs are pretty much the norm.
Are you aware of even a single car that failed due to rockers? Maybe you have seen some I didnt?
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
The only rocker issues I have seen was the loss of the needle bearings. For a minor fee, Harland Sharp will upgrade the stock rockers to eliminate that issue. There were several owners in the F-body Club in VA (lived there for 6 years) that were using stock rockers in excess of 600rwhp. No failures that I was aware of. Great quality dual springs and pushrods are a must if replacing the cam.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
admoreno,
No, you wont see a "big difference" with an LS7 cam (the OEM LS7 cam is VERY mild). You need to have a custom cam ground for your mods - or call a vendor like LG who makes the GX53....
Folks usually do a cam and header/tune package and see NICE gains.
No, you wont see a "big difference" with an LS7 cam (the OEM LS7 cam is VERY mild). You need to have a custom cam ground for your mods - or call a vendor like LG who makes the GX53....
Folks usually do a cam and header/tune package and see NICE gains.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 10
admoreno,
Yes, ditch the LS7 cam.
Going with ANY cam (that will net you gains) will require this "kit" you speak of.
A kit is exactly what Spinmonster mentions.. A $200 set of valve springs, hardened pushrods (under $200) and the cam itself (usually around $440).
Investing in after market rockers is a waste of money. However, having the needle bearing mod done by Harland Sharp is a wise investment.
By the way, I run the OEM rockers (with the bearing mod from Harland Sharp - I've got a pretty high dollar build and didn't want to take ANY chances). They are a fine piece - take a look at my RWHP numbers if you think you need aftermarket rockers......
Yes, ditch the LS7 cam.
Going with ANY cam (that will net you gains) will require this "kit" you speak of.
A kit is exactly what Spinmonster mentions.. A $200 set of valve springs, hardened pushrods (under $200) and the cam itself (usually around $440).
Investing in after market rockers is a waste of money. However, having the needle bearing mod done by Harland Sharp is a wise investment.
By the way, I run the OEM rockers (with the bearing mod from Harland Sharp - I've got a pretty high dollar build and didn't want to take ANY chances). They are a fine piece - take a look at my RWHP numbers if you think you need aftermarket rockers......
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,442
Likes: 18
From: Winchester CA
give us a call we have a variety of camshaft grinds that can take care of your needs, they all cost $390 shipped to anywhere in the lower 48 states, we can also get you hooked up with a complete kit with Pushrods, valves springs and camshaft.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,368
Likes: 2,900
From: Fort Worth, Texas
I remember a guy who swapped one in an ls2 and gained ~20hp...I wouldn't say the lift of the ls7 cam is anemic, as it's almost .560" even w/ 1.7 rockers (211/230 on a 119.5 lsa), but any aftermarket cam out there will make more power
