Cam question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 5
From: Owensboro Ky
St. Jude Donor '11
Cam question
Hey I have a quick question (I hope anyways). I have a 2008 c6 with a vararam intake and borla stingers. I was going to get it tuned today. The guy at the shop told me that I need to forget the tune because it cost 450 dollars and was trying to sale me a comp cam because he said it'd give me 30 more hp and it would sound much better. I never race the car or anything but I wouldn't mind dumping some money into it to make it a bit faster. Anyways I'm just wondering if it's worth it and if comp cam's are any good?
What would you all do? I really don't know anything about cars or how to do anything myself but he said he'd charge 2000 for a cam and to tune it.
What would you all do? I really don't know anything about cars or how to do anything myself but he said he'd charge 2000 for a cam and to tune it.
Last edited by matt_lowry123; Jan 14, 2011 at 08:13 PM. Reason: Forgot to add borla stingers
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
There is no need to do a cam without doing headers. If you do headers by themselves, you'll pick up around 25 hp. Add a cam and you'll get another 40 hp on top of that 25 or 65 total or even more depending on the cam.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 7
From: DELRAY BEACH FLORIDA
St. Jude Donor '10-'13
The comp cam may be $450..but that's just the cam. You will still need headers, springs, retainers, push rods, timing chain, installation and tune. Plan on spending another $3000.00 over the cost of the cam. It's going to cost you at least $3,500 before its over. Then you will need tires and new output shafts. Now your cooking!
Last edited by theofel; Jan 14, 2011 at 08:36 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
I would forget the cam for now and go with headers, and high flow cats. When budget allows, then go for cam,tune and either have the stock intake and TB ported or go aftermarket. That's the order in which I'm doing it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 5
From: Owensboro Ky
St. Jude Donor '11
No doubt!! I appreciate everybodys help with my question!! I know it's probably an ignorant question but at least I didn't buy something that would have been a waste. The guy at the shop never said anything about headers. Maybe he was trying to rip me off? I guess I'll just hold off on everything.
Once again, thanks for your time on answering my question!!
Once again, thanks for your time on answering my question!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 112
From: ocean springs mississippi
don't you need a tune after doing header and cat install anyways?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 112
From: ocean springs mississippi
how did it run? did you notice any hp gains even though it didn't have a tune?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Runs great! I did the headers, cats and intake at the same time, and with bad tires and hot summertime temps ran a 12.50 on my first and only pass of that night. I'm hoping to get in to the 11's after the cam and intake porting along with the 3200 converter.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 58
From: Benicia CA
$2k parts and labor for a cam install does not sound right. just parts are way more than that. you should expect at least 50rwhp from a proven mild cam.
i would just get a mail order tune from chuck cow or ecs.
i would just get a mail order tune from chuck cow or ecs.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 475
Likes: 1
From: New Richmond, Wi
There have been more than one sponsor run cam swap specials for not much more than $2k.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,402
From: Bethesda MD
$2k for a cam installed and tuned is not unreasonable, especially if a good spring is used.
No, you don't need headers. If you want to remain emissions compliant you can do a mild cam and enjoy gains throughout the power band. If you're goals are bigger, headers would be a necessary mod.
I'd add an ATI Supper damper with 10% underdrive when doing the cam swap. The crank pulley has to come off, might as well replace it with something better while it's off.
No, you don't need headers. If you want to remain emissions compliant you can do a mild cam and enjoy gains throughout the power band. If you're goals are bigger, headers would be a necessary mod.
I'd add an ATI Supper damper with 10% underdrive when doing the cam swap. The crank pulley has to come off, might as well replace it with something better while it's off.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
You can a set of LS3 heads (stock), rockers with trunnions, springs, pushrods and a cam for about $1,900 with gaskets from a forum vendor. Then another $2K for labor and a tune.
That's what it cost in WI, anyway.
That's what it cost in WI, anyway.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 19
From: In a house
Just buy a used supercharger setup and a tune...you will get more hp than you bargained for....then when your car is old news to you, remove the supercharger and sell it or put it on your next Vette. At least that way you can recover some of your money...if you do a cam swap you will lose every dime.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 5
From: Owensboro Ky
St. Jude Donor '11
Thanks everybody for the info!! I didn't really want to spend more than 2-3k. A supercharger is a good idea!! That's probably the best bang for the buck. If I put on LG pro headers would it make the car louder?
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: FL
I picked up 80 flywheel hp and over 60rwhp from a cam. I already had headers and a vararam cai on the car. The complete cam kit cost me 768 shipped and came with cam, dual springs good to .675 lift, pushrods, gaskets, 3 bolt timing gear and arp cam bolts. I installed it myself but shops usually charge 1k-1500 to install a cam in a ls3 vette. I have stock heads and made 501rwhp with the following
--ls3--
Cam 231/236 111lsa
longtubes w x pipe no cats
vararam snake charmer 2
160 t stat
ud pully.
mike norris tuned the car
STOCK unmilled unported heads
STOCK intake
STOCK TB
Stock manual Waterpump
I am sure I could hit 530rwhp with milled and ported heads, ported intake and TB and a retune.
Runs 10.80s's @ 128 right now with 500rwhp thru a 6 speed with 1.75 60 ft
I only have 2800 dollars in mods and that includes tuning and I have a consistent 10 sec ride
--ls3--
Cam 231/236 111lsa
longtubes w x pipe no cats
vararam snake charmer 2
160 t stat
ud pully.
mike norris tuned the car
STOCK unmilled unported heads
STOCK intake
STOCK TB
Stock manual Waterpump
I am sure I could hit 530rwhp with milled and ported heads, ported intake and TB and a retune.
Runs 10.80s's @ 128 right now with 500rwhp thru a 6 speed with 1.75 60 ft
I only have 2800 dollars in mods and that includes tuning and I have a consistent 10 sec ride
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,402
From: Bethesda MD
A supercharger is a good idea!! That's probably the best bang for the buck.
There are several shops doing S/C for a drive out price of $6500. It's a good option.
If I put on LG pro headers would it make the car louder?
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: FL
