C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

LS3 header cam results

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 13, 2015 | 11:40 PM
  #1  
JWell's Avatar
JWell
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 408
Likes: 10
From: Houston TX
Default LS3 header cam results

After reading hundreds of posts about putting cams in LS3s, I finally had one installed in my car. I decided early on that I did not want the low speed bucking and surging that is common with some big cams. What I really wanted was a cam that made big torque gains down low and in the midrange. I wanted it to be fun driving around town in the 3-5k rpm range. I decided to try Comp Cams part# 54-458-11. I had it ground on a 108 ICL with 4 degrees advance. So its 227 intake 235 exhaust on a 112 lsa. Anyway for the rest of the parts I added LG street series headers, an Airaid LS3 intake, and a Corsa Sport exhaust. In addition, the necessary valvetrain and timing chain upgrades were added. The car had the NPP exhaust from the factory and the Airaid was on during the baseline.

The car drives well for a cammed car. I was able lug along in 6th gear at 50 mph without the car getting upset. So I am happy, it didn't make as much horsepower up top like 230+ cam would have but I am pleased with how it beat the stock cam everywhere on the curve.


And of course some idle vids,
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 06:52 AM
  #2  
Seadawg's Avatar
Seadawg
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,667
Likes: 159
Default

Nice looking and sounding ride, and if you like it, that's what really matters more than anything else
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 07:26 AM
  #3  
tennblkc6's Avatar
tennblkc6
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,582
Likes: 68
From: Memphis Tn
Default

car sounds great!
did the service active handling message clear out from the DIC?
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 10:25 AM
  #4  
hungryhippo's Avatar
hungryhippo
Drifting
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 58
From: Benicia CA
Default

Thats a great looking graph. You did the right thing by not getting caught up with the size of the cam or thinking you need a custom cam.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 10:31 AM
  #5  
timd38's Avatar
timd38
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Very nice!

Enjoy!
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 10:37 AM
  #6  
JWell's Avatar
JWell
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 408
Likes: 10
From: Houston TX
Default

Originally Posted by tennblkc6
car sounds great!
did the service active handling message clear out from the DIC?
Yes, I drove it to the gas station about two miles away and all the warnings on the DIC cleared. For some reason I think when you put a car on the dyno it confuses the computer because the back wheels are spinning and the front ones are not?
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 12:17 PM
  #7  
Fuele's Avatar
Fuele
Instructor
 
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: port charlotte Florida
Default

Awesome sounding GS. Great job!!!
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 01:30 PM
  #8  
mysloride's Avatar
mysloride
Racer
 
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 284
Likes: 1
From: DFW
Default

Great sound and curve.

I bet it pulls hard from off idle and has great throttle response. Looking at the chart, it ain't no slouch on the big end either
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 04:59 PM
  #9  
CMY SIX's Avatar
CMY SIX
Safety Car
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by hungryhippo
Thats a great looking graph. You did the right thing by not getting caught up with the size of the cam or thinking you need a custom cam.
he did do a "custom cam" " he said he told them how to change the grind. how much fuel does it eat? from the sound of it it might be better with a 114-116 LSA
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 05:02 PM
  #10  
CMY SIX's Avatar
CMY SIX
Safety Car
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by mysloride
Great sound and curve.

I bet it pulls hard from off idle and has great throttle response. Looking at the chart, it ain't no slouch on the big end either
look at the chart 2750 rpm that ain't "off idle"
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 05:48 PM
  #11  
old motorhead's Avatar
old motorhead
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Default

Originally Posted by CMY SIX
he did do a "custom cam" " he said he told them how to change the grind. how much fuel does it eat? from the sound of it it might be better with a 114-116 LSA
Sounds like he got just what he was after. I had a 226/235 114+2 in my previous LS3 Vette. HP was still climbing at 6500 rpm, but wasn't pulling as hard as his in the low and mid range.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 05:54 PM
  #12  
Speedforhire's Avatar
Speedforhire
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Default

Originally Posted by CMY SIX
look at the chart 2750 rpm that ain't "off idle"
..........it seems he has given up a lot of drivability already.

Last edited by Speedforhire; Apr 14, 2015 at 05:57 PM.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 06:16 PM
  #13  
old motorhead's Avatar
old motorhead
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Default

Originally Posted by Speedforhire
..........it seems he has given up a lot of drivability already.
How can you tell that?
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 06:22 PM
  #14  
Speedforhire's Avatar
Speedforhire
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Default

Originally Posted by old motorhead
How can you tell that?
power comes in too late for a street car..........unless you're launching the car at 3K all the time.

Anyway........he stated he wanted 3-5k car and that's what he got. It sounds great.

Hopefully I can get my car on the Dyno soon and see what it does. Mine has a modest 9* overlap compared to his 7*.

Last edited by Speedforhire; Apr 15, 2015 at 10:02 AM.
Reply
Old Apr 14, 2015 | 06:51 PM
  #15  
old motorhead's Avatar
old motorhead
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
Default

Originally Posted by Speedforhire
power comes in too late for a street car..........unless you're launching the car at 3K all the time.

Anyway........he stated he wanted 3-5k car and that's what he got. It sounds great.
The power is above stock everywhere on the power curve. The tuner doesn't start the dyno run until 2750ish. That doesn't mean it isn't making good power below that.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2015 | 11:38 AM
  #16  
NMMike2012GS's Avatar
NMMike2012GS
Advanced
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 88
Likes: 3
From: Corrales New Mexico
Default

Originally Posted by old motorhead
The power is above stock everywhere on the power curve. The tuner doesn't start the dyno run until 2750ish. That doesn't mean it isn't making good power below that.
Personally I'm one who is more interested in tq. as opposed to hp so the numbers reflected on the dyno sheet caught my attention. With that being said and my starting to embark on mods to my LS3 GS I was wondering if anyone else knows of cam profiles that would would yield high tq. #'s.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2015 | 12:23 PM
  #17  
Speedforhire's Avatar
Speedforhire
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Default

Originally Posted by NMMike2012GS
Personally I'm one who is more interested in tq. as opposed to hp so the numbers reflected on the dyno sheet caught my attention. With that being said and my starting to embark on mods to my LS3 GS I was wondering if anyone else knows of cam profiles that would would yield high tq. #'s.
Choose your parts wisely. It's a combination of all of the components working together - not just the cam.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To LS3 header cam results

Old Apr 15, 2015 | 12:26 PM
  #18  
Speedforhire's Avatar
Speedforhire
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Default

Originally Posted by JWell
I'm curious to know how you're getting almost 60lbs oil pressure with temps above 200*? High volume pump? Ported?
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2015 | 12:50 PM
  #19  
97Z28M6's Avatar
97Z28M6
Instructor
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Default

Originally Posted by Speedforhire
I'm curious to know how you're getting almost 60lbs oil pressure with temps above 200*? High volume pump? Ported?
Typical for the dry sump cars, which I assume this one is. Just because the coolant temp is at 200° doesn't mean jack, the oil could be at 75°.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2015 | 02:20 PM
  #20  
Speedforhire's Avatar
Speedforhire
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,708
Likes: 83
From: Arkansas
Default

Originally Posted by 97Z28M6
Typical for the dry sump cars, which I assume this one is. Just because the coolant temp is at 200° doesn't mean jack, the oil could be at 75°.
We know genius..........the oil temp has no relation to the ECT. I doubt very seriously that it would be at 75* while the ECT is at 200.

However, 60lbs is NOT typical for a street car idling at 200* ETC. I'll wait for JWELL (the OP) to disclose the setup..........
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:40 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-4
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE