Compression, cam and intake advice
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Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Richmond TX
Compression, cam and intake advice
First post. It's long but I wanted to be thorough. It's also posted on another couple forums.
My project is a C1 Corvette restomod. I'm the replacing the frame with a hand built chassis from Corvette Correction that uses C4 suspension and an LS3 motor. I'm not modifying the tubs of the car so max tire width I can get is limited so traction will be a challenge. The car is being built to be a driver and not a race car but there is a certain sound I am looking for. The car belonged to my father and was his daily driver/weekend racer and had a pretty good cam in it, closed chambered heads and at least 11:1 compression. I remember what the car sounded like when I was a kid and I would like to replicate that as much as possible. I have a spec sheet that was found in the car of the cam but I am not sure how to read it because it does not have all of the measurements I am used to looking at to tell the size. I did have one builder look at it and he said it was a big cam but didn't tell me the details I was looking for. Attached is the cam spec sheet.
On to my question.
Disclaimer: My build is a little difference, I am not looking for max HP. This is about sound and cosmetics, please keep that in mind when commenting.
In a nutshell what I want is a 11.5:1 LS3 with a heavy lope cam and sheetmetal intake.
I procured a donor LS3 and 6 speed from a 2015 SS Camaro and I want to modify it to get the sound and look I want. Honestly the stock 430 hp is plenty and changing the cam is really going to up the hp, it's almost like a side effect to me because I really could not care about adding any additional hp. I want to switch out the cam to get the sound I'm looking for as well as at least change the springs in the heads. If a head swap is required I am ok with that but would rather not spend the money if I do not have to. I was thinking something in the .550 to .650 lift range with about a 108 LSA to get the lope I am looking for. I am not an expert on cams and these parameters I came up with are based on cam sounds and reviews/dyno sheets of other people's cams. I considered getting the crate LS3 525 hp motor with the larger cam but I listened to one and it wasn't the sound I was looking for. The stats on that cam are .525 on both sides and a 110 LSA. I want a sheetmetal intake purely for the looks. I do not want to same looking intake as 90% of all the other LS motors. I realize that there are several manufactures out there that make sheetmetal intakes but I have no intention of buying an intake for $2500. To be honest I'm thinking about going with this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111832604942 I have read up on these and understand they are knockoffs and the quality might be lower and not produce for max air flow but since I am not trying to squeeze all the hp I can I don't see why it wouldn't fit my needs. I also understand that a lot of these eBay intakes tend to have a lot of slag so I will have to pay attention to that. Other than milling the heads, getting smaller chambered heads or thinner gaskets I do not know how to get to the 11.5:1 I am looking for. Lastly I was thinking about getting a Holley ECU and replace the stock unit to provide more programmability but I am not sure if that is necessary and again if I do not need to spend the money then I'd rather spend it somewhere else.
Again what I want is a 11.5:1 LS3 with a heavy lope cam and sheetmetal intake. Not trying to squeeze all the ponies I can.
1. How do I get to 11.5:1?
2. What cam gets me the sound I am looking for?
3. Sheetmetal intake options. Not spending $2500.
4. Holley ECU needed or not?
My project is a C1 Corvette restomod. I'm the replacing the frame with a hand built chassis from Corvette Correction that uses C4 suspension and an LS3 motor. I'm not modifying the tubs of the car so max tire width I can get is limited so traction will be a challenge. The car is being built to be a driver and not a race car but there is a certain sound I am looking for. The car belonged to my father and was his daily driver/weekend racer and had a pretty good cam in it, closed chambered heads and at least 11:1 compression. I remember what the car sounded like when I was a kid and I would like to replicate that as much as possible. I have a spec sheet that was found in the car of the cam but I am not sure how to read it because it does not have all of the measurements I am used to looking at to tell the size. I did have one builder look at it and he said it was a big cam but didn't tell me the details I was looking for. Attached is the cam spec sheet.
On to my question.
Disclaimer: My build is a little difference, I am not looking for max HP. This is about sound and cosmetics, please keep that in mind when commenting.
In a nutshell what I want is a 11.5:1 LS3 with a heavy lope cam and sheetmetal intake.
I procured a donor LS3 and 6 speed from a 2015 SS Camaro and I want to modify it to get the sound and look I want. Honestly the stock 430 hp is plenty and changing the cam is really going to up the hp, it's almost like a side effect to me because I really could not care about adding any additional hp. I want to switch out the cam to get the sound I'm looking for as well as at least change the springs in the heads. If a head swap is required I am ok with that but would rather not spend the money if I do not have to. I was thinking something in the .550 to .650 lift range with about a 108 LSA to get the lope I am looking for. I am not an expert on cams and these parameters I came up with are based on cam sounds and reviews/dyno sheets of other people's cams. I considered getting the crate LS3 525 hp motor with the larger cam but I listened to one and it wasn't the sound I was looking for. The stats on that cam are .525 on both sides and a 110 LSA. I want a sheetmetal intake purely for the looks. I do not want to same looking intake as 90% of all the other LS motors. I realize that there are several manufactures out there that make sheetmetal intakes but I have no intention of buying an intake for $2500. To be honest I'm thinking about going with this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111832604942 I have read up on these and understand they are knockoffs and the quality might be lower and not produce for max air flow but since I am not trying to squeeze all the hp I can I don't see why it wouldn't fit my needs. I also understand that a lot of these eBay intakes tend to have a lot of slag so I will have to pay attention to that. Other than milling the heads, getting smaller chambered heads or thinner gaskets I do not know how to get to the 11.5:1 I am looking for. Lastly I was thinking about getting a Holley ECU and replace the stock unit to provide more programmability but I am not sure if that is necessary and again if I do not need to spend the money then I'd rather spend it somewhere else.
Again what I want is a 11.5:1 LS3 with a heavy lope cam and sheetmetal intake. Not trying to squeeze all the ponies I can.
1. How do I get to 11.5:1?
2. What cam gets me the sound I am looking for?
3. Sheetmetal intake options. Not spending $2500.
4. Holley ECU needed or not?
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,404
From: Bethesda MD
Just curious, is the firing order for the LS3 the same as the original engine that you are trying to replicate? If not, you'll probably not fully replicate the sound.
To run 11.5:1 compression you'll need valve reliefs cut into the stock pistons or aftermarket pistons.
The cam is trade off of sound and drivability. Keeping the idle speed low can allow a smaller cam lope hard if you just want the sound and not the power.
To run 11.5:1 compression you'll need valve reliefs cut into the stock pistons or aftermarket pistons.
The cam is trade off of sound and drivability. Keeping the idle speed low can allow a smaller cam lope hard if you just want the sound and not the power.
