Cam selection please help!!! Ls3 m6
Drifting
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 671
From: Lakeland, Florida
For the record, I've also spent money on one and not the other...
There are several cams mentioned in this thread that would be a nice upgrade over the Titan 2. My cam and the T2 have the same amount of overlap. Manners will be the same. I'd bet mine would equal it down low and kill it for total power. I'm guessing you're considering a cam swap to make more power and enjoy your Vette more.
Lots of ways to make power and still have decent manners. If you employ a cam with limited potential, you're limiting yourself before you ever turn a wrench. I'm no fan of the bigger cams that induce buck, surge, and shake either.
Spin's cam would be at the top limit of what I'd consider for a well behaved street cam in an LS3. I wouldn't consider it in an LS2. It has 4 degrees of overlap which some are OK with. There's a huge number of alternatives at similar amounts overlap available if you're willing to go custom. Not much if you're looking for a shelf cam with just slightly less than that.
There are several cams mentioned in this thread that would be a nice upgrade over the Titan 2. My cam and the T2 have the same amount of overlap. Manners will be the same. I'd bet mine would equal it down low and kill it for total power. I'm guessing you're considering a cam swap to make more power and enjoy your Vette more.
Lots of ways to make power and still have decent manners. If you employ a cam with limited potential, you're limiting yourself before you ever turn a wrench. I'm no fan of the bigger cams that induce buck, surge, and shake either.
Spin's cam would be at the top limit of what I'd consider for a well behaved street cam in an LS3. I wouldn't consider it in an LS2. It has 4 degrees of overlap which some are OK with. There's a huge number of alternatives at similar amounts overlap available if you're willing to go custom. Not much if you're looking for a shelf cam with just slightly less than that.
Another question - is it recommended during a cam swap to upgrade the factory timing chain and gear ? Same question for the oil pump ?
Last edited by Dzv69; Sep 24, 2023 at 05:49 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,684
From: Southeast TX
What is the maximum amount of overlap that would still give decent street manners for a M6 street car that takes highway cruises and engages in stop light shoot outs ? And yes, i want more power for the fun factor and because of what I've read about the stock LS3 heads that are capable of supporting up to 600 HP, that the stock LS3 is practically begging and teasing for a bigger cam. I like the suggestions in this thread so far, very commonly used cams country wide. What would be your thoughts on the Cam Motion TITAN 3 cam with my set up (all stock LS3 except Kooks 1 3/4 long tubes and X pipe, Corsa Xtreme axle back, factory air intake with a Haltech heat shield and ATI Super Damper ? Naturally it is Dyno tuned and would get re-tuned with new cam. I really want to go with a Cam Motion 8620 core, but i'm not savvy enough to dictate a custome cam specs (I've considered plagiarizing your custom cam specs, only thing is my mechanic urges to stay LSA = 113 or 112, whereas you advocate the 114/115.
Another question - is it recommended during a cam swap to upgrade the factory timing chain and gear ? Same question for the oil pump ?
Another question - is it recommended during a cam swap to upgrade the factory timing chain and gear ? Same question for the oil pump ?
I 100%, no doubt about it, know what cranks my tractor. I want all I can get power wise without compromising really good manners. 500 rwhp is available cam only. Years ago, I was told this was possible with perfect street manners....yeah, right. 460 isn't available without compromised street manners.
Overlap dictates manners. My personal limit is 0. I've had more and I've had less. I've heard that cams with
10 degrees of overlap are good on the streets with a "good tune". I had a cam with 9 degrees of overlap in my first C6 LS3. After two tunes with two of Houston's best tuners, it was still crap. Not for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,684
From: Southeast TX
I apologize for not answering your questions. The wife had me doing things last night that didn't include seat time in front of my computer.
The Titan 3 comes with 6* of overlap. More than I would want to live with. Again, some guys don't mind that at all. Just not for me.
I left my stock oil pump since it only had about 30K miles on it. The next oil pump that goes out on any of my vehicles will be the first. An oil pump is a really simple part. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably add a Melling 10295 with a blue spring installed though. I've heard more than once that the stock pump can cavitate and lose some flow at higher RPM. I didn't know that back when my son and I did the work to my LS3. I did use a new timing chain and 3 bolt cam gear.
Here's a few cams that I would consider:
25-TSP225236 NEW Texas Speed Stage 1 LS3 225/236 .629"/.615" Camshaft (texas-speed.com)
PG LS3 STAGE 1 (patgtuning.com)
GT12 LS Series Camshaft, 227/235 .614/.621 Hr115 (lingenfelter.com) I like the specs on this one but don't like the Comp Cams lobe style used (LSL I think). They are pretty aggressive and could be hard on the valve train. I won't buy a camshaft that isn't ground by Cam Motion. Tx Speed may be just as good, but I have no experience with their cams.
The Titan 3 comes with 6* of overlap. More than I would want to live with. Again, some guys don't mind that at all. Just not for me.
I left my stock oil pump since it only had about 30K miles on it. The next oil pump that goes out on any of my vehicles will be the first. An oil pump is a really simple part. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably add a Melling 10295 with a blue spring installed though. I've heard more than once that the stock pump can cavitate and lose some flow at higher RPM. I didn't know that back when my son and I did the work to my LS3. I did use a new timing chain and 3 bolt cam gear.
Here's a few cams that I would consider:
25-TSP225236 NEW Texas Speed Stage 1 LS3 225/236 .629"/.615" Camshaft (texas-speed.com)
PG LS3 STAGE 1 (patgtuning.com)
GT12 LS Series Camshaft, 227/235 .614/.621 Hr115 (lingenfelter.com) I like the specs on this one but don't like the Comp Cams lobe style used (LSL I think). They are pretty aggressive and could be hard on the valve train. I won't buy a camshaft that isn't ground by Cam Motion. Tx Speed may be just as good, but I have no experience with their cams.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Driving manners when installed by an experienced tuner with the SpinMonster cam is a non-issue. No bucking/surging.
For me 4-5 degrees overlap is the limit. My original cam was a 230/242 114+2 and it made 3hp more, Tq was the same but drove pretty bad.
That's why I hate big splits. No power gain over a 4 degree split.
Here are videos by an independent install:
For me 4-5 degrees overlap is the limit. My original cam was a 230/242 114+2 and it made 3hp more, Tq was the same but drove pretty bad.
That's why I hate big splits. No power gain over a 4 degree split.
Here are videos by an independent install:
Here are some videos for all you guys wondering how spins cam is.
https://youtu.be/aCe9zQF-kRs
https://youtu.be/_VQI-5GChC4
https://youtu.be/EZm64N0G8aI
https://youtu.be/d6Jc4Lm8gAs
Enjoy everyone. More videos to come when its warmer out.
https://youtu.be/aCe9zQF-kRs
https://youtu.be/_VQI-5GChC4
https://youtu.be/EZm64N0G8aI
https://youtu.be/d6Jc4Lm8gAs
Enjoy everyone. More videos to come when its warmer out.
