Cam Swap Cost
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 903
From: Kentucky
Cam Swap Cost
I've been thinking more and more about a cam swap. My current performance mods include American Racing headers into Corsa Sports exhaust with a Halltech Killer Bee intake and I think a cam would round it out nicely. I'm thinking BTR stage 2 or 3 for a nice sound while still maintaining good manners. I'm also going to go ahead and do the balancer while I'm in there as preventative maintenance.
I'm having trouble nailing down how much this is going to cost me. I've received labor quotes anywhere from $450 to $2,000 for the same job. Tune quotes range from $350 to $1,000. And there's a million vendors to choose from for cam and balancer parts. I'm certainly no mechanic so I don't know what I'm looking at half the time. It's making me dizzy.
Where does a guy begin? How much did y'all pay for your cam swap?
I'm having trouble nailing down how much this is going to cost me. I've received labor quotes anywhere from $450 to $2,000 for the same job. Tune quotes range from $350 to $1,000. And there's a million vendors to choose from for cam and balancer parts. I'm certainly no mechanic so I don't know what I'm looking at half the time. It's making me dizzy.
Where does a guy begin? How much did y'all pay for your cam swap?
Last edited by BluegrassMotorsport; Jun 15, 2020 at 02:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
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From: Southeast TX
I'd be more looking for the best shop in my area vs the cheapest price. A cam swap takes time and every hack shop around isn't up to the top shelf standards that I'd want to have. That's assuming you can't do it yourself. That's also assuming you're also going to run the snot out of it and expect it to hold together. Top shelf's **** doesn't grenade. Also, don't assume that any shop that can install a cam also employs a competent tuner. Whether a tune is below average, about average, or above average can make your Vette a horror, a meh, or a total blast to drive.
Stage 3 type cams get old really fast after the novelty wears off. I'd lean a little more to the conservative side when choosing a cam.
Stage 3 type cams get old really fast after the novelty wears off. I'd lean a little more to the conservative side when choosing a cam.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 903
From: Kentucky
I'd be more looking for the best shop in my area vs the cheapest price. A cam swap takes time and every hack shop around isn't up to the top shelf standards that I'd want to have. That's assuming you can't do it yourself. That's also assuming you're also going to run the snot out of it and expect it to hold together. Top shelf's **** doesn't grenade. Also, don't assume that any shop that can install a cam also employs a competent tuner. Whether a tune is below average, about average, or above average can make your Vette a horror, a meh, or a total blast to drive.
Stage 3 type cams get old really fast after the novelty wears off. I'd lean a little more to the conservative side when choosing a cam.
Stage 3 type cams get old really fast after the novelty wears off. I'd lean a little more to the conservative side when choosing a cam.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 903
From: Kentucky
Bumping this up for some more questions for the cam crowd. I'm no mechanic so some of this stuff is gibberish to me.
My Vette it as 45k miles now. I plan on keeping it for a long time and putting some miles on it. I figure I should go ahead and take care of some preventative maintenance while the car is down. I'm going to replace the balancer for sure. I've read that the factory fuel pump on the LS3 can be problematic. My GS is an M6 car. Does this go for the dry sump system, too? Also, a couple of the places I have received quotes from recommend changing the timing chain before getting to higher mileage. Any recommendations there?
My Vette it as 45k miles now. I plan on keeping it for a long time and putting some miles on it. I figure I should go ahead and take care of some preventative maintenance while the car is down. I'm going to replace the balancer for sure. I've read that the factory fuel pump on the LS3 can be problematic. My GS is an M6 car. Does this go for the dry sump system, too? Also, a couple of the places I have received quotes from recommend changing the timing chain before getting to higher mileage. Any recommendations there?
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 389
Likes: 165
From: Maryville, TN
Just mapped Prestonsburg KY to Lethal Performance & Dyno in Jefferson City TN = just over 3 hours. These guys stay very busy, so may take a while to get in if choose to work with them. Brandon & his team do very good work. If keep an eye on their FB page will see cam packages often priced around the $2200 mentioned above inc parts (cam, springs, pushrods, chain, gaskets) / labor / tune. They use Texas Speed that I’ve seen for parts on that package. Several cam options inc custom grind if desired.
Google them to check out reviews. Here’s link to FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/Lethalperformancelsx/
Brandon can talk you through options. Knows these cars thoroughly.
Results from own build stages with these guys doing the work:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...no-sheets.html
Exceeded expectations every stage.
Hope to see a results thread when done. Will be keeping an eye out for it.
Google them to check out reviews. Here’s link to FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/Lethalperformancelsx/
Brandon can talk you through options. Knows these cars thoroughly.
Results from own build stages with these guys doing the work:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...no-sheets.html
Exceeded expectations every stage.
Hope to see a results thread when done. Will be keeping an eye out for it.
Last edited by VolSince69; Jun 19, 2020 at 09:56 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 320
Likes: 74
From: Chandler AZ
Bumping this up for some more questions for the cam crowd. I'm no mechanic so some of this stuff is gibberish to me.
My Vette it as 45k miles now. I plan on keeping it for a long time and putting some miles on it. I figure I should go ahead and take care of some preventative maintenance while the car is down. I'm going to replace the balancer for sure. I've read that the factory fuel pump on the LS3 can be problematic. My GS is an M6 car. Does this go for the dry sump system, too? Also, a couple of the places I have received quotes from recommend changing the timing chain before getting to higher mileage. Any recommendations there?
My Vette it as 45k miles now. I plan on keeping it for a long time and putting some miles on it. I figure I should go ahead and take care of some preventative maintenance while the car is down. I'm going to replace the balancer for sure. I've read that the factory fuel pump on the LS3 can be problematic. My GS is an M6 car. Does this go for the dry sump system, too? Also, a couple of the places I have received quotes from recommend changing the timing chain before getting to higher mileage. Any recommendations there?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 903
From: Kentucky
Should be going in for the install in a week or two. I'm excited for the results!
