Cam getting installed soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
Go with the stage 2 if you do city driving. Peak power up top is the only thing you will get with a stage 3 at the cost of some bottom end tq. You will enjoy more power under the curve daily driving with the stage 2 cam. The stage 2 will still have a very noticeable chop to it. Peak dyno numbers should never be the way to choose a cam. Picking a cam that matches your driving and purpose is always a better idea. Cams are always a compromise. You can have dyno queen power and no fun in traffic or more usable power for the street and still enjoy the car. I have had big cams in my vettes and I have had baby cams in my vettes. I have found for street driving and all around enjoyment the stage 2 type cams are better. Best bang for the buck to me was a mid level cam with a 3.90 gear swap.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 156
Likes: 52
From: Illinois
Go with the stage 2 if you do city driving. Peak power up top is the only thing you will get with a stage 3 at the cost of some bottom end tq. You will enjoy more power under the curve daily driving with the stage 2 cam. The stage 2 will still have a very noticeable chop to it. Peak dyno numbers should never be the way to choose a cam. Picking a cam that matches your driving and purpose is always a better idea. Cams are always a compromise. You can have dyno queen power and no fun in traffic or more usable power for the street and still enjoy the car. I have had big cams in my vettes and I have had baby cams in my vettes. I have found for street driving and all around enjoyment the stage 2 type cams are better. Best bang for the buck to me was a mid level cam with a 3.90 gear swap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
If it were me I would leave the heads alone unless you’re trying to make as much hp as you can. A new set of heads isn’t cheap tho.
as far as the cam I just had the BTR stage 2 put in my m6 ls3 and I’m happy with how it drives. Can’t speak for the stage 3 but I went stage 2 to retain some low end power vs the stage 3. I don’t road race or anything but I really like the low end torque for spirited driving. On stock heads it made 465rwhp and 442tq… not huge numbers but that’s also paired with 1 3/4 headers and a catted x pipe. I would have made higher peak hp with 1 7/8 headers and catless x pipe. The car drives prob 90% like stock.
as far as the cam I just had the BTR stage 2 put in my m6 ls3 and I’m happy with how it drives. Can’t speak for the stage 3 but I went stage 2 to retain some low end power vs the stage 3. I don’t road race or anything but I really like the low end torque for spirited driving. On stock heads it made 465rwhp and 442tq… not huge numbers but that’s also paired with 1 3/4 headers and a catted x pipe. I would have made higher peak hp with 1 7/8 headers and catless x pipe. The car drives prob 90% like stock.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 156
Likes: 52
From: Illinois
If it were me I would leave the heads alone unless you’re trying to make as much hp as you can. A new set of heads isn’t cheap tho.
as far as the cam I just had the BTR stage 2 put in my m6 ls3 and I’m happy with how it drives. Can’t speak for the stage 3 but I went stage 2 to retain some low end power vs the stage 3. I don’t road race or anything but I really like the low end torque for spirited driving. On stock heads it made 465rwhp and 442tq… not huge numbers but that’s also paired with 1 3/4 headers and a catted x pipe. I would have made higher peak hp with 1 7/8 headers and catless x pipe. The car drives prob 90% like stock.
as far as the cam I just had the BTR stage 2 put in my m6 ls3 and I’m happy with how it drives. Can’t speak for the stage 3 but I went stage 2 to retain some low end power vs the stage 3. I don’t road race or anything but I really like the low end torque for spirited driving. On stock heads it made 465rwhp and 442tq… not huge numbers but that’s also paired with 1 3/4 headers and a catted x pipe. I would have made higher peak hp with 1 7/8 headers and catless x pipe. The car drives prob 90% like stock.
Yeah sounds like I'll be staying stock on the heads. Maybe if one day I have the money to do alot more I'll throw on a magnacharger and then heads for the extra flow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
That's really awesome info. Was it the regular stage 2 or the version 2? Just curious. I'll have the Kooks 1⅞ with catted. I went catted because the person who had it before me put on corsa extreme and I thought that maybe if I did a catted x pipe that it might not be so crazy loud. I like loud but I doubt the neighbors really want to here that too much.
Yeah sounds like I'll be staying stock on the heads. Maybe if one day I have the money to do alot more I'll throw on a magnacharger and then heads for the extra flow.
Yeah sounds like I'll be staying stock on the heads. Maybe if one day I have the money to do alot more I'll throw on a magnacharger and then heads for the extra flow.
I went with a catted X pipe and I’m glad I did because even with cats the smell is pretty strong. As far as sound I wouldn’t mind if mine was a tad louder. I’ve had a set or Borla Ataks on and now I have the factory NPP mufflers. Still sounds really good tho, cats actually clean up the exhaust note some in my opinion, it’s not as raspy.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 451
From: Central NJ
Bigger cam w 15 yo lifters?
idk if that’s the best idea.
If it were my car and I was going to do a cam
Id go w new lifters.
then of course heads since coming off already
or just do a supercharger for few more bucks
idk if that’s the best idea.
If it were my car and I was going to do a cam
Id go w new lifters.
then of course heads since coming off already
or just do a supercharger for few more bucks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 156
Likes: 52
From: Illinois
I thought about that, seems the guys at the speed shop aren't worried about that since the cars only got 17xxx miles. They are gonna check out the cam when they pull it and make sure it looks good.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
And, what are you going to do with your original OEM cam after it's replaced with an aftermarket cam ?
Well, that's an easy question to answer ... slap it up on your garage wall ! . . . .
Attachment 48331303
Well, that's an easy question to answer ... slap it up on your garage wall ! . . . .
Attachment 48331303
Last edited by Turbo6TA; Apr 5, 2023 at 03:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 156
Likes: 52
From: Illinois
So went with the btr stage 2 v2. Trunion upgrade, power bond damper and the kooks. Should be a decent fun set up for a while. Left the heads alone. Shops gonna get me in the 16th so ill have it done by the 19th or 20th of this month. Pretty excited I tell ya.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
BTW ... Have them pin your new harmonic balancer when installing it. If you ever do put a supercharger on the car in the future, you will be damned glad you had the balancer pinned beforehand.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 451
From: Central NJ
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 156
Likes: 52
From: Illinois
The lamp is pretty neat also.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,999
Likes: 1,685
From: Southeast TX
You're probably right, but it wouldn't hurt to ask BTR what their PR length advice would be running their cam on a stock LS3. The base circle on the cam has to be a little smaller. Depending on how much smaller, it could require a longer push rod.