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C7/LT1 Cam install

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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 04:28 PM
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Default C7/LT1 Cam install

I'm soon to be the new owner of my first Corvette! I currently have a 2010 Camaro SS and going to be selling soon. Cam installs on the Camaro are pretty straight forward and easy, but I heard the install on a C7 is a pain. From what someone told me, and I can't seem to verify this anywhere or find any instructions/tutorials on it; The body needs to be lifted or the motor has to come out of the C7 to install a cam. Is that correct?

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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by djpelosi
I'm soon to be the new owner of my first Corvette! I currently have a 2010 Camaro SS and going to be selling soon. Cam installs on the Camaro are pretty straight forward and easy, but I heard the install on a C7 is a pain. From what someone told me, and I can't seem to verify this anywhere or find any instructions/tutorials on it, the body needs to be lifted or the motor has to come out of the C7 to install a cam. Is that correct?
No worse than your other cam. Just have to pull every thing from the front of motor. It is the oil pan & front cover that is the problem. The c7 should be much better as time goes on it than the c5 r c6 vette. Tons of room in front of the motor in these cars..Robert

Last edited by robert miller; Feb 12, 2018 at 01:55 PM.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 07:09 PM
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I know Vengeance pulled the motor when they installed my cam because it was easier. I did the cam on my 05 LS2 but wasn't confident enough to tackle the job with the additional complexities on this one.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 07:45 PM
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A cam install in a C7 is not like a cam install in an LSx motor.
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Old Apr 26, 2016 | 10:19 PM
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do you have dry sump or wet sump.. what have to do. take all of your front assembly off. lower the cradle (for not take the bolts out) loosen the bolts evenly. about have way on each bolt. oil pan has to clear the oil pump. so can take the oil pump off, cam phaser, timing chain, ect

you can still use the 5/16 dowel rods for the lifters. if your keeping the economy mode lifters. I would recommend using ls7 lifters
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 12:22 AM
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Yeah I looked at it and I'm thinking a cam swap is a 10 hour job in the garage... And I have all of the right tools. Definitely not a job for the regular back yard mechanic.
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted by NinjamanZ51
Yeah I looked at it and I'm thinking a cam swap is a 10 hour job in the garage... And I have all of the right tools. Definitely not a job for the regular back yard mechanic.
my money is on it taking you 20.
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 12:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Higgs Boson
my money is on it taking you 20.
Haha nah. I've build plenty of cars. Heck I swapped a 6.2L LS3 into a Genesis Coupe in a couple of days and that included building a tubular subframe. Like I said, I have the right tools!
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by NinjamanZ51
Haha nah. I've build plenty of cars. Heck I swapped a 6.2L LS3 into a Genesis Coupe in a couple of days and that included building a tubular subframe. Like I said, I have the right tools!
Ok let us know.
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Old Apr 27, 2016 | 08:25 AM
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it sounds awesome !!! but most people puting that kind of money into it does a super chager instead,


looking forward to the results its going to sound mean,
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Old Apr 30, 2016 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by robert miller
No worse than your other cam. Just have to pull every thing from the front of motor. The c7 should be much better as time goes on it than the c5 r c6 vette. Tons of room in front of the motor in these cars..Robert
Yeah, it's way harder on a c7.
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Old May 3, 2016 | 01:45 AM
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If you choose to retain the VVT with the limiter you are very limited as the the lift and duration of your cam---Typically these VVT friendly cams limit the duration and lift of your cam and at best you an only expect about a 35 RWHP gain
But if you choose to do a full VVT and DOD delete with tuning those options out your cam choices become unlimited----Texas Speed claims they have cam packages with VVT and DOD delete that require all new lifters and with the addition of LT headers you can expect an easy 100 RWHP gain---Check it out---------
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Old May 3, 2016 | 09:53 AM
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If I were to go the cam route, I would most certainly go VVT/DOD delete. Seems like too much time, work and money to spend on only ~30rwhp.
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Old May 3, 2016 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by djpelosi
If I were to go the cam route, I would most certainly go VVT/DOD delete. Seems like too much time, work and money to spend on only ~30rwhp.
Agreed, but the heads have to come off as well to do a DOD delete cam.
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Old May 3, 2016 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by tblu92
If you choose to retain the VVT with the limiter you are very limited as the the lift and duration of your cam---Typically these VVT friendly cams limit the duration and lift of your cam and at best you an only expect about a 35 RWHP gain
But if you choose to do a full VVT and DOD delete with tuning those options out your cam choices become unlimited----Texas Speed claims they have cam packages with VVT and DOD delete that require all new lifters and with the addition of LT headers you can expect an easy 100 RWHP gain---Check it out---------
We see 50-60rwhp increases with just aftermarket camshafts in the C7's on stock heads/intake manifolds depending on how aggressive the camshaft is. The DOD compliant camshafts barely make any power (10-15rwhp) and have hardly any lope at idle.

AFM/DOD delete is required on all of our camshafts, but the VVT cannot be deleted on the C7. There is no front cover or timing gear to allow for that as of yet. However, we still make great power using the phaser limiter.
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 12:41 AM
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how much is a really good cam
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Old Feb 9, 2018 | 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Zachary Brown
how much is a really good cam
Let us know if we can assist you. Our Cams are on sale right now for $399.99 and normally cost $449.99.

https://vengeanceracing.net/2014-c7-...camshafts.html
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Old Feb 10, 2018 | 11:30 PM
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Not to high jack the thread but it applies. If you have a bone LT1 C7 whats the ballpark cost to have a cam installed? just labor no parts
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 01:24 AM
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Originally Posted by GRstylesZ51
Not to high jack the thread but it applies. If you have a bone LT1 C7 whats the ballpark cost to have a cam installed? just labor no parts
I just had a cam/cnc head package, dod delete, And ported throttle body put on my c7. Total for parts and labor and tuning ended up being $4900. If you just did a cam package i think it would be $3400 installed and tuned. My car made 530whp and 472 torque
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Old Feb 12, 2018 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Kohler717

I just had a cam/cnc head package, dod delete, And ported throttle body put on my c7. Total for parts and labor and tuning ended up being $4900. If you just did a cam package i think it would be $3400 installed and tuned. My car made 530whp and 472 torque
Your car sounds awesome and made some great power for sure! I love hearing it start up and idle
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