Cammed C7--> maintenance/motor life?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Cammed C7--> maintenance/motor life?
about to purchase a cammed c7 i know the current owner beats on the car ..... is it a bad idea to buy a cammed car? whats the maintenance on a cammed motor and how much would labor is it bring back to stock to bring in to the dealer in the event that it fails.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 542
Likes: 52
From: El Paso Texas
Depending on cam profile you might need to check and or replace springs every 10 or 15 thousand miles. Most dealers arent trained on performance engines. I would have the car checked a a reputable performce shop.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 865
Likes: 326
I would never buy a beaten car. Driving hard is one thing but a car with a cam has failure written all over it. You need to build the engine from the ground up, not just slap some parts on it and hope it handles it. I would steer clear from this one.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
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i wouldnt know what cam failure looks or sounds
btw lashways did the install and tune if that means anything
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
Cammed motors require little extra care, the aftermarket valve train is where people see failures. you will Most likely be changing valve springs throughout your ownership. How often you change depends on cam specs, valve springs, and how the car is is driven.
The LT1 motor is more labor intensive because GM changed a few things from the LS3. Its going to be a pain in the *** to go back to stop. but of course its possible.
I owned a cammed LS3 years ago, after owning that car i would be kind of worried buying a used one.
The LT1 motor is more labor intensive because GM changed a few things from the LS3. Its going to be a pain in the *** to go back to stop. but of course its possible.
I owned a cammed LS3 years ago, after owning that car i would be kind of worried buying a used one.
Last edited by MikeLsx; Aug 7, 2016 at 10:01 AM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,421
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From: Mesa Az
If lashway did it than you have a lot less to worry about. Really a cam car is not less reliable than stock imo. You should do springs every 30k miles unless it has crazy aggressive lobes on it, which I doubt it does if lashway spec'd the cam. The one thing I see people do that would throw a red flag up for me is seeing people rip on it when the oil is still not up to temp. I warn customers all the time don't beat on it until oil temps reach "X" I see some of them pick their car up and do a full on pull leaving the shop when the car isn't up to temp. I immediately send them an email saying what I witnessed and if they don't head my warning they can't get mad if they break a valve spring or something happens as they were instructed how to take proper care of the engine.
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Cordes Performance Racing aka "CPR"
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http://cordesperformanceracing.com/
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Cordes Performance Racing aka "CPR"
Owner of AZ's premier LSX/LTX motorsports shop
http://cordesperformanceracing.com/
www.facebook.com/cordesperformanceracing.com
joe@cordesperformanceracing.com
480-359-5914
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
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If you were to buy a stock C7, would you desire to put a cam in it? If so, this might be the car for you, but from reading your posts, it sounds like you would rather have it stock. If that's the case, I'd move on and find a car that is stock unless you are getting one amazingly great deal on the cammed car.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 203
From: MI
If lashway did it than you have a lot less to worry about. Really a cam car is not less reliable than stock imo. You should do springs every 30k miles unless it has crazy aggressive lobes on it, which I doubt it does if lashway spec'd the cam. The one thing I see people do that would throw a red flag up for me is seeing people rip on it when the oil is still not up to temp. I warn customers all the time don't beat on it until oil temps reach "X" I see some of them pick their car up and do a full on pull leaving the shop when the car isn't up to temp. I immediately send them an email saying what I witnessed and if they don't head my warning they can't get mad if they break a valve spring or something happens as they were instructed how to take proper care of the engine.
Luckily it was a duel spring.