the best cam please
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 4
From: Dhahran Eastern Province
the best cam please
hi
I am going to have a cam for my 99 C5
I have already installed 243 heads, Stock cam, LS6 intake, Vararam, KooKs LT, xpipe with Corsa xtreme. No Tune yet..
what cam should I have for Daily Drive?
or should I be with the stock one?
after I decide what cam I go with, i ll do the tune..
please let me know what should I get..
thanks..
I am going to have a cam for my 99 C5
I have already installed 243 heads, Stock cam, LS6 intake, Vararam, KooKs LT, xpipe with Corsa xtreme. No Tune yet..
what cam should I have for Daily Drive?
or should I be with the stock one?
after I decide what cam I go with, i ll do the tune..
please let me know what should I get..
thanks..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 15
In order to go with any type of aggressive cam you will need to upgrade valve springs and pushrods. If you are unwilling to change these things it will severely limit your choices on cams. The valve spring need to be "matched" to the cam you chose.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 4
From: Dhahran Eastern Province
I'm going to install the springs and pushrods with the cam..
but I'm still confused what cam I should have for DD with my current combo..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 15
Whats your idea of a "DD" ?? What year did the heads come off of ?? Still have the sodium valves ?? Yellow springs ?? Is idle quality a concern ?? Are you auto or manual ?? Gears ??
The cam I'm running now is large (IMHO) for a DD, but I'd have it no other way. Specs; 231/234=dur, 643/598=lift, 111=LS
Its has a great lope to it and pulls hard from 2500-rev limit. But I'm 2970lbs, 3.42, and manual.
The cam I'm running now is large (IMHO) for a DD, but I'd have it no other way. Specs; 231/234=dur, 643/598=lift, 111=LS
Its has a great lope to it and pulls hard from 2500-rev limit. But I'm 2970lbs, 3.42, and manual.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 297
From: Orange Park FL
Whats your idea of a "DD" ?? What year did the heads come off of ?? Still have the sodium valves ?? Yellow springs ?? Is idle quality a concern ?? Are you auto or manual ?? Gears ??
The cam I'm running now is large (IMHO) for a DD, but I'd have it no other way. Specs; 231/234=dur, 643/598=lift, 111=LS
Its has a great lope to it and pulls hard from 2500-rev limit. But I'm 2970lbs, 3.42, and manual.
The cam I'm running now is large (IMHO) for a DD, but I'd have it no other way. Specs; 231/234=dur, 643/598=lift, 111=LS
Its has a great lope to it and pulls hard from 2500-rev limit. But I'm 2970lbs, 3.42, and manual.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 48
From: Nathalie VA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18
The guys at Texas-Speed would be a good place to start. They are very knowledgeable on LS cams, and can set you up with a complete kit with all the parts you need to change out while your swapping the cam. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 258
Likes: 4
From: Dhahran Eastern Province
my vette is Automatic, and the 243 heads come off of LS2, the spring looks yellow but I am not sure about the valves
and what I mean by DD is I dont wanna lose my vette, because it is the only one I have.
I am worried about the overheating on traffic or on the highway and the retuning that may be consequences.
I want a cam that gives me a good gain on rear wheel with a good lobe; lets say 114.
I hope guys now you could recommend a good one for me please..
and what I mean by DD is I dont wanna lose my vette, because it is the only one I have.
I am worried about the overheating on traffic or on the highway and the retuning that may be consequences.
I want a cam that gives me a good gain on rear wheel with a good lobe; lets say 114.
I hope guys now you could recommend a good one for me please..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 15
Are you willing to upgrade your converter ??
The reason I asked about the valve springs is you could run a stock 02-04 Z cam. Which produces decent numbers but IMHO if you going to do a cam swap make it worth your while. TSP's 224R and 228R are very popular, great mid range. But if you are willing to upgrade your converter the options are endless.
About the overheating, you will not overheat unless your cooling system is arleady suspect. A cam swap will not put it over the edge if your cooling systems up to speed.
And about the retune deal, I'd say its mandatory on any cam swap. While your in there throw a 160 T-stat in and have your fans bumped to come on accordingly, that should give you piece of mind in the cooling department. FYI, 102 degree summer days mine never reached 195 in traffic. Just remember there are bottom breathers "aka street sweepers" so regular perventative maintenance requires cleaning in front of the radiator.
Damn, got carried away. Sorry :o
The reason I asked about the valve springs is you could run a stock 02-04 Z cam. Which produces decent numbers but IMHO if you going to do a cam swap make it worth your while. TSP's 224R and 228R are very popular, great mid range. But if you are willing to upgrade your converter the options are endless.
About the overheating, you will not overheat unless your cooling system is arleady suspect. A cam swap will not put it over the edge if your cooling systems up to speed.
And about the retune deal, I'd say its mandatory on any cam swap. While your in there throw a 160 T-stat in and have your fans bumped to come on accordingly, that should give you piece of mind in the cooling department. FYI, 102 degree summer days mine never reached 195 in traffic. Just remember there are bottom breathers "aka street sweepers" so regular perventative maintenance requires cleaning in front of the radiator.
Damn, got carried away. Sorry :o
Last edited by LSOHOLIC; Dec 2, 2010 at 07:23 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Sioux Falls SD
232/235 across 112 on XE-R lobes
... and springs, rods, a converter ...
The opinions are endless but as much as it kills me WKMCD is very much so in the sweet spot for stock cubes for a drivable easy to live with cam. I did a bigger one (235/237) in stock cubes and it was... in need of a stall converter.
if you go for any cam with XE-R lobe profiles, replace your springs and rods with it, you'll be glad you did since you're DD'ing it and remember the tune is critical when talking about items like 'driveability'.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 15
You asked;
Cartek
Katech
Virgina Speed
Kurt Urban
Tony Momo
England Green
Texas Speed and Performance (TSP)
Thunder racing
Cam Motion
MTI
Comp cam
etc......
The options are endless, I run a TSP cam and like it, and the tech support was great. A lot of these guy are very protective over there proprietary cam specs. So make a few phone calls and get some options/opinions and pull the trigger.
Trust me, I struggled with the decision for weeks but if you compare your build to the millon others. Its very typical, that being said most cams will make very similar power, manufacture to manufacture. If you want to dig into the technical aspects of the LS cam, look into the tech behind the lobe technology. Thats whats seperating the top dogs and opens up spring rate options as well.
Cartek
Katech
Virgina Speed
Kurt Urban
Tony Momo
England Green
Texas Speed and Performance (TSP)
Thunder racing
Cam Motion
MTI
Comp cam
etc......
The options are endless, I run a TSP cam and like it, and the tech support was great. A lot of these guy are very protective over there proprietary cam specs. So make a few phone calls and get some options/opinions and pull the trigger.
Trust me, I struggled with the decision for weeks but if you compare your build to the millon others. Its very typical, that being said most cams will make very similar power, manufacture to manufacture. If you want to dig into the technical aspects of the LS cam, look into the tech behind the lobe technology. Thats whats seperating the top dogs and opens up spring rate options as well.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,756
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 48
From: Nathalie VA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18
I had a TSP228r before I installed the blower cam. The car mad 411rwhp 389rwtq. All I had was Blackwing, powerbond, and LT's. I had it tuned by a dip **** so it didn't as good as it should have, but was very street friendly, and I still got 30+mpg on the highway.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 1,716
From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
I am getting ready to do ported/polished heads, cam on my Z06 this spring... Going with some nicely ported cnc'd 243's... and the LGM G5X1E... it's a 228ish 234ish on a 112..
I also have a 2000 Z28 with a G5X3 236/242 .610 lift on a 114lsa match up to a Vig3600 stall and 373's... The car is a MONSTER!! I would suggest a smaller stall (Yank3200-3500) with one of the 228 cams... along with a 160 deg tstat, a nice tune, tranny cooler (B&M24KGVU) Nobody on here could argue that set up in a Vette... my heavy *** Fbod mentioned above put down 411/387 to the wheels... your call buddy...
No overheating even in TEXAS heat!!
I also have a 2000 Z28 with a G5X3 236/242 .610 lift on a 114lsa match up to a Vig3600 stall and 373's... The car is a MONSTER!! I would suggest a smaller stall (Yank3200-3500) with one of the 228 cams... along with a 160 deg tstat, a nice tune, tranny cooler (B&M24KGVU) Nobody on here could argue that set up in a Vette... my heavy *** Fbod mentioned above put down 411/387 to the wheels... your call buddy...
No overheating even in TEXAS heat!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,205
Likes: 2
From: port monmouth nj
my old setup 224/230 xer 114+2 3.42 gears, 3200 stall, ls-6 2.5 ported tsp head unmilled, 1 3.4 headers kooks, stock gm gasket, ls-6 intake. run 11.5's at track added 90/90 run 11.3's added 3.73 gears and 3600 stall ran high 10's
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I made 423 RWHP and 399 RWTQ - it has good behavior and street manners and great pull!
Thanks,matt
