I just recently ordered a 418 LS3 based short block for my C5Z. But I really can't decide on a cam. In my LS6 I had the Vengenace Racing Vindicator cam. Made 456rwhp cam and exhaust only. That's a pretty aggressive cam so I guess I'm looking for something just as aggressive or if not a bit more. I was looking at their 'SumBich' cam for the LS7 but would that be too much for a 418? Should i go custom grind? What are you running in your 418s? It's not a daily so I'm not worried about drivability too much. I just want to go all out.
I have a FAST102 and matching Tb on the way. I plan on ordering Trickflow 235s. Probably milled down about -2 cc to raise compression a bit. Since I'm most likely going with a big cam i believe that lowers dynamic compression and i shouldn't have a problem running pump gas on a 11:5 or 12:1 setup. Pistons have -4cc valve reliefs. And i have no idea on gasket thickness yet. I think i would also like a short travel link bar lifter setup. But i would like some opinions on that as well. Would the SumBich be too much? If so what do you recommend? I'm a bit new at this. I just know that i want an insane C5Z

 

How are we supposed to know cam specs when all that is provided is a cam name?

 

Oops sorry. Vindicator is 240/244 .605/.596 112 LSA. 2800- 7000 Rpm Power Band. That's what i had in the LS6. The cam I'm looking at for the 418 is 247/258 .661/.652 112+4

 

Thanks!
That sounds rather large by huge and prob hard to tune.

Let me see what CTD says....

He has been through all this on his 416, in the end a smaller (smarter correctly designed) cam became tuneable, more driveable, and made mo powa to boot.

 

I usually blow over threads when there are little to no details in the profile, makes for a lot of guessing.

That's a big cam you had in the LS6, are you interested in how it sounds or how it performs?

If you are not committed to heads I would suggest a phone call to Chris Frank @ Frankenstein Racing Heads for some friendly advice. He did my TF 235's, they were ordered as a rough CNC. They have there own program to finish with significant improvements & the port size only growing to 237cc. I gained 80rw over my previous cylinder heads that were supposedly ported by a top name cylinder head guy.

Chris will also map out a camshaft to compliment the heads. He wanted to go bigger, I have his rough spec's somewhere if you are interested.

I agree with Ron regarding the cam size, my goal is near perfect manners. I'm on my third cam with my 416, 17*, 10.5* & now 4.5* of overlap. The 10.5* cam had the same lobes your are considering .650 lift. I broke two valve springs & only chit house luck avoided catastrophic failure.

The nice part is that I've given up zero top end power, I believe to have a stable well thought out valve train now. The other cams potentially could have made more if the valve train was to the standards it is now.

I'm very happy with the power(just over 600rw), explosive throttle response, no compromise in the tune & no drivers meeting required to drive the car.

 

Damn CTD, sounds like you got a KILLER set up.and the funds to accommodate it. I too have a 418 but she is mild build compared to his. I didn't have the money to shell out on trick flows or else I would've. I stayed with the 243's but sent them off to TEA for their stage 2 job. It is still choked off but she made 490/486(possibly more on tq. the 2nd pull it spun and we never re-did it.) I had high flow cats on her and she gained a total of 16hp through the band once I removed them. 6hp on the top which gave me the 490. But my tq reading was prior to cat removal as I said she spun a hair and threw the tq reading through the roof. We never dynoed again for the correct tq read out. This was through a unported 90TB and unported FAST92 and 1 3/4 headers. Again I did the best I could for what I had to work with. In all reality, I wasn't aware I could've gone LS3 topend for the same price (possibly cheaper) and made a few more ponies. But ahhh well. Maybe one day ill get the trick flows. I didn't want a donkey dick for a cam either as I drive it a decent amount. Not my daily but still....My cam was a custom grind from Geoff Skinner at EPS 240/248 .630 .603 116. She is smooth to drive and fun

 

Tx's ZZ06, it really is a phenomenal car. The budget over run is staggering, some very bad advice, shop work & a load of should work parts. Many things were done in three's, heads, cam, roller rockers, clutches & the years to square it away.

I have Hi Flow cats in place with AR 1 7/8's & 3" SW exhaust right out the back.

Your deal sounds like fun, it's a lot cam you have. Your heads help to soften it somewhat, none the less good tuning would be required to make it drive nicely.