Cam choice with this combo?
 

Looking for something on the quiet side since the car is a convertible, and it is shared with the wife. Already have a big cammed Mustang that is my strip car. This is more of a weekend cruiser that I will most likely never take to the track. Only driven a few thousand miles a year. Want to keep low end and driveability.

I've been looking at some of the TR Cheatr cams...and similar. Car is a 2001. Here are the parts currently installed.

Callaway Honker
EFI Live
Plugs/wires
XS Speed Headers and Catted X
B&B PRT Cat Back

Parts I have waiting to go on.

Unassembled Ported 243's (Looks like a light port job, done by Wegner)
Manley Raceflow intake valves 2.00 ...still need the exhaust valves 1.55
Patriot Xtreme Dual Springs
Fast 90 Intake
Ported LS2 TB
FJO Wideband

Parts Needed
LS2 or better timing chain or set
Exhaust valves
Head gaskets MLS or something in the .040 for better quench
30lb injectors?
Lifters?
Maybe rockers
Maybe oil pump (Currently only has 25,000)

I know I have heard good things about the Cheatr cam, but usually when mentioned with stock exhaust. So with opened exhaust maybe there is a much better fit? There are a few deals for the cam around right now which is why I bring it up. I know custom would be the best way to go, but trying to keep this as budget as possible, even though I am not very good at keeping it that way when I find deals.

228 / 232 112LSA is a nice cam. Not too much shake unless you have the A/C on and even then it's not really bad. I used that cam in my 99. Pretty good setup and should be plenty for your application.

Just to clarify, I would want something bordering on not detectable. Doesn't have to be completely stealth, but pretty close. If it's obvious that it has a cam that is too much. If a discerning ear happens to be able to tell that it has one that would be ok.

Hmmm, what about a stock Z06 cam? Undetectable and good for quite a bit of HP.

Here's the specs on the two different types.

2001 - .525/.525 - 204/211

2002 and up - .555/.551 - 204/218

Another forum member with a similar build to yours put in a 224/230 .585/.595 114 LSA. The idle sounds stock (no lope). He is putting down ~420 to the rear wheels. I on the other hand, put in the same cam with a 113 LSA. I have lope and shake at idle. :cool:

Here's my Texas Speed 228R in my 02 Z06.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1ykSD9WO8

You don't say if it's a 6M or a 4A, so cam choice would depend a great deal on that. Also, I like to stay away from cams with cute names. When you say "Cheater" cam, that means nothing to me. OK, enough of my bitching.... I'm going to assume you have a M6, so that'd give you 3.42s. I'd recommend a 224-228@114 cam, with about .570 lift. Your planned heads have good springs, so you'll be OK with those heads. If you know what your heads chambers are CC'd will determine which thickness of gasket you'll need. Also, if you're in CA, or some place that only has 91 oct., it may be an issue. Just thought I'd add something. I recently put in a blower cam, and it'd probably be great for stock like drivability. It's a Comp from A&A that is 224-232 @ 116, and .575 lift. It would probably work well for a stealty type cam.

It's a manual. The cheatr cam I was referencing is a Thunder Racing cam. It is 215/230 .595/ .601 117lsa. Think there are some other variations of it that they have done. The heads I bought were advertized as stock CC, but I will double check when I finish putting them together. I'm in Indiana and we can still get decent gas here. About half the stations carry 93 or even 94 Octane.

You're from South Bend, have you tried calling up LPE and seeing if they would do a custom grind for you or at least give you some advice?

I didn't really realize they were that close. Planning on doing all the install myself, but depending on my tuning skills I was planning on taking the car to the Chicago/Ft. Wayne/Indy/Detroit for tuning if necessary. For the cam I may call them or call around and talk to people. Right now I have it in my head that I will buy something used, so I hate picking a vendors brain and then not go with them. I guess I am spoiled from being used to 5 liter Fords and picking up an off the shelf cam for $130 or something "Custom" for about $220. My little projects seem to get carried away. Funny how things progress.

"Maybe I will pick up some ZO6 heads."

"Hey found some unassembled and ported for a good price."

"Hmmm...not as many people selling stock valves and springs. Hey look here are some Manley valves and some Patriot Extreme springs that will work"

"Might as well do a Cam while I am in there"

"Wow, good deal on a ported LS2 Throttle body. I could always pick up a Fast someday."

"Look a Fast 90 for a good price. I could sell my LS6 and make most my money back."

"If I have it apart might as well upgrade all the valvetrain. Oil Pump? Injectors?"

hahahaha, I feel ya there! I'm in that dilemma right now. "Do I buy seats first, or..." Then my mind wanders off on all the things I want to buy eventually. I have a list, but no order of precedence.

LPE will recommend their GT-11. 215/231 .631/.644 w 1.7 rocker 118.0 CL. I ran this cam and was not happy although it had good manners. I think the lift is too high and caused valvetrain noise and instability as I was running stock rockers, power output was weak at only 416whp with ported heads.

Another guy I talked to that ran this cam in an LS2 had the same problem and switched to Yella Terra rockers and picked up 16whp with the rocker swap b/c it improved the valvetrain geometry and wipe pattern.

BTW: that Thunder Racing cam 215/230 .595/ .601 117lsa looks similar to the LPE GT-11 without the rediculous lift. I don't think such a big forward split is neccessary though, but would be a better choice than the LPE cam for sure.

This cam looks pretty hard on springs. I think you'll need roller rockers, even Jesels to keep everything stable. IMO, there's lots better cams to choose from.

:iagree:

I made my decisions b/f I had gained enough knowledge. I went with LPE's advice b/c growing up I put Lingenfelter on a pedestal. I think the GT-11 was originally designed for the LS1 by John L. and has been LPE's go to cam for everything since except the LS7, where they finally got creative again and offered more options.

I'm sure the company lost a lot of it's creative energy with John's loss, b/c there's no way the GT-11 is a best fit cam for everything ranging from LS1,LS2,LS6 and LS3

The V3 Cheatr came out shortly after I put in my custom sleeper in 2007 which has very similar specs at 218/230 116+2 .605/.604, it's basically an '02 z06 cam on steriods...it doesn't put up big peak numbers, but makes great avg power gains throughout the range and still drives/sounds about as close to stock as you can get.

I think this' the first time I've heard anyone admit they've gotten over the Lingenfelter hype.

It's easy to talk lift and duration, but you really need to decide what lobe you want first. It really does make a difference.