sk8r fer life

hey what do you guys suggest for a cam in my LO3? my friend said I should put in a summit cam 1000-3500rpm and a double heavy-duty timing chain, what do you guys think?

thomas1976

A used fbody LT1 cam is nice hp/$. New a production LT4 cam. And if you upgrade heads, something like comp cam 8-500-8 for street and strip. +EBL, but you already know.

sk8r fer life

sounds good but I just want to put a cam, timing chain, and mabye a new intake. not changing everything

kkingsrulee

What's more important than any of these mods is a good chip.

If you can't get a chip burned to accommodate these mods then it's all worthless. Your car will run like junk.

Which is kind of lousy in my opinion, forcing us to spend hundreds (correct me if I'm wrong) on software and tools in order to tune our cars.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm uncomfortable with computers, I'm only 19 years old so I grew up with them, but I'd prefer a simple carburetor that I could adjust.

It's just too bad that EFI is more efficient, you know?

91interceptorZ

iTrader: (3)

you can have someone else adjust your computer for you..... pcmforless.com does EXCELLENT work, you send them your specs, they send you a chip....simple.

On your cam....you probably will not fill anything as far as a power gain, or if you do very little. The motor is only as good as it's weakest link. The heads will be a big killer for this.
But.....which cam do you want to use....you just listed the suggest rpm range (which seems very low).....post the part number or the specs....like lift, lobe sep, duration. part number would be better though. Another thing to keep in mind is that you need a computer compatible cam....I use comp cams, as they make a lot of cams for computer controlled cars. You shouldn't need a computer chip if you do a mild upgrade. Also I believe you'll need a roller cam, so make sure you chose the right one...maybe even call comp cams themselves,as they have great customer support and can help you pick the right one. the double heavy duty chain will give you no power gain...but it does make it stronger. A mild build you dont' need a double roller...just a decent single roller will do fine, and save you some money.

kkingsrulee

eh... I'm the kind of person that would rather do it myself than let someone else.

I know, I'm being difficult, but that's just how I do things, I'll just have to scrounge up enough money for the tuning software and pocket programmer sooner or later.

Really? He won't need a chip with a mild upgrade?

I've heard that LT1 cam swaps need a tune to run well, and I don't believe they're too much of an upgrade.

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

Read this.....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tbi/...-synopsis.html


.......this should help you.

thomas1976

At some point you must decide for yourself what power increase makes the investment + work worth it. Given +15hp barely make a difference and is probably the max possible gain without dealing with fueling + tuning.

Some 1.6 rocker alone may be a better idea, then the 3 things you mentioned combined.

Also a chip alone dosent allow the power potential of a LT1 cam, fuel supply is going to be a wery important factor.

even the LT1 and LT4 engines have single chain

thomas1976

Needs way more then a tune, once all done your in the healty 91-92 5.7L Z28 territory.

eschevyrda

random question can a lt4 hot cam run without having clearance issues with stock zz4 heads

and wat about a lt1 cam with 1.6 roller rockers

92 Camaro

iTrader: (1)

do you know what you're getting yourself into?

anthonyrs

man all you ask for what is a good cam to put in your car and you get hit with so much other stuff. i put a edelbrok cam in my 1991 camaro rs and the cam is made for it and computer friendly. alot of people say its a waste of a cam but it kicks *** you can feel the different with it. i hate when people knock on other things that people have done. i hade to put a new timming set and push rods to. i read it somewhere that it gives like another 40 hosepower over stock.

eschevyrda

should i post this some where else?

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

No you're fine, You should be just fine running an LT4 hot cam with 1.6's on stock ZZ4 heads. People have been doing it for years. As far as a LT1 cam with 1.6's you can do that too no problem.

eschevyrda

stock zz4 heads can take the lift of a hot cam?

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

zz4 heads are nothing but l98 vette heads.... you need better springs and retianers to use the hot cam with 1.6 rockers..... i had my build tuned by pcm4less through the mail... but since i only live 100 miles from them im going to get a true dyno by alvin himself....... i wonder what increases i should see...

eschevyrda

sorry for not explianing myself better what about the hot cam with out the roller rockers

or a hot cam with 1.5 rr

the thing is im not trying to touch the heads i wanna leave the way they are .

im not really going for a crazy build and i also have a budget.

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

LT4 Hot cam 24502586 218/228 - .492/.492 112 LSA

with 1.6's it 220/230 - .525/.525 112 LSA

The stock ZZ4 heads can definately take the lift of that cam. GM itself even recommends that cam as an upgrade to the ZZ4 cam. So you WILL BE FINE using that cam with the stock ZZ4 heads. I would recommend having the exhaust ports polished up to help flow a touch. Also touching up alittle of the casting flaws in the heads before putting them on. It real easy to do with a dremel tool.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

just wondering how does the hotcam have 220/230 duration with 1.6 rockers....

robertfrank

iTrader: (27)

When you put on 1.6 rockers the duration changes slightly. Between +2-+3 added in. I read about it awhile back on few dirttrack forums awhile back.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i've always heard that.... i wonder if i put 1.6 rockers on my gm hotcam would it sound a little meaner...

eschevyrda

since were on that hot cam issue where do they redline at and what would be a decent manifold to run the hot cam with

i hope my post is legible studying for school has me missing sleep?

MuhThugga

I'm putting a Crane 2032 in my cousin's 88 GTA. So I'm putting his stock L98 cam in my 5.0 to tide me over until I get enough money and time to grab a 350 Vortec engine.

Can the stock L03 heads and springs handle the L98 cam, or do they need to be upgraded, as well?

eschevyrda

thugga u good lo3 heads are good up to 470 lift and the l98 cam is way lower then that. u might even get away with running roller rockers to.

if u got crazy mileage on those spring might as well upgrade them to be on the safe side.


lets see what the pros well say they have way more knowledge then i do.

MuhThugga

Well, I was going to get new springs, but try and find some cheap stock replacements. I don't want to be putting a spring rated up to .600 on a camshaft with as low of a lift as the L98.