Thirim

I'm running a 96LT1 with a 94PCM. I have to pull the engine to change the rear main seal.. Since I will have it out.. I didn't want to put it back in the same ..
The only thing I've done to the engine is put on a set of crane 1.6:1 gold roller rockers.. and headers..
I'm looking for a little more out of it. I'm thinking of perhaps a cam.
Just wondering what is involved in this. The car is 99% street, no smog laws here yet.. Just wondering if this is the time to swap cams or is there something else I should be doing first? A little concerned that the stock valvetrain may not be enough for a lumpier cam..

Just looking for some input.. any suggestions?

Thanks.

mystikkal_69

iTrader: (2)

if your swapping out the stock cam, id suggest getting some valve springs to match the new cam at the least. just don't go with a too radical cam with stock heads.

sellmanb

also if you're swapping the cam, along w/ what mystikall_69 said, you may want to think about a new electric water pump (so you dont have to worry about the opti going out if the water pump goes out as welll)

If you need to change out the optispark dizzy soon then you may as well do that while the engine is out as well.

your rear main seal swap just became expensive

Thirim

Opti is working fine... knock on wood.
Water pump seems fine too.

Would a cam be the first step? That is just what I was thinking.

Nixon1

Cam...as a first step? Ehh...not so much. A good bumpstick will give you some better power...but to really put it to good use, you need to have intake, exhaust, modified or aftermarket heads......

My advice? The stock cam is set up for all-around, smooth power....and to be computer friendly. Until you get serious with the car, stick with stock. A new cam will introduce a whole new series of things you may not like. Computer might need a remapping....if it's an automatic, the cam may be too lopey for your converter and cause bucking....it might sacrifice more low-end power for top end than you might like...it might be a mismatch for your particular combo and end up COSTING you in 1/4 mile times...

IMO: Major tuneup... Stick with the stock cam, and start throwing bolt-ons at it. 1 5/8 equal-length headers...high flow cat(s)...full catback.... Aftermarket intake assembly...like a K&N FIPK, or an SLP kit....or home-made even... Larger MAF (assuming this is an MAF motor)...bigger TB. Maybe even an intake manifold.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

Exhaust should be priority number one. After that there is nothing wrong with going with a cam. The intake and heads are superior and only get better when ported. ECM tuning should always accompany any type of mod but there are plenty of LT1 cams out there that have good mannors on the stock tune.

Thirim

have 1-5/8" Headman's D port.. headers
have crane 1.6:1 roller rockers..

have flowmaster muffler, basicly stock y pipe, and 2-3/4" from cat back.. but cat is deleted. ypipe been modified to bolt up to the headers..

guess there are some things to dump money on besides the engine.. transmission is stock t5. and its the stock 10bolt but with 3.73's in it. already did the subframe connectors of course..

since i dont want to go cracking the heads quite yet.. perhaps I will go else where and try to get what power I have better planted.. then when I'm ready, pop the heads and do some porting and valve train work..

I haven't done any tweaking to the PCM for performance.. perhaps I can gain there..

Thirim

I'm moving on to perhaps slapping on a Throttle body.
looking on ebay as an example, I'm seeing 52mm and 58mm TB's..
one ad claimed the 52mm would flow up to 750CFM..
until I seen that, I was thinking going with the 58mm.. but now im not sure.. anyone?
thanks..

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

you will not notice much with an aftermarket tb,i would put a cc305,lt4 timing set with 1.6 rockers,have the heads ported,2.00 1.56 valves in,put a 2600 or more stall in the tranny,get the pcm tuned for the mods(pcm4less,madztuning)
i have never pulled a motor to change a rear seal,i pull the trans,flywheel and go for it !

Thirim

well.. was told I might be able to change the seal that way.. but would like to tidy the bay up anyway.. have to unbolt clutch cyl and unbolt motor mounts and it's out.. too late to go back..

DuronClocker

iTrader: (1)

As mentioned above, go with a CC305 or CC306 cam. The CC306 is a bit more radical obviously. The CC305 would probably match your setup very nicely. An LT4 Hot Cam wouldn't be a bad choice either since you already have 1.6 rockers. With a bit of minor porting, those LT1 heads LOVE lift. Stock/unported, the extra lift over .500 won't really help though.

Might as well do SOMETHING since the motor is coming out..

Thirim

is there any good pictures and DIYS guide on porting? I have never done it. I'll have to do a little search on it.. Motor runs great, but hate to pull it just for a seal and then not do anything to it. then again.. don't want to do something for very little gain.