Okay, I have an '88 Trans Am with the 305 LB9 that came equipped with the peanut cam (190HP), so I know that just by going to the LB9 HO cam (215HP stock), I could gain about 25HP.

Now, I'm just waiting for my parts to come in for my LT1 intake swap, and I also have to change some coolant hoses (upper/lower radiator), so it wouldn't be a big deal to remove the radiator, and I figured I could swap in a new cam.

My motor is completely stock except for the LT1 intake, a custom CAI, and a 3" SLP cat-back. I don't have headers yet because I think I'm going to wait until I get the 355 in to drop those in at the same time. I was holding off on a cam because I didn't want to buy one now and then buy another one for the 355ci when I build that up.

However, I want to take full advantage of this new LT1 intake, and I was wondering if an LT1 cam would work well on a 305. I know people swap them into 350s, but it'd be going into a 305 this time around. I'm assuming this will at least make up the 25HP I'm losing with the peanut cam, and should take full advantage of the upper RPMs that the LT1 intake will allow me to reach. The reason I'm asking about an LT1 cam is because they can be had for usually quite a bit under $50 and won't cost me the whole $300 a new cam would. I'd also like to get a rev kit and 1.6RRs installed, but this wouldn't go in at the same time more than likely.

So...would the LT1 cam be a lot better than using a LB9 HO (i.e. will I get even more power out of the LT1 cam than the 215HP LB9 cam) for my stock motor with the LT1 intake?

 

lt4 hotcam :rockon:

 

Interesting how you just PMed me the exact same thing... have one for sale?

Those are quite a bit more money though. I'm looking for something really cheap right now, otherwise I'll just suffer with my current cam until I drop in the 355ci sitting in my uncles garage when I get the (planning on..) CompCams 282H or some XE cam.

 

i dont, but you can probably find a used one on ebay for cheap.
an XE grind would be cool. I went with the NX grind personally b/c it has a larger LSA, more exhaust lift/duration, and i plan on spraying. People say the NX grinds help alot.
I may lose a bit NA power though...but hey..everyone now's 305's are slow anyways, right?

 

yes you can use the LT1 cam on the 305.

it works great..

the smaller-peanut-cam-then-yours TBI guys do it all the time.

 

It would give me at least as much gain as the LB9 HO cam though right? And it should have a ton of power up high too? I'm willing to give up some FT-LBs in the low end (I'm already doing that with the LT1 intake itself), and I don't mind losing a few more with a different cam if it means more gains in the upper RPMs. The torque is fun, but I can't launch my car at over 1500RPMs off the line.. I'll still have a bunch of torque in either case, and hopefully a huge amount more HP up top.

 

honestly, i dont know what the specs on a LB9 HO cam are.

i know the LT1 cam is the absolute most i would risk on a stock springed 3rdgen motor... and new springs still arnt a bad idea.

 

That was also the plan to get new springs, and maybe I'd "spring" for a set of 1.6RRs too.. That way I could basically just use my entire valvetrain on the 355 when I drop that in. It'll cost more now, but less later. I guess it'd be kind of like financing my 355 build I'm planning on using my 305 heads on the 355 and P'n'P'ing them

 

'96 LT1 cam specs.. (These are a bit stronger than the '95 cam that I'm actually looking at right now)

Int lift .447"
Ex lift .459"
Int dur 205*
Ex dur 207*
LSA 117*

All are at .050" with 1.5RR's.

And then I got these specs off the tech data listed on this site. I'm assuming these lifts include 1.5RR's as well. I didn't know the peanut cam had such a crappy lift. Will everything on my motor be okay with the big jump the the LT1 cam's lift? I understand the springs may need replacing, but what about everything else?

Stock LB9 305 w/ automatic (peanut cam)
Int/Ex lift .350"/.384"..... Int/Ex dur 179*/194*..... LSA 109.0

Stock LB9 305 w/ manual ("HO" model, same cam as in L98)
Int/Ex lift .415"/.430"..... Int/Ex dur 207*/213*.....LSA 117.0

 

Also, would the 952-16 springs be a good buy for under $100 shipped? Or would they be overkill?