headers now ordered! time for a cam as well!

[mailer555]

Ok, so finally got the Wortec headers and cats ordered for the vxr8, so excited! the car's booked in to have the Walkinshaw exhaust fecked about with as well, so should be sounding a lot louder in no time. I'm also wanting to do a cam as well but it's a minefield of choices, was looking on fleabay and seen this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOWARDS-CAMS-LS-LS1-LS2-...

I'm wanting to stay close to the emissions but not to fussed, It just needs to be drivable, and lumpy. any thoughts?

[mailer555]

Sarge 4x4 said:

Why don't you just let WP or Monkfish sort it, rely on the experience they offer.

I would if they were even remotely close to me, but cant as it would mean a massive drive down, drop off the car, flight home, flight back down a few days later and drive home. That alone would cost a small fortune.

[mailer555]

TheLostProphet said:

Think you have to go with that cam just for the highly fashionable free gift

Had a browse of the cams available on ebay as well. I just end up completely confused and thats before all the technical specifications are mentioned.

Sorry not a helpful post in the slightest.

haha, totally!! that's the biggest decision, cap or T !!

[mailer555]

ringram said:

You probably want a wider lsa with an auto
But as a above most cams are low 220 intake duration for sensible daily use..

mine is a manual any way, just been looking at the lunati voodoo full kits, they seem to have a good name. there are 2 profiles I'm looking at, the first is probably the ideal, 222 228 113deg, but if possible I fancy the cam up from that, 227 232 113deg, but that might be to much? there was a vid on youtube of the larger cam and it sounded amazing! would you say the second cam has no chance come emissions time?

[mailer555]

Monaro5.7 said:

This is my spec cam and I pass the emission`s

223/231-112 I should mention in an LS1

is the emissions test the same? or is it the difference between ls1 and ls2 that will make the difference?

[mailer555]

Monaro5.7 said:

The test will be the same but done know if the emissions limit are the same

its ok, I'm not overly fussed about emissions anyway, got that covered, its more that the car needs to be derivable and I dont want to put to big a cam in that it creates problems with other areas like needing to do work to the heads.

[mailer555]

Monaro5.7 said:

See I have had my heads worked on when I had the cam done. Are you in a rush to get the cam in?

Prity much, I would like all the work complete eith in the month, got a goal of at least 500bhp. The spec will be/ is already -

Vararam Otr
Wortec headers and cats
Walkinshaw cat back with h pipe
Cam with hydraulic lifters and springs etc.
Map
For the time being!

[mailer555]

ringram said:

Get the smaller of the 2 for sure imo.

how come? is it because there is not enough done to heads/intake etc to cope, or down to emissions? ( emissions not a problem anymore, got that sussed yesterday)
just trying to get my heads around the endless choice of cams, even once I've decided on the cam, there are still other questions, like whats the pros and cons of dialing in advance and by how much? I'm really appreciating the help guys, learning a lot along the way! thanks.

[mailer555]

EmmaJ said:

Love it! Knew the national meet would corrupt you

Enjoy it once it's all sorted

haha, totally Emma! I've always wanted to do it, just my wife, Sian, has been against it as it's a daily driver and she thought it was loud and quick enough. I'm so glad she came to the national meet with me as she came home saying "yup , make it louder make it faster!!" (result!)

so wortec headers and cats have been ordered. (that's the easy bit!)
just trying to decide on the cam (minefield!)http://www.ebay.com/itm/141210183802?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
think I will go with the Lunati Voodoo 227/233, emissions are not a concern (got that covered) but still got a few questions:
do the heads have to come off to fit the hydraulic lifters? If so I'm not going to bother with them (is that a problem?)
and are the up-rated pushrods essential?
if I just buy cam and springs, do I need to buy a cam sprocket?

I was looking at the Big Mutha Thumpr from comp cams, but I hear that this is more just for sound rather than power? looks like a big cam but apparently wont produce much power? has anybody got any experience of this?

[mailer555]

ringram said:

You need to do a load of R&D
You can get a good cam sound with a smaller cam, which will also give better driveability at low rpm.
A large question will be the quality of the tune as well.

LS2 vs LS3 means different cam profile and overlap.

A cam determines the whole behaviour of the engine so take your time choosing! Try and blag a ride in others cars with cams.

Thanks ringram, I've been looking at this every night for months, it's an LS2, I don't want it reving to the moon, and we can live with low down drivability being affected a tad. That's why I've come to the 227/233 being about right, the question is what ancillaries will I need, was going to go for the full kit as in the link above but I think the heads need to come off to fit the hydraulic lifters which I don't want to do, and is the timing chain upgrade needed? If not will the standard cam sprocket be ok for this cam? These are questions that I'm struggling to find answers for.

[mailer555]

ringram said:

Your cam is most probably a one bolt cam.
In which case either you get a one bolt cam, or you get the 3 bolt cam and matching cam gear.

Depending on miles you can keep your lifters and chain. Id probably fit a new chain though, the old one has to come off anyway and they are not expensive.

You will definitely need springs, but maybe not retainers and seals. If your engine is low miles you can probably keep the standard stuff.

That cam is better for LS2 than LS3 actually IMO.

your a star ringram! any idea about the push rods? are the standard ones long enough/strong enough? and its an LS2 with 55000miles. thanks for the valuable info

[mailer555]

ok, so cam is now ordered, it's a Luanti Voodoo 227/233 0.585/0.584 113deg, using standard length pushrods at 7.400in, just a couple of questions, do i need a 3 bolt sprocket? is the standard cam 1 bolt? and what ratio roller rockers can I use? 1.8:1 or higher?

[mailer555]

S800VXR said:

I assume you have ordered springs as well.... WRT a higher ratio rocker it may be to much with that lift level already...?

yeah, springs were ordered as well.

[mailer555]

mik_ok said:

Interesting. Who are you going to get to map it afterwards Mailer?

(And more importantly.... hat or t-shirt? )

Edited by mik_ok on Thursday 10th July 16:04

not decided on who's mapping it yet, any suggestions are welcome, central Scotland area. was going to give VES sport a call as they are close by and done a good gob on my friends RS focus. most importantly I went for the free T. lol.

[mailer555]

Monaro5.7 said:

In the 5 years I have been on here I have not heard of anyone company in Scotland mapping these cars, Few individual people have mapped there car but most have had it mapped down south including my car Mickeys car Stevie`s car Bob`s car.

is there anyone you would recommend? and where about down south?

[mailer555]

leigh1050 said:

Bradwil had one of these cams and it didn't make as much power as he hoped.
Sorry if it's abit late but only just read this post.

it's ok, I never went with that cam as I hear it's all for noise and not for power, went for a Lunati Voodoo 227/233 instead.

[mailer555]

are they really that difficult to tune? would a well recommended tuner closer to home not be able to get the same results? and what's the script with EFI live? is that not a really expensive rout, probably don't trust myself enough to try this as I have no experience of it, but would be cool to have a shot. sorry guy's, just got no experience of mapping these cars.

[mailer555]

Monaro5.7 said:

When I did my cam I could not order pushrods till the job was started as they needed to measure them and get the push rods that matched the cam to keep the length correct. That what I was told at the time install.

the push rods and springs came with the cam as a kit, so I think they would be to match the cam?

[mailer555]

ringram said:

IMO a local tuner with a dyno is essential if you want something optimal.

Add plenty of time to get cold starts sorted etc and you are heading in the right direction.

This doesnt leave many options. Some local guys dont actually do the tune and dont have dyno's.

Id use that as my filter.

I have someone local in mind, he has a dyno, and comes highly recommended from some of the RS guys. Think I'll start there and give him a call to talk through things. my biggest concern about using a tuner down south was how to get the car down there, after all the parts are bolted on I don't want to risk damaging the engine driving it before it's tuned.

[mailer555]

First box of goodies has arrived!! Can't wait for the rest to get here!😝