Updated Cam for CV8

[91964]

Obviously up “rated” cam (thank you spell check!!)

I’ve spent a bit of time reading various threads and am non the wiser.
My cv8 has headers/highflo cats/exhaust and intake kit already and I would like to fit a cam. Nothing too crazy but it’s not a daily driver so would like a bit more character and performance.
Does anyone know what the “go to” cam kit is for this? And also where to get it now monkfish is no more?
Thanks

Edited by 91964 on Tuesday 30th January 20:56

[ARAF]

From where you are, Shawn Taylor Racing?

If you're happy to go further then Neil Johnson is probably next closest, followed by Walkinshaw, Carl Herkes, and MWP.

[91964]

That’s cool! I think STR would be my first choice if I had to pick at random. Im guessing he can map it in? As for the cam itself. Comp cams? It’s about the only one in uk if I google it. Cheap kits in US but I’ve no idea on quality or severity of tune. Would rather pay what’s needed for a known result.

[maccavvy]

i thought about doing the same and got a quote from texas speed. ive been following them for a while and they seem to know their stuff.

remember in the USA ls engines are a daily thing for them... its over here very few know about them

i decided to get a similar result by lowering the final drive instead of tinkering with the engine

[fred bloggs]

I got a full kit from hawks motorsport in the states. Cam/ dual springs/retainers/stem seals, gaskets, pushrods, everything to do the whole job.
Its not a hard job and took about 4 hours in total.

They do the kit with any cam you want .I went with a 230/236.

[91964]

fred bloggs said:

I got a full kit from hawks motorsport in the states. Cam/ dual springs/retainers/stem seals, gaskets, pushrods, everything to do the whole job.
Its not a hard job and took about 4 hours in total.

They do the kit with any cam you want .I went with a 230/236.

That’s awesome work, 4 Hours!!! Will give that supplier a look thanks

[91964]

maccavvy said:

i thought about doing the same and got a quote from texas speed. ive been following them for a while and they seem to know their stuff.

remember in the USA ls engines are a daily thing for them... its over here very few know about them

i decided to get a similar result by lowering the final drive instead of tinkering with the engine

Thats an interesting option! What diff did you go for and if you don’t mind me asking, what did this cost? The gearing is crazy and I can imagine a lower ratio would make it feel much more lively

[Janosh]

3.9 gear is the usual route for shorter gearing, it makes the whole gearbox more usable. The car will sit at around 2k rpm @ 70mph, rather than 1.5k which it probably does at the moment.

The shorter diff is a great upgrade (I had one in my CV8) although it obviously doesn't give you the noise of a cam

[91964]

Janosh said:

3.9 gear is the usual route for shorter gearing, it makes the whole gearbox more usable. The car will sit at around 2k rpm @ 70mph, rather than 1.5k which it probably does at the moment.

The shorter diff is a great upgrade (I had one in my CV8) although it obviously doesn't give you the noise of a cam

Thanks for this info. To be honest I’m happy with the noise the car makes now, I’m just looking to give it a bit more character for how I use it which is blasting about on a and B roads. The diff might answer this!
Any ideas on parts suppliers and costs?

[ringram]

Low duration low LSA is good for daily driving and idle noise.
220/224-112 etc Speak to Carl Herkes too. He has access to the best UK tuner bar none.

[Tattooboy]

ringram said:

Low duration low LSA is good for daily driving and idle noise.
220/224-112 etc Speak to Carl Herkes too. He has access to the best UK tuner bar none.

Oh, I’m sorry, I thought a Walky tuned car hit the fastest speed at Thunder Road ????

[Janosh]

91964 said:

Thanks for this info. To be honest I’m happy with the noise the car makes now, I’m just looking to give it a bit more character for how I use it which is blasting about on a and B roads. The diff might answer this!
Any ideas on parts suppliers and costs?

You'll need a gear which is available from anyone that supplies OEM GM parts.

Do not get an aftermarket one, they are liable to whine and drone!

Then you just need to decide if you want to keep the OE diff or upgrade to a mechanical diff like Kaaz.

I'd get advice from someone like Carl, as mentioned above.

[vxr2010]

The 3.9 diff in a monaro is a very good mod , i had my 04 cv8 done , it’s a very noticeable change , a diff change is in my books a better mod than a remap , minimal if any change on mpg when it’s driven sensibly , not sure what sensibly is though

[GrumpyV8]

vxr2010 said:

The 3.9 diff in a monaro is a very good mod , i had my 04 cv8 done , it’s a very noticeable change , a diff change is in my books a better mod than a remap , minimal if any change on mpg when it’s driven sensibly , not sure what sensibly is though

Can anyone recommend a garage/specialist where a 3.9 diff can be fitted to a CV8 Monaro please? Ta

[maccavvy]

i fitted a 3.7 diff to mine from the 5.7 vxr model .
I was told the 3.9 can make 1st a very short gear. so went for this.
i got it second hand off brett/ speed4u
I fitted it myself at a mates garage with a 2 post lift. cant recommend fitting on the floor. a 2 post is a must imo
did it with no special tools or alignment . just marked everything up and refitted as was.. drives straight as an arrow

[91964]

We’ll dispose the thread title I’m sold on the diff idea! Any recommend suppliers? Any U.K.?

[maccavvy]

speed4u /brett and raving /gary have to be the 1st port of call imo

[blue666uk]

I also had the 3.9 diff on my old CV8 - made such a difference.
Also had headers, high flow cats and Wortec cat-back done to, and CAI and a remap. Most of the CAI and exhaust mods made more noise, the remap made a big difference to spped/feel as CV8's so restrictive from scratch, then the diff made a big difference again.
As Janosh said, it will obviously sit at a slightly higher RPM point for any given speed, but unless you do lots of motorway steady state driving, this needn't be an issue, for fast road/B-road driving, it's so much more usable and I don't remember 1st gear being crazy short, as standard you can go well past 30mph in 1st, and with the 3.9 diff, it still seemed like high 20s mph which is still more than most newer metal.

Unless you're planning to do a top speed run at Thunder Rd, in which case the diff will hurt you a bit, in the everyday real world, you won't be driving at 160+mph, so the extra acceleration is only a good thing

[vxr2010]

with a 3.9 i think you are still maxing first gear in the 40 mph or so area , from memory standard diff is around 50 mph ? , the diff is a very good mod , car was a lot better after

[fred bloggs]

I struggled to find somewhere to get the diffs in the UK. I did find plenty availible in aus .

The hsv VT2 has a 3.7 so you can see if raving has one.

Cam+map will really wake up the motor though.