Recommend me a cam for an LS1
Recommend me a cam for an LS1
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SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

13,023 posts

258 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Whats a good camshaft for an LS1 ? Don't want to create some old lumpy monster at idle, needs to remain smooth but release some more gee gees.

I've got the headers, sports cats, but everything else is standard.

Also, on an 04 CV8 is it an LS1 Gen 111 ? I'm not too sure what I'm looking for at the mo !!

MyM8V8

9,468 posts

225 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Have a word with Peter Knight of Knight Racing Engines and explain to him exactly what your requirements are.

Make an allowance for a re-map afterwards. Remember the old adage:

"Horse power sells engines - Torque wins races".

stevieturbo

18,101 posts

277 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
SimonV8ster said:
Whats a good camshaft for an LS1 ? Don't want to create some old lumpy monster at idle, needs to remain smooth but release some more gee gees.

I've got the headers, sports cats, but everything else is standard.

Also, on an 04 CV8 is it an LS1 Gen 111 ? I'm not too sure what I'm looking for at the mo !!
you need to elaborate more.

If its for a standard engine, there are limitations with the valve springs, and amount of lift available.

If you have to meet certain emissions....then there are more limitations.

Also...are you using standard rockers, or other ( the standards are very good )

Or is it a cam/head package you want ?


anonymous-user

84 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
The way to approach this is decide NA or FI (smart money goes with the latter ) then decide a power level. Cam is only one component and will need to work as part of a package.

The higher you go the more it costs. Speak to Mark or Roger is my advice.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

290 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
There's a lot of useful information over on LS1 Tech. Take this thread for a start.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/dynamometer-results-...

Their search function is pretty good. Cam's aren't hard to change but springs are more of a pain if you get a cam with to much extra lift.

ETA, You can also pick the lobes you want from Comp Cams, they have a reference chart.

Ringrams done a lot oc cam research so he'll probably have some useful info.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Saturday 1st August 17:35

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Best way to look at it is to ask how much power you want.

Stock LS1 in fully tuned form is around 330rwhp.
A cam only install will get you to around 360 maybe 370rwhp at a push. Is that enough?
If not you need to add heads etc.
LS1 with heads cam and all the bolt on's should touch 400rwhp without being too unruly.
I obtained 386rwhp with my LS1 and Dart heads.

But you want to stay mid 22x range and lower for good driveability etc. Stock cam is something like 198 intake and quite low lift.

If you bolt a blower on in an LS1 you should touch 400 also.

So if your goal is 400rwhp or less then a cam (and maybe some other bits will get you there)

This is a good read http://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-...

His 223/227 cam gave 475rwhp (US) Which is probably more like 425rwhp here. So a smaller more managable cam should do 400rwhp.

Though plenry of Ozzies like the 224/228. However its pretty unlikely to pass emissions.

Brummmie

5,284 posts

251 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
244/257 here! smile

stevieturbo

18,101 posts

277 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Brummmie said:
244/257 here! smile
that might be seen as a tad large on a 5.7 lol

In fact...on most its fairly big !

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Girly 230/238 here wink

SimonV8ster

Original Poster:

13,023 posts

258 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the info.

Don't want to go crazy with power or money !! Won't be going FI with my current car but would like to get it up to the mid/high 300's rwhp if possible with just a cam change and a OTR air filter. It would obviously have to pass emissions.

If I can do this with just changing the cam and without changing the heads/rockers,etc,then I might consider.

toothrot

22,454 posts

240 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
ringram said:
Girly 230/238 here wink
222/224 should be a good choice on ls1 surely for street with emissions and for a good spread

ringram

14,702 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
toothrot said:
ringram said:
Girly 230/238 here wink
222/224 should be a good choice on ls1 surely for street with emissions and for a good spread
Yep somewhere around there, Id go for a nice high lift 220/224-114 myself. US guys pass Californian emissions with 224/224 cams, how close their emissions are to ours Im not sure. Some stuff is looser, some tighter. I think UK HC is looser for example.

LS2 Id do a 224/230.

My 220/224 would pull uphill at idle with zero throttle so no problems around town.

If you go too small its almost pointless going through the process and expense. Some nutters run 23x cams in their LS1's but IMO thats too large. For a LS7+ though, no problem.

Some aftermarket heads and fast92 intake should double the gains. (But quadruple the parts cost!)

toothrot

22,454 posts

240 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
i looked at it and the california standard looks at different emissions. Joe seems a good source on what passes in that area. From when I was looking (and it sounds the OP is after the same) the 222/224 or 224/224 is probably the best cam to go for.Certainly an improvement over stock, though eventualy I turned away from the idea and felt the 3.9 diff would have proven a better improvement with no emissions issues. Also noticed that comp didnt state if you needed new spring kits but its def recommended even at a mild cam.

To the OP I spoke to Comp and mr knight and roger and the common feeling appeared that the figures mentioned would be the best for a street car with no major issues. It wont sound too rattly either

stevieturbo

18,101 posts

277 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
I still have a pair of ported 853 castings that would be ideal for a 5.7 wink Would just lift the CR a little bit.


Only cams I have are the Lingenfelter GT2-3 and a 230/236 on 112LSA

The former would be a decent sedate upgrade. The latter would probably be a bit much.