Choosing A Cam
 

Hey guys between tax returns and gaining hours at work I'm back in the market for a cam, and my main idea is to try to run a cam only bolt on LT1. So I figured I'd ask for some ideas on either specs to get a custom grind cam or a cam that is common that will make the most power for a LT1 with stock heads. I want the car to still be some what streetable and I have a 3400 converter with a built 4l60e , Bolt ons will include tb,long tubes, Cai , Dumped exhaust with H pipe nd dynamax bullets,depending on the cam i will decide on different rocker ratios (1.6 or 1.52). Car also has 3.73s in the rear and i'm looking to spin the motor to around 6k between shifts. Lemme hear some input...

your not gonna touch the valves/ springs while the heads are off?

Only 6k shifts?

Hot cam, CC502, XFI466, CC305, Crane 227, or an LPE 211/219..

They all call for 6000-6200 shifts.

I assumed he was, goes hand in hand with any cam swap IMO.

i vote for the 466

cc503

you are leaving the heads untouched though?

We can get you a custom ground cam or an off the shelf Comp Cam.

PM me your e-mail and i'll send you a custom ground cam form

well i mean i could shift higher then 6k but i guess nothing over 6600 lmao. And I already have comp cam valve springs they were used on a cc503 with the same heads before me and my valves seem to be good. I was contemplating milling the heads a hair. I was looking at cams like cc306 , gm 847 .... things reletive to that

234/242 .575/.595 112lsa... gonna want a lot of RPM...
On stock heads and bottom end?

Good luck.

Yeah, don't over cam your motor or build a mismatched combo with the intent of "adding proper stuff later".

Yurp, I would highly suggest getting your heads ported or picking up a set of aftermarket heads.

That or stick with a smaller, less aggressive cam... XFI lobes will want beehive springs, and things will add up fast.. etc. Also, if you had planned on spraying/boosting it later on, be wary of the LSA of the cam and its overlap..

Its been done before... I'm trying to put down impressive track numbers on a cam only LT1. I figure not many go for it everyone gets heads , so i'd like to be different. the stock bottom ends arent that bad, i've seen many hold power real well.

Hold power, sure. Live long spinning past 6400, no.

An 847 may be doable stock headed on an M6 car, but its gonna suck on an auto. Granted it will prob pull like a beast way up top, but for daily driving, its gonna be a slouch.

What's your goal track time wise?

goal is to touch 11s , Devin PM me your number so i could txt you and maybe get a cam through you.

Well tin can the car, shift round 6800, and just maybe.

Gonna need a custom cam for sure IMO. Some off the shelfers might be close, but you are limiting your flow up top a lot. Too much cam and it will be soggy, too little and you will be giving up power.

Yeah I was talking to Lloyd Elliot before and I basically have all the specs for the cam I'd get through them...

do you want to drive this thing often or just to the track and race?

you're going to need a baby cam to shift it that low. my cam specs were 226/240 .600/.600 108 LSA and i was shifting it at 6500. its not really that bad but you wont be doing it with an 847 lol. i wouldnt suggest that cam without a built bottom end or more displacement

call Camotion bob knows his stuff.

I've installed allot of the cams in this tread, so I'll throw in my .02

Hot cam, CC502 and LPE 211/219 all too small for 11s, you'll peak before 6Gs because of the small duration the engine will run out of air. Besides, with an automatic you want the 219/219, not the 211 on the intake side! Either way, the short duration/high lift makes power down low not up top!

I'd look at cams like the 503 or even the Comp Cams "Extreme 230" = 224/230, .502/.510 + 112 LSA. Actually going to be installing one in a few weeks on a bone stock LT1. Plan is to add shorty headers and 1.6 rockers later so this will make for a nice "street" cam only needing to bump up the stock shift point slightly. Will be a fun little ride.

As far as the "big cams" not good with stock heads? Well, you aren't getting the full potential but,,,,

847 cam (using 1.5 rockers) , Mac shorties (with cats), 3600 stall, 3:42 gears, CAI and DRs. Heads have never been off the car = 12.2s all day long. revlimit 6600

Did anohter using a 305 w/LE heads, long tubes, stall and 3:73s also going 12.2s. rev limit 6400.

Both of these are street driven and are full wieght cars.

Can you tell I'm not a fan of spinning stockers up high? I too like to target 6500 on stock bottom ends. If you have good springs matched to the cam, and a good oiling system ( upgrade pump = spring ) you should be fine setting your shift point in the 6200-6300 range.

Yeah as for oiling system I have a melling high volume oil pump. The owner before me had a cc 503 with the same heads and springs that i have now (purchased them with the car) and same general setup and he said he ran a 12.1 if im correct. So I deffinightly want to top that.

gotta watch with high volume pumps. from what i heard, they can suck a stock pan dry. usually you want high pressure and most accomplish this by installing the gm white spring IIRC. high volume oil pump will also rob some ponies.

Do LT1's use a regular M55/M55HV like the Gen I's do?

Yes they do. Although nowadays LT1 guys stick with the Melling Select pumps (10552 and 10554, high volume and standard volume respectively).

I used the 10552 high volume pump for my 383, but only because I have a modified oil system and a 7-quart pan.

A high volume pump for 90% of builds nowadays is not needed and just puts unnecessary stress on the oil pump drive gear.