Help me choose a cam for a LS3 cause I have no clue!!

[scherp69]

When it comes to choosing a cam, I have absolutely no clue. I didn't when I had a sbc and I don't know now. I've emailed and pm a few different people about prices and suggestions, but haven't heard back from any of them.

For those that don't know my build, I have a L92 and am leaning towards getting rid of the VVT and getting a Speartech harness. The motor is stock and I have a stock LS3 intake with a LS3 throttle body which has been ported and polished. I have Stainless Works long tube headers and will be running a TKO600 with 3.70 gears in the back. I was looking at the Comp Cams camshafts, but they don't say much about them so didn't do me much good as like I said, I'm a cam idiot :hammer:. I found a cam from Texas Speed which says it adds 80hp to the stock motor. The specs are: 231/236 .641"/615" 111 LSA. Here's a link to the cam: http://texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=1057&catid=44 They have a cam package where you can get the cam, double springs and push rods for $699.

What are you thoughts on that cam. I want the engine to have the classic muscle lumpy sound, but don't want it to be too much cam as the car is going to be 99% of the time street driven. Or is there another cam you would recommend. I need to make up my mind fairly soon as there is a 3 week wait for a Speartech harness and I want to make a day trip to the border to pick up parts in early June. Thanks in advance.

[John510]

I just installed that TSP cam with PRC valvetrain in my LS3. It is a comp cam relabeled. I havent installed my engine yet but it is a very big cam from all of the ones I have seen and heard. If you want it for a daily driver you should get the 112LSA as it will idle better. I was also told it will surge under 1500. Oh and if you call PSI you will save hundreds of dollars on your harness and get the same quality as Speartech.

[dhutton]

Why don't you spend $25 to have Pat G specify a custom cam for your application? Even if you don't buy it you will get some good advice for that $25.

http://www.guerragroup.com/camshaft_help.htm

I went with one of his cams for my GTO.

I see a lot of guys focusing on peak dyno horsepower at the cost of driveability. I think pro-touring cars might benefit from a nice broad flat torque curve. If you are going to have AC then idle is a consideration. Surging at low rpms with a manual trans is also something to avoid.

[TT302Z28]

Nothing to be ashamed of....most hard core gear heads don't know nearly as much as they claim when it comes to cam selection. Bigger is definitely not always better that much I can tell you for a fact.

Give Comp Cams a call and have all of your engine and drive train specs available. Even if you don't buy the exact cam from them you will hear what approximate specs you are looking for and be able to ask some really knowledgeable people your questions.

Just my $.02.

[pedro]

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iv-internal-engine/1090339-cam-l92-heads-lessons-learned.html

I was reading through this the other day, seems to have some good info on cam selection..

Pete

[MattG]

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-tech-performance/2592388-ls3-cam-revision-and-sourcing.html

lots of good reading here...Remember, the TUNE is everything!

[scherp69]

Why don't you spend $25 to have Pat G specify a custom cam for your application? Even if you don't buy it you will get some good advice for that $25.

http://www.guerragroup.com/camshaft_help.htm

I went with one of his cams for my GTO.

I see a lot of guys focusing on peak dyno horsepower at the cost of driveability. I think pro-touring cars might benefit from a nice broad flat torque curve. If you are going to have AC then idle is a consideration. Surging at low rpms with a manual trans is also something to avoid.

I sent him a message on LS1Tech....he hasn't gotten back to me either. Hopefully he does as I need to make up my mind soon.

Thanks for all the replies guys. So I talked to one of the techs at Comp Cams and he recommended this one: XFI RPM High lift. 54-426-11. [email protected] is 222/224 Lift .566/.568 on a 112 LSA http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam-specs/Details.aspx?csid=1090&sb=0 Does anyone have any experience with this cam? Again, I know absolutely nothing about choosing cams, but comparing this one to the cams that so many other people are running, this seems like a fairly mild cam. Not saying I'm ignoring their advice ( I wouldn't be asking about it if I was), it was just something I noticed.

[hifi875]

X2 on pat g don't buy a off the shelf cam. He spec d me custom cam that I got from engine power systems. They use comp cams that are custom ground. You fill out a questionnaire w all yor car specs and what you want out of it

[Samckitt]

I am working on an LS2 with LS3 top end to put in an 86 Monte. I spoke to Lloyd Elliott of Elliott Port Works & he suggested a cam for me for my setup, it is: 223/235 .610/.624 114 LSA cam. He suggested another cam to me for the stock LS2 heads & it has the same intake values as the LS3 one. I asked why the same but exhaust different, his reply:
Intake flows more but exhaust is similar (325/180 CFM for LS3 - 250/170 for LS2).

The intake lobe is the same (keep cylinder pressure up and good drivability/mid range TQ) but the LS3 needs more help on exhaust to get that stuff out. The intake port is so big and fills the cylinder so fast that the exhaust needs some help to keep up. The wide LSA is needed since the big port is prone to reversion so you wanna cut down overlap so you do not have exhaust pulse going up the intake port.

[scherp69]

Heard back from Patrick Guerra this morning. I'll be sending off a engine specs page to him and will be getting a custom cam done up. With the cam he's spec'ing for me, he figures it should be 525-550 flywheel hp, right where I want to be. That way there's room for head upgrades down the road. The cam will also be a good pro-touring cam. As he put it, it will have good street manners and a wide power band. Once I get the cam specs, I'll be ordering a Speartech ECU. Thanks for all the replies guys.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Playing catch up on this thread. That 222/224 cam Comp recomended is a baby. We are 10 degrees high then that and more on the lift with the cam in Pedros car that made 448HP at the tires.

[Samckitt]

Frank, what is your thoughts on this cam for a 6.oL with LS3 heads/intake: 223/235 .610/.624 114?

[ProdigyCustoms]

You have a heavy car so a bit smaller cam will make a little bit better torque and you a a bit smaller then the 6,2 so it may work well. I would probably tigthen the LCs a bit to 113, even 112.

[Samckitt]

Smaller in terms of the 223/235 or the lift? At what point will the LCA start to cause surging while driving at low rpms?
Thanks

[ProdigyCustoms]

Like I said, for your car I think that is a good choice. LCs don;t become a problen until ou get under 10, but then you start losing lots of torque

[Samckitt]

Oh sorry I misunderstood, I thought you meant smaller than the 223/235 .610/.624 114 I posted. But you are saying this cam IS smaller & it would be good, maybe go with a 112 or 113 LCA with the 223/235 .610/.624.

Thanks Frank.

[ProdigyCustoms]

As a general rule,

(1) smaller duration equals more low end torque.

(2) heavier cars need more torque.

(3) a cam feels "bigger" to a 6.0 engine then a 6.2 engine. While .2 litres is not much, it is a little bigger.

[Samckitt]

At what point does one need to change from the single chain stock type timing chain to a double row style chain?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Not anywhere in this zone.

[Samckitt]

Good to know, looked like a Mojor PITA to get the double row chain to work because of the extra width. What about the stock rocker fulcrum bearings? I saw some posts of them failing & to switch to those from Comp Cams or Harland Sharp.

Sorry, didn't mean to steal the thread.