Engine Swap Everything about swapping an engine into your Third Gen.....be it V6, V8, LTX/LSX, crate engine, etc. Pictures, questions, answers, and work logs.

l31 with lt4 cam

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 03:50 PM
  #1  
91 camaro rs's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Surprise,AZ
Car: 91 rs
Engine: 305tbi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9bolt
l31 with lt4 cam

what kind of power would this combo make with a carb,(650cfm correct?) edelbrock performer manifold and 1.6rr's
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2007 | 08:38 PM
  #2  
five7kid's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Not much after the valve spring retainers are done munching on the valve guides.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2007 | 11:53 AM
  #3  
Stephen's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

A standard LT4 cam would fit. It's the LT4HOT cam that has too much lift, for the stock L31(Vortec) heads.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2007 | 07:43 PM
  #4  
five7kid's Avatar
Moderator
25 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 42
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
From the "Camshaft" tech article linked from the thirdgen.org homepage:

1.5:1 Lift------1.6:1 Lift-------Notes
.492/.492-----.525/.525-------LT4 motor cam

That's too much for stock Vortec heads with 1.5:1 rockers, let alone 1.6:1.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2007 | 08:24 PM
  #5  
Stephen's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

But those are the HOT cam specs, not the standard LT4 cam, which is (and a LT1 for comparison)...

Engine Valve Lift @ .050"
LT1 Intake .447"(11.35mm)
Exhaust .459"(11.66mm)

LT4 Intake .476"(12.09mm)
Exhaust .479"(12.17mm)


Engine Duration @ .050"
LT1 Intake 205 deg.
Exhaust 207 deg.
LT4 Intake 203 deg.
Exhaust 210 deg.

.476 & .479 are do-able. The max, but do-able. If you tear them apart, and blueprint the springs, you can break .500, but people rarely go to the trouble.

Last edited by Stephen; Oct 28, 2007 at 08:29 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2007 | 12:49 AM
  #6  
Fast355's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,404
Likes: 492
From: Hurst, Texas
Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

Originally Posted by Stephen
But those are the HOT cam specs, not the standard LT4 cam, which is (and a LT1 for comparison)...

Engine Valve Lift @ .050"
LT1 Intake .447"(11.35mm)
Exhaust .459"(11.66mm)

LT4 Intake .476"(12.09mm)
Exhaust .479"(12.17mm)


Engine Duration @ .050"
LT1 Intake 205 deg.
Exhaust 207 deg.
LT4 Intake 203 deg.
Exhaust 210 deg.

.476 & .479 are do-able. The max, but do-able. If you tear them apart, and blueprint the springs, you can break .500, but people rarely go to the trouble.

The .476/.479 numbers are INCLUDING the STOCK 1.6:1 roller rockers on the LT4 engine. It has VERY SIMILAR lift to the LT1 cam.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:50 PM
  #7  
Stephen's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

Originally Posted by Fast355
The .476/.479 numbers are INCLUDING the STOCK 1.6:1 roller rockers on the LT4 engine. It has VERY SIMILAR lift to the LT1 cam.
First you say 1.6 will give you too much lift, .525.

Then you say 1.6 gives .476/479...
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:56 PM
  #8  
Fast355's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,404
Likes: 492
From: Hurst, Texas
Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

Originally Posted by Stephen
First you say 1.6 will give you too much lift, .525.

Then you say 1.6 gives .476/479...

I never said that, re-read what I said. 1.6 rockers with a PRODUCTION LT4 cam gives .476/.479" lift. 1.5 rockers gives .446/.449 or VERY similar to the LT1 cam. The HOTCAM has .492/.492" lift with 1.5 rockers and .525/.525" lift with 1.6 rockers.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:16 PM
  #9  
Stephen's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 13
From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: l31 with lt4 cam

Originally Posted by Fast355
I never said that, re-read what I said. 1.6 rockers with a PRODUCTION LT4 cam gives .476/.479" lift. 1.5 rockers gives .446/.449 or VERY similar to the LT1 cam. The HOTCAM has .492/.492" lift with 1.5 rockers and .525/.525" lift with 1.6 rockers.
My bad...I was still thinking your first #s, were the standard LT4 cam, with 1.6, not the HOT cam.

But, I think we both agree, right? That the LT4 cam, not HOT cam, would do well on a L31.

Of course, just spend a few more bucks and get the press-in studs replaced with screw-ins, upgraded springs, a little machine work to the bosses, and even the LT4HOT cam is no longer a problem. By the upgraded heads, and your cheaper in the long ru, rather than redoing it later.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jorlain
Tech / General Engine
6
Oct 8, 2015 01:57 AM
tommy z-28
Cooling
5
Oct 6, 2015 10:58 PM
customblackbird
Power Adders
71
Oct 1, 2015 04:30 PM
sandman92084
Tech / General Engine
13
Sep 12, 2015 10:27 PM
Strick1
LTX and LSX
2
Sep 4, 2015 07:11 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:26 AM.