Gentlemen:

Its been quite some time since we've chatted last - hope everyone is doing well - here's my newest project:

My once tattered RS is now a 350-5speed monster with a 4bbl. I bought a 1994 LT1 which is scattered and going to be built up this summer. I need advice on the camshaft most importantly. I'd like to know the results some of you experienced guys have had with them and too - what you did for computer mods. My local shop can only program the pcm with a aldl port, which i'm not sure how to hook up yet. Are any of the mail-order-programming places worth it? What should I start looking into?

Thanks guys!

Summer summer summer summer...TRP

 

the cam really depends on what kind of performace you want. I loved the Hotcam for a while, the powerband is phenomenal for a daily driver, great torque down low with good pull up top. If you want something big, go for the Comp Cams 306, it's about as big as you want to go with stock heads.

As for the ECM, thats how you program it, through the ALDL connector. It's just a matter of repinning your connector for the new pinout. Quite easy to do with wiring diagrams. I did the mailorder thing originally, and was quite happy with the results, but with more dyno time I hope to do my own tuning.

 

Texas - thanks for your reply buddy. I already have a booklet put together with wiring diagrams and vacuum line routing and stuff, plus I took a ton of pictures during the disassembly, so i'm thinking it will go smoothly as far as the transition work is concerned.

I am sticking with the stock heads. Right now they're heavily ported polished w/3 angle valve job and cc'd ports (180 in / 70 out). The only remaining work is to cc the chambers, which will help me with my compression.

The 306 was the first cam that caught my eye b/c of its numbers, but will I be able to get a fair tune if I send my ecm out to have it programmed? I'm thinking of sending it out as a rough-guess b4 i finish up all the wiring, at least so I can drive the car and see how she runs.

As far as the rest of the motor, I'm definitely using a scat crank to get 383 inches, forged pistons, scat rods, etc. But thats the easy stuff.

I'm thinking the critical components are:

cam-heads-throttlebody-maf sensor

Thoughts?

Tyler

 

you'll definitely get good results with the 306 with ported heads. Any mail order place will be able to get you a pretty good tune for a 306, but as always to really maximize it you'd want a dyno tune. But the mail order will definitely be close enough for you to drive it and get good results.

As for the rest of it, it looks like you're on the right track. Good idea getting the wiring diagrams and vacuum diagrams together before hand, that will definitely help out. Definitely get a 52mm TB and good headers, the MAF about all you can do is descreen it, cut the vane out, and polish it.

 

Stick to the stock MAF, no gains will be found from switching to an aftermarket MAF. Cam depends on how wild you want to go, those extra 33 cubes will help mild up it up. Go with a minimum of a 52mm throttle body if your building up a 383. If you go with a 58mm throttle body, you must port match the intake to the 58mm. Go with OEM replacement lifters and don't buy into the Comp R's, plenty of people have had problems with the lifter retainers busting out of them. It is not necessary to run long tubes on these motors myself and TexasLT1 are both running 1" 5/8 shorties and getting some pretty good results, however I recommend you get some 1" 3/4. Good luck with the build up.

 

Here's what I have settled on for now

Port Matched / Polished Stock Intake W/Opened Throttle Bores

Stock Alum LT1 Heads
New Trick Flow Valves
3-Angle Valve Job
Ported/Port Matched/Polished Runners (180 / 70 cc measured)

CC306 Cam (w/Matching Springs)
1.5 Roller Rockers
Holley 58mm TB
30lb/hr injectors

Eagle Cast Steel 3.75 crank
Aftermarket Clearanced Rods (Was going to use PM Chevy Rods...But They Might Be Too Thick)

Summit LT1 Rebuild Kit Less Pistons (For gaskets, oil pump, etc)

Quality Forged Pistons (SRP?)

My remaining questions fall as such:
Recommendations for programming work? Where did you guys go to, did the re-program run well for you (esp. on the dyno?), how much did it cost? This all directed especially to anyone with a 383 LT1.

Has anybody already SUCCESSFULLY had the cc306 tamed in their computer controlled car? I already went through the TBI / Cam incompatibility headache and don't want 2 live through it again

Tyler

 

yep, put a h/c setup on my brothers 96, he drives it every sunny day. the cc306 is a great cam, awesome power, and very reliable. had the computer tuned at pcmforless.

 

I'd do the 1.6 rockers with the CC306. Thats what I have run for the past 2yrs.