hey guys.. my '86 IROC has a 305 that broke a couple of oil rings so I'm stepping up to a 350.. I already have some LT1 injectors but I need help deciding on which cam and chip would work together... I'm not really too interested in having a custom chip made at this time because this is going to be a fairly quick swap as I need my daily driver back!

I'm going to use the original ECM and use the LT1 injectors, as well as change the chip, knock sensor... I will be using the stock TPI setup (for now) and stock exhaust manifolds...

my question is this... I bought a CompCams camshaft and they ground it wrong (for my '87 IROC) so I want to go with a roller cam from Crane... What would be a good grind? I live in California so I can't go 'too' wild but I want to definitely go better than a stock 5.7... Essentially this car will be an '87 5.7 as I'm trying to change it over to a stock 5.7 and build up from there.

Which chip would be good, I know Hypertech is good...

I'm going to use some 1.94/1.50 doublehump heads..

thanks for the ideas...
Colin Opseth

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Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org

 

Probably should talk to the company itself and see what they recommend. They should have a tech line you can call. Assuming of course that you can get through to an actual human, and said human will know what he/she is talking about!!

Good luck!

 

you think CraneCams would know which chip would match up with a certain cam grind?

i'm really interested in a combo that someone here is using that definitely works for sure as i need this car to run right first off... i know that my biggest problem is that my manifold vacuum will be dropping quite a bit and i need a chip that will take advantage of that...

thanks though
Colin

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Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org

 

Eh, I've heard that you need to maintain good vacuum on computer engines or else the ECM will freak out and think there's something wrong. Maybe an aftermarket chip will compensate though.

In any case, I also hear that wild cams are very very bad for emissions (ie: no big lopey cam!) Try to find other cams advertised as 50-state legal. Even if you don't use one of those, maybe the specs will give you a good guideline.

Are you keeping the TPI? There's one company (can't remember who) that makes a cam that's an upgrade specifically for the L98. I mention this because I believe that the stock cam and TPI system were designed for each other, so there might be strange effects if you use a non-TPI cam.

Okay, that's about the limit of my knowledge, we need some more experienced people in here!!

 

Use an LT4 roller cam from GM. Pretty cheap and very EFI friendly and won't kill emmissions/mileage and definately mellow enough for the CA tests.

 

Check out Comp's Compucam line. I dont have the specs in front of me but I know they are decent roller cams. The LT4 stock cam (note, not the HOT cam) will work too. If you're using 24lbs LT1 injectors you WILL need a custom chip, or else your car will run rich all the time. The computer is tuned for 22lbs injectors, and even with them it runs a little rich. If you're making this a stock 350, you can get away with using the 19lbs 305 injectors, and use an adjustable fuel pressure regulator to turn the pressure up a bit. If you need someone to build you an engine, my dad is in Orange County and does excellent work. (shameless plug)

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West Coast GM Shootout 2001!
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

thanks for the help guys..

i will be changing the computer chip to compensate for the wilder cam..

i don't care about emissions 'too' much.. well, maybe a bit I am thinking of just running a dual-cat setup when i go smog... I have two IROCs so i just might have the guy smog my '87 and run the VIN on my '86... heh heh heh, expensive but an option..

I already bought a cam from CompCams and the guys are complete ****ing *******s. I will never ****ing buy a CompCams camshaft again, they ground it wrong and kept yelling at me on the phone that i just had the distributor stabbed 'one tooth off'. **** that, I'll go with a respectable company..

I'm going to be keeping the stock TPI setup, for now. Later on I will step up to a large-mouth intake and large tube runners, I just need it back on the road quick.

Is that LT4 cam wilder than stock? I am looking for something that will give me some upper-rpm breathing (ie. little more duration) because TPI really hurts bad there... I know I won't have a problem with torque, TPI already builds such great torque as it is..

I don't care at all about mileage, I already get 18 with my 4.10s in the back..


Kevin, thanks for the offer but I'll pass. I've done a few motors now, pretty sure I can zip this one up tight. Only mod to the shortblock will be balancing, I think that's good enough for a daily driver... I don't really want to use the 19lb injectors if I have to because they have 240,000 on them and I'm sure they are worn flat out. I know of a guy that can hook me up with some decent 19lbs for cheap, I suppose I could have those flowmatched, etc..

Thanks again,
colin

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Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org

 

I know a guy who got a bad grind from Comp Cams. Notorious for it. The best chip performance/cost is ADS Super Chips.

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86 IROC 305 TPI LB9 700R4 W/ Shift kit, K & N, Flowmaster gutted cat 95 Z tips, airfoil, 160 thermo, removed emissions, Summit cam kit 442 lift springs and lifters, ADS super chip, Summit timing chain, modified MAFS, tranny cooler, polished rims, Good Year yellow letter nascar 235/55 tires, polished runners and plenum, 145 Speedo, remote start, keyless entry, alarm, yellow neons underneath.

 

look for a chip on ebay - i've seen hypertech stage 3s and jet stage 2s go for 30$ - and then if you ever decide to burn your own (which is what im gona work on next- well after a cam swap at least) it is much easier to switch the eproms in since you can plug it straight into the after market carrier...

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91 z28 lb9 5 speed - hooker 1 5/8 headers - high flow cat- full 3 inch exhaust - home made ram air - tpis airfoil - dual chamber flowmaster - Stage 2 Jet Chip and 160 stat - 8 mm Msd plug wires - 55,000 v hypertech coil/rotor/distrib. cap - Mac. White face gauges - lots of sound system crap...

 

so any aftermarket chip like the Hypertech will be able to take advantage of an aftermarket camshaft?

What exactly does Stage 3 mean...

I'm going to email them, but I'd like to know first-hand how well these chips work with your cars..

thanks,
Colin

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Webmaster: www.IROC-Z.org