More Cam questions
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,494
Likes: 411
From: Sophia, NC
Car: 2016 Camaro SS + 1986 Z28
More Cam questions
It seems that there have been a lot of cam related questions lately...or maybe it's just that I've been paying more attention!
ANYWAY, I've come up with some questions of my own.
1) My engine is a stock L98. I'm going to have headers ignition K&N filters AFPR etc. The basic little bolt ons. Assuming I leave the heads completely stock, what kind of numbers should I look for in a cam?
It seems that .480 seems to be about the maximum lift that stock heads will accomodate. Correct? What about duration?
Any opinions?
2) If you were to choose a cam to work with the stock heads, what sort of gains can be expected?...ballpark hp numbers...
I'm trying to decide for myself if it would be worth it.
3) While the heads are being reworked/cleaned/rebuilt etc....are there any changes you would make to the valvetrain. Valve job of course, anything else?
Keep in mind that a COMPLETE engine rebuild will happen, but it probably won't be for a few years at least. (I'm hoping to buy a house!
) but in the meantime I need a little more power from my baby!!! I don't want to get caught up in replacing the heads to accomodate a better cam, thusly needing a bigger intake...making more power thus requiring some tranny work....then replacing brakes...etc...you all know what I'm talking about.!
A week from now I'll be saving for a twin turbo LPE LS6. The point is, I'm trying to stay simple!
Thanks
ANYWAY, I've come up with some questions of my own.
1) My engine is a stock L98. I'm going to have headers ignition K&N filters AFPR etc. The basic little bolt ons. Assuming I leave the heads completely stock, what kind of numbers should I look for in a cam?
It seems that .480 seems to be about the maximum lift that stock heads will accomodate. Correct? What about duration?
Any opinions?
2) If you were to choose a cam to work with the stock heads, what sort of gains can be expected?...ballpark hp numbers...
I'm trying to decide for myself if it would be worth it.
3) While the heads are being reworked/cleaned/rebuilt etc....are there any changes you would make to the valvetrain. Valve job of course, anything else?
Keep in mind that a COMPLETE engine rebuild will happen, but it probably won't be for a few years at least. (I'm hoping to buy a house!
) but in the meantime I need a little more power from my baby!!! I don't want to get caught up in replacing the heads to accomodate a better cam, thusly needing a bigger intake...making more power thus requiring some tranny work....then replacing brakes...etc...you all know what I'm talking about.! A week from now I'll be saving for a twin turbo LPE LS6. The point is, I'm trying to stay simple!Thanks
Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 376
Likes: 2
From: Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Ok, let's take 'em in order.
1. Yes that's about right, I actually measured .495 on mine, but .480 will give you a little safety margin. 2 and 3 will affect your cam choice.
2. Chose the right cam and you could see around 50 hp or more, depends on the rest of the combo of course, and what engine your talking about, I'm assuming L98.
3. Mill down the valve guides to give you clearance for more lift, screw in rocker studs, get springs to match the cam, and I'd spend the money and get some of the manley pro flow valves, the do make a difference, I'll be posting the results of my tests in a coupla days. The heads could really use some basic porting in stock form. Just smoothing out the bad bumps and ridges will gain you around 20 cfm, and a bit more on the exhaust. This will put you even with or higher than the flow on the aluminum vette heads. You can do the whole set of heads in a coupla hours with a decent grinder. You can check out my threads on the subject at
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...n+head+project
1. Yes that's about right, I actually measured .495 on mine, but .480 will give you a little safety margin. 2 and 3 will affect your cam choice.
2. Chose the right cam and you could see around 50 hp or more, depends on the rest of the combo of course, and what engine your talking about, I'm assuming L98.
3. Mill down the valve guides to give you clearance for more lift, screw in rocker studs, get springs to match the cam, and I'd spend the money and get some of the manley pro flow valves, the do make a difference, I'll be posting the results of my tests in a coupla days. The heads could really use some basic porting in stock form. Just smoothing out the bad bumps and ridges will gain you around 20 cfm, and a bit more on the exhaust. This will put you even with or higher than the flow on the aluminum vette heads. You can do the whole set of heads in a coupla hours with a decent grinder. You can check out my threads on the subject at
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...n+head+project
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 7
From: LONDON, KY
Car: Camaro
Engine: Carbed L98
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
yeah I have a L98 also. Is it worth spending the money on the stock heads. And Would I have to change the roller lifters?
I had the same questions about what cam with stock heads and intake.
I had the same questions about what cam with stock heads and intake.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,494
Likes: 411
From: Sophia, NC
Car: 2016 Camaro SS + 1986 Z28
Thanks for the info!!!:hail:
More questions...
At what lift do the valve guides need to be milled?
The Cam manufacturer will help me with spring selection right?
If you've got some info...at what point does more lift become overkill for stock heads? I'm gonna do a valve job I'm sure, but I'm trying to stay away from too much headwork. Not that it's a bad idea, but I've kinda decided against it. Like I mentioned in my first post, if I don't set a limit to what I want, it won't be long before I have my sights set WWWAAAYYYY over my budget.
More questions...
At what lift do the valve guides need to be milled?
The Cam manufacturer will help me with spring selection right?
If you've got some info...at what point does more lift become overkill for stock heads? I'm gonna do a valve job I'm sure, but I'm trying to stay away from too much headwork. Not that it's a bad idea, but I've kinda decided against it. Like I mentioned in my first post, if I don't set a limit to what I want, it won't be long before I have my sights set WWWAAAYYYY over my budget.
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