I know that the 97 LT1 cams and 95 LT1 cams are different, but for a relatively stock LB9 (mods in sig...3.42's soon as well) which would you pick and why? I have both of them: One from a friend's 97 SS and one from my friend's 95 CompTA (Firehawk in TA trim for those who don't know...only 167 made)

 

Toss us some cam specs bro.

 

You'd really waste a weekend and a lot of gaskets just to swap in a cam with about the same duration and only a little more lift?

I don't understand the craze of swapping in LT1 cams. It's still a stock GM grind that is easily bettered by even outdated aftermarket pieces. It's not like you see people running LT1 cams in any fast thirdgens, i sure haven't. At least not any faster than stock cammed cars.

 

Yes I would mainly because the fact that I'm going to be down there doing some stuff anyways, and it's a cheap replacement. I've got later plans for this car and none of them involve a 305. This isn't a "I want performance so I'm going to do a cam" swap. It's a "While I'm there..." swap.

 

same exact reason why im swappin in a 95 lt1 cam, no one understands us bro, we know its the the cam of all cams or the optimal choice for a performance cam. w/e i its a little better

 

You're right, i just don't get it. If you're really going through the trouble of pulling the engine or taking off the timing cover and the inevitable leaks from that, i would want to spend a little extra money for at leat a ZZ4 take-off or something. Not just another stock grind.

And if something different is going in anyway so cost is a factor, why are you wasting time and money pulling a running 305 and doing any work at all to it.

Swapping to an LT1 cam doesn't accomplish much that 1.6 rockers wouldn't. OK, so the rockers cost a little more than the gaskets and timing set, but the time involved is worth money to me too and would far offset the 'cheaper' cam.

 

the reason i dont get a lot larger cam is because i dont want to have to deal with tuning proms and a lopey idiling tempermental engine. this car is reliable and the drivability is awesome i dont want to change that i like it for what it is.

 

In that case, i'd leave it stock or throw some rockers on it then. Unless you pull the engine, odds are the front of the oil pan will be leaking like a sieve after an in car cam swap, therejust isn't an easy way to get it all back together and sealed up right. For such a small gain in perormance i'd just as soon leave my engine the way it is. Not to mention when the inevitable comes and something breaks or goes horribly wrong in the middle of the swap.

Like i said, swapping to 1.6 rockers would accomplish about the same thing an LT1 cam would. The difference is a lot of time and a lot more potential for (serious) problems.

I'm not bashing you. Just trying to have an open discussion on why we both feel the way we do. A lot of other people are going to read this. And maybe you're an accomplished wrench so you have a lot of confidence in yourself. For the average guy though, a cam swap is a very big operation and IMO shouldn't be undertaken unless there's a bigger upside than another stock cam would provide.

BTW, MAF cars will handle a mild cam without any chip changes at all. Even SD cars will too, but they'rea lot easier to get more out of with help. MAF doesn't really need help, just a good starting point.

 

Why not use the RamJet cam its only $135 and should make little more power than a stock lt-1 cam

 

If I am retarded, let me know.
The 97 SS has a LT4 in it. So is there a difference between the cam in that LT4 and a LT4 hot cam? Even if there is a difference, shouldnt the cam that comes in an LT4 be better than one that comes in an LT1? I am still learning so excuse my ignorance.

Brian

 

Graphic was stolen from a post of vader's, but this is what you guys are looking for. One thinhg to keep in mind is the LT4 production cam was used with 1.6 rockers, which is why it looks identical to the 95 cam with 1.6 rockers except the slightly narrowed LSA.

And the ramjet cam is smaller than an L98 cam. The reason that engine make power is all about the great heads. For the money a ZZ4 take-off is world's better.

edit: in case you get confussed, the last 2 cams are not stock cams. They are the comp 304 and comp 305. And the LT4 hot cam was never stock in anything either.

 

For what its worth DD2000 shows the Lt-1+10hp,Lt-4 +8hp and the RamJet +20hp over the stock 87up roller cam.Even though the Ramjet specs are a little less the tighter LSA helps it alot.

 

the 89 L98 Cam is larger then the 87 version i believe

 

Not all of the 97 SS came with the LT4, and it is rare that you will ever see one in this day, ready to have parts, or cam pulled out of it. If you have a "97 SS" cam, it is probably the stock cam that is run in the 96 LT1. As you can see it is not much more than a peanut cam, and isn't tuned for the TPI.

If you are going to go ahead and put on an LT1 intake, then save your money and get a 350 block, wether two or four bolt, and build up a mild engine. You can build an easy and reliable street worthy car. A noticable idle is not a "lopey" as you call it, the ZZ4, is going to a bit more noticable, but you will not enjoy that stock LT1 cam with your car.

THE SUM:
Not worth the time to switch, when you can do the same thing with 1.6 rr, and less work. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear.

 

If you're going to have the engine apart, go ahead and stick one of them in there. You'll see some improvement. You'll regret cheaping out on a camshaft, though, if you really want to go fast later.