Looking for cam upgrade

[ARuiz9]

I have a 2015 SS 1LE with CAI Inc. intake and Kooks LT's, I'm looking to upgrade my cam without completely killing my gas mileage (if that's even possible). I currently get 16.5 mpg which I am very happy with, the car is putting down 410hp to the wheels I am looking to get a cam that will put me in the 450-480hp range. Any suggestions or am I not being realistic?

[2010reddevil]

Cam = more fuel and air into engine. Translates to worse fuel econ. No two ways about it. The more fuel you burn, the worse the fuel economy. However, smiles per mile will be off the charts!

[Avenging Orange]

If ypu can look past the hp numbers....there are a lot if cams that with a good tune can get decent mileage. The world doesn't revolve around big hp and jumbo lift cams.

[Clarkstar]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

If ypu can look past the hp numbers....there are a lot if cams that with a good tune can get decent mileage. The world doesn't revolve around big hp and jumbo lift cams.

My world does...

[ARuiz9]

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

If ypu can look past the hp numbers....there are a lot if cams that with a good tune can get decent mileage. The world doesn't revolve around big hp and jumbo lift cams.

It's not that I'm looking for big HP #s it's just for what it cost I would like get something in return but I just don't want to sacrifice too much driveability

[Russell James]

Shoot for 440/450ish. 480 is going to be a lopey lumpity race cam. You can go quite stealthy in the 440/450 range and keep cross country driving reliability.


cnc heads. + a mild cam... and you're there. If you try to do cam only to get to your hp goal, it's going to be a pretty rowdy cam.

If I were you I'd get some GMPP cnc heads. Fill out a Cam Motion custom cam card, have them custom spec exactly what you want. I'd bet it would come out close to the specs of the stage 3 in their mild cam line up. That cam's lift would work perfect with the springs that come on the GMPP cnc heads. And the specs should give it a nice broad tq curve, good drivability and decent mpgs. You could go even milder with something like the LS7 cam.

http://www.cammotion.com/camshafts/m...220-230-117-4/

[ARuiz9]

Originally Posted by Russell James

Shoot for 440/450ish. 480 is going to be a lopey lumpity race cam. You can go quite stealthy in the 440/450 range and keep cross country driving reliability.


cnc heads. + a mild cam... and you're there. If you try to do cam only to get to your hp goal, it's going to be a pretty rowdy cam.

If I were you I'd get some GMPP cnc heads. Fill out a Cam Motion custom cam card, have them custom spec exactly what you want. I'd bet it would come out close to the specs of the stage 3 in their mild cam line up. That cam's lift would work perfect with the springs that come on the GMPP cnc heads. And the specs should give it a nice broad tq curve, good drivability and decent mpgs. You could go even milder with something like the LS7 cam.

http://www.cammotion.com/camshafts/m...220-230-117-4/

I thought about the ls7 cam but it doesn't seem worth it. I might have to look that route heads + cam. I'm just looking for something that feels like it came with the car, reliable. I don't race the car just know if I wanted to I could ��

[christianchevell]

Basically your going to loose 2 mpg with a cam and your foot will want to press harder as the car is a different beast, learn to live with it or don't do it, even the crappy "
HOT CAM" or ASA 525 hp cam with lower lifts are going to increase the duration so much its going to increase the AFR and thus less mileage, the deal is...crapier around town; not much different on the highway for mileage. Though some smaller lift cams like the ASA cam can use springs that are more valve train friendly..... and 525 flywheel -15% drivetrain loss manual or 20 auto = 446.25 to the wheels manual.

[VR Baron]

I have what's in my sig. and the race scoop probably good for another 5 hp. Tha cam is a custom stage 1. It has almost stock drivability after warmed up some. Power starts about 250 rpm higher then stock and peaks at 6300 and revs to 7000 with new valvetrain. Mpg loss is about 2 around town, maybe 1-2 on freeway. Tune and cam gained 40 hp and tq was about 30. Love the cam and is great for autocross. Hp numbers are on a. Conservative dyno

[MosesBarkley]

Originally Posted by ARuiz9

I thought about the ls7 cam but it doesn't seem worth it. I might have to look that route heads + cam. I'm just looking for something that feels like it came with the car, reliable. I don't race the car just know if I wanted to I could ��

I have a 2014 1LE w/similar mods... aside from the aftermarket intake.

I added a BTR Stage IV cam back in July & average around 16.0 - 17.0 mpg in normal highway conditions (slightly less in work traffic).

The only time I see a significant drop in mpg is when I get "caught up" in the sweet melody of the LS3+LTH+HF Cats+NNP!

A Stage IV cam makes noticeable hp up top.

But, like with any decent performing cam, the drivability of the car will be affected slightly... i.e., a little more "torque" shake when idling, slightly more throttle required during takeoff, & will have to adjust which gear you choose due to slight "jerk" that can be felt at certain speeds.

Once you adjust your driving habits to account for the performance cam, you won't really notice much of a drivability difference from the stock cam... except that you'll be grinning even more!

[ARuiz9]

Originally Posted by VR Baron

I have what's in my sig. and the race scoop probably good for another 5 hp. Tha cam is a custom stage 1. It has almost stock drivability after warmed up some. Power starts about 250 rpm higher then stock and peaks at 6300 and revs to 7000 with new valvetrain. Mpg loss is about 2 around town, maybe 1-2 on freeway. Tune and cam gained 40 hp and tq was about 30. Love the cam and is great for autocross. Hp numbers are on a. Conservative dyno

What are your cam specs? And do you have a soundclip of your car?

[VR Baron]

Originally Posted by ARuiz9

What are your cam specs? And do you have a soundclip of your car?

No clip. Deep sound with 3" Magnaflow catback but not really that loud. When warmed up it has a very slight lope, like a z28. Specs are proprietary but similar to the z28 cam, or any stage one cam.

[christianchevell]

BTW a ls7 cam is so mild as its with 1.8 rockers thus less need for lift.. I use a stage three commotion now versus a stage 4 type TSP ; with a wider 114 LSA and advance +4 its still about the same driving with less lift and less duration...and drive ability is about exactly the same, idles the same 950, I think most good cams will require you to mostly have to learn driving a cammed Camaro with higher idle and take off stall more higher to avoid cam surge so you might as well go bigger; or go home; or go with the ASA cam for some sound and lessor lift leaving a not a lot on the board; or some mild custom cam grind if you want a sneaker.... Its all on what you want there is a grind for what ever.....but realistically for 450-480 horse your in the more .600 lift range plus intake and exhaust and duration in the 230s with a tighter lsa like 111-114 its a wide ranged area depending on which dyno also.......

[racesloth]

Hard to beat the Vengeance VSRP II cam for low speed driveability and no bucking. Mine dynoed out at 457rwhp with LT and CAT back (Corsa).

Vengeance-racing-vrsp2-camshaft-227-235-614-621-115-87.html

This is my Camaro in the vid:


different Camaro same cam: