Another L99 cam question....VVT!

[SS-screamer]

That lope is like music to a car lover's ears. People hear it and automatically know what's up.......but, the blower definately gives you the biggest bang but for alot of bucks.

I already have kooks LTs and a Roto-fab cai so I could probably get close to 500 hp with a blower but for around 7 Gs. Or drop $3500 to 4000 and get close to 450hp with the lope to boot. It's a tough decision.

Which one would last the longest may factor into it.

[Supercharged SS]

I agree with you guys with the lope of a nice cam but that lope isn't going to get you a 10 second slip. The blower will.

[Ovenmitt]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

I agree with you guys with the lope of a nice cam but that lope isn't going to get you a 10 second slip. The blower will.

We'll see ls3s in the 10s cam only.

[MaroSS]

Originally Posted by Sack Rat 2SS

A local bone stock L99 did a base of 320 rwhp. He did the usual CAI, headers, exhaust, and tune. Now at about 352rwhp. He did the LS-3 conversion and went to 438rwhp as I recall. That is a 118 rwhp bump from stock and plus 86 rwhp bump from bolt ons. Also on a cam that idles calmly at 650 rpm and drives stock. Guys, that is very significant IMHO. If you would be interested call ADM Perf for his cost as I think it is about $3400. He has done several other L99 to LS-3 conversions with Magnason TVS 2300 blowers. rwhp has ranged from 545 to 590 rwhp depending on owners specs regarding heads and cam choice. I know it is not cheap but believe me you get much more than 50 HP as was mentioned in posts above. Now, ask ALL these L99 owners if they miss the VVT and AFM? Hell no.

Wow i think at $3400 the L99-Ls3 Conversion would definitely be worth it because I live in California and I havent seen a decent Cam that will let me come even close to passing a smog test!

[MaroSS]

Originally Posted by SS-screamer

That lope is like music to a car lover's ears. People hear it and automatically know what's up.......but, the blower definately gives you the biggest bang but for alot of bucks.

I already have kooks LTs and a Roto-fab cai so I could probably get close to 500 hp with a blower but for around 7 Gs. Or drop $3500 to 4000 and get close to 450hp with the lope to boot. It's a tough decision.

Which one would last the longest may factor into it.

Might as well get the blower sir lol. It will give you the most bang for your buck and you could always save up for both and labor might be cheaper because they are already taking your engine apart???

[cam-]

I ordered a custom spec VVT cam. 600 lift 222/230 with LSL lobes. Should work very well from everything I've been told and read about camming one of these up. Theres some really impressive builds over at tech on a few engines running L92 heads with cams in this range. So even though you can stuff a larger cam than Im running in without VVT once you cross the 230 duration threshold you really start to lose street driveability. Sure it will be faster and pull like a raped ape up top but it wont be very pleasant to cruise and will likely buck and surge at low speeds.

The main issue with the L99 and cam swaps isnt really the VVT its the AFM or DOD or whatever its called because of the dang lifters. They need to be changed which means the heads must come off and its a lot more work.

[SS-screamer]

Originally Posted by cam-

The main issue with the L99 and cam swaps isnt really the VVT its the AFM or DOD or whatever its called because of the dang lifters. They need to be changed which means the heads must come off and its a lot more work.

So even with cam phasers you still need to change out the dod lifters and such?

[Sack Rat 2SS]

Originally Posted by SS-screamer

So even with cam phasers you still need to change out the dod lifters and such?

Yep, the lifters are part of the problem. After conversion you can up your redline to LS-3 along with tranny shift points depending on where your replacement cam and valve springs makes power. Easy to change valve springs with the heads off.

[JJ2010]

I made 58rwhp with L99 to LS3 conversion Cam install....

[Ccecil]

I went with mast stage 2 and kooks headers/exhaust on an l99 w/o DOD elim

[SS-screamer]

Originally Posted by Ccecil

I went with mast stage 2 and kooks headers/exhaust on an l99 w/o DOD elim

What kind of numbers did you come out with?

[SS-screamer]

Originally Posted by Sack Rat 2SS

Yep, the lifters are part of the problem. After conversion you can up your redline to LS-3 along with tranny shift points depending on where your replacement cam and valve springs makes power. Easy to change valve springs with the heads off.

So I guess there is no way around the fact that camming a L99 will cost more than an LS3. Might as well do the conversion if I go the cam route.

What about with putting a Maggie on it, will I need to upgrade lifters also or will stock be ok at 500 hp?

[cam-]

Might as well do the conversion if I go the cam route.

VVT is a good thing and aids in power under the curve so dont be too quick to bail on it. Plus if you retain VVT you only have to change the lifters you dont have to do the front cover and all the other LS3 swap stuff. If your going to street drive the car primarily then I think you'd be happier with a VVT cam as you'll make around the same peak hp as a similar cam LS3 swap but you will make substantially more grunt down low as well.

BTW to the guy who asked earlier yes you must change the DOD lifters when swapping cams yet retaining VVT on an L99

[VADER SS L99]

Originally Posted by cam-

VVT is a good thing and aids in power under the curve so dont be too quick to bail on it. Plus if you retain VVT you only have to change the lifters you dont have to do the front cover and all the other LS3 swap stuff. If your going to street drive the car primarily then I think you'd be happier with a VVT cam as you'll make around the same peak hp as a similar cam LS3 swap but you will make substantially more grunt down low as well.

BTW to the guy who asked earlier yes you must change the DOD lifters when swapping cams yet retaining VVT on an L99

You can make power while retaining VVT( and great drivability) all while being cheaper than the LS3 conversion. I have made a list of parts that I think will make great power and not break the bank. Texas Speed heads $1179. Thunder Racing DOD delete kit $305. Head gaskets $50. Mast or Comp phaser restrictors $55. Mast ( or better if its availible by then) cam $500. As far as I know thats all the parts that are needed for a heads and cam swap. Parts cost will be around $2100. Im not sure of the labor rate but those parts and labor I bet would only be half of what a supercharger parts and install would be. I figure with my bolt ons it should be about 425rwhp. While thats not close to the power of FI, I dont think it will be close in price either.