Looking to do a cam - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

gorgeous-ss · 12-15-2012, 12:04 PM

Ok so I have looked at alot of stuff on here and i have a few questions.

I have a l99 that i will stall along with the cam install when i do it, and i will probably have the heads ported and polished.

I know i can run either vvt or do the ls3 conversion. Which one would be better for a future turbo setup?

If i do the ls3 conversion it pretty much changes everything on the head, correct?
Does it change the valve springs and the pushrods? If not what size and everything is recomended? Or is this something to base off the size of the cam?

Also what else would you recommend changing while i have it all apart?

Thanks to anyone that helps me I have been seaching all over and there is too much info on this stuff and has confused me a bit.

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376LS3 · 12-15-2012, 11:11 PM

If you do an LS3 conversion, you will have to order lifters along with your cam kit. Most companies have L99 to LS3 conversions to add all the necessary pieces needed. Most people are seeing good results with leaving the VVT intact. Im not sure which would be best suited for a turbo app. My $.02 would be to use the VVT, but I dont have a L99 so Im not that knowledgeable on them. The cam kits come with all the springs, seals, pushrods you will need, reguardless of staying VVT or converting to LS3. If you convert to LS3, Id go with a C5R timing chain, and LS2 damper. Takes the tensioner out of the equation, which are known to fail. Hope some of that helps.

axis · 12-16-2012, 12:40 AM

If you're thinking of staying with VVT, i'd check around to see if there's a shop that's knowledgeable enough to tune it properly. LS3 cams can be tuned by most if not all shops but VVT is new and getting it properly dialed in takes a lot of practice that most of those shops haven't had. That's why most of them will recommend you swap to LS3. If you want some more to read, check out the "VVT cams dominating LS3 conversion cams at the track" thread.

VADER SS L99 · 12-16-2012, 03:27 AM

Since FI is in your future do the LS3 conversion. The LPE DOD/VVT delete kit has most of what you will need. If you get a set of ported heads from a vendor then they should have all the springs and head hardware already needed. Other than that you will need hardened pushrods, trunion kit, C5R timing chain and maybe a Meling oil pump. Since you are going turbo get a turbo cam now. Other thoughtfull upgrades would be LSA head gaskets and either ARP head bolts or studs.

12-15-2012, 12:04 PM	#1
gorgeous-ss Drives: 2011 ss/rs Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: illinois Posts: 293	Looking to do a cam Ok so I have looked at alot of stuff on here and i have a few questions. I have a l99 that i will stall along with the cam install when i do it, and i will probably have the heads ported and polished. I know i can run either vvt or do the ls3 conversion. Which one would be better for a future turbo setup? If i do the ls3 conversion it pretty much changes everything on the head, correct? Does it change the valve springs and the pushrods? If not what size and everything is recomended? Or is this something to base off the size of the cam? Also what else would you recommend changing while i have it all apart? Thanks to anyone that helps me I have been seaching all over and there is too much info on this stuff and has confused me a bit. Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

12-15-2012, 11:11 PM	#2
376LS3 Eh, that'll happen Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,841	If you do an LS3 conversion, you will have to order lifters along with your cam kit. Most companies have L99 to LS3 conversions to add all the necessary pieces needed. Most people are seeing good results with leaving the VVT intact. Im not sure which would be best suited for a turbo app. My $.02 would be to use the VVT, but I dont have a L99 so Im not that knowledgeable on them. The cam kits come with all the springs, seals, pushrods you will need, reguardless of staying VVT or converting to LS3. If you convert to LS3, Id go with a C5R timing chain, and LS2 damper. Takes the tensioner out of the equation, which are known to fail. Hope some of that helps. __________________ 2010 Camaro SS LS3 - No Modz

12-16-2012, 12:40 AM	#3
axis Search Ninja Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Ark Posts: 7,183	If you're thinking of staying with VVT, i'd check around to see if there's a shop that's knowledgeable enough to tune it properly. LS3 cams can be tuned by most if not all shops but VVT is new and getting it properly dialed in takes a lot of practice that most of those shops haven't had. That's why most of them will recommend you swap to LS3. If you want some more to read, check out the "VVT cams dominating LS3 conversion cams at the track" thread. __________________ 2010 Black 2SS/RS A6 Halltech CF 102 fed GPI modded intake manifold Bo (knows) White ported TB Kooks LT's/ Dynomax VT Pfadted (springs/sways) Dyno tuned by Rhino and GPI I once parallel parked a train.

12-16-2012, 03:27 AM	#4
VADER SS L99 Drives: 2013 A6 GT 5.0 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 2,909	Since FI is in your future do the LS3 conversion. The LPE DOD/VVT delete kit has most of what you will need. If you get a set of ported heads from a vendor then they should have all the springs and head hardware already needed. Other than that you will need hardened pushrods, trunion kit, C5R timing chain and maybe a Meling oil pump. Since you are going turbo get a turbo cam now. Other thoughtfull upgrades would be LSA head gaskets and either ARP head bolts or studs. __________________ BLK/BLK 1SS/RS Ordered 11-01-2009 Took delivery 12-22-2009. Heads/cam/converter/bolt ons. SOLD Feb 2015 to fund 6th gen LT1 SS with 8L90E.