Cam price - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Surfdog SS · 07-08-2022, 02:21 PM

What do you guys think is reasonable for a cam install and tune on ls3? Looking at a cam, push rods, trunnion upgrade, 3 bolt upgrade, springs, and supporting gaskets and bolts. Waiting on some other quotes but first one is 4500 with parts. BTR quoted me roughly 1200 for the same parts. Seems a little high for labor and tune.

CamaroDreams76 · 07-08-2022, 05:23 PM

1200 for parts AND labor?

joshnmn · 07-08-2022, 06:10 PM

Check out GPI website. They have cam kits where you just go down and click what you want. I just did it with the parts you listed and it was 1300- without lifters. Add 500 for tune and $150/hr shop time. It would take me a full day. I'm sure shops can do it faster

Surfdog SS · 07-08-2022, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams76

1200 for parts AND labor?

No just parts

CamaroCracka · 07-09-2022, 01:27 PM

Are they insisting on pulling the heads for the swap?

figure $500ish for the tune and about $1500ish for the labor and then the price of the parts. Some shops have lost their minds since Covid. $4500 is a little high, but if a big shop like Redline, that is what you can expect.

I did the swap in a weekend taking my time, but I did not do springs since it was a lower lift cam. My guy did the second one for around 2k with a retune, but most guys would be afraid of his shop as it's small, crowded and all the parking is filled with project cars.

Surfdog SS · 07-09-2022, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroCracka

Are they insisting on pulling the heads for the swap?

figure $500ish for the tune and about $1500ish for the labor and then the price of the parts. Some shops have lost their minds since Covid. $4500 is a little high, but if a big shop like Redline, that is what you can expect.

I did the swap in a weekend taking my time, but I did not do springs since it was a lower lift cam. My guy did the second one for around 2k with a retune, but most guys would be afraid of his shop as it's small, crowded and all the parking is filled with project cars.

That's the kind of shop I took my car to do my sc install and tune. Very busy small shop and have to wait months to even get in. Waiting on a quote from them. 2k seems very reasonable to me with a tune.

CamaroDreams76 · 07-10-2022, 04:43 AM

4500 is pretty reasonable for parts, labor and a tune. Remember you get what you pay for. Nearly anybody that has a sense of how an engine works can install a cam in this car. Its the tuning that you really need to worry about.

morepowerjoe · 07-10-2022, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams76

4500 is pretty reasonable for parts, labor and a tune. Remember you get what you pay for. Nearly anybody that has a sense of how an engine works can install a cam in this car. Its the tuning that you really need to worry about.

I definitely agree with you on this. You do get what you pay for. I think I paid around $4200 (parts and labor) for mine not including the tune. I would suggest going to a performance shop that can do a dyno tune afterwards instead of doing a mail order tune / email tune. Just make sure you find a place with a good tuner.

CamaroCracka · 07-10-2022, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfdog SS

That's the kind of shop I took my car to do my sc install and tune. Very busy small shop and have to wait months to even get in. Waiting on a quote from them. 2k seems very reasonable to me with a tune.

Note, I provided the parts.

pyroguy · 07-10-2022, 02:15 PM

That is way into the stratosphere for a quote on a LS3. That’s even high on a L99. A LS3 cam swap should be $2,000-$2,500. Heck, my L99 cam swap only cost about $3,600 and they pulled the heads to replace the garbage AFM/DOD lifters. Look around at others shops and see what they’re charging. That quote sounds completely off the deep end high. Maybe they don’t do many cam swaps and if they’re going to, they’re going to make it worth their effort to them.

Surfdog SS · 07-10-2022, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroCracka

Note, I provided the parts.

I figure that otherwise be one hell of a deal!

Surfdog SS · 07-10-2022, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroCracka

Note, I provided the parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyroguy

That is way into the stratosphere for a quote on a LS3. That’s even high on a L99. A LS3 cam swap should be $2,000-$2,500. Heck, my L99 cam swap only cost about $3,600 and they pulled the heads to replace the garbage AFM/DOD lifters. Look around at others shops and see what they’re charging. That quote sounds completely off the deep end high. Maybe they don’t do many cam swaps and if they’re going to, they’re going to make it worth their effort to them.

It was a big name shop. I'd do it myself before I go that route. I'm still waiting on quotes but doing it myself is sounding better after that quote.

pyroguy · 07-12-2022, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfdog SS

It was a big name shop. I'd do it myself before I go that route. I'm still waiting on quotes but doing it myself is sounding better after that quote.

Just because you looked at a name brand shop, it doesn't mean they aren't trying to stick it to you. That price for a LS3 cam install is outrageous, IMO. Good luck and hopefully you get your cam in soon!

Surfdog SS · 07-13-2022, 06:40 AM

Do you guys do the oil pump and ls2 style dampener at this time or is it not necessary yet. My goal with the car is to be in the 600-650 whp range.

07-08-2022, 02:21 PM	#1
Surfdog SS Drives: 2015 SS Black/Black Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 159	Cam price What do you guys think is reasonable for a cam install and tune on ls3? Looking at a cam, push rods, trunnion upgrade, 3 bolt upgrade, springs, and supporting gaskets and bolts. Waiting on some other quotes but first one is 4500 with parts. BTR quoted me roughly 1200 for the same parts. Seems a little high for labor and tune. __________________ 2015 2SS M6 Stainless Power LT header w/ hf cats, NPP axle backs, ECS Novi 1500 SC, ATI 10% UD, BMR 1.25 springs, trailing arms, and bushings, short thow shifter, Z28 replica rims, BTR stage 2 centrifugal cam, zl1 pump, FIC 1000, dsx aux pump and flex fuel, monster triple disc.

07-08-2022, 05:23 PM	#2
CamaroDreams76 Tri-County Camaro SWFL Drives: 2013 IOM 2SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South West FL Posts: 3,484 View My Garage	1200 for parts AND labor? __________________ Just bolt ons........ https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343023

07-09-2022, 01:27 PM	#5
CamaroCracka Drives: 2010 Turbo LS3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 3,053	Are they insisting on pulling the heads for the swap? figure $500ish for the tune and about $1500ish for the labor and then the price of the parts. Some shops have lost their minds since Covid. $4500 is a little high, but if a big shop like Redline, that is what you can expect. I did the swap in a weekend taking my time, but I did not do springs since it was a lower lift cam. My guy did the second one for around 2k with a retune, but most guys would be afraid of his shop as it's small, crowded and all the parking is filled with project cars. __________________ 2010 SS - Kind of an On3 kit, CTR 78/80, CompCam 239/251 620/632 122+4, E85, Z28 suspension and ZL1 diff with Outlaw axles. Gen6 ZL1 brakes. 2011 Vert - 416/w 230/236 .612/.602 115lsa, 1LE suspension w/32mm rear bar. Z28 diff. Gen6 ZL1 brakes.

07-10-2022, 04:43 AM	#7
CamaroDreams76 Tri-County Camaro SWFL Drives: 2013 IOM 2SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South West FL Posts: 3,484 View My Garage	4500 is pretty reasonable for parts, labor and a tune. Remember you get what you pay for. Nearly anybody that has a sense of how an engine works can install a cam in this car. Its the tuning that you really need to worry about. __________________ Just bolt ons........ https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343023

07-10-2022, 02:15 PM	#10
pyroguy Keeper of “THE list” Drives: ABM #832 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: GA Posts: 7,117 View My Garage	That is way into the stratosphere for a quote on a LS3. That’s even high on a L99. A LS3 cam swap should be $2,000-$2,500. Heck, my L99 cam swap only cost about $3,600 and they pulled the heads to replace the garbage AFM/DOD lifters. Look around at others shops and see what they’re charging. That quote sounds completely off the deep end high. Maybe they don’t do many cam swaps and if they’re going to, they’re going to make it worth their effort to them. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #832 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

07-08-2022, 06:10 PM	#3
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,104 View My Garage	Check out GPI website. They have cam kits where you just go down and click what you want. I just did it with the parts you listed and it was 1300- without lifters. Add 500 for tune and $150/hr shop time. It would take me a full day. I'm sure shops can do it faster

07-13-2022, 06:40 AM	#14
Surfdog SS Drives: 2015 SS Black/Black Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 159	Do you guys do the oil pump and ls2 style dampener at this time or is it not necessary yet. My goal with the car is to be in the 600-650 whp range. __________________ 2015 2SS M6 Stainless Power LT header w/ hf cats, NPP axle backs, ECS Novi 1500 SC, ATI 10% UD, BMR 1.25 springs, trailing arms, and bushings, short thow shifter, Z28 replica rims, BTR stage 2 centrifugal cam, zl1 pump, FIC 1000, dsx aux pump and flex fuel, monster triple disc.