I need a cam now!

[King Nothing]

Originally Posted by acammer

The LS9 cam is a nice option as a small step up from the LS3 cam, and it does gain power NA, and works very nicely with a PD. It is a nice, low cost option that will still drive/sound like stock, and add a little power. It's going to be on the order of maybe a 10whp gain, not 50whp.

Hmmm not what I’ve been told by someone who’s tuned these cars many times. Also, being stuck in California an LS9 cam can be run on a stock LS3 tune if need be. Hopefully this year I can upgrade my cam and boost to 10psi on my 2300 and I’m hoping to be at 550-570rwhp through stock manifolds and cats.

[acammer]

Originally Posted by King Nothing

Hmmm not what I’ve been told by someone who’s tuned these cars many times. Also, being stuck in California an LS9 cam can be run on a stock LS3 tune if need be. Hopefully this year I can upgrade my cam and boost to 10psi on my 2300 and I’m hoping to be at 550-570rwhp through stock manifolds and cats.

FWIW I do camshafts and tuning for a living - the LS9 cam is not picking up 50whp in a naturally aspirated build like we're discussing for the first phase of EasternPine's build, or even if he adds a blower. Maybe I lowballed a little at 10whp, but definitely not more than 20whp.

With an LSA blower the gains would be magnified, and the LS9 cam suits a PD blower well. I still would not expect to see a 50whp gain, but maybe 35whp, and extending the curve up top with significantly better average power.

I do think you could potentially run an LS9 cam with a stock LS3 tune for the purposes of passing a state inspection. They have very similar amounts of overlap and likely wouldn't bother the calibration much at idle and light cruising. I wouldn't go putting my foot in it hard, as the power enrichment fueling will need changes for sure.

To be clear, I don't think the LS9 is a bad option - especially where emissions are strict and the mod police are looking for anything they can find to ding you on. I'm just suggesting being realistic about the gains.

[King Nothing]

Originally Posted by acammer

FWIW I do camshafts and tuning for a living - the LS9 cam is not picking up 50whp in a naturally aspirated build like we're discussing for the first phase of EasternPine's build, or even if he adds a blower. Maybe I lowballed a little at 10whp, but definitely not more than 20whp.

With an LSA blower the gains would be magnified, and the LS9 cam suits a PD blower well. I still would not expect to see a 50whp gain, but maybe 35whp, and extending the curve up top with significantly better average power.

I do think you could potentially run an LS9 cam with a stock LS3 tune for the purposes of passing a state inspection. They have very similar amounts of overlap and likely wouldn't bother the calibration much at idle and light cruising. I wouldn't go putting my foot in it hard, as the power enrichment fueling will need changes for sure.

To be clear, I don't think the LS9 is a bad option - especially where emissions are strict and the mod police are looking for anything they can find to ding you on. I'm just suggesting being realistic about the gains.

Sorry I wasn’t referring to a N/A application. Also, sea level and other factors can cause cars with the same mods to have different results . . . not to mention different dynos. I was saying the 50rwhp. So a lower DA and less humidity will show higher gains.