L99 to LS3 conversion

[Supercharged SS]

There is really nothing "minor" about doing the conversion. The engine needs to be removed from the car and the heads need to be pulled. The entire valvetrain is replaced and so is the cam. The $$ is usually aroud 4 or 5k. I don't know where you guys have read or have had it done for around 2k ish. I gained almost 100 rwhp with my conversion and that was on top of the s/c that already installed.

[Rock-It Man]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

There is really nothing "minor" about doing the conversion. The engine needs to be removed from the car and the heads need to be pulled. The entire valvetrain is replaced and so is the cam. The $$ is usually aroud 4 or 5k. I don't know where you guys have read or have had it done for around 2k ish. I gained almost 100 rwhp with my conversion and that was on top of the s/c that already installed.

You need to remove the engine to pull the heads?

[Supercharged SS]

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

You need to remove the engine to pull the heads?

I have no clue why the engine needs to come out but for some reason it does. I would think you could pop the heads off with the removal of the engine, just like any other vehicle. But thats the majority of the cost. I think ADM has some pictures of it being done. Jannetty did mine. But is a fairly involved process to do the true conversion. Some of the posts in this thread may have confused keeping the VVT with doing a 100% conversion.

[Rock-It Man]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

I have no clue why the engine needs to come out but for some reason it does. I would think you could pop the heads off with the removal of the engine, just like any other vehicle. But thats the majority of the cost. I think ADM has some pictures of it being done. Jannetty did mine. But is a fairly involved process to do the true conversion. Some of the posts in this thread may have confused keeping the VVT with doing a 100% conversion.

So, you got rid of the VVT? I want to keep it. I will have to call Jannetty next week.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

There is really nothing "minor" about doing the conversion. The engine needs to be removed from the car and the heads need to be pulled. The entire valvetrain is replaced and so is the cam. The $$ is usually aroud 4 or 5k. I don't know where you guys have read or have had it done for around 2k ish. I gained almost 100 rwhp with my conversion and that was on top of the s/c that already installed.

When you did your conversion did you install the stock LS3 cam in your car? A true L99 to LS3 conversion would turn a stock L99 into stock LS3. The gains from a true L99 to LS3 conversion would not be all that great (from what I've been told). (definately not worth the time and money)

What most guys do (from what I'm seeing) is they go with a more aggressive cam when making the LS3 conversion. So in addition to removing the DOD/VVT, etc they're also running a more aggressive cam (thus making a lot more HP than just converting over to a stock LS3 setup).

[Supercharged SS]

Originally Posted by SGOS252382

When you did your conversion did you install the stock LS3 cam in your car? A true L99 to LS3 conversion would turn a stock L99 into stock LS3. The gains from a true L99 to LS3 conversion would not be all that great (from what I've been told). (definately not worth the time and money)

What most guys do (from what I'm seeing) is they go with a more aggressive cam when making the LS3 conversion. So in addition to removing the DOD/VVT, etc they're also running a more aggressive cam (thus making a lot more HP than just converting over to a stock LS3 setup).

We installed a blower cam that Ted specd out. I don't know anyone who would install a stock LS3 cam. What would be the point? Like you said the gains would prob be minimal.

[Supercharged SS]

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

So, you got rid of the VVT? I want to keep it. I will have to call Jannetty next week.

Yes, the VVT is no more. Ted didn't want to keep it. I can't argue with his results.

[Rock-It Man]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

Yes, the VVT is no more. Ted didn't want to keep it. I can't argue with his results.

I wouldn't keep VVT either if I was adding a blower, but a blower is not part of my plan.

We'll see what they say.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

We installed a blower cam that Ted specd out. I don't know anyone who would install a stock LS3 cam. What would be the point? Like you said the gains would prob be minimal.

Yeah, that's my point. I think a lot of guys don't understand that. Most of the gains come from the "extras," not the LS3 conversion.

I wish it was easier to do a cam swap on an L99s.

[Mr.Magoo]

I installed a Corsa cat back in my L99 car. That lugging sound from the exhaust appears when you are at a lower speed, in a high gear, and accelerate slowly. Seems the AFM is in at the low speed/ low rpm condition and the exhaust sounds like crap. A tune out of the AFM will get rid of this. Prob will get rid of the warantee as well. Your choice.

[CAP'N B]

I was running at 70 miles per hour in6th gear and when I hit an incline(hill, bridge or whatever) I could feel the afm/dod kick out, so it's not just at low speed, just low RPM's, low torque requirements. Is it only 4 cylinders that gets turned off when afm is on?

[Dalefj]

As you can tell from my sig im an import owner (but i wish I had a camaro)
this being said I find it perplexing that chevy only got 426 horses out of 6.2L = 68.7 BHP/L
Whereas my older car from 1999 in v8 form is 300 bhp and 4 L =75 bhp/L

One of the ways that Toyota/Japan has managed to get more power out of smaller engines is through VVTI, VTEC, ETC. all of which make an engine more efficient and powerful...

SO WHY IS CHEVY SO FAR BEHIND THAT WHEN THEY USE THIS NEW POWER BOOSTING TECHNOLOGY THEIR ENGINES MAKE LESS POWER??? thus the need for this swap

[canadian ss]

Remove the lifter solenoids, collapsable lifters and tune it. The DOD goes from 4-6-8 depending on your throttle request. Cadillac had it years ago and got rid of it. People weren't happy. As I remember they bought a delete to keep it in 8 cyl mode. I never liker the idea of turning off cylinders. If you have them, keep them in use. I'm old school and if I buy an 8cyl, I want them in use at all times as I feather the gas pedal to keep consumption down.
As a GM tech, we keep seeing problems with VVT and DOD which are two entirely different animals.
DOD cuts cylinders for reducing fuel consumption
VVT adjusted the cam phase to adv/retard timing to help with power and consumption.

The simpler the engine, the less likely of expensive break downs, weight reduction and less moving parts.
If you have the 8cyl, don't buy the DOD to SAVE GAS!!! Like buying a 4 cyl, blowing thousands to beat an 8 was head scratching. Thats dumb. But because of the option on the camaro, it can't be helped.
I'm starting to ramble.............

[jsharp]

L99 to LS3 is not to gain 26hp. It is designed for guys that are looking to do cams that are more aggresive ( doesnt mean it has to sound that way) but higher lifts and durations ect. The L99 lifters are said to be weak and with the addition of a different cam other than stock are even more of a worry for most builders. With this said cams can and will more commonly be installed with VVT intact and still see good power. The battle will end up being not between hp but safety which until lifters actually start failing nobody will know. For 90% of the people that have posted so far n this thread I would say go with simple bolt ons and tune and dont bother with this conversion unless your looking at a real aggresive cam or a supercharger with blower cam. I would however also recommend that you check into both builds with vvt and stock lifters and those with conversion as well and make the choice as I think both avenues are good although I have been swayed to take the conversion route since less cams are available as of now for vvt with the same power that the conversion offers.