Any video, LS9 cam in a LS3?

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by Never Satisfied

Read it again folks....pretty sure the highlighted portion of his post is stating he will get a tune. Roughly $200 for parts & $400 for the tune = $600.

ok well if you read the other post he talked about some other guy with this cam with out a tune and it seems like this guy would love to save money lol

so the vibes i get from this guy is that he wants to spend the minimum that make his car faster/modded. spending the minimum is very good when dealing with engines.

so he has home made headers, home made intake, and is going to put a cam into his car with adding the minimum again that he think will make it work. and he thinks the car should be 440WHP, when people are getting 450-475WHP with cams here. my cammed camaro has 450WHP, and i spent over a grand in new internal parts+cam. his car will have 10-20 less WHP then most cammed camaros here. that replaced the valve train etc...

and he might or might be adding a tune.

[caverman]

Thought I remeber hearing this cam takes away some low end torque compared to the stock cam. I was thinking about it at one time but I saw where it had more peak HP on the top end but took away from the torque.

Maybe with some 3.90 gears this would be a good compromise if your willing to install it on your own. If you have to pay someone to install it may not be worth the cost.

[camaro1]

i have used the ls9 cam on several cars, it is a great cam for the $,, there are much better cams but not for $110,, my lastest project for a buddy i installed a ls9 cam, ls7 lifters, ls3 valve springs, and a 2010 camaro tvs2300 onto a 2007 silverado 6.0L ,,, wow this truck gets to 100+mph real fast.

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

hate to break it to you, but you are very lost my friend. you cannot get 440HP @ the wheels with a cam, headers, and intake WITHOUT A TUNE honestly you will probs blow your motor or it will run VERY bad

Honestly, you should refrain from giving any technical advise.

Originally Posted by Dukes117

Yes^. A cam changes everything. ALL the parameters need to be changed. You probably won't blow your motor on first start up, but shit will definitely start breaking without a tune.

How exactly will it start breaking?

Originally Posted by Dukes117

ONLY $300 for headers!?! I think you might want to look to a higher quality setup.

My set up sells for $650 and it includes a 3" off road X pipe and 3" catback. Not everyone wants to over pay for the same thing.

Originally Posted by flht99b

I absolutely love the Camaro5 forum but like all great things it has a few less than desirable traits like any other open online forum. At times the disinformation highway can be a venue for those with nothing more than keyboard mechanical skills and "web experience" clouding real time technical discussions. Most folks that post here on Camaro5 do so to help others by sharing real life experiences.
The LS9 cam in a LS3 is an inexpensive ( about $120 ), OEM street mannered cam which gives a modest power boost at low cost in a NA LS3, especially if you install it yourself, which leaves many folks out. You'll probably see 15 to 20hp over a stock cam LS3 with supporting mods like LT's and CAI. If you have plans to supercharge in the future, you can't go wrong with the LS9 cam either, although again there are other choices out there with their advantages and disadvantages. If you have to pay someone to install a LS9 cam for you it probably isn't cost effective as there are other cams out there that will out perform the LS9 cam in peak HP if that is how you judge a cam but I doubt will not match the LS9 driveability or everyday street manners. If you want a lumpy idle to impress your buddies, the LS9 cam isn't for you. It's all about being honest with yourself on how you use the car and your expectations from it and what "issues" you are willing to put up with. A good tune will maximize the gains from the LS9 cam just like a a good tune will maximize any engine modification. What I like about the LS9 cam is it's near stock smooth idle, torque from idle to 6.5K and everyday street manners ( smooth driveability, low, mid and high rpm response and power gains across the board ). Fuel mileage remains high, in fact my car gets better fuel economy around town and on the highway than it did stock ( 17.4 and 24.6 ), and I have 3.70 gears versus the 3.45 stock ratio. Of course I have to temper my right foot a bit, it is all about having fun right ??. After installing the LS9 cam I drove my car approximately 350 miles with no issues before I had it tuned, the tune perfected the fuel and timing maps and increased power across the board as expected. An LS9 cam can be installed with stock valve springs ( LS3 and LS9 share the same springs though the LS9 intake valve is lighter ), you can use the stock timing chain and tensioner. Although I went a more robust route in my install ( see my signature ), all you really need is the LS9 cam, the 3 bolt cam gear and bolts, water pump and timing cover gaskets ( many re-use them, once you see them you will know why ), some oil, antifreeze, oil filter, new crank bolt and about 8 to 10 hours of your own labor. Plus of course a good tune by a reputable shop to maximize the gains.
Happy Thanksgiving to all
Ed M.

Wow, someone who knows what they are talking about. That is refreshing.

Originally Posted by mikeSS

ok well if you read the other post he talked about some other guy with this cam with out a tune and it seems like this guy would love to save money lol

so the vibes i get from this guy is that he wants to spend the minimum that make his car faster/modded. spending the minimum is very good when dealing with engines.

so he has home made headers, home made intake, and is going to put a cam into his car with adding the minimum again that he think will make it work. and he thinks the car should be 440WHP, when people are getting 450-475WHP with cams here. my cammed camaro has 450WHP, and i spent over a grand in new internal parts+cam. his car will have 10-20 less WHP then most cammed camaros here. that replaced the valve train etc...

and he might or might be adding a tune.

You should read more carefully. Homemade headers?
Not everyone is a checkbook racer. I applaud people who can make power and go fast on a budget. Just because most people don't know how to make power doesn't mean it can't be done. I'm at 426 rwhp right now with only bolt ons and a tune. I bet if i threw in an LS9 can and didn't touch the tune I would easily dyno at least 455 ish rwhp and it would sound/drive just like it does now, but I have a big monster cam sitting on the shelf waiting to go in. I'm part of the "Go big or go home crowd."
For people who don't want a big lumpy idle with reduced driveability manners on a budget this cam is PERFECT. Just like the LS6 cam was for the LS1 crowd back in the day.

[Bad70supreme]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

hate to break it to you, but you are very lost my friend. you cannot get 440HP @ the wheels with a cam, headers, and intake WITHOUT A TUNE honestly you will probs blow your motor or it will run VERY bad

I hate to break it to you, but you have no idea what the hell your talking about! I have been building engines and my own exhaust for 15 years! Just because you dont have the skill to do your own work, dont mean everyone is as unskilled as you. Maybe you should learn to read too! This cam runs without a tune, its a factory gm cam, then again you dont have a clue... so why do I bother. I would be happy to post pics of my work BTW!

[Dukes117]

Ok, after doing some research, I'll admit it I was wrong. However, as far as headers go, I think you get what you pay for. Why wouldn't you want to pay for an all American product?

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

.

You should read more carefully. Homemade headers?
Not everyone is a checkbook racer. I applaud people who can make power and go fast on a budget. Just because most people don't know how to make power doesn't mean it can't be done. I'm at 426 rwhp right now with only bolt ons and a tune. I bet if i threw in an LS9 can and didn't touch the tune I would easily dyno at least 455 ish rwhp and it would sound/drive just like it does now, but I have a big monster cam sitting on the shelf waiting to go in. I'm part of the "Go big or go home crowd."
For people who don't want a big lumpy idle with reduced driveability manners on a budget this cam is PERFECT. Just like the LS6 cam was for the LS1 crowd back in the day.

you remember that guy who put in a small cam with stock internals and blew his motor. thats the problem with people now of days, there is no real budget racing. if you cant afford to do mods, how do you afford not having a warranty. people also try to go cheap with things and its never the safest or reliable thing to do.

[SUX2BU]

Originally Posted by mikeSS

you remember that guy who put in a small cam with stock internals and blew his motor. thats the problem with people now of days, there is no real budget racing. if you cant afford to do mods, how do you afford not having a warranty. people also try to go cheap with things and its never the safest or reliable thing to do.

People blow completely stock motors, what's your point?


Can't afford and don't want to over pay are two completely different things.

How much have you spent on performance mods and how fast have you gone? Or how much power have you made? How many cars or motors have you built?

[mikeSS]

Originally Posted by SUX2BU

Can't afford and don't want to over pay are two completely different things.

How much have you spent on performance mods and how fast have you gone? Or how much power have you made?

i really don't know that exact number i payed, but i know i wasted a good amount on different exhausts, got a grand alone in re-tunes. but ya i have about 450WHP with a medium size cam. i didn't mod my camaro to race, i wanted it to sound nice, have power, and look good doing so. and bought all well known brands, like CAI inc, kooks headers, corsa exhaust, comp cams , all dyno tunes and had the best shops in my area install them. i even got a re-tune on the dyno when switching to a different intake. both Ted and my local shop said it was a good idea. i just feel there is no reason to go cheap or even try to go cheap when dealing with a motor. , and if i cant afford the best i dont buy on certain items ,not on everything. when it comes to a engines only the best or i am not doing it at all.

i understand what you mean by over paying, overpaying and marking your own parts plus doing the minimum is two different things.

in the end its his money and his car. i just thought i would share my point of view on whats going on and what most people do when putting in a cam. most people on here with a cam of any size replaces more internal parts than he plans on doing.

[1985airborne]

Interesting...Im subscribing...I like the idea of a LS 9 cam!!!

[Bad70supreme]

There are allot of options and different roads to take! Unless you just want to listen to what everyone tells to do then thats fine! My headers have great welds and have held up in every way, daily driving.. and have a great finish STILL! Nothing you stated makes any sense or is true... keep paying top dollar for everything and have everyone do your work! Thats fine with me, I have been racing cars and doing my own thing for 15 years, racing my own home built engines and never lost one! I would not take a chance blowing my sh$t up to save money, its about thinking outside the box and seeing what I can do on a small budget! I have a baby on he way and cant afford to spend like I would like to, but thats not going to keep me from using the skills I have and keep pushing with what I have and enjoy my hobby!

[Bad70supreme]

Mike Your just gonna be pissed when I make almost as much power as you for a third of what you spent! You should look in the exhaust thread and you can hear what my home made setup sounds like! If I get close to 440 and add a ported throttle body and intake down the road, add a under drive pulley I may be about 450hp and you wouldn't know it till I drop the hammer

[Stingr69]

I did my own install of the LS9 cam and 3-bolt timing gear (I was adding a supercharger at the same time). It idles dead smooth at 550 RPM. The dealer would not be able to detect it. No bad manners like you would expect with a bigger cam. No tune is required for LS9 cams in unboosted cars but you can allways get a custom tune to improve the total package. No expensive valvetrain mods required. Cost for the LS9 cam and gear is less than a CAI and gives you more power.

I could shoot a video but it would not be all that interesting. The exhaust is quiet, the idle is smooth, the drivability is stock, relability is stock, gas mileage is great, but the car goes faster.

-Mark.

[flht99b]

Originally Posted by Stingr69

I did my own install of the LS9 cam and 3-bolt timing gear (I was adding a supercharger at the same time). It idles dead smooth at 550 RPM. The dealer would not be able to detect it. No bad manners like you would expect with a bigger cam. No tune is required for LS9 cams in unboosted cars but you can allways get a custom tune to improve the total package. No expensive valvetrain mods required. Cost for the LS9 cam and gear is less than a CAI and gives you more power.

I could shoot a video but it would not be all that interesting. The exhaust is quiet, the idle is smooth, the drivability is stock, relability is stock, gas mileage is great, but the car goes faster.

-Mark.

Exactly !!!!!!
Ed M.