I am torn help me choose gears or cams - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

WHAMMO · 02-23-2015, 03:14 PM

You could go for a very safe cam and be trouble free. Have a known shop install it and youre set! Cam over gears anyday of the week. You could replace that faulty oil pump before it fails during the install, which could fail on your uncammed engine...

Get a custom cam. A cam change those cars completly..

mydreamcar · 02-23-2015, 05:34 PM

Thanks everyone for the input, lot to debate. I agree with what some had said a decent cam , tuned right could be fine but the dollars to benefit factor seems better spent on gears. whats really funny is I may end up doing both but gears for now and a cam down the road once I can ensure I have the funds, wife needs a new car soon.

TECHTURTLE · 02-23-2015, 06:28 PM

Gears make a big difference... But so does HP. Hard choice, but the safer, lower cost bang for your buck would be gears.

62nalide · 02-23-2015, 06:47 PM

There's bolt on and geared cars out running bolt on and Cammed cars stock gears out there so really think about it.

Pro Stock John · 02-23-2015, 08:39 PM

Will get a bigger bump in performance from doing a cam over a gear. But I would suggest doing both.

camarosspower · 02-23-2015, 09:49 PM

I was in the same boat you're in. I decided on 3.91's with true trac and it has been very fun but I'm starting to get bored with my car so I'm doing a nightfury cam next month. I would say do gears first and have fun with it. When you get used to the car get the cam

NinoSS · 02-23-2015, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

Will get a bigger bump in performance from doing a cam over a gear. But I would suggest doing both.

Both...

My small cam and gears were a dead heat with my buddies big cam car making 504whp...

JCunningham · 02-23-2015, 10:47 PM

gears 1st. if you do go with a cam go Cam Motion. my 3.91s cost me less than $700. I brought all the GM parts and just the diff to a gear shop. Cam will be in the $1500 range for all parts needed. I have a bad Comp Cam so if i had to do it again with a stock engine id do headers and gears and call it a day. Seance i already have valve springs installed im going to put a custom Cam Motion cam in.

WHAMMO · 02-24-2015, 03:31 AM

It really sucks about those comp cam bad cores lately. Never heard of that before 2010 on LS1tech.

JCunningham · 02-24-2015, 04:16 AM

ya im hoping theres no damage. ill find out march 9th or so. I want a wet sump LS7 but not this way.

ST1LE · 02-24-2015, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChocoTaco369

I would tell you that if you got some unexpected cash, buy yourself a nice block of Halliburton stock. It's a steal right now!

But if that's not an option, I would handily go gears over a cam. They are two very different modifications. I would choose gears for three main reasons:

1.) The SOTP feel of gears cannot be denied. It is there throughout the entire RPM range. You pick up low end torque. You pick up high end pull. With a cam, you're going to lose low end. Even if the end result of the cam is a faster ET than the gears, you get it everywhere with gears and I spend 99% of my driving experience <3,000 rpm's.

2.) Cams destroy your motor. There is very little you can do to make your vehicle less reliable than add a healthy camshaft. They crush your valvetrain. Unless you get something like an LS9 cam or a hotcam, in which case you're getting terrible horsepower/dollar returns.

3.) Gears are way, way cheaper.

Cams sure sound cool, though. Your call.

Are gears cheaper? I thought they were around $1000 for parts and about half that for install? That is the factory 3.91's I refer to. If that is the case, then it is not way cheaper. Maybe not cheaper at all in fact.

lownslowss · 02-24-2015, 06:31 AM

$400 for gears. 4-600 for install

lownslowss · 02-24-2015, 06:32 AM

In the end a good cam setup will run about $4-5k. Way cheaper for gears.

ST1LE · 02-24-2015, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lownslowss

$400 for gears. 4-600 for install

Okay, I figured I might have been wrong on parts.

02-23-2015, 03:14 PM	#15
WHAMMO Drives: 13' 1LE Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2,641	You could go for a very safe cam and be trouble free. Have a known shop install it and youre set! Cam over gears anyday of the week. You could replace that faulty oil pump before it fails during the install, which could fail on your uncammed engine... Get a custom cam. A cam change those cars completly.. __________________ 13' 1LE Old setup: TSP 231-236/Tick 660/.105 PR, UDP, SW LT 2'' & HFC, stock NPP & H pipe, VR-DRX CAI, air scoop, Goertz1 manifold, 102mm BBK, 26" Toyo DRs, Forgestars R17x10 & F18x8, rear seat delete, remote Pat G tune Autocal, 7400 limiter, Spec Mini Twin. 91oct. 11.90@122.3, 0-60ft 2.0 / 11.99@123.6, 0-60ft 2.1 DA+819 ...519RWHP SAE Solid roller SBE LS3, FED, LLSR, 91oct, 605rwhp N/A. Tuned by Pat G. Build by me.

02-23-2015, 05:34 PM	#16
mydreamcar My Dream Car Drives: 2011 SIM LS3 1SS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: staten island Posts: 1,534	Thanks everyone for the input, lot to debate. I agree with what some had said a decent cam , tuned right could be fine but the dollars to benefit factor seems better spent on gears. whats really funny is I may end up doing both but gears for now and a cam down the road once I can ensure I have the funds, wife needs a new car soon. __________________ CAI intake/ADM Scoop/Stainless Power Headers/Dynatech cat back exhaust/Vitesse Throttle Control/ Ported Throttle Body/QTP Electric Cutouts/ 3.91 gears and janetty rear posi/ Tuned by Janetty racing

02-23-2015, 06:28 PM	#17
TECHTURTLE Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: OTP Atlanta Posts: 862 View My Garage	Gears make a big difference... But so does HP. Hard choice, but the safer, lower cost bang for your buck would be gears. __________________ 2016 2SS 6-Speed Manual... Magnetic Ride Control, Dual Mode Exhaust, Sunroof, Adrenaline Red Interior, Mylink W/Navigation Added Edelbrock E-Force Supercharger, GM 1LE Sway Bars, BMR Upper/Lower Trailing Arms, BMR Upper Control Arms. BMR Front/Rear Chassis Braces, BMR Tunnel Brace. GM Red knee Pads, GM Black Front Splitter, GM SEMA Concept Grille, GM Dark Taillights, GM Ground Effects package... Savini Di Forza BM-14 Gloss Black Wheels 9's front, 10's rear.

02-23-2015, 06:47 PM	#18
62nalide Drives: 2013 SS Join Date: May 2013 Location: DFW Posts: 4,102	There's bolt on and geared cars out running bolt on and Cammed cars stock gears out there so really think about it. __________________ https://frankensteined.net/ Martin@Frankensteined.net

02-23-2015, 08:39 PM	#19
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	Will get a bigger bump in performance from doing a cam over a gear. But I would suggest doing both. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

02-23-2015, 09:49 PM	#20
camarosspower Drives: 2010 camaro ss Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Port Arthur, Tx Posts: 2,383	I was in the same boat you're in. I decided on 3.91's with true trac and it has been very fun but I'm starting to get bored with my car so I'm doing a nightfury cam next month. I would say do gears first and have fun with it. When you get used to the car get the cam

02-23-2015, 10:47 PM	#22
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,071	gears 1st. if you do go with a cam go Cam Motion. my 3.91s cost me less than $700. I brought all the GM parts and just the diff to a gear shop. Cam will be in the $1500 range for all parts needed. I have a bad Comp Cam so if i had to do it again with a stock engine id do headers and gears and call it a day. Seance i already have valve springs installed im going to put a custom Cam Motion cam in. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

02-24-2015, 03:31 AM	#23
WHAMMO Drives: 13' 1LE Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 2,641	It really sucks about those comp cam bad cores lately. Never heard of that before 2010 on LS1tech. __________________ 13' 1LE Old setup: TSP 231-236/Tick 660/.105 PR, UDP, SW LT 2'' & HFC, stock NPP & H pipe, VR-DRX CAI, air scoop, Goertz1 manifold, 102mm BBK, 26" Toyo DRs, Forgestars R17x10 & F18x8, rear seat delete, remote Pat G tune Autocal, 7400 limiter, Spec Mini Twin. 91oct. 11.90@122.3, 0-60ft 2.0 / 11.99@123.6, 0-60ft 2.1 DA+819 ...519RWHP SAE Solid roller SBE LS3, FED, LLSR, 91oct, 605rwhp N/A. Tuned by Pat G. Build by me.

02-24-2015, 04:16 AM	#24
JCunningham Drives: 2017 2SS M6 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: WNY Posts: 7,071	ya im hoping theres no damage. ill find out march 9th or so. I want a wet sump LS7 but not this way. __________________ real ZL1 wheels and brakes, 285/305 Michelin Pilot Super Sports, Pray ported Intake manifold, Soler Throttle Body, Rotofab intake, EFI Tuning Flex fuel kit, full American Racing Headers Exhaust, 1 7/8" w/ cats H pipe and mufflers. Full 1LE suspension, with BMR adjustable sway bars and links, GM aluminum cradle bushings, Hurst shifter with lighter reverse spring, TWM shifter knob, Tick level 1 transmission. I should have bought a ZL1

02-24-2015, 06:31 AM	#26
lownslowss PaPa Smurf Drives: 2022 SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: League City Posts: 632 View My Garage	$400 for gears. 4-600 for install __________________ 2022 Rapid Blue SS 1LE

02-24-2015, 06:32 AM	#27
lownslowss PaPa Smurf Drives: 2022 SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: League City Posts: 632 View My Garage	In the end a good cam setup will run about $4-5k. Way cheaper for gears. __________________ 2022 Rapid Blue SS 1LE