Looking at getting a cam - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Rctreece · 07-10-2015, 10:49 PM

I am looking at getting a lethal racing cam. Other then new springs and pushrods is there anything else I should get done at the same time?

mrebusa · 07-10-2015, 11:07 PM

Plenty of threads covering this, but mostly dependent on whether or not you have an L99 or LS3. Slapping a cam in there just isn't the safest way to do things.

BurnedRubber · 07-11-2015, 02:30 PM

im in the same boat as you, email lethal and ask for a quote and tell them you want to know what else to do and they will take care of you. i just got my quote yesterday!

Rctreece · 07-11-2015, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurnedRubber

im in the same boat as you, email lethal and ask for a quote and tell them you want to know what else to do and they will take care of you. i just got my quote yesterday!

I did and got the quote but nothing was mentioned about oil pumps or new chain and I had read on here where people suggested changing those parts out

jcampos · 07-11-2015, 08:02 PM

Do your research buddy, timing, lifters, trunions, rods, springs, rockers, etc etc are a recommended upgrades... Althought, more complexity comea to play when ordering a cam and I suggest going to the closest performance mod shops and asking face to face what you may need. Granted, you can get away with maybe just springs/trunions/lifters/cam gear but you may want to consider what lift the cam you choose has. Also, LS3 heads can only handle a set amount of lift before other mods come into consideration. Just keep researching what best suits your driving currently or what your car will be used for man. Possibilities are endless.

ABM Camaro · 07-11-2015, 10:39 PM

I hear they made big power, but I really need headers first. I logged back in to see if im going to keep minz or go to Gen6 Z28

Bo White · 07-12-2015, 02:17 AM

Actually trunions arent recommended much anymore.

jjgixxer · 07-12-2015, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo White

Actually trunions arent recommended much anymore.

care to elaborate ?

Bodywerks · 07-12-2015, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bo White

Actually trunions arent recommended much anymore.

Are the factory trunnion bearings no longer needle bearings? I've heard/read too many horror stories of them coming apart and fodding out a motor.

panyeplei · 07-12-2015, 07:47 AM

Just keep researching what best suits your driving currently or what your car will be used for man.

Rctreece · 07-12-2015, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panyeplei

Just keep researching what best suits your driving currently or what your car will be used for man.

I am reading till I fall asleep. Lol

Unreal · 07-12-2015, 07:52 AM

I agree on the trunions. Never seen a ls3 rocker arm fail. The only LS needle bearing issue I've seen is the 07 ls7 ones, that did have an issue spitting out needle bearings, but that was very specific to 07 z06 motors built in a specific range.

I have seen 2 trunion kits fail, and seeing how their is FAR FAR FAR less of them out there, that is scary. I know Katech recommends keeping stock because they see the same thing, more failed "upgrades" than stock stuff.

I've also never heard of a needle bearing failure hurting a motor. The 07 z06s that did have that issue, you would hear a noise, pop open valve cover, see a hurt rocker, replace it and move on. The needle bearings can't make it past the oil pick up screen. They are WAY too big to make it into the oil pump, so I don't see how they could mess up motor.

I 100% believe trunion upgrade kits got throw in and pushed because it was an easy fairly cheap way for shops to make money. They make $20-50 on the parts, and $100 installing them. On a big job most customers will say go for it. So shops push stuff like that because it is easy and customer probably won't notice one way or another.

Bodywerks · 07-12-2015, 08:28 AM

Interesting info right there. Yeah, I've never seen/read about a ruined motor, but I've seen pics of pieces of needle bearing. I didn't know that was limited to only a certain group of engines.

Unreal · 07-12-2015, 09:14 AM

Very specific to a certain build date of 2007s. GM had a recall/TSB, fixed them, all good now. You can find plenty of needle bearings from the 07s. Other than that, it is so rare to see one fail, I don't think it is worth the upgrade. People took the 07 bad batch and made it into a huge deal when it was a specific bad lot from the supplier. GM can tell you if you had bad rockers by the vin.

Now you can find some cases of them coming apart, but the sheer number of LS motors out there, I don't think it is a big enough issue to drop the money on IMO. If you do, at least do the BTR kit which has nicer snap rings than the comp kit.

Do your own research and make your mind up. Personally I would skip it.

07-10-2015, 10:49 PM	#1
Rctreece 2013 Victory Red LS3 Vert Drives: 2013 SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Caledonia, MS Posts: 323	Looking at getting a cam I am looking at getting a lethal racing cam. Other then new springs and pushrods is there anything else I should get done at the same time?

07-10-2015, 11:07 PM	#2
mrebusa Drives: 14' 2SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 157	Plenty of threads covering this, but mostly dependent on whether or not you have an L99 or LS3. Slapping a cam in there just isn't the safest way to do things. __________________ 14' 2SS/RS/1LE - NPP - K&N - TSP 1 7/8 Soon:

07-11-2015, 02:30 PM	#3
BurnedRubber Ben Rakers Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Illinois Posts: 405 View My Garage	im in the same boat as you, email lethal and ask for a quote and tell them you want to know what else to do and they will take care of you. i just got my quote yesterday! __________________ 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS K&N Blackhawk Cold air intake, Hawk Performance Ceramic pads, BAER drilled and slotted rotors, Side louver black faded inserts, Hurst Short Throw Shifter, BMR Trailing Arms, Elite Engineering Catch Can, MSD Spark Plug Wires, Texas Speed 1 7/8in Headers and cat back, High Flow Cats, 3 inch X-Pipe, Speed Dawg shift knob, Tuned by Nickey. And oh, its My first car. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_L...5jF6EQEoKDNQ2g

07-12-2015, 07:52 AM	#12
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	I agree on the trunions. Never seen a ls3 rocker arm fail. The only LS needle bearing issue I've seen is the 07 ls7 ones, that did have an issue spitting out needle bearings, but that was very specific to 07 z06 motors built in a specific range. I have seen 2 trunion kits fail, and seeing how their is FAR FAR FAR less of them out there, that is scary. I know Katech recommends keeping stock because they see the same thing, more failed "upgrades" than stock stuff. I've also never heard of a needle bearing failure hurting a motor. The 07 z06s that did have that issue, you would hear a noise, pop open valve cover, see a hurt rocker, replace it and move on. The needle bearings can't make it past the oil pick up screen. They are WAY too big to make it into the oil pump, so I don't see how they could mess up motor. I 100% believe trunion upgrade kits got throw in and pushed because it was an easy fairly cheap way for shops to make money. They make $20-50 on the parts, and $100 installing them. On a big job most customers will say go for it. So shops push stuff like that because it is easy and customer probably won't notice one way or another. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

07-12-2015, 08:28 AM	#13
Bodywerks Drives: 2015 2SS/RS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Tucson Posts: 866	Interesting info right there. Yeah, I've never seen/read about a ruined motor, but I've seen pics of pieces of needle bearing. I didn't know that was limited to only a certain group of engines. __________________ 2015 SS/RS/1LE HSA delete, VMAX throttle body, CAI inc. Intake, PRC255 heads, BTR 660 springs, BTR cryo-treated rockers, PAT G 232/240 .654/.626 110+2, johnson 2110's, Manton 502 pushrods, C5R, Melling high volume/high pressure, Powerbond 25% underdrive pulley, Proform covers, Kooks stepped headers, catless mids, Doug Thorley exhaust. 512rwhp, 446rwtq on a mustang dyno, tuned by Cunningham motorsports.

07-11-2015, 08:02 PM	#5
jcampos Drives: 2014 Chevy Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: San Antonio Posts: 821	Do your research buddy, timing, lifters, trunions, rods, springs, rockers, etc etc are a recommended upgrades... Althought, more complexity comea to play when ordering a cam and I suggest going to the closest performance mod shops and asking face to face what you may need. Granted, you can get away with maybe just springs/trunions/lifters/cam gear but you may want to consider what lift the cam you choose has. Also, LS3 heads can only handle a set amount of lift before other mods come into consideration. Just keep researching what best suits your driving currently or what your car will be used for man. Possibilities are endless.

07-11-2015, 10:39 PM	#6
ABM Camaro Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Camaro Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 171	I hear they made big power, but I really need headers first. I logged back in to see if im going to keep minz or go to Gen6 Z28

07-12-2015, 02:17 AM	#7
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,018	Actually trunions arent recommended much anymore.

07-12-2015, 07:47 AM	#10
panyeplei Drives: camaro Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: CA Posts: 2	Just keep researching what best suits your driving currently or what your car will be used for man.

07-12-2015, 09:14 AM	#14
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Very specific to a certain build date of 2007s. GM had a recall/TSB, fixed them, all good now. You can find plenty of needle bearings from the 07s. Other than that, it is so rare to see one fail, I don't think it is worth the upgrade. People took the 07 bad batch and made it into a huge deal when it was a specific bad lot from the supplier. GM can tell you if you had bad rockers by the vin. Now you can find some cases of them coming apart, but the sheer number of LS motors out there, I don't think it is a big enough issue to drop the money on IMO. If you do, at least do the BTR kit which has nicer snap rings than the comp kit. Do your own research and make your mind up. Personally I would skip it. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp