Cam vs gears - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

2012-2SS · 06-06-2013, 12:43 PM

Trying to decide if my next mod should be a cam or gears. I'll eventually do both but I want to know which to do first. I'll be installing them myself as I've done cams amd gears before to other cars and they don't scare me. Forgot to add that I'd be doing 3.91s and I haven't decided yet on the cam but its not going to be extreme.

DuskSS · 06-06-2013, 12:50 PM

Cam and heads. may decide against gears if you do.

BubbaSS · 06-06-2013, 12:52 PM

Cam first...The cam will cost you some low end torque, so you'll really appreciate the gears afterwards.

Ucantctchme · 06-06-2013, 01:03 PM

I did gears first and it really picked up down low. It also exxagerated the point in the upper rpm range where the stock cam falls flat. I then put a cam in it. It pulls hard to redline now.

DuskSS · 06-06-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ucantctchme

I did gears first and it really picked up down low. It also exxagerated the point in the upper rpm range where the stock cam falls flat. I then put a cam in it. It pulls hard to redline now.

hehe the Night Fury fixes that as until 5k you are basically stock. at 5-6.6k you gain nearly 70hp and the car gets unsettled as soon as the cam hits even stock rear gears.

Kelly@PCMofNC · 06-06-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012-2SS

Trying to decide if my next mod should be a cam or gears. I'll eventually do both but I want to know which to do first. I'll be installing them myself as I've done cams amd gears before to other cars and they don't scare me. Forgot to add that I'd be doing 3.91s and I haven't decided yet on the cam but its not going to be extreme.

I'd do a cam first, and then gears later on personally! We've got many great driving cams that lay down serious power, and you can't beat that cam lope sound

2012-2SS · 06-06-2013, 01:46 PM

I don't want to make power at 5k rpm I want it down low where I'd use it. My car is a driver not a weekend drag racer.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

SSICKO · 06-06-2013, 01:49 PM

Talk to Don

2012-2SS · 06-06-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMK1201

Talk to Don

I have a dyno day set up in 2 weeks after I install my headers. I'll talk to him then.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

DuskSS · 06-06-2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012-2SS

I don't want to make power at 5k rpm I want it down low where I'd use it. My car is a driver not a weekend drag racer.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

Mine is a DD and has only seen the track 1 time.

Mild until you hammer it. plenty of power down low.
Works just great in autocross and road courses which is what I prefer over drag anyway.

mikeSS · 06-06-2013, 04:01 PM

gears dont turn heads..... nuff said

SSDan · 06-06-2013, 05:24 PM

I lucked into my order - cam first then gears (just got the gears done and have had the cam for 10K miles) because honestly I didn't even think about gears (the 1LE 3.91 gears were not on the radar when I did the cam and the aftermarket gear sets were really expensive). However if I had it to do over again I'd do the same - cam then gears.

The cam made the car. It feels great, sounds even better and the kick as the cam climbs onto the power curve is addictive. So far my early impressions for the 3.91 gears are they are the icing on the cake. Now the car is responsive in every gear at low rpms and of course the kick from the cam is felt even more.

Either way you can't lose. Both are excellent mods for our LS engines and heavy azz cars.

2012-2SS · 06-07-2013, 12:42 AM

Of course everyone picks the much more expensive route...

Sent from my Galaxy S3

VADER SS L99 · 06-07-2013, 03:37 AM

Cam first. Like some else said the gears will really compliment the cam plus the cam actually makes the car faster by a half second or more. The gears will make it feel alot faster but I bet the results would not be much more than a few tenths.

View Poll Results: Cam or Gears
Cam	30	71.43%
Gears	11	26.19%
Other	1	2.38%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

06-06-2013, 12:43 PM	#1
2012-2SS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 678	Cam vs gears Trying to decide if my next mod should be a cam or gears. I'll eventually do both but I want to know which to do first. I'll be installing them myself as I've done cams amd gears before to other cars and they don't scare me. Forgot to add that I'd be doing 3.91s and I haven't decided yet on the cam but its not going to be extreme. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS, Hurst Short Throw, IdealG M/C, Pypes Pipe Bomb, LSR Cold Air Intake, LSR Toe Links/Lower Control Arms Clear Image headers, high flows, Slowhawk tune 1974 Chevy K10 Built 355, FAST EZ EFI, 5speed 2000 Chevy Tahoe LT 5.3L, Slowhawk tune

06-06-2013, 12:50 PM	#2
DuskSS Bayou City Muscle Cars Drives: 2013 2SS Dusk Edition Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 1,443	Cam and heads. may decide against gears if you do. __________________ 2013 2SS Dusk Edition Lethal Racing Stage V PER 418ci Forged LS3 530/520 SAE

06-06-2013, 12:52 PM	#3
BubbaSS WHAT RED LIGHT?! Drives: 2011 Black Camaro 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,115	Cam first...The cam will cost you some low end torque, so you'll really appreciate the gears afterwards. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS M6 BLACK - VARARAM NO TUNE INTAKE, MODDED AND PORTED TB, PORTED INTAKE MANIFOLD, VITESSE THROTTLE CONTROLLER, DOUG THORLEY LT'S, CATLESS, X-PIPE, 25" STAINLESS WORKS RETRO CHAMBERED MUFFLERS, CUSTOM 2.5" MANDREL BENT EXHAUST, RICHMOND 4.10 GEARS, CUSTOM CAM (231/242 @ 114LSA), MUSTANG DYNO TUNED BY TORQ, 20% CERAMIC TINTS, EIBACH PROKIT SPRINGS 1" DROP, HAWK PERFORMANCE CERAMIC BRAKES, NITTO INVO TIRES, HYDROCARBON TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BEZELS BY EMBLEMPROS, METRA DASH KIT, JVC KW-AV71BT, PHOENIX GOLD iAMP GM1, PASSPORT QI45 - 450 RWHP 415 RWTQ

06-06-2013, 01:03 PM	#4
Ucantctchme Drives: 2010 ss. 1990 RS the faster one. Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Orlando Posts: 549	I did gears first and it really picked up down low. It also exxagerated the point in the upper rpm range where the stock cam falls flat. I then put a cam in it. It pulls hard to redline now. __________________ Vararam, XS Power longtubes and exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers, 1LE gears, Vengeance Racing spec'd comp cam with all supporting valvetrain upgrades, Melling Pump. QTP cutouts. 480rwhp.

06-06-2013, 01:46 PM	#7
2012-2SS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 678	I don't want to make power at 5k rpm I want it down low where I'd use it. My car is a driver not a weekend drag racer. Sent from my Galaxy S3 __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS, Hurst Short Throw, IdealG M/C, Pypes Pipe Bomb, LSR Cold Air Intake, LSR Toe Links/Lower Control Arms Clear Image headers, high flows, Slowhawk tune 1974 Chevy K10 Built 355, FAST EZ EFI, 5speed 2000 Chevy Tahoe LT 5.3L, Slowhawk tune

06-06-2013, 01:49 PM	#8
SSICKO Drives: SSICKO Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 754	Talk to Don __________________ Slowhawk Performance Built & Tuned

06-06-2013, 04:01 PM	#11
mikeSS Drives: 2015 c7 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MI Posts: 7,462	gears dont turn heads..... nuff said

06-06-2013, 05:24 PM	#12
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,245 View My Garage	I lucked into my order - cam first then gears (just got the gears done and have had the cam for 10K miles) because honestly I didn't even think about gears (the 1LE 3.91 gears were not on the radar when I did the cam and the aftermarket gear sets were really expensive). However if I had it to do over again I'd do the same - cam then gears. The cam made the car. It feels great, sounds even better and the kick as the cam climbs onto the power curve is addictive. So far my early impressions for the 3.91 gears are they are the icing on the cake. Now the car is responsive in every gear at low rpms and of course the kick from the cam is felt even more. Either way you can't lose. Both are excellent mods for our LS engines and heavy azz cars. __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

06-07-2013, 12:42 AM	#13
2012-2SS Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 678	Of course everyone picks the much more expensive route... Sent from my Galaxy S3 __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS, Hurst Short Throw, IdealG M/C, Pypes Pipe Bomb, LSR Cold Air Intake, LSR Toe Links/Lower Control Arms Clear Image headers, high flows, Slowhawk tune 1974 Chevy K10 Built 355, FAST EZ EFI, 5speed 2000 Chevy Tahoe LT 5.3L, Slowhawk tune

06-07-2013, 03:37 AM	#14
VADER SS L99 Drives: 2013 A6 GT 5.0 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 2,909	Cam first. Like some else said the gears will really compliment the cam plus the cam actually makes the car faster by a half second or more. The gears will make it feel alot faster but I bet the results would not be much more than a few tenths. __________________ BLK/BLK 1SS/RS Ordered 11-01-2009 Took delivery 12-22-2009. Heads/cam/converter/bolt ons. SOLD Feb 2015 to fund 6th gen LT1 SS with 8L90E.