lobe separation with overlap?

[ss camaro-monte]

Ok, so in the next month or two I think I am finally going to start buying all the parts I need for a cam swap in my L99. I have researched it a ton and basically know what I want for cam characteristics, have seen dozens of cars in person and even driven some of them. I am looking for a daily driver cam, no lope at motor or at least shake. Stock engine drivability but with a performance gain of about 40+rwhp. Don't mind if I hear it in the exhaust some but car is already loud with stock cam and full exhaust.

After talking to many cam manufactures I have narrowed it down to a cam in the -9 to -12 overlap area regardless of duration and lobe separation. Here is the dilemma.

I might eventually put an LSA conversion on top of the L99. So I want a cam that could be all NA motor if I never install an LSA on top and a cam that could also work with a blower as well. From what all the cam manufactures are telling me I am going to need a cam in the 115-118 lobe separation area and anywhere from a 214-220 intake duration and 222-234 exhaust duration depending of the cam manufacturer. Here are some of the cams I am looking at and have even got several recommended cams by manufactures.

Cam motion cams
216 226 553 553 lift 116+3 lobe separation -11 overlap
220 230 595 595 lift 117+4 lobe separation -9 overlap
220 234 595 587 lift 118+4 lobe separation -9 overlap (this is what was recommended to me)
218 226 595 587 lift 116+3 lobe separation -10 overlap (formally known as torque titan at CM)
Livernois 1c 218 229 600 600 lift 117.5 lobe separation -11.5 overlap
I have been thinking about something like this custom grind-
217-221 615 615 lift 115 lobe separation -11 overlap

All of these cams will likely be within 15-20hp of each other but will move the torque band up or down a few hundred rpms. I am concerned the most with idle, drivability and usable around town power.

I guess my only worry with a 118 lobe separation that was recommended to me by cam motion is will it be lazy on the low end even with my 3200 circle d stall with that 118 LSA, that cam can be run on a stock stall according to cam motion and that cam is very similar to GPI ss1 supercharged cam that also says stock stall capable?

Another option would be to drop the duration and tighten up the lobe separation. Something like 216 220 with a 114 lobe separation -10 overlap

I know I am nitpicking at this point but wanted to get some options if any of you have ever run a higher LSA cam on the street and yes I know I will leave 20-30hp on the table from what my tuner tells me but he said I won't notice it around town and only idle and 2 or 3 tenths in the 1/4 if I take it to the track.
Thanks

[ss camaro-monte]

Here is a link to that cam motion 220 230 cam with 117 lobe separation in a chevy ss. He has almost the exact same exhaust as me to. solo catback and headers. Definitely not quite at all!

https://www.facebook.com/CamMotionCa...7546366260990/

[Bo White]

My cam has 29* overlap

[Bo White]

If you want a smooth idle cam stay below 0* overlap.

[Baddbird]

Originally Posted by Bo White

My cam has 29* overlap

Baby cam


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[Greenhornet2]

I would agree with the "recommended" to you cam. approaching and going over .600 lift and you should be changing springs every 20-25k miles which may not be ideal for daily driver. For a daily driver I would likely go with something closer to the first cam you have listed. It won't be as big a difference NA, but with an LSA you will still make plenty of power.
What I would ACTUALLY do, is what I did when I got my car, I left it all stock and slapped the whipple on it first. drove just like it did stock but with 575hp and 515tq. It was huge gains over stock and you might be plenty happy with just the charger.

[Bo White]

I changed my springs at 40k

[ss camaro-monte]

I thought about leaving the cam in but I just want those AFM lifters out.lol I have seen a few chevy trucks and L99s now have lifter problems and I thought I might as well change it out from a reliability perspective as the car only gets driven about 4k a year and has about 45k on it now. Don't care if I don't make the most power. I have dynoed in the 370s for rear wheel hp. I would be happy with 400-420rwhp with a small cam and pocket port and polish. That would put my in the 11s for sure as I have cracked off a 12.3 already.

I am 100% positive even a big cam wouldn't satisfied my power needs but I am all about "quiet" power if you will for the Camaro. My 87 ss is for the lumpy cam.

If I want to go above the baby cam it will be with nitrous or forced induction. I am thinking cam 1 with more lift. So basically 216 226 595 595. Just that small cam is worth about 30-35rwhp. We will see but I want to keep it pretty tame.

I know my tuner looked at me like I was crazy though considering I have a stall already. He said since a cam swap is so expensive I should go for a bigger cam but I just don't care for a shaky idle in this car. I already have long tubes and full exhaust and it is loud.

Tuner is pushing me to stay 220 or more on the intake but I will probably settle in the 216-218 area. We will see. I was just concerned about getting too wide with the lobe separation on a NA motor if I stay that way.

[ss camaro-monte]

Bo, I saw your videos on you tube.lol
Your car is the kind that gives old ladies a heart attack when you start it up.lol
I love that 6k stall. It is so funny to watch you flash it up to 6k lol. That is where I shift out in the stock L99.lol Looks like a fun ride!

[Bo White]

It is a fun daily

[Greenhornet2]

Originally Posted by ss camaro-monte

I thought about leaving the cam in but I just want those AFM lifters out.lol I have seen a few chevy trucks and L99s now have lifter problems and I thought I might as well change it out from a reliability perspective as the car only gets driven about 4k a year and has about 45k on it now. Don't care if I don't make the most power. I have dynoed in the 370s for rear wheel hp. I would be happy with 400-420rwhp with a small cam and pocket port and polish. That would put my in the 11s for sure as I have cracked off a 12.3 already.

I am 100% positive even a big cam wouldn't satisfied my power needs but I am all about "quiet" power if you will for the Camaro. My 87 ss is for the lumpy cam.

If I want to go above the baby cam it will be with nitrous or forced induction. I am thinking cam 1 with more lift. So basically 216 226 595 595. Just that small cam is worth about 30-35rwhp. We will see but I want to keep it pretty tame.

I know my tuner looked at me like I was crazy though considering I have a stall already. He said since a cam swap is so expensive I should go for a bigger cam but I just don't care for a shaky idle in this car. I already have long tubes and full exhaust and it is loud.

Tuner is pushing me to stay 220 or more on the intake but I will probably settle in the 216-218 area. We will see. I was just concerned about getting too wide with the lobe separation on a NA motor if I stay that way.

Yes the AFM lifters are a problem. I always forget about that as I didn't have to think about it with the LS3.
I do warranty claims for GM dealers we have about 50 dealers and they have always had AFM lifter, VLOM issues. Now the new L84 L87 decided to use 16 AFM lifters rather than 8. Now the Lifter claims have doubled....