03-06-2016, 08:54 PM | #1 |
Cam swap at 70k+ miles, engine longevity
Has anyone done a cam swap on a LS3/L99 that had over 50K miles on it? I'm curious about how long an engine like that would last being daily driven but well maintained and rarely ran hard. Being an OHV engine with press fit bearings I know most people don't bother putting fresh ones in due to the hassle of taking the engine apart when doing a swap but worn-in bearings will take the new out of a new cam due to the wear patterns which cuts the life down on both. I've seen engines live for just a few hundred miles before bearing or cam failure and I've seen others go well over 30K before issues started coming up and was wondering what the general expectancy was for LS3s and L99s.
|
|
03-06-2016, 09:08 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2011 ss 2ss auto camaro Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: mary esther florida
Posts: 385
|
Im about to do my cam swap next week and i have 80k doing the tsp 235/239 cam ,I have a l99 btw my old gto did a cam swap at 95k plus new heads .you should be fine just swap out everything cam lifters trays oil pump springs .Get a good tuner to .
|
03-06-2016, 10:30 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2015 1LE Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 1,485
|
You do not have to change cam bearings. Just put in cam, springs, valve seals, timing chain and all that stuff. With those miles you might want to change rockers too.
|
03-07-2016, 12:33 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2018 Charger SRT 392 F8 Green Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oakville Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,910
|
I had my cam and supercharger installed at 70k km's, so at about 43k miles. It's a DD in the summer, fall and spring. My only regret is not doing it sooner. No issues at all. I have a great local shop and tuner in town that knows camaro's, mustangs, corvette's among other muscle cars so I trust them.
|
03-07-2016, 08:14 PM | #5 |
Cool, that one of their VVT or AFM cams? I'm curious what power those make.
|
|
03-07-2016, 08:59 PM | #6 |
Drives: '16 Z06/Z07, '15 Z/28,1972 Stingray Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Drivers Seat
Posts: 842
|
Get this months Hot Rod Magazine....
__________________
2015 Z/28 #642 Black Bad Ass
|
03-09-2016, 10:44 PM | #7 |
03-10-2016, 05:58 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2011 ss 2ss auto camaro Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: mary esther florida
Posts: 385
|
My cam is not a vvt cam . Car is all most apart just got pull the cam now and oIL pump.
|
03-10-2016, 06:32 AM | #9 | |
Drives: One of the baddest handling Gen 5s Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Masachusetts
Posts: 4,177
|
Quote:
|
|
03-10-2016, 09:24 PM | #10 |
GRIM
Drives: 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: May 2010
Location: Marlton, NJ.
Posts: 169
|
Have you changed your lifters yet?
|
03-10-2016, 11:29 PM | #11 |
Drives: 13' 1LE Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,646
|
Glad to hear that!
__________________
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. |
03-11-2016, 12:21 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2010 2SS/RS 6spd LS3 Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 581
|
Don't forget these motors or at least it's older cousins in various variations are super reliable tiII like 300,000 miles so what you're asking is essentially @50k miles, is it ok to start workout when you're 20 years old.. yes
|
03-11-2016, 02:55 AM | #13 |
Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Vance Alabama
Posts: 8,041
|
I done mine at close to 70k and I also done a cam swap on my old 98 Z28 at 108k
__________________
Retired wanna be cylinder head porter
2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X |
|
|
|
|