Cam install questions

[sman]

Ok, so I had been looking at lt1 and ls1 cars for a while, but im pretty attached to my car, and well if I had ls1 power, I'd probably end up in trouble, so I need to find a happy medium. How about a cam?

I have a cousin who works for Saturn of flint and has access to a tech 2 and has pretty much any snap on tool ever made, and when he went to UTI an Arizona he worked at an fbody specialty shop doing heads and cams all the time on ls1 cars, so we figured we could probably figure this out.

But, what all needs to be done, as in what needs to be replaced during the swap? The car has about 90k on it right now, is this to many miles for a swap? Am I asking for trouble?

Can anyone recommend a cam, or anything else that should be done?

All the car has on it now is a whisper lid, but will be getting a new cat and probably a magnaflow cat back once it comes out of storage.

[s.reef]

I would probably get headers to free up that exhaust. 90xxx miles you should be fine doin a mild little cam. I would personally replace besides the cam, valve springs and accesories...retainers, locks, etc, lifters, rocker arms, timing chain. You will also need gaskets. While you are in there i would do plugs and wires...and youll need a tune after your done. What cam are you thinkin of doin btw?

[sman]

I would probably get headers to free up that exhaust. 90xxx miles you should be fine doin a mild little cam. I would personally replace besides the cam, valve springs and accesories...retainers, locks, etc, lifters, rocker arms, timing chain. You will also need gaskets. While you are in there i would do plugs and wires...and youll need a tune after your done. What cam are you thinkin of doin btw?

Thanks for the quick reply, I have no idea on the cam, thats where I was really looking for some input. I wasnt looking for a crazy cam, this is a DD in the summer, and almost all my driving is on the expressway if that makes a difference.

I will probably do plugs and wires when it comes out of storage also, any recommendations here?

Does anyone make a cam package? One that comes with some of the basics? Sponsors?

[s.reef]

travis from gvvs can help ya out...he knows a ton about the 3.8 v6 im sure he can steer ya in ther right direction with choosing a cam

[sman]

travis from gvvs can help ya out...he knows a ton about the 3.8 v6 im sure he can steer ya in ther right direction with choosing a cam

Actually GVVS is where I was looking at alot of stuff, CALLING TRAVIS!

[sman]

I was just doing some searching, I see the gt1 cam, and think this is what I am looking for? Who else makes 3.8 cams?

[s.reef]

Comp Cams...www.ftpp.net has a listing and specs of the v6 cams

[1BADAIR]

I would change the cam, springs, pushrods and timing chain

[sman]

Anyone have specific cam advice? How many # springs? What pushrods?

O, Travvvisssss, could use a little help here! (or any other 3.8 heavy modders)!

[97rs4life]

alrighty, I am here guys! lol. Had to work till close tonight

So what are your plans then with the car? Are you always going to have stock heads? Every doing FI or nitrous? Any 1/4 mile or hp goals?

[sman]

alrighty, I am here guys! lol. Had to work till close tonight

So what are your plans then with the car? Are you always going to have stock heads? Every doing FI or nitrous? Any 1/4 mile or hp goals?

Thanks for replying! I will probably always run the stock heads, and I have no plans of FI or nitrous. And I have never been to the track, so I have no goals there, and dont really no what to expect hp wise, so again pretty clueless there.

I really just want a little more umph out of my car. But I want it to be reliable umph too. Dont exactly have the bucks to drop a forged bottom end in so, im not sure what that limits me to.

[97rs4life]

have you thought about a torque converter instead? That will make you get up and go alot quicker also and is less involved than a cam.

[97rs4life]

also what gears do you have? LSD?

[sman]

also what gears do you have? LSD?

3.08s and open diff

[97rs4life]

3.08s and open diff

once you start looking for more power, this is gonna mess with ya. Try getting a v8 rear for your car with 3.42s/lsd.

I think with a new rear end, catback exhaust, and a torque converter you will be just as happy as getting a cam. (btw, torque converters usually drop ya .4-.6 seconds in the 1/4 so you will see better bursts off the line )

Thing with a cam is that there are additional valvetrain items needed and the cost does get higher. Depends on the size cam of course as some can work with stock valvetrain and run fine, but they are also smaller in size and less hp will be seen as well