LT1 Cam Choices

[nascarnate326]

Its finally getting to that time everyone. I am seriously researching cams for my car. Got the Mrs on board, will soon have a garage of my own to do work and financially stable.

For those that dont know my cars current status:

1996 Z28 with stock LT1
174,000 miles
Non original T56
Newer stock replacement clutch rated for 450HP
Stainless LT headers, ORY, Hooker Exhaust
No cats, egr, or air pump
Tuned by ion.
Stock 10 bolt that got rebuilt at 140k.
Iron Driveshaft
17" ten spokes with new tires
Eibach Pro Kit with new shocks


While it has high miles the car is pretty darn clean if I do say so for its age/miles. The current plan is to do this swap this fall/winter after we get all the house stuff done.

For as much as I have wanted a 5.3 in the past, I realize its just not the smart road to take given my cars current config.
For as much as I have wanted a hotcam in the past, I realize its just not going to be a long term package.

Goals: I hate this question/term. I know someones going to ask so Ill lay it down now. I want a fun, fast, reliable, cheap, car that gets decent gas mileage and can go anywhere. Pretty sure I am not going to get all of those, but thats what I would like. Car never sees a track. I want a bad ass idle more than anything else. Second would be a car that pulls well down low and is not something that I have to rev to the moon to get moving, I love the "hunker down and go" that my car currently has when I punch it from 2500 rpm. Also tired of being so much slower than Joel, Scott, Kolin, Fred, Brian...ya everyone basically. lol


These are the three I am looking at right now.

Ai 226 / 234 - .566" / .566" - 110 LSA

• Easily our most popular daily drivable grind for 350cid applications. Typically makes peak power at 6000-6200rpm in stock LT1 long blocks. Properly tuned it will run and drive well in M6 cars w/ stock gearing. A4 cars should run a 3.42+ rear end gear & 2400 rpm converter minimum. Can pass emissions in some states on 110° LSA, though 112-114° LSA makes it more likely to pa

Ai 230 / 238 - .566" / .566" - 110 LSA

• An excellent choice for 3.73-4.10 geared M6 cars. Typically makes peak power at 6200-6400rpm in stock LT1 long blocks. A4 cars need 3.73 gearing & a minimum 3400 rpm converter.

Lloyd Elliott 226/232 .578/.574 110 LSA. – 1900-6200 RPM

NON-EMISSIONS version of 223/230 cam mentioned above. Mild to choppy idle.
Good HP/TQ through out and a very usable power band. Best choice for “most people”
using stock bottom end. Minimum 2800 stall and 3.42 gears for B body. Comparable to
Comp 467 XFI cam.

Give me your thoughts, opinions, stories, bs, whatever. I dont really know what the big difference would be between all of these packages. I have talked to Ai and Elliot and both said that an "off the shelf" cam would be fine for me and recommended the above choices.

[Boost Addict]

When you say the hot cam wouldn't be a "long term package", what do you mean? You think you wouldn't like it? I don't know how long of a term your bottom end will survive spinning 6k+ with that many miles.

[JoeliusZ28]

Buy my cam and be done with it.. You say you want torque at 2500 rpm, mine fits the bill. Im making nearly PEAK torque by then and carrying it all the way until redline. Probably one of the few cams around that's fun under 3500 rpm, and at 6400 rpm. Only thing to keep in mind is i also raised my conpression which helps with torque.

[JoeliusZ28]

When you say the hot cam wouldn't be a "long term package", what do you mean? You think you wouldn't like it? I don't know how long of a term your bottom end will survive spinning 6k+ with that many miles.

agreed and i think you kind of answered your own question there because the hotcam has nothing down low... Which means youre gonna be revving her up all the time to have any fun. They make good power up top, freds old car with one and a 4.10 held on right next to me.

[mcalus]

I have the Lloyd Elliott cam you posted up. I really enjoy it.

They say: fast, reliable, cheap. You can pick 2 of the 3.

Are you going to get it bored over or keep it stock?
I would suggest at least arp rod and main bolts.

I really with my camera was working so I could post up a few good videos

Edit: the only reason I chose my cam over joels was price ($100 cheaper) and they didn't have any in stock, I would have waited 3 weeks for them to get some in plus shipping time.

[farmington]

Since you're not looking to go to the track, you're better off to slightly undercam than overcam. I know I have an LS1 but the 224r that I am running is perfect for what I wanted. Nice idle but still pulls hard up top.

[JoeliusZ28]

I have the Lloyd Elliott cam you posted up. I really enjoy it.

They say: fast, reliable, cheap. You can pick 2 of the 3.

Are you going to get it bored over or keep it stock?
I would suggest at least arp rod and main bolts.

I really with my camera was working so I could post up a few good videos

Edit: the only reason I chose my cam over joels was price ($100 cheaper) and they didn't have any in stock, I would have waited 3 weeks for them to get some in plus shipping time.

Ive been fine without arp rod bolts but thats definitely a good idea if you can swing it. That and the white oil pump spring especially will go a long way. Youll need to pull the engine but i think thats a good idea anyway.

If guessing the difference between the LE and AI cams are negligible. Go for whatever is cheaper.

[ryanwarby01]

Lloyd is a great guy to talk to on the phone. You could give him a call and he will make whatever cam you want. Just tell him what you want to do with the car and he will tell you what he thinks is best for you. It doesn't cost any more and I think turn around time is 2-3 weeks. Lloyd use to have an issue with running a billet cam gear that would eat up the oil drive gears, but now he uses a cast gear. Comp cams still use a billet gear, which is okay, you just need to upgrade your oil drive drive gear to billet to match. Brian made a thread about what happened to his car when the gears are different materials.

[jderry]

You'd be happy with any of those three.


Mine is 228/236 .576/.571 110LSA and I am very happy with how it pulls from idle to 6500

[my95z28]

donkey dick it and be done!

[Boost Addict]

Nate I'll sell you my engine, throttle body to oil pan

[94ss68c10]

I'll sell you my car,.already cammed. . . . .lol

[nascarnate326]

When you say the hot cam wouldn't be a "long term package", what do you mean? You think you wouldn't like it? I don't know how long of a term your bottom end will survive spinning 6k+ with that many miles.

Means I will enjoy it for a year and then want more. I think my bottom end will survive just fine, rev limiter is 6k and I usually shut it down around 5k.

[matlt1]

I had the Comp Cams 503 grind in the past. IMO it is a nice middle of the road compromise that gets reasonable fuel economy, sounds bad a=s and can run very good e.t.s. I ran a best et of 12.6x with that cam (no head work) and probably could have got into the low 12's with a better launch. As far as dyno numbers I put down 340 rwhp with that cam (again, no head work). When I was cruising with the cutouts open I received several complements about the sound and some people even asked what kind of engine I had in my car.