To Cam or not to Cam?
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To Cam or not to Cam?
Alright my on the other side of the fence brethren. I just recently cam into a dilema. Background:
I have my 2000 Z28 (listed in sig) that after I paid it off in 05 I took a loan on it and sank a bunch of money into it, (9 inch, 3600 stall, trans rebuild, MS3 cam etc etc.).Well an accidental 2nd gear drop at 80 mph with 4.11's caused a huge over-rev causing all the pistons to say hello to the valves. It wasn't pretty and evenually ended up toasting the engine when a valve broke shattering a piston etc.etc.(didn't know at the time there was valve contact so I still drove it).
Fast foreward. Bought the GTO as a DD because I couldn't stand the scoot bucket I had since my Z was dead and didn't really have the money to fix.
Fast foreward to last week. Finally got around to removing the engine out of the Z to see if my then brand new "Magic Stick 3" Cam was still any good. Well it is unhurt. So now I have a complete MS3 cam kit (hardened pushrods dual springs titanium retainers etc.) just sitting in the attic.
Now, I have to do a teardown on the front of my motor to replace the O-ring on the oil pump pickup (long story). In the process the whole front of the engine will be off and it would probably only take my friend and I an hour and a half to swap the cam and stuff since I'll already be that far into it.
The cam is rather large. 237/242 .603/.609 114 LSA advertised, with my lift according to the card actually comming at .609/.614, .With my automatic, it ran fine even at redlights with air on without dying. With the larger 6.0 it should idle a tad bit tamer idle, and it's a manual which is better for the A/C and alternator. The car will remain the scoot bucket for quite some time, especially if I get the Z06 like I plan on when the GTO's paid for and I plan on an entirely new direction for the Z28 so this cam will be obsolete.
So with the info at hand the question I pose is this.........Cam or not to cam? Gotta have something to keep those pesky 5.0's in the rear view . I still have my bottle but since I don't plan on tracking this car much if any it will probably not get installed.
I have my 2000 Z28 (listed in sig) that after I paid it off in 05 I took a loan on it and sank a bunch of money into it, (9 inch, 3600 stall, trans rebuild, MS3 cam etc etc.).Well an accidental 2nd gear drop at 80 mph with 4.11's caused a huge over-rev causing all the pistons to say hello to the valves. It wasn't pretty and evenually ended up toasting the engine when a valve broke shattering a piston etc.etc.(didn't know at the time there was valve contact so I still drove it).
Fast foreward. Bought the GTO as a DD because I couldn't stand the scoot bucket I had since my Z was dead and didn't really have the money to fix.
Fast foreward to last week. Finally got around to removing the engine out of the Z to see if my then brand new "Magic Stick 3" Cam was still any good. Well it is unhurt. So now I have a complete MS3 cam kit (hardened pushrods dual springs titanium retainers etc.) just sitting in the attic.
Now, I have to do a teardown on the front of my motor to replace the O-ring on the oil pump pickup (long story). In the process the whole front of the engine will be off and it would probably only take my friend and I an hour and a half to swap the cam and stuff since I'll already be that far into it.
The cam is rather large. 237/242 .603/.609 114 LSA advertised, with my lift according to the card actually comming at .609/.614, .With my automatic, it ran fine even at redlights with air on without dying. With the larger 6.0 it should idle a tad bit tamer idle, and it's a manual which is better for the A/C and alternator. The car will remain the scoot bucket for quite some time, especially if I get the Z06 like I plan on when the GTO's paid for and I plan on an entirely new direction for the Z28 so this cam will be obsolete.
So with the info at hand the question I pose is this.........Cam or not to cam? Gotta have something to keep those pesky 5.0's in the rear view . I still have my bottle but since I don't plan on tracking this car much if any it will probably not get installed.
Last edited by Slims00ls1z28; 6/2/10 at 02:52 AM.
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Always wanted a loper... get it if you can...
PS: Even though one's may be of a different sect,
we're still at the altar of the heavenly (American) vee eight....
PS: Even though one's may be of a different sect,
we're still at the altar of the heavenly (American) vee eight....
Last edited by cdynaco; 6/7/10 at 12:37 AM.
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Do eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!!!!! !!
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Update. After fixing a friends 93 5.0 (installed another b303 cam after he toasted the one in his car) and driving it around I have come to miss that sound and have decided to go ahead and do it. Headers and tune are to come as well.
The Ls2 (in theory) should handle it a little better. It was way big for my stock (heads and bottom end) LS1 as a driver. The LS2's larger CI, better intake, and much better heads should handle it much easier especially if it's a manual (which is recommended for this cam unless you have a stall and gears anyway). I hate to cannabalize the Z but I'll probably go ahead and use its fuel pump, oil pump and injectors (all aftermarket upgrades) for support as well. Rather be safe than sorry and put some of what I spent to use. After all I have a feeling I might need it .
If the engine as is (not including valvetrain hardware) can support the cam, I say go for it
Last edited by Slims00ls1z28; 6/15/10 at 12:20 AM.
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