Which cams to get???
 

Doing a LS1 swap in my FD and need info on which cams to get. I have a 2002 LS1 engine and just got my long tube headers and AFR's 205cc heads. I want to get over 400rwhp and I want the car to sound like stock and I want as much HP out of the cam also. Let me know what you guys think. thanks, James

Check out Thunder Racing. They have lots of different choices. They're local to me, and i have several friends with their cams.

I'm definitely going with them when i eventually start my swap.

From what I hear, it really doesnt take much in the way of a bigger cam. Just be glad you have pushrods instead of FOUR cams like a DOHC v8 has ;)

I am running a Thunder racing TR224 on 112 and was at 395 rwhp without tuning.
This is on an 02 LS1/T56 with long tube headers

How's the idle on that cam? Are those numbers with heads? Thanks

wow, that's a weird title to see in a rotary forum. I just saw it from the main page.

I have this cam as well, it's lumpier than stock, but barely noticeable if you have a quiet exhaust. My car made 394/381 with this cam, stage 2 5.3 heads, untuned and through shorty headers.

If you really want to go stealth check out thunder racing's cheater cam, people at ls1tech are getting some good #'s with them.

Just wondering - why do people go with 5.3 truck heads?

I am running dual 3" off the headers into single 3.5" with a fart can out back so it's fairly loud and the lope is very noticable (idle at about 850rpm). It does idle good both hot and cold, it stalls occasionally when restarted after being heat soaked but nothing too bothersome.
Stock 02 heads

Thanks! Awesome numbers without heads.

I looked at the Cheatr cams and they are made for stock exhaust and cats, I'm planning on running long tube headers, so I heard it's not a good combo. I just got my Hinson subframe and my AFR's 205 heads are coming soon. For now, I'm still looking around for cams. Thanks for the info, keep them coming. James

smaller combustion chambers = more compression

where did yall get your long tube headers?

Keep the cam on a 114 LSA and maintain a stock sounding idle 224/224 or 228/228 114 would work great.

I run a 233/239 112LSA cam with milled AFR 205's, LS6 intake, and ported TB. This cam has a lumpy idle, pulls like a mofo on the top end (meaning it pulls hard until redline). I'm going to swap over to a 228/228 114 over winter to get some mid range power back (higher duration is higher powerband as is the 112LSA) as I road race.

Jagsthatrun.com makes long tube headers that fit perfectly. Jack the car up, slip them in from underneath and literally in 15 minutes you can have them installed. They work nicely. I'm running them as are many others. PM MikeJTR on torquecentral.com for the headers, 4"x3.5" 90* elbow and other related parts to make a well priced cold air kit. He also sells radiators $150 or so vs. Hinsons $500+. I run the JTR radiator and have experienced zero problems with it. Works great.

2.5" exhaust will provide better ground clearance than a 3" setup (meaning duals). It will also flow enuf to support in excess of 500rwhp. A lighter solution would be to run dual 2.5" into a single 3.5" out the back ;).

-Mark

I finally went with the comp cam 224/230 114 lobe. I should be putting this swap together by the end of this month or so. I'll post some pics and numbers. Thanks for all the replys!!! James