CAM help?

[5thGenOCD]

Hey guys, I just wanted to get some advice on a cam installation. My car currently has Stainless Works 1 7/8" Long Tubes, Solo High Flo Cats, Borla S type Cat Back exhaust and Dynotune. It also has 3.73 Gears and a number of suspension mods (Trailing arms, sway bars, 275 fronts 315 rears etc).. I'm running around 436RWHP and I was looking into the next step to get some extra Horses. I would like to be around the 480-500 RWHP range naturally aspirated. I don't want to use forced induction as I don't have another 10gs to drop into my car.
I know a CAM is a good choice and I love the sound of a NA LS3. (smog is not an issue). I was looking at Comp Cams Thumpr Camshaft, 275THR7 for High Performance Street, Stock, Choppy/Thumping Idle and wanted to go ahead with it. I wanted to know what else I would need to install with this (like valve springs etc). I know my tuner can get all this for me but Hopefully I can save a some money with ur guys knowledge/advice. What other components do I need to get in addition to the CAM to run it safely? I have heard of guys cutting corners and throwing a rod etc.
So can someone list out the other parts I will need to get the cam installed and still run it aggressively without worry?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance.

[purv24]

Well, under the V8 bolt on forum, there are tons of informative posts about cams from people that know far more about them than me. But a cam is expensive, you are going to spend money. If I were you I would contact your closest shop and they can give you all the answers you want as far as what you need.

Pretty much every cam brand/shop offers just a cam, or a cam kit. I don't think you are going to be able to save as much money buying anything separate as you would with buying just a kit.

[5thGenOCD]

Yeah most I have two performance shops I work with. Both quoted me around 2500. Which isn't terrible. I was just hoping to knock it down to around 2000 by ordering my own parts and having them install it. I know they always mark up their prices a bit. I will probably just pay the full 2500 and get their kit and can they sell. Thanks for your reply.

[c_cook94]

Just a word of advise, buying your own parts and getting a shop to install them is going push the labor a little higher vs. buying their parts and having installed

[int0xic]

Originally Posted by c_cook94

Just a word of advise, buying your own parts and getting a shop to install them is going push the labor a little higher vs. buying their parts and having installed

Yeah and also if something is wrong with the parts, the shop will take care of it. If you buy the parts yourself and supply them to the shop and they happen to be defective, they might charge you to take everything apart and charge you again to redo the same work once you get the new parts.

[aperfectcircle1992]

Talk to rihno79 he is with Gpi get there ss3 cam

[bmcc2584]

^^^^^ this

[Kelly@PCMofNC]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOCD

Hey guys, I just wanted to get some advice on a cam installation. My car currently has Stainless Works 1 7/8" Long Tubes, Solo High Flo Cats, Borla S type Cat Back exhaust and Dynotune. It also has 3.73 Gears and a number of suspension mods (Trailing arms, sway bars, 275 fronts 315 rears etc).. I'm running around 436RWHP and I was looking into the next step to get some extra Horses. I would like to be around the 480-500 RWHP range naturally aspirated. I don't want to use forced induction as I don't have another 10gs to drop into my car.
I know a CAM is a good choice and I love the sound of a NA LS3. (smog is not an issue). I was looking at Comp Cams Thumpr Camshaft, 275THR7 for High Performance Street, Stock, Choppy/Thumping Idle and wanted to go ahead with it. I wanted to know what else I would need to install with this (like valve springs etc). I know my tuner can get all this for me but Hopefully I can save a some money with ur guys knowledge/advice. What other components do I need to get in addition to the CAM to run it safely? I have heard of guys cutting corners and throwing a rod etc.
So can someone list out the other parts I will need to get the cam installed and still run it aggressively without worry?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance.

I'd personally skip that cam. If you want something lopey that makes great power and still drives good, we offer our 545 and our Phoenix cam for the LS3 cars. I actually run the 545 cam in my own car and it feels great, very punchy. It turns a lot of heads with the the idle but also drives very well! Here are a few build blogs you can check out on our site, they have videos/dyno graphs/etc. I'm not sure what kind of dyno you are on but it seems maybe 3-4% higher than what ours reads so just consider that when viewing our graphs.

Phoenix cam in 08 LS3 Vette

545 cam in 10 LS3 Camaro

545 cam in 10 LS3 Camaro

545 cam in 12 LS3 Camaro

545 cam & heads in 12 LS3 Camaro

To make it easy we sell cam install kits featuring BT parts - Brian Tooley Deluxe Cam Install Kit, which gives you everything you would need to install the cam (valvesprings, pushrods, chain, gaskets, etc). I would also suggest replacing your oil pump (we like Melling 10296) while you are at it and consider a comp trunion upgrade as well!

[djpelosi]

1.) Night Fury - Lethal Racing
2.) 231/236 - Texas Speed
3.) G6x3 - LG Motorposrts
4.) SS3 - GPI
5.) 545 - PCM

Any one of these cams will make great power, and should see between 480-490 with a good tune and all bolt-ons (including UDP). Also, I didn't see a mention of a CAI in your first post. IMHO, you need to grab ALL supporting bolt ons before looking into internal components. I would suggest you get a good CAI (Cold air intake) and UDP (underdrive pulley). If you want 500, you'll need some head work (which I would recommend you do regardless since you're taking the heads off for the cam install anyway). A good porting of the heads + a CAI/UDP + any one of these cams = 500rwhp or more easily.

[AGM 1LE]

Originally Posted by djpelosi

If you want 500, you'll need some head work (which I would recommend you do regardless since you're taking the heads off for the cam install anyway).

Don't have to take the heads off to do just a cam swap. But if he wants 500 whp then he will have to get head work done or new heads

But as others have mentioned a new oil pump and springs are a good idea since you're in there already.

[djpelosi]

Originally Posted by AGM 1LE

Don't have to take the heads off to do just a cam swap.

You don't have to no, but it makes it so much easier. Especially if he's going to upgrade the springs and lifters like he probably should. No spring compressors or worrying about dropping a lifter when taking the heads off.

[christianchevell]

I am at 500 +rwhp no heads done.......... and I did tsp's best cam the .639/.623 lift 235/239 112lsa with a CAI intake, and 1 7/8 SP headers and cats .... I do have a dualmode and electric power steering and a good h.p. tune that got me to 491 rwhp then a VMAX and a 25% UDP from fluidampr took out the last hurdle

[djpelosi]

Originally Posted by christianchevell

I am at 500 +rwhp no heads done.......... and I did tsp's best cam the .639/.623 lift 235/239 112lsa

Did that 235/239 fit safely without flycutting?