What to pay for L99 VVT cam swap? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

joshnmn · 10-29-2022, 08:33 PM

It's posted above that $6700 isn't crazy, especially if you add nicer parts.

bottletalk · 10-29-2022, 09:57 PM

a cam install is pretty basic maybe you should consider another shop and put on a gpi email tune until you get it dynoed....or do it yourself.

pyroguy · 10-30-2022, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ss camaro-monte

There was no difference in price for the VVT vs non vvt that I saw. He just said a cam swap runs 6700 out the door. I will see what they say next week and check with the other local shop that does good work. I haven't used them in a while because they are on the other side of the city but they did good work as well. All were forum member recommended.

There should be a SIGNIFICANT difference between LS3 and L99 cam swap. If done right, a L99 cam swap will include pulling the heads. For a LS3 cam swap, the heads could stay on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshnmn

It's posted above that $6700 isn't crazy, especially if you add nicer parts.

Cam swaps must have gone WAY UP in the last couple years then. That's nearly double what I paid for mine 4 years ago.

ss camaro-monte · 10-30-2022, 03:46 PM

I will find out next week. I will ask another really good local shop and I will see what they say.

Chris49066SS · 10-30-2022, 04:12 PM

Yeah it was about $3600 4 yrs ago when I got the SS4, stayed VVT though. Its been since then that I've been adding other goodies

ss camaro-monte · 10-31-2022, 04:15 PM

So I still haven't got the bid from either local business but GPI sent back a detailed quote in like 8 hours.lol I sent that quote at 6pm on Sunday and had it by 7am the next day. That does say a lot for a company. It is cheaper overall, I will not post quotes or anything like that but it is cheaper.

What I didn't consider as extra cost was the oil pump. So that adds an extra 500-600 for labor and parts. For Pump, wires, plugs, all fluids and all valvetrain and dyno tuning it is cheaper. I don't want to post numbers but GPI is cheaper so far for the same parts installed. Areas it looks like GPI is more expensive or locals haven't mentioned on the coming quote is tune and oil pump install.

I guess an oil pump is a lot of work on these cars but I would save at a minimum half a grand going to GPI but then when you factory in gas, hotel etc. It is a wash.

Lets put it this way, if I didn't have to be in a hotel and all the gas I would be up at GPI 100%. I will have to see what local shops say because there is something to be said for customer service and piece of mind and GPI has been amazing with all my questions and getting back to me.

ss camaro-monte · 10-31-2022, 07:14 PM

Quote is in for 1st local shop. $6,400 + the GPI cam $6,900. Too rich for my blood! GPI is more than a thousand cheaper at this point and they are using some higher end parts.

Only thing GPI costs more is the dyno tune. So far it looks like I am spending the extra $1,000 on a vacation in Ozarks while GPI puts the Camaro under the knife. If I hear back from the other local shop I will update.

To be clear both GPI and the local shop have been good to me. I just don't think a local smaller shop can compete with a place like GPI price wise. The local shop who gave me the quote is a bigger local shop with many bays. The other one I am awaiting an estimate is a smaller local shop that is half the size but very well known shop in the Houston area. I will not mention any names on the forum. It is only fair to a small business and this shops $6,900 wouldn't stop me from using them in the future.

joshnmn · 11-01-2022, 09:19 AM

You're in Houston? Did you check out Late Model Racecraft?

LS1Formulation · 11-01-2022, 08:02 PM

Man, after reading these price quotes, I am glad I'm able to do all my own work. I didn't realize a cam swap was THAT expensive. My cam swap this spring cost me less than a grand. Of course, I have an LS3, so that helps a lot.

pyroguy · 11-02-2022, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LS1Formulation

Man, after reading these price quotes, I am glad I'm able to do all my own work. I didn't realize a cam swap was THAT expensive. My cam swap this spring cost me less than a grand. Of course, I have an LS3, so that helps a lot.

If you can do your own work you'll always save. LS3 cam swaps at a shop have historically been $2k-$2.5k. The cost difference for a L99 comes from the labor involved with pulling the heads. I still could never justify $6k-$7k for a cam swap. That's insane! Of course I heard from a guy the other day that he was quoted $25k by a shop to install a Whipple on his Camaro. That shop is typically high priced, but that sounds like that Whipple is gold plated or something.

joshnmn · 11-02-2022, 07:07 AM

Ok, I agree with you on that! 25k!?!?

LS1Formulation · 11-02-2022, 09:16 AM

Even factoring in the cost of the blower itself and a tune, that's like $15K in labor. How? Even if the shop charges $200 an hour, that's still 75 hours of work. No way is that job going to take even a third of the time. For that price, you may as well go get a college degree in automotive service and do it yourself. It would still be cheaper!

ss camaro-monte · 11-04-2022, 04:59 PM

Well just busted out the credit card for GPI.lol I said F it.lol If your going to do it right do it right the first time. Got ported heads, my custom spec cam from Ryan with Cadillac lifters and Manton trunnion upgrade.

Might throw some gears in there too but we will see. I will be driving to Arkansas sometime after the 1st of the year to get GPI to do the work themselves.

Hoping for a really nasty mild build. We will be running close to 11.5:1 compression, ported heads, my baby cam, ported intake with rod mod, ported throttle body and under drive pulley. All with my 3200 stall and drag radials. Hoping for a solid 11 second sleeper on motor which I think will be easy as the car has already been 12.3.

Very interested to see rwhp numbers even though I really don't care too much what a dyno says.

morepowerjoe · 11-04-2022, 07:52 PM

Sounds good sir. Which cam are you going with?

10-30-2022, 04:12 PM	#19
Chris49066SS Drives: 2010 SS L99 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,634	Yeah it was about $3600 4 yrs ago when I got the SS4, stayed VVT though. Its been since then that I've been adding other goodies __________________ Previous PB:11.079 @ 122.99mph.. New setup time: TBD The 11.079 pass: https://youtu.be/pz27Zq54t_E Build thread - www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555371

11-04-2022, 07:52 PM	#28
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,155	Sounds good sir. Which cam are you going with? __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

10-29-2022, 08:33 PM	#15
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,016 View My Garage	It's posted above that $6700 isn't crazy, especially if you add nicer parts.

10-29-2022, 09:57 PM	#16
bottletalk Drives: 15 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: BC Posts: 732	a cam install is pretty basic maybe you should consider another shop and put on a gpi email tune until you get it dynoed....or do it yourself.

10-30-2022, 03:46 PM	#18
ss camaro-monte Drives: 2015 camaro 2ss, 87 monte ss Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 242	I will find out next week. I will ask another really good local shop and I will see what they say.

10-31-2022, 04:15 PM	#20
ss camaro-monte Drives: 2015 camaro 2ss, 87 monte ss Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 242	So I still haven't got the bid from either local business but GPI sent back a detailed quote in like 8 hours.lol I sent that quote at 6pm on Sunday and had it by 7am the next day. That does say a lot for a company. It is cheaper overall, I will not post quotes or anything like that but it is cheaper. What I didn't consider as extra cost was the oil pump. So that adds an extra 500-600 for labor and parts. For Pump, wires, plugs, all fluids and all valvetrain and dyno tuning it is cheaper. I don't want to post numbers but GPI is cheaper so far for the same parts installed. Areas it looks like GPI is more expensive or locals haven't mentioned on the coming quote is tune and oil pump install. I guess an oil pump is a lot of work on these cars but I would save at a minimum half a grand going to GPI but then when you factory in gas, hotel etc. It is a wash. Lets put it this way, if I didn't have to be in a hotel and all the gas I would be up at GPI 100%. I will have to see what local shops say because there is something to be said for customer service and piece of mind and GPI has been amazing with all my questions and getting back to me.

10-31-2022, 07:14 PM	#21
ss camaro-monte Drives: 2015 camaro 2ss, 87 monte ss Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 242	Quote is in for 1st local shop. $6,400 + the GPI cam $6,900. Too rich for my blood! GPI is more than a thousand cheaper at this point and they are using some higher end parts. Only thing GPI costs more is the dyno tune. So far it looks like I am spending the extra $1,000 on a vacation in Ozarks while GPI puts the Camaro under the knife. If I hear back from the other local shop I will update. To be clear both GPI and the local shop have been good to me. I just don't think a local smaller shop can compete with a place like GPI price wise. The local shop who gave me the quote is a bigger local shop with many bays. The other one I am awaiting an estimate is a smaller local shop that is half the size but very well known shop in the Houston area. I will not mention any names on the forum. It is only fair to a small business and this shops $6,900 wouldn't stop me from using them in the future.

11-01-2022, 09:19 AM	#22
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,016 View My Garage	You're in Houston? Did you check out Late Model Racecraft?

11-01-2022, 08:02 PM	#23
LS1Formulation Drives: '13 Camaro SS '98 Firebird Formula Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 76	Man, after reading these price quotes, I am glad I'm able to do all my own work. I didn't realize a cam swap was THAT expensive. My cam swap this spring cost me less than a grand. Of course, I have an LS3, so that helps a lot.

11-02-2022, 07:07 AM	#25
joshnmn 2&THEHIT Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,016 View My Garage	Ok, I agree with you on that! 25k!?!?

11-02-2022, 09:16 AM	#26
LS1Formulation Drives: '13 Camaro SS '98 Firebird Formula Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 76	Even factoring in the cost of the blower itself and a tune, that's like $15K in labor. How? Even if the shop charges $200 an hour, that's still 75 hours of work. No way is that job going to take even a third of the time. For that price, you may as well go get a college degree in automotive service and do it yourself. It would still be cheaper!

11-04-2022, 04:59 PM	#27
ss camaro-monte Drives: 2015 camaro 2ss, 87 monte ss Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Houston Posts: 242	Well just busted out the credit card for GPI.lol I said F it.lol If your going to do it right do it right the first time. Got ported heads, my custom spec cam from Ryan with Cadillac lifters and Manton trunnion upgrade. Might throw some gears in there too but we will see. I will be driving to Arkansas sometime after the 1st of the year to get GPI to do the work themselves. Hoping for a really nasty mild build. We will be running close to 11.5:1 compression, ported heads, my baby cam, ported intake with rod mod, ported throttle body and under drive pulley. All with my 3200 stall and drag radials. Hoping for a solid 11 second sleeper on motor which I think will be easy as the car has already been 12.3. Very interested to see rwhp numbers even though I really don't care too much what a dyno says.