Do I have any other options here? L99 valve train refresh vs cam swap

[InFiD3ViL]

My 150k mile L99 has been meticulously maintained, with synthetic oil changes every 3-4k miles. The engine does not feel tired at all and I expect that my bottom end should be in fine shape. Car is bolt on and tuned, with AFM disabled of course.

My original goal was to do a full cam swap, but every single combination I try comes out at or near $3k, since I would also need to buy HP tuners, a wide band, credits, and have Ryan remote tune it from GPI. (Want to keep VVT). Financially, I can do it, but I also have a noisy front strut that needs to be addressed. My intention was to keep it under $2500, but that is not looking likely.

Since GM screwed us L99 owners over with the AFM, it leaves me in a crappy situation. If it was up to me, I would simply swap out the lifters with non-AFM GM performance lifters, trunion bushing upgrade, and upgrade the springs and associated hardware, and keep the stock VVT cam. But it can't be that simple. I would also need to do an AFM delete because of the non AFM lifters, which requires a cam swap.

The only other option I know of would be to just replace my aging AFM lifters with a new set of AFM lifters and to upgrade the rest of the valve train as well. But this leaves me stuck with another crappy, albeit new, set of AFM lifters...which would probably be ok since I am only at normal power levels for a bolt-on L99, but is the weak spot in an otherwise solid valve train after upgrades. I do not want to install a higher lift AFM compatible cam, as that is just opening up another can of worms from a reliability standpoint.

Am I missing any other options here? My main goal is to replace my tired and ageing valve train before my lifters fail and I am left with a big expensive mess.

[Clarkstar]

Stage 3 cam, lifters, push rods, oil pump, timing chain and some gaskets.... and a tune. I don't see why that can't be done for under $2500...

[Clarkstar]

Here... I would get a Melling oil pump too

[Chris49066SS]

I would look into an SS2 cam kit from GPI if you aren't wanting to do gears and converter. You could still get away with the stock converter and keep your 3.27 gears if you do an SS2, even though you will always benefit from these, if you don't go too big on the camshaft, you could still pull it off, and their kit includes the AFM/DoD delete, so you're good there.

[InFiD3ViL]

@ Clarkstar, I hadn't even considered BTR or Ebay as a source. Only thing is, the VVT pickings are kind of slim, but are available. I may just have to buy some parts piece by piece to make up whats missing in some of the different kits.

I guess when you have a tight budget like me, it's not so easy to be so picky. I think I am kinda hung up on 'GPI or nothing else' mindset, and that may make this a lot more difficult.

Looks like I need to take more time thinking about and planning this build and doing more research. Thanks for the help guys.

[PepeLePew]

Originally Posted by InFiD3ViL

@ Clarkstar, I hadn't even considered BTR or Ebay as a source. Only thing is, the VVT pickings are kind of slim, but are available. I may just have to buy some parts piece by piece to make up whats missing in some of the different kits.

I guess when you have a tight budget like me, it's not so easy to be so picky. I think I am kinda hung up on 'GPI or nothing else' mindset, and that may make this a lot more difficult.

Looks like I need to take more time thinking about and planning this build and doing more research. Thanks for the help guys.

The GPI kits are pretty sweet and they come with Trunion upgrades if I'm not mistaken... all for less than $1400 if I remember. Texas Speed has some good VVT cams too and their kits are about the same price without the trunions ($1100ish).

[PhantomBlack]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

The GPI kits are pretty sweet and they come with Trunion upgrades if I'm not mistaken... all for less than $1400 if I remember. Texas Speed has some good VVT cams too and their kits are about the same price without the trunions ($1100ish).

The trunnion upgrade is extra at GPI, but we are talking an extra 150-200 dollars so not that bad IMO.

[Chris49066SS]

They have 2 options, they have the Smith Bros and the CHE trunnion kits at GPI. $200 is way cheaper than a catastrophic engine failure due to stock needle bearings tearing through your engine if one happens to fail

[PhantomBlack]

Originally Posted by Chris49066SS

They have 2 options, they have the Smith Bros and the CHE trunnion kits at GPI. $200 is way cheaper than a catastrophic engine failure due to stock needle bearings tearing through your engine if one happens to fail

[John_C]

TSP VVT 3.2 Cam Kit

https://youtu.be/PsLIjZMdEpo?t=239

https://www.texas-speed.com/p-260-ts...t-package.aspx

Cam kit:

SKU:25-L99VVTCamKit
Vehicle: Chevrolet - Camaro - 2010
TSP L99 VVT-3.2 Camshaft 231/243 .649/.629 113+5 (25-TSPL99VVT-3.2)
- TSP .660" Dual Valve Spring Kit w/ Two-Piece Seat & Seal, Titanium Retainers, PAC Springs #199-PACPOL660SpringKit
- 7.400" (need to measure for correct length)
- Include Pushrod Length Checker (#4-7702-1)
- Include Phaser Limiter Kit #4-5456
- Include VVT Cam Bolt #28-12682000
- Includes Crank Bolt/Gasket Kit w/ ARP Bolt #28-CamGskKitARP
- Include DOD Delete Kit w/ 16 Chevrolet Perf. Lifters, LS3 Gaskets, TSP0568 Head Bolts, GM Crank Bolt, LS3 Valley Cover, LS7 PCV Tube


Total: $1,295.44

[Benman]

Originally Posted by Chris49066SS

They have 2 options, they have the Smith Bros and the CHE trunnion kits at GPI. $200 is way cheaper than a catastrophic engine failure due to stock needle bearings tearing through your engine if one happens to fail

I got the CHE kit for $170 delivered from ebay, the CHE is a full float setup that requires no pressing for the install, only need a vise and a couple of sockets of the right OD/ID to press out the factory stuff. Smith Bros. is a great product as well, just a little more work to install.

[christianchevell]

If your going to put the amount of miles on the car you are with 150k in 9 years you should look to the ASA cam for 525 hp and be able to make the springs live a long time, now the condition of the bores? you can look at them remote viewing, or you can just go crate also.... But its going to cost money no matter how you look at it and throwing good after bad is not so fun...… I break in a engine or cam with Driven racing br30 and did it on a dyno, its not cheap, but its worth it. Most good shops will stick you for a automatic versus install for a ls3 as they have to pull the heads and go with new baskets and the ls3 valley cover etc....

And of course VVT is good, getting a more radical cam at 150k you would have to change the springs to be safe around 25k on up or risk catastrophic failure....so you drive it so much you would have changed springs.....5 going on 6 sets... that's why I would say mild cam mild springs and then some upgrades like dogbone dampener, timing chain …… trunnions, and of course you have to clean everything up being so high mile....its not going to be cheap even done yourself to do it right and then longevity???//??? just some thoughts, as talk is cheap///////// a new torque convertor not so much...…..

[PepeLePew]

InFiD3ViL - one other thing. If you want a mail in tune and you do the work yourself, TSP has a very good mail in tuner that does all of the R&D tuning on the parts they offer. He has worked with them a long time and recently went independent. If you did a full kit like the ones posted here ~$1,200 from TSP + $200 for trunions + $325 mail in tune from mailordertuner.com, you are only at $1725... no where close to $3,000 you were thinking.

[InFiD3ViL]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I am still working this out as I am in no rush.

My original plan was to get a custom VVT grind similar to an LS3 hotcam or a bit lower lift than the usual VVT grinds out there. I wanted something that would allow me to not pound the valve train, allow softer springs, and to prioritize driveability, as it will be a while before I can even consider a converter. Maximum power is not a goal here. I am more interested in low end torque and lower rpm manners.

Thanks again everyone.