where can I get a small duration cheap cam

I'm looking for something along the lines of the hotcam, but I need to pass california emissions so I can't use the hotcam, or else I would. What other choices are out there, I want something like a 220/224 535 lift something that won't need any spring maintance. It looks like the LS6 would be to small to bother with, any aftermarket cams that are cheap.

What's wrong with the LS6 cam as a cheep smaller duration cam???

Stock LS1:
196/208 .464/.479 116

LS6:
204/218 .551/.547 117.5

With the right tune in CA, you can see 360-370rwhp with this cam.

probably because the cam he has now is much bigger, and changing to an LS6 would require changing out a few things?

probably because the cam he has now is much bigger, and changing to an LS6 would require changing out a few things?


The 95 has the cam you are thinking of. James I would go for the TR224 on a 114, you will make good power and should pass emissions no problem.

i've always heard the hotcam WOULD pass emissions with a good tune :think:


and i think 370hp out of an ls6 cam is a bit much....MAYBE if you were running all the bolt ons and LT headers....

but in cali....that's tough

and i think 370hp out of an ls6 cam is a bit much....MAYBE if you were running all the bolt ons and LT headers....

but in cali....that's tough

I must be off somewhere...because I thought Z06 Vettes put down 360rwhp with minimal mods (which is only 425hp @ the crank given 15% loss).

well I thought about getting that 224 cam, but the high lift makes me a little worried since I'll have to change the springs pretty often, which wouldn't be a problem except I'll be away from home and will be unable to do so. Thats why I was thinking of a low lift cam so I can just go and not have to worry. I also saw this dyno chart that shows the 224 only a few horsepower above the low lift comp cams 220/224 http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?category=2 maybe there is a reason the horespower didn't increase much, but I see no reason to add more lift if it won't really get me much more power.
I called a vendor today and they told me no matter what cam I go with low lift or not that I will need to replace the springs every 20-30 thousand miles, which seems crazy since the LS6 has 550 lift and I doubt Vette owners need to replace them that often.
Now if the LS6 cam adds that much power it might be worth to install depending on price difference.
With the stock or shorty manifolds, would the 224 cam be to big. I imagine if the engine can't flow out the pipes than the extra lift and duration is just going to waste, or will it work well

Anyone know how much a shop charges to change valvesprings?

"I must be off somewhere...because I thought Z06 Vettes put down360rwhp with minimal mods (which is only 425hp @ the crank given 15% loss)."

try this:

405hp with 12%loss through the drive train and you get 356hp at the wheels...which is about right.

now take into account the LS6 cylinder heads probably give you a solid 20hp at the wheels (stock unported)...

so running the LS6 cam on a bolt on car would probably only get you 350 to the wheels, give or take...
maybe some freak car, running REALLY good with a hot tune (not good for emissions) could hit 360-370...but on average...probably not

Changing valvesprings is super easy on these cars, especially if you go on LS1tech and buy the "Larry" tool. It's 30 bucks and makes changing springs cake. Lift on the TR224 I believe is only .561, which is too much for LS6 springs but a set of 918 springs should last for a very long time with that cam, the ramp rates are not what I would call aggressive. Even if you do only get 30-40K out of the springs, who cares? How long does it take you to put that many miles on a car? I can change my valvesprings with the larry tool, a drinking straw (sometimes 2 or 3 they get too bent) and some basic hand tools in less than 2 hours. That includes pulling the coil packs and valve covers. And, if you're in Livonia, I'd be more than happy to help (it will cost you some Taco Bell though) I live at 7 and Farmington.


edit: I even have a Larry tool you can use. I also have the often imitated never duplicated JPR cam tools. We could do a cam in your car easily. I work for Taco bell and Beer. Sometimes Jimmy Johns :D

I can change my valvesprings with the larry tool, a drinking straw (sometimes 2 or 3 they get too bent) and some basic hand tools in less than 2 hours.

What's the drinking straw used for?

to reach inside the cylinder (plugs out) to tell when the piston is at top dead center.

that way you don't drop the valve down into the cylinder...

i did mine by just watching the valves.

to reach inside the cylinder (plugs out) to tell when the piston is at top dead center.

that way you don't drop the valve down into the cylinder...

i did mine by just watching the valves.


I couldnt watch the valves, I had already taken all of my rocker arms off, but thats exactly what I used the straws for. Great minds think alike :)

Changing valvesprings is super easy on these cars, especially if you go on LS1tech and buy the "Larry" tool. It's 30 bucks and makes changing springs cake. Lift on the TR224 I believe is only .561, which is too much for LS6 springs but a set of 918 springs should last for a very long time with that cam, the ramp rates are not what I would call aggressive. Even if you do only get 30-40K out of the springs, who cares? How long does it take you to put that many miles on a car? I can change my valvesprings with the larry tool, a drinking straw (sometimes 2 or 3 they get too bent) and some basic hand tools in less than 2 hours. That includes pulling the coil packs and valve covers. And, if you're in Livonia, I'd be more than happy to help (it will cost you some Taco Bell though) I live at 7 and Farmington.


edit: I even have a Larry tool you can use. I also have the often imitated never duplicated JPR cam tools. We could do a cam in your car easily. I work for Taco bell and Beer. Sometimes Jimmy Johns :DHey thanks for the offer, me and my dad get into doing this kind of stuff so we'd do it at his house. I think I'm about 40-45 minutes from you over by milford. I guess your right, I don't think I'll drive more than 10k a year, so that should keep me safe while at school

Hey thanks for the offer, me and my dad get into doing this kind of stuff so we'd do it at his house. I think I'm about 40-45 minutes from you over by milford. I guess your right, I don't think I'll drive more than 10k a year, so that should keep me safe while at school


Milford... Livonia... Whatever! I'm out there to go to Baker's for the car shows all the time in the summer anyways, so I'd be happy to help if you need it. Get ahold of me and I'll PM you my cell phone number or something. You should meet up with myself and the local f-body crown sometime, there's a few of us with some pretty sick cars, and I have a feeling we're all close to the same age (our group ranges from 20-25, I'm right in the middle at 23) Anyways, good luck on the cam choice, let me know if you need anything.

Hotcam is tougher to make passable because of the 112 LSA, but definitely doable. My tr224 passed emissions flawlessly year in and year out with the setup in sig, all I did was swap race pipes for cats when emissions time came around. Jimmy John's BLT, a cooler of bud, and a pack of smokes and that's all I charge for use of my garage, tools, and my time. LOL