I will be buying an LS1 f-body soon and I want to install a cam in it very soon after I buy it. Most likely it will have around 80-100k miles since I don't have all that much to spend. Anyway, what I want to know is how reliable can these engines be at that kind of mileage with a big cam such as a T-rex or similar size . I can't afford to have a major engine failure(meaning one that would require a rebuild). Would this just be a disaster waiting to happen or should it be alright as long as I maintain it properly?

 

A big cam like that is only good for racing. When you race you break stuff.

Doesn't sound like you can afford a big cam.

 

Come to think of it a cam that big is kinda too much for the street. I found 2 that seem like really good cams, the FM-11(228/230 .576"/.595" 112 LSA) and FM-13 (230/232 .595" .585" 112 LSA). Still not small cams but not huge either. Do you guys think the engine would get messed up by one of these cams if installed around 100k miles?

I don't plan to race or beat the crap out of this car, but I will take off once in a while on the highway or something.

 

Those would be much more livable.

Just change the push rods, get an LS2 timing chain and a "gold" spring and retainer package (patriot/PRC etc) of your choice, a good tune and enjoy the car. Some people say you need to upgrade to oil pump, but I didn't and I've had no probs. There are some t-rex guys who have been running for years on the stock pump. If you have good pressure, then why would you need to change it?

 

The Futral Motorsports cams are awesome. Both of those cams will work great in the car and both peak relatively early. (F11 around 6000 and the F13 around 6200).

Before you buy the cam, you'll need to buy around $1500-2000 of supporting mods first. (Headers, exhaust, CAI, LS6 intake manifold (pre-2001 cars), possibly gears, converter (if automatic), then spend another $500 or so for tuning after the cam.

Mike

 

There is no way or time that I wouldn't change the oil pump on a high mileage motor when I had the motor apart. It is a wear item and while maybe not worn out yet it will have some wear and tear on it from the previous 80-100k miles. It's only ~ $150 and if it fails your motor is gone.

Another thing that I would change during a high mileage cam swap is the whole timing set, not just the chain. On a low mileage car as mine was I just put an upgraded chain in. But with high miles I'd change out the gears too because even ifyou can't see it they will be worn down some which will effect cam timing.

 

maybee better to look at other possibilites to gain some power as a big cam swap is a costley job and is kind of risky on a high milage car... if I was going to do it on a car with getting over a 100K I'd go ahead and rebuild the whole thing and upgrade everything I can to get all the power out of it (stroker crank or whatever but thats a diffrent stroy).. just my 0.2

 

Thanks for the advice guys, all of it will be taken into account(besides the rebuild(I'll do that if it breaks). The good thing is that I'm a mechanic and I can do all the work myself, so that saves a lot of money and I'll know its done right.