What are the stock LS1 Valve springs good for? What is the biggest cam that can be put in a LS1 without a computer upgrade and changing the valve springs? How much HP increase can be gained from tuning with just a cam install? Thanks

 

The stock springs are (barely) adequate for the stock cam. Pretty much ANY cam upgrade, and it's recommended to upgrade the springs as well, to at least LS6 springs, if not, something better quality (aftermarket).

As far as tuning, a "mild" cam probably won't see as much gains from a tune as a "wild" cam, but I'm sure there's power to be found (about the same as the car bone stock, which from what I've read/heard, can be upwards of ~15+ RWHP!!

As far as overall HP gains, there are cams out there advertising ~100+ HP increases over stock, with stock heads, and bolt-ons only!! A typical cam should get you (with all the supporting parts, ie: LT headers) close to the ~400 RWHP mark .

 

Yep. Stock springs = stock cam.

LS6 springs = LS6 cam and VERY mild cams.

Anything besides that require aftermarket springs (I suggest the PRC duals).

The sky's the limit with a cam swap. Anything from 350 rwhp to 450 rwhp and everything in between.

Tuning after a cam swap can pick up anywhere from 15-30 extra rwhp with increased driveability. I went from 385 rwhp to 415 rwhp in my cam-only setup before/after a dynotune.

Mike

 

I've been thinking about throwing these LS6 valvesprings I have into my car just to make it a little better.

I want to be able to rip on my car all day without fear of blowing it up.

 

And when you do that change the pushrods to hardened ones and have at it.

 

I dunno about hardened pushrods on a stock cam/valvespring/rocker motor.

I'd rather bend/brake a pushrod then bust up some rockers or something.

 

 

I dunno. I'm trying to sort truth from fiction here. People post all kinds of bs. I can only go by what I read. lol

 

You aren't going to break a rocker with a hardened pushrod. I was running 471 rwhp on the stock rockers with aftermarket pushrods turning a hair under 7000 rpm.

In fact, most people with 97-98 cars upgrade their pushrods before anything else because they were prone to breaking with overrevving.

 

Thanx!

 

When you doubt what someone has posted it is always useful to check out that person before discounting their advice.

If you look to the left of the screen you'll see that I'm a moderator of this section, with a few posts, and a long history here at camaroz28.com. Then if you look at the sig you'll see that I walk the walk not just talk it.

 

I haven't discounted only questioned because of other things I've read from people (on other forums) who've built cars as well.

Engines have been around for a long time and people still argue around how to go fast.

 

You've got a point. That said, you'd do well to read carefully and take notes on everything Al says about LS1 performance.