im kinda new with the whole cam thing. but i have a 99 LS1 and want to get a mid sized cam on it, and i wanna no exactly what it does. does it add power to ur car? does it decrease fuel mileage? and how much does it actually cost to get ur car cammed? thx for the help

 

wow i'm not even sure where to start.

try this for what a cam does...and how it works:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/camshaft.htm


a cam will add power, assuming you put a "bigger" cam in....how much will depend on ALOT of variables.

just because you install a cam, doesn't neccessarily mean your gas mileage will drop.
i'm running a decent size cam, with crappy tuning and i get 24-26mpg on the highway...only about 2-4mpg less than when i was near stock.

cam itself is under $500
but the valve springs, pushrods, gaskets and other misc items can add up. and also there are things worth replacing when you install a cam...just for peace of mind. if you have the engine torn apart, why NOT install a new/better oil pump and timing chain?

then you'll need a tune following the install for optimum performance. small cams may be tolerable on stock tune....but you wont get as much power or driveability.

 

I'll have an MT1 X1 cam for sale in a few days along with the springs and retainers. I'll let it all go for $300 + shipping. It's 230/227 duration and around .590 lift on a 112 LSA. It made 380rwhp in my car with an ls1 intake manifold.

The only thing else valvetrain related you'll need is hardened pushrods for the swap, which are $100. You'll also need a ported oil pump $150 and an LS2 timing chain set $45.

Mike

 

Just make sure you understand, depending on what you are going for, to really unlock power from a cam you need to allow your engine to breathe better. I.E. intake, headers, exhaust, p&p TB and heads. Like I said, depends on what you are going for.

 

if you put in a lerger cam you might have to have the car professionally tuned. i use exotic performance plus in columbia city indiana. they do a ton of these and always make it right. that mti cam is a good deal

 

Why do you want a cam if you aren't sure what one is or what it does?

 

X2 ^ .

 

+3. why not just get some bolt ons and save your money.