i've done all the searches and the reading to get most of the info i need. like it can be done. the center pilot hole is .500" x 1.0625" and the drive dowel must have .685" stick out. i can only assume that the dowel is the same diameter as any other sbc cam.

my question: are the timing gear locating pin on any sbc cam and the dist drive dowel on an lt1 cam in the same location. in other words, can i replace the shorter pin with a longer dowel and have the correct ignition timing.

does anyone have first... or second hand knowledge of this conversion, the reliability, etc.

before everyone starts telling their opinions on the best cam... i already have a zz4 cam and like its profile better than any of the other lt1 cams. mind you im looking for low end and have a bone stock lt1. of course, ill have new lt4 valve springs during the swap and possibly a timing set if you guys can talk me into it.

 

btt

 

will a tpi cam work in a 92-93 lt1?
will a 95-97 vented opti cam work in a 92-93 lt1 or tpi engine?

 

Sounds to me like you know what you are doing, the pin is in the right spot, and from memeory your pilot hole numbers are good too, I know the .500 is.

This is the cam I have in my Caprice and I do like it, I am researching other option but I certainly do not regret the ZZ4 cam for one moment.
Since this is a truck application it may interest you to know that with this cam I towed a small boat fine with 2.93 gears and a stock stall, everyday weight of my car is over 4400lbs.

 

thanks for the info dwayne.
did you get a new pin from a cam manufacturer or make one? someone told me they've seen these conversions break. how many miles have you got on yours? how hard is it to get the old pin out?

 

Get a new pin from GM might be tought to find a parts guy that knowledgable local, so I suggest trying one of the forum recommended guys they should be a bit more up on things, I think cost is under a buck.

I guess for the pin it is a matter of putting the pin in a vise and pull and twist on the cam, I got mine already modded, it was used and I have about 14k on it since Aug. Never heard of a failure.

 

lt1 scout , im having the same problems. in the process of putting the zz4 in my truck what did you do about the cam center the zz4 cam is a smaller tapered center compared to the stock 95 cams longer deeper hole? Are you going to use 1.5 or 1.6 rockers? i was told i might have problems with my fuel injection because this cam is for a carb set up. but i dont see why. do u? If you find where to get the dowel pin please let me know ill do the same. thanks

 

The dimensions he listed are what the center hole has to be machined too. On the rockers you can get away with 1.6 byt the LT4 springs would not be enough to control it. Stop taking advise from whoever told you it would not work because it is from a carbed application, the wide LSA as compared to other carbed cams combined with the LT1s very flexible pcm make this a total non-issue. You will need to get the pcm reprogrammed though, it will run without but not anywhere near potential. I have been told my car sounds stock so the pcm can handle it that well with just a mailorder tune and could only get better with dyno time or if I would spend less time here and more time tweaking it.

 

Dwayne ,Thanks for the info lots of help!!!!!!