I have a LT1 from a B-body that I plan on putting in a 85 silverado. The engine is stock and I wanted to throw in a cam for more low end torque. I'm looking for power from idle to 4500rpm or so. Any input would be great. Thanks

 

The crane 104227 with springs and rockers.

 

I would change the rocker ratio and put some upgraded springs on the stock cam. From idle to 4500 you aren't going to do a whole lot better than the stocker. There certainly are cams that can give a good mid and high rpm boost but will compromise idle in doing so.

FWIW the fast bolton b-bodies are shifting up around 5800 or so, if that tiny cam makes power that high, adding 20 degrees of intake duration like the last poster suggested really does not make sense.

 

I just tried the comp cam selector program and nothing came up for on the shelve cams. Would it be worth having a custom cam made over keeping the stock one?

 

These are both from LE's site

212/222 .544/.544 114 LSA. - idle-5800 RPM
"Sleeper cam" with smooth idle improving HP and TQ everywhere.


218/224 .544/.544 111 LSA. - 1500-6000 RPM
Great low and mid range power with very mild idle and will easily pass emissions. Works with
stock gear and factory converter. Comparable to popular Crane 227 cam and GM 845 cam.



You could have the first one on 111lsa too. I picked a custom shelf cam from him and than made some changes based on my plan for the motor. I would tell anyone to do the same. Another shop offering the same thing would be advanced induction.

What gear/stall are you using??

 

What about the cadillac cam?

 

I have th400 with a 2800 stall. Gears are undecided still. I thinking of using 3.73s with 36" tires.

 

Do NOT trust any advise from Comp, just as well that it failed to give you advise because it would have been bad. They have some good products but BAD tech advise unless you know how to get ahold of an engineer rather than the tech line.

What the other posters fail to grasp is the question you are asking, you are looking for diesel performance from a gas engine, 3.73s and a 36" tire is like them using a 2.73ish gear with their 26" tires and you are probably packing at least 1000lbs more than they are accustomed too, so they keep giving you missguided advise.

Like I said before you aren't going to do a whole lot better than the b-body cam for what you are asking, give it some rocker ratio and decent springs and try it, worst case you have good rockers and springs should you decide you want to try a different cam afterall.

 

zz4 cam (note it is speced with 1.5 rocker arms)
10185071 - GM Performance Parts Hydraulic Roller Camshafts Details
This hydraulic roller tappet is used on the 5.7-liter H.O. 350 ZZ3 & 4 engines. The duration at lash point in degrees (intake/exhaust) is 275/280; duration at .050" tappet lift (intake/exhaust) is 208/221; and maximum lift with 1.5:1 rocker ratio (intake/exhaust) is 474/501. Valve lash is zero/zero and lobe centerline is 112 degrees.
$219.00 from jegs....

if you wanted a little more go with some 1.6 rocker arms

i think the zz4 cam with the 1.6 rocker arms would work good in a heavy truck with a stall and gears..

 

heres a spreadsheet some guy did on a dyno, comparing the zz4 with 1.5 rocker arms vs. lt4 hotcam with 1.6 rockerarms..


The LT4 HOT cam is spec'd with 1.6 ratio rockers as follows:
Lift (In/Exh) Duration (In/Exh)
.525 / .525 218 / 228

Versus the standard ZZ4 cam: (w/1.5 ratio)
.474 / .510 208 / 221

w/ Carburetor (*)
Production ZZ4 ------------ HOT Cam and 1.6 RR
RPM ----- HP Torque--------HP Torque
2000 ----- 125 328 --------- 128 336
2500 ----- 174 365-- ------- 174 365
3000 ----- 229 400---------- 234 410
3500 ----- 271 406---------- 278 417
4000 ----- 309 405---------- 318 417
4500 ----- 337 393---------- 354 413
5000 ----- 354 372---------- 380 399
5500 ----- 355 339---------- 394 376
6000 ----- 338 296---------- 391 324