LS1 cam swap - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

oh one ls1 SS · 07-21-2005, 01:25 AM

i have a 2001 SS and wanted to swap out the cam shaft. i got a few prices and one place said it would take 18 Hrs. and another place said it would take 4-6 Hrs. i was just wondering if anyone knew how long it takes or even better.. a place that does it and isnt to expensive. thanks[/b]

foff667 · 07-21-2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh one ls1 SS

i have a 2001 SS and wanted to swap out the cam shaft. i got a few prices and one place said it would take 18 Hrs. and another place said it would take 4-6 Hrs. i was just wondering if anyone knew how long it takes or even better.. a place that does it and isnt to expensive. thanks[/b]

should take about 4hrs...i think ttp does cam/VS swaps for ~$400...alot of shops not familiar dont know you dont have to pull the heads.

JW · 07-21-2005, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foff667

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh one ls1 SS

i have a 2001 SS and wanted to swap out the cam shaft. i got a few prices and one place said it would take 18 Hrs. and another place said it would take 4-6 Hrs. i was just wondering if anyone knew how long it takes or even better.. a place that does it and isnt to expensive. thanks[/b]

should take about 4hrs...i think ttp does cam/VS swaps for ~$400...alot of shops not familiar dont know you dont have to pull the heads.

Speaking of TTP I just took a look at their website again and was checking out their Installation prices, did they up all their prices becuase they are not as low as they used to be.?

JW

foff667 · 07-21-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW

Quote:

Originally Posted by foff667

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh one ls1 SS

i have a 2001 SS and wanted to swap out the cam shaft. i got a few prices and one place said it would take 18 Hrs. and another place said it would take 4-6 Hrs. i was just wondering if anyone knew how long it takes or even better.. a place that does it and isnt to expensive. thanks[/b]

should take about 4hrs...i think ttp does cam/VS swaps for ~$400...alot of shops not familiar dont know you dont have to pull the heads.

Speaking of TTP I just took a look at their website again and was checking out their Installation prices, did they up all their prices becuase they are not as low as they used to be.?

JW

yup they definitly raised most if not all of their services...i think Steve is holding them up

I knew they had raised their tuning prices...figured that would be good for me hehe

9secfirebird · 07-21-2005, 03:25 PM

you dont have to take apart the top of the motor, so the place quoting you 4-6 hrs is prolly good, just dont go to cartek

oh one ls1 SS · 07-21-2005, 05:00 PM

thanks guys doe's anyone have their websight?

foff667 · 07-21-2005, 05:09 PM

ttperformance.net

ar0ck · 07-21-2005, 08:42 PM

Their located in Clifton NJ btw, and they dont like working on LT1's

foff667 · 07-21-2005, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

Their located in Clifton NJ btw, and they dont like working on LT1's

its cuz they're slow

Ian · 07-21-2005, 11:52 PM

oh one ls1 SS · 07-22-2005, 07:08 PM

haha in your guy's opinion should i swap out the heads and cam or supercharg the SOB? and what heads are powerfull and not too expensive.

kamikaz · 07-22-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foff667

Quote:

Originally Posted by TransAm4Life

Their located in Clifton NJ btw, and they dont like working on LT1's

its cuz they're slow

Ah man that's it,thems fighting words...just kidding

Later,

Santos

foff667 · 07-23-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh one ls1 SS

haha in your guy's opinion should i swap out the heads and cam or supercharg the SOB? and what heads are powerfull and not too expensive.

its up to you...there are dozens of ls1 heads but few with consistant results...some of the head companies have gone out of business over teh last couple of years because of dirt goin down and there are reports & problems for almost all other "cheap" heads out there.

LoudAssZ · 07-24-2005, 10:01 PM

About 3 months... @ my house

foff667 · 07-24-2005, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoudAssZ

About 3 months... @ my house

thought you had an lt1 car? cam swaps are slightly different/easier in ls1 cars.

Batman · 07-30-2005, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh one ls1 SS

haha in your guy's opinion should i swap out the heads and cam or supercharg the SOB? and what heads are powerfull and not too expensive.

Either you can get good or inexpensive, can't get both for an LS1. On a budget a set of worked 5.3 heads is probably your best bet, otherwise the 2 best sets I know of are the Rapid Motorsports heads and AFR's, but either will set you back some coin. Also when you go for your cam swap you may need tuning also, keep that in mind cause it isn't cheap. I know when I took my car to Rapid Mike did the cam, springs, seats in about 4 hours, with a Pizza break. If you follow the standard GM procedure (the 16 hour one) it calls for removing the engine, completely unnecessary.

1FastWS6 · 08-04-2005, 06:23 PM

If you don't know what you're doing, I would pay someone to have it done. But it's best to research the project before you talk to a shop. A LOT of shops can rip you off on labor if you don't know how long it should take. I recently did a cam swap in a 98 Vette about a month ago. Everything went REALLY smooth. It should have taken no more than 8-10 hrs....until we realized that all of his pushrods were bent. Pulled the heads, and all of the pistons were marked. Long story short, we ended up rebuilding the motor.

foff667 · 08-04-2005, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FastWS6

If you don't know what you're doing, I would pay someone to have it done. But it's best to research the project before you talk to a shop. A LOT of shops can rip you off on labor if you don't know how long it should take. I recently did a cam swap in a 98 Vette about a month ago. Everything went REALLY smooth. It should have taken no more than 8-10 hrs....until we realized that all of his pushrods were bent. Pulled the heads, and all of the pistons were marked. Long story short, we ended up rebuilding the motor.

ls1 cam/spring swaps can be done in less then 4hrs for an experienced ls1 guy.

1FastWS6 · 08-05-2005, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foff667

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FastWS6

If you don't know what you're doing, I would pay someone to have it done. But it's best to research the project before you talk to a shop. A LOT of shops can rip you off on labor if you don't know how long it should take. I recently did a cam swap in a 98 Vette about a month ago. Everything went REALLY smooth. It should have taken no more than 8-10 hrs....until we realized that all of his pushrods were bent. Pulled the heads, and all of the pistons were marked. Long story short, we ended up rebuilding the motor.

ls1 cam/spring swaps can be done in less then 4hrs for an experienced ls1 guy.

I don't doubt it in an f-body. But the vette was a pain in the ass,

oh one ls1 SS · 08-07-2005, 05:27 PM

okay.. since i dont know anything about cam's and lift and duration or anything like that can you guy's recommend a good cam that will give me a good power increase but still be "civalized" for daily driving? i was looking at one from thunderracing.com and the model number is 63-LS-216/220 and what it says about it is "1300-6300 RPM Power Band. Computer Tuning Required with automatic transmission cars. One of our most popular cams...This has proven to be a very well balanced camshaft in that it makes good power across the entire RPM range. Works well with Crane 1.8 Roller Rockers." is this good? any suggestions? also what do i have to upgrade or change thanks

foff667 · 08-07-2005, 06:05 PM

you have to upgrade springs basically for almost any cam shaft as the stock springs arent worth crap...918's are a cheap way out for most cams with under 600 lift...a dual spring like patriots or racetech are only $100 more & will generally last longer & give you mroe protection if one of them fails before you have a chance to swap them out...most dual setups will last 25k miles on a cam with less then 600 lift...singles generally have a shorter life, but I cant really put a # on how much less or more. I would say go at least with the tr224 cam...in an auto go with one on a 114lsa & you'll have a good cam with a very nice powerband that I think you'll be happy with...with autos they have a lower commanded idle which is why the larger the cam the harder it will be to have it idle...but the one your looking at is pretty dinky, though I've seen good #'s put down by it, it would not be my first choice.

j0n · 08-07-2005, 06:24 PM

ur gunna need tuning no mateter what

foff667 · 08-07-2005, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0n

ur gunna need tuning no mateter what

depends on the size of the cam & what tranny he has...autos suck with larger cams...m6's can get away with alot more...ive heard of people running 224+112 cams with m6's...you cant get away with that for more then a couple of days in an auto.

oh one ls1 SS · 08-07-2005, 08:11 PM

shes a 6 speed

Batman · 08-07-2005, 08:49 PM

You probably won't need tuning, but you will get alot more out of it with tuning.