Chevy LT1 Lifter issue/camshaft upgrade

[kevm14]

LS6 cam in my CTS-V for fun:

204/218 int/exh @ 0.05" duration 0.551" / 0.547" int/exh lift 117 LSA

All that lift is because the heads flow so well. Fairly wide LSA. My gut says ~210/~220 is where you want to be on your LT1 to make a worthwhile upgrade but not something that idles like shit (and drives like shit with stock exhaust, gearing, TC, etc.). That hotter CC cam may be a good choice. Is it the 502?

LM7 5.3L cam for fun:

190/191 int/exh @ 0.05" duration 0.466" / 0.457" int/exh lift 114 LSA

Now that's small for an engine that makes 285-295 hp from 5.3L. Good heads.

[Adam]

Those cams I listed are from their xtreme energy line. They also have another batch under the xtreme fuel injection line which run 1.6 rockers.

interestingly, their catalog only shows LT1s from 95-97. What about the 92-94?

Also in the LS section of this catalog, they have what looks like a pretty comprehensive list of different car and truck variants and their original applications.

[kevm14]

What is the full number of the hotter cam? Do you see the "503" in there? I think it's from that line.

[Adam]

No, its the 304. The 502 is 218/224@.050 .495/503 112 LSA.

[Adam]

Can't type fast enough on my phone. The bigger small cam is 07-304-8. There is also a 503. 224/230@.050 .503/.510 112 LSA.

[Adam]

All of the cams we have mentioned are from the xtreme energy line.

[kevm14]

For some reason I don't recall the 304 ever being discussed. Doesn't mean it won't work well. From back in the day, I recall the 227 being a great sleeper cam, developing a good amount of horsepower but also a very healthy torque curve, which was desirable for moving a B-body around. The LPE cam listed seems to be the spiritual successor if the Crane 227 is unavailable. The 503 is definitely getting hot and probably not what you want. One thing I remember is some people choose cams by the amount of idle lope. I'm an engineer, so my goal is as little lope as possible with all the drivability of the stock cam, but the power gains I want. There's also little point in putting in a cam that really needs a 6800 rpm shift point and 1-7/8" headers, if you just want some extra power over stock.

[Adam]

I agree with all that.

The notes for the 503 show "best cam for modified LT1. Better exhaust and 2000+ converter. Requires custom tuning." Not something I would want for the Fleetwood.

Now am engine swap into, say, a Monte Carlo is another thing.

[kevm14]

All cams require custom tuning. The cam makers may use the criteria that it will barely run without custom tuning as their definition of whether it is "required." I don't agree with that definition.

Are you willing to do either some gears OR a converter in the Fleetwood? Or neither?

3.42 would probably be fine for what you are looking for.

Or you could spend some money on a really good converter and keep the 2.93s and cruising RPMs.

[Adam]

I interpret their "custom tuning" as upgraded injectors and the like. I don't think tweaking some fuel maps is unreasonable. I think its the difference between re-jetting the carb and swapping out for another larger one.