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What Cam Should i install

What cam should i use

  • Wbody Stage 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 3800 Stage one

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • zzp VS

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • zzp XP

    Votes: 6 100.0%
  • Total voters
    6
  • Poll closed .
04lss

04lss

New member
Im going to be pulling my engine out to Re gasket it, install mounts and get the heads ported.
while its out I want to add a cam
I have a few choices
ZZP VS cam
ZZP XP Cam
Wbody Stage one
3800 perf stage one

Its not a daily driver, I do want it to start in the winter which gets to about -5 around here, and to be streetable.
I am probably going to either intercool or go E85 in the future. I have headers. Stock trans right now, im planning to build another one this winter
 


it really comes down to who is going to port the heads. one option not mentioned is to get your heads ported by Chris Hinson and to then run a cam specced by him. IMO that would be the best way to do it. I am running an XP cam with a set of heads he ported before he was very well known in the 3800 community, and I went with that cam because that is what he recommended would work best with his heads.

edit for additional information: one other thing I forgot is the cam that Will from Overkill Motorsports specced, and he will gladly provide the details to get to get that cam built, he has 2 options, a small blower cam, and a big blower cam.
 


SgtMarshal said:
it really comes down to who is going to port the heads. one option not mentioned is to get your heads ported by Chris Hinson and to then run a cam specced by him. IMO that would be the best way to do it. I am running an XP cam with a set of heads he ported before he was very well known in the 3800 community, and I went with that cam because that is what he recommended would work best with his heads.
Click to expand...

Its just porting the runners my dad has a machinest friend who is basically going to match the size of the intake gaskets.
Its free, which is the main reason im having it done.
 
Ah ok.

No no offense but if you have the heads off and someone is porting them, why not mill the guides? Is it really that much more ? I don't know that's why I am asking. Seriously not trying to sound bad but ****, I never want to remove heads. I did it once in the car and it wasn't how I wanted to spend my Friday night that's for sure
this last build I did everything on the engine stand. Figured swapping cams is easier then heads , so got stage 3/4 heads and s3 cam. But I also did head studs just in case
 


Milling guides should be a no brainer...so even if you don't run a larger cam now, you don't have to worry about it down the stretch when you decide to man up and get something that isn't tiny.

But out of all those vendor bumpsticks, I still like the XP. The S1X is a great choice too...but you're not going to be able to tell the difference, even if you know the platform. The XP has a little higher ramp rate in the higher RPM's vs. the S1X which is all aimed low/midrange. I liked the XP because it came alive where these cars lack most of their power; up top.

All you need are some LS6 springs, a new stock timing chain, a new stock dampner, some headers, a smaller pulley, and a tune. With ported heads and an XP, that thing should be able to rock a 3.25"~ with ease.
 
I'd suggest saving a little bit of money and talking to Chris Hinson. Get a set of his "entry level" heads and whatever cam he specs. He's also got a lot of good info on YouTube.
 
Last edited:
Milling guides works, but imo you have to ask yourself what you want to achieve from the cam/engine? .510 or .590+ lift are two entirely different things and require different things. Lol... So your question should state what you want and what cam might get you there... On that note, I say go BIG or go home... No sense in doing a MILD cam build because like doing rockers, it'll only leave you wanting more!

: )
 
What is it that has to be done to the guides? I know my dad's 383 drag engine had new bronze valve guides installed in the heads
 


S1X cam!!!!! Anything more gets expensive and if you insist on having more throw away the blower and go turbo.

S1X on STOCK heads!

STOCK timing chain (put a fresh new on in)

STOCK Throttle body

105# springs

Ti retainers

E85allllllllllllthethings.jpg

run baby 2.8 pulley

Headers don't care what brand get some

SMILE FOR DAYS from blower sound and cammed E85 simple setup goodness!!!!

Best word of advice is this ....... Do S1X and SAVE the rest for transmission mods and rebuild!!! HAHAH S1X is plenty to nuke a transmission.

As for XP screw that cam its takes more to run than S1X like double roller and bigger springs, while offering barely any difference.

Ask Jayroca about his eleventybillon engine swaps while I just have to worry about keeping the transmission together on the S1X/E85 setup.....
Ive assploded 2 flexplates because I drive like a retard. But again I'd do S1X over XP all day every day!
 
MyNameBlows said:
S1X cam!!!!! Anything more gets expensive and if you insist on having more throw away the blower and go turbo.

S1X on STOCK heads!

STOCK timing chain (put a fresh new on in)

STOCK Throttle body

105# springs

Ti retainers

E85allllllllllllthethings.jpg

run baby 2.8 pulley

Headers don't care what brand get some

SMILE FOR DAYS from blower sound and cammed E85 simple setup goodness!!!!

Best word of advice is this ....... Do S1X and SAVE the rest for transmission mods and rebuild!!! HAHAH S1X is plenty to nuke a transmission.

As for XP screw that cam its takes more to run than S1X like double roller and bigger springs, while offering barely any difference.

Ask Jayroca about his eleventybillon engine swaps while I just have to worry about keeping the transmission together on the S1X/E85 setup.....
Ive assploded 2 flexplates because I drive like a retard. But again I'd do S1X over XP all day every day!
Click to expand...


I already bought a roll master single chain... can i run that with the 105s?
I also have a set of ls7 lifters from the engine i trashed a few years ago.
already have speed daddy headers.
Person porting the heads is doing it for free as a favor, thats why im not quick to send them anywhere.
im willing to spend the money i NEED to spend to run the cam safely, but i dont want to go all out.
 
As said above, you probably won't notice a difference between the xp or s1x. But I promise you, you will wish you would have gone bigger since you are going through all the effort to take the heads off.

The is3 and xpz are completely different animals from the smaller cams. It will literally cost you about $30 to have the valve guides milled.
 
Is milling the guides all that needs to be done to the heads to run something like an xpz?
I know I need like 130# springs and retainers and a double roller. (can the stock pushrods handle that?)
 
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