LT1 camshaft suggestions?

[Zman1969]

I have a over the counter LT1 short block that PO had put a unknown hydraulic cam and was wanting to see what would be a good cam that may make this live on 93 octane I have no issues going back flat tappet or even a street roller BUT have to fit under stock Vette covers no poly locks want this to look like a stock 302

mildly smoothed 186 heads
472 intake

[Lynn]

Last time I checked the LT-1 cam was still available from Federal Mogul.

I run one in my 70 spec LT-1 dressed to look like a 302 and I really like it.

I get a little ping with 92 (no 93 available around here), so don't know what it would do on 93. I use 100LL from the local airport.

[firstgenaddict]

Which heads?
And what are the flow numbers -
Personally my opinion is - if you are considering a roller... DO IT!
HOWEVER call crower and give them the specs on the heads - flow numbers from .100 -.700 valve lift in .100 increments - YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

[LT1vette]

I would run the LT1 cammed engine, set up by a an excellent tuner against, that roller...ANYTIME.
The LT1 is one of the most "under rated" engines built. They had to have the original, camshaft and the ALL the distributor main shaft and accelerator cam to run as designed.
Find all the original parts, especially the camshaft and dist internals, the properly jetted Holley and you won't be looking at very many tail lights at the drags and you'll get decent mileage...

[SuperNovaSS]

Originally Posted by LT1vette

I would run the LT1 cammed engine, set up by a an excellent tuner against, that roller...ANYTIME.
The LT1 is one of the most "under rated" engines built. They had to have the original, camshaft and the ALL the distributor main shaft and accelerator cam to run as designed.
Find all the original parts, especially the camshaft and dist internals, the properly jetted Holley and you won't be looking at very many tail lights at the drags and you'll get decent mileage...

Um, I’d take that bet. The LT-1 cam is a great piece but a properly chosen roller would walk all over it.

Jason

[LT1vette]

Originally Posted by SuperNovaSS

Um, I’d take that bet. The LT-1 cam is a great piece but a properly chosen roller would walk all over it.

Jason

Yes...I'd run ya. Now the parts have to be comparable (lift for lift), streetable and on pump gas.
It took me a long time to realize the potential of the LT1 cam, it was overshadowed by the big blocks in its day. But I never got beat by a big block car, I was beaten by a "fuelie" cam car a few times, but I realized he had more money in his motor than I had.
The important part was getting it properly tuned....
Thx for the offer!!!

[napa68]

Here you go. I just bought one........

https://www.competitionproducts.com/.../#.YKATsahKiUk

As some others here can attest to, I love this cam.

In fact, I recently put a similar cam (but not the same....tighter lobe centers) and will probably be changing that out for this one.

I just works. Makes power past 7000 (provided everything else in the package is up to the task) and has manners off idle.

Hope that helps!
Tim

[frankk]

Napa what do you mean, it has manners off idle. I would like to find a cam that pulls like the LT1 or better and has a lumpy idle like the 572-720. I had a Sig Erson part # written down from years ago that I wanted to try, but of course now I can't find it.

[Lynn]

That is Elgin's version of the LT-1 camshaft. Exact same duration at .050 lift. To me, you are going to be hard pressed to find a better camshaft with those pop up pistons and stock 186 heads. Even if your heads are port matched, if they aren't hogged out, this cam flat out works. Eric Jackson (vintage muscle car parts) advise me to use this cam back in 2012 on my LT-1 even though that meant he wasn't making a sale.

Looks like slightly more lift, but then manufacturers sometimes play with those numbers.

Chev. recommended .024 and .030 valve lash, and Elgin recommends .020 and ,025, which would effectively increase lift. I would bet it it the old Federal Mogul grind, which was identical to the 178 camshaft from Chevrolet. John Z told me that FM made the over the counter version for GM. I have it in my engine and it screams pretty good. Barely any perceptible lump at idle. I don't go past 6500 because I don't need to with a 4.10 screw, next gear has plenty of torque. Stock Z/28 manifold and DZ carb and it gets rubber in all four gears, even with Competition Engineering traction bars and 255 60 tires out back.
Great street manners. Plenty of vac for power brakes. Don't know how you can go wrong. I do not have EDM lifters in that engine. But, I have NEVER, since 2012, had to adjust the lifters. I have checked them three times. All three times they were still on the money. I add one half bottle of GM EOS with each oil change.

Have a Fed Mogul cam in the box that will be going in the 70 LT-1 Corvette with EDM lifters to make sure we don't wipe a lobe. Will still use th GM EOS, which I use in everything that has a flat tappet and goes high RPM.

[frankk]

Thanks Lynn for the reply. I have only 2nd hand experience with LT1 power and that comes with watching LT1's at the drag strip. I want to find something that will wind up there and also have a very, very lumpy idle, crackely lumpy