A camshaft is what opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head(s). Racing camshafts increase the amount of lift allowing more fuel/air to enter the engine cylinders and allow more exhaust out, which means more horsepower. Also, depending on how the camshaft is ground (the shape of the lobes), they also increase the amount of time the valves are held open (refered to as the duration of the cam lobe). High lift cams cause a rough idle but make more horsepower.
Actually, the overlap has more to do with the roughness of the idle than the actual lift; the amount of time that both the exhaust and the intake valves are held open at the same time. At low RPM's exhaust interrupts the intake charge making idle rough, though it improves scavenging and cylinder filling at high RPM's.
A mild cam would not make it too rough. There is a slight risk a mild lift camshaft could increase wear on the valve guides. I installed a mild camshaft in my truck to get more torque. The truck had 60,000 miles on the odometer. After about 20,000 miles with the new camshaft, I noticed a little puff of blue smoke when it started, which is an indication of valve guide wear. Apparently, the change in valve lift was just enough to increase wear on the guides, allowing a little oil to pass.
228/228-112LSA .581/.581 is the one I have for a daily driver. You will need to change the valve springs due to the high lift. The low LSA number gives the lumpyness, like an old muscle car.
However changing the cam will effect your emissions, so take car on what you change it too, see what others have done in your area to get it through emissions. Less valve overlap is better, the stock cam is under 200/200 with an 117LSA
@GarrettKeetley yet the 70's and 80s will get absolutely raped by an ls1 fbody
realmofexcursion 6 months ago
aaah this is bad ass. sound like a fairly agressive cam though. ever run it at the track?
wccfl07 11 months ago
hmm, is there an even more badass car out there? - I don't think so!!
NIIIIIIICE!!!
fetterFriB 1 year ago
mild cam would not ruin daily drive. I run a 239/242 601/601 114 lob separation 4000 stall on the streets every day
toofastws62001 2 years ago
LOL, thats AWSOME man....thats not a mild cam though....I would love to see it...
glareofspace 2 years ago
@toofastws62001 you have a 4000 stall for a daily driver? damn what gears are you running?
98BlackTransAm 1 year ago
Nice sounding car you have. I was curious as too how much lift your camshaft has?
stevesled 2 years ago
one bad ass t/a
Ibanez91 2 years ago
wait! what about a batmoblie?? son of a bitch! I have a black formula ws6 and i got the batmoblie once lol
drunkendeity 3 years ago
What exactly does a cam do?
Does it provide extra power, or does it just make it sound like a diesel engine?
jasonstheory 3 years ago
A camshaft is what opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head(s). Racing camshafts increase the amount of lift allowing more fuel/air to enter the engine cylinders and allow more exhaust out, which means more horsepower. Also, depending on how the camshaft is ground (the shape of the lobes), they also increase the amount of time the valves are held open (refered to as the duration of the cam lobe). High lift cams cause a rough idle but make more horsepower.
hemi57 3 years ago 29
Thanks. That was a very helpful answer!
jasonstheory 3 years ago
Well said partner,I couldn't have said it better myself.
DJ2H 3 years ago
Actually, the overlap has more to do with the roughness of the idle than the actual lift; the amount of time that both the exhaust and the intake valves are held open at the same time. At low RPM's exhaust interrupts the intake charge making idle rough, though it improves scavenging and cylinder filling at high RPM's.
Technomancer71 2 years ago
would a mild cam ruin my ls1 daily driver? like make it too rough?
BuRd32 2 years ago
A mild cam would not make it too rough. There is a slight risk a mild lift camshaft could increase wear on the valve guides. I installed a mild camshaft in my truck to get more torque. The truck had 60,000 miles on the odometer. After about 20,000 miles with the new camshaft, I noticed a little puff of blue smoke when it started, which is an indication of valve guide wear. Apparently, the change in valve lift was just enough to increase wear on the guides, allowing a little oil to pass.
hemi57 2 years ago
228/228-112LSA .581/.581 is the one I have for a daily driver. You will need to change the valve springs due to the high lift. The low LSA number gives the lumpyness, like an old muscle car.
However changing the cam will effect your emissions, so take car on what you change it too, see what others have done in your area to get it through emissions. Less valve overlap is better, the stock cam is under 200/200 with an 117LSA
KnightlightUK 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The staggered idling indicates that there is a supercharger there.
RedundanceBoy 3 years ago
no it doesnt lmao, that's called a cam....
papaown 3 years ago 3
lol, yup. the supercharger makes a whine sound
beto903 3 years ago
really i thought only loser did that noise
tamponslayer 2 years ago
lol
GMMGJethot 3 years ago
lol wow idiot quote of the day
pretyflywiteguy 3 years ago
Survey: 98-02 WS6 owners. What do most people call your car, Night Rider or Batmobile? I have a black ws6, and most ppl call it B-mobile
sanfordfu 4 years ago
I have a pewter T/A with black wheels. I get Batmobile also.
99ta 3 years ago
not supercharged dumbass
CIVPIT510 4 years ago
uhm, you cant see under the hood. it prolly is. just not revvin it high enough to hear the supercharger workin
scottwatt47 4 years ago
The car has P1SC Procharger on it running around 10 pounds of boost.
BigRedRig 4 years ago 3
you can def hear the blower whine just a touch at around :50
AFireInsideSS 3 years ago
@BigRedRig its funny how he trys to call you out on it and it's YOUR car. sounds good man!
DarkBB2 1 year ago
@CIVPIT510 you obviously don't hear it deaf ass.
MrBts07777 1 week ago
sounds excellent! I have a 97 silverado and i am thinking about a mild cam. How big of a difference did you notice?
SmokinF150s247 4 years ago
pretty cool
napalmstrike 4 years ago