INTERNAL ENGINE MODIFICATIONS Valvetrain |Heads | Strokers | Design | Assembly

5.7 cam swap

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Old 12-26-2005, 01:45 PM
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Default 5.7 cam swap

Would a 98-00 F-Body cam help out enough to make sence to install in a 5.7L vortec? Just need some thoughts on the subject. thanks
Old 12-26-2005, 01:59 PM
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If your 99 has a 5.7, then I assume it's an OBS, right? If it is then the cam will not fit in your engine.
Old 12-26-2005, 02:09 PM
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Ya it is an obs, but they are all roller cams right? So what would be the diff. in the cam that would make it not work?
Old 12-26-2005, 02:39 PM
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Well, there are alot of reasons, like 0.0% parts interchangeability between a GenI SBC and a GenIII.

For instance, your engine uses a distributor to tell a single coil to fire each sparkplug. That distibutor is driven off a gear on the back of the cam shaft.

A GenIII engine has no distributor and coil-near plug ignition. There is no gear on the back of the cam shaft.

The cam bearing size is different, and a GenIII is physically shorter than a GenI SBC.

Why not use an aftermarket cam designed for your engine?
Old 12-26-2005, 03:10 PM
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most cams are to big to work with the factory heads or to small for me to want to install. Plus the price diff. in a factory cam versus a factory cam. But I guess that not haven a distributor gear could be a prob. thanks for reminding me of that before I bought one. thanks again
Old 12-26-2005, 11:06 PM
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Check out this thread, all the info you need to install a big cam in a Vortec 350. Just use the +.050 locks and beehive springs and you cam run decent lift.

peace
pauly
Old 12-26-2005, 11:27 PM
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and that thread cand be found where....?
haha i think you forgot sumthin!
Old 12-28-2005, 01:35 PM
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OOps, here is teh link, http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/...=184546&page=2

It talks about teh +.050" locks and beehive springs to allow .550" of lift on Vortec heads with no machining.

sorry about that.

peace
Hog
Old 12-28-2005, 04:51 PM
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Here is sa list of the GM roller cams for the 87 and up Gen1 SBC and the 1996-2000 Vortec GEN1-E engones

LT1 1.5 ratio (the 1992 Corvette LT1 cam is the most agressive LT1 cam)
.447/.459 201/208 ??? 95-97 F-body LT1 alum. head 10.5:1 170cc
LT4 Stock 1.6 ratio
.476/.480 203/210 115 alum LT4 head 10.8:1 195cc 6300rpm redline in LT4
LT4 Stock1.5 ratio
.446/.450 203/210 115 alum LT4 head 10.8:1 1.5's reduce a little duration
L31 1.5 ratio
.414/.429 192/197 ??? iron head 9.4:1 170cc
L31 1.6 ratio
.444/.459 192/197 ??? 1.6's add a little duration 170cc
L98 1.5 ratio
.403/.415 202/206 115 245 hp 4200 330lb/ft@3200 sae net
LT4 Hot 1.6 ratio
.525/.525 218/228 112 LT4 or Fastburn alum. 430hp@6000 ZZ430
LT4 Hot 1.5 ratio
.495/.495 218/228 112 1.5's reduce duration a little
ZZ4 350 1.5 .474/.510 208/221 112 L98 heads 355hp@5250 405@3500,or 385hp@5600 385@4000 with Fastburn alum. heads
350 HO 1.5 .488/.509 214/218 112 330hp@5000 380 lb/ft@3800 with Vortec heads
383HT & RJ 350 crate engines
.431/.451 196/206 109 HT 383/340hp@4500 435@4000 vortec iron heads
383ZZ 1.5
.509/.528 222/230 112 GM 425hp@5400 460@4500 ZZ383 cam FB alum. head
????? 1.5
.539/.558 234/242 112 ???in GM perf. parts book, along with all other cams

Well these are pretty much all of the GM made roller cams for possible use in any GEN I (TBI, TPI),GEN1-E (VORTEC L31,L30 350,305)and GEN II (LT1, LT4)smallblock originally equiped with a roller cam.
That L98 cam with some 1.6mRR's is not a bad cam.

By using some +.050 valve locks you can use a cam with more lift without the retainers smashing the valve seals. Here they are http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/355...Valve-Locks.htm

Along with some beehive style springs and the above plus size locks, the Vortec heads can handle .550" of lift.

if you use Vortec heads with 1.6:1 rocker arms, you will need to enlarge the pushrod hole, you can use a dremel or simply run the next size drill bit thru the hole to provide clearance. I installed a LT4 Hotcam into an L31 with 1.6:1 roller rockers(GM Hotcam Kit) and the pushrod holes required elongation, no big deal though, yoou just dont want the pushrods rubbing on the heads. the Vortec heads dont use guideplates, so self aligning rocker arms are needed.

Here is 1 of those Ramjet 350 and HT 383 cams for sale on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/350-...499485 6QQrdZ1

here is a 212/218 at .050
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bran...4 561871QQrdZ1

Here is the good old Lt4 Hotcam, see my list above for both 1.5 and 1.6:1 rocker lift measurements
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-...4 159637QQrdZ1

Some lingenfelter cams
http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchan...&Category_Code=

http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchan...&Category_Code=

The following Lingenfelter cam can be had off of ebay for $75.00US, I might use this in my truck, a guy has 1 of these in a 98 Vortec 350, he said it has good low rpm torque and relly pulls good all the way till the rev limit of 5800 rpm in Vortec trucks with the rev limit raised, the stock limit is 5600 rpm, no one has been able to raise a Vortec 96-99 rev limiter above 5800 rpm (at least with the OEM PCM) NO ONE, I have tried, Nelson;s, Ed Wright and my Tunercat OBD2 tuning software.
Even when all these PCM tuners set the limit to 6100 rpm, the PCM shuts the injectors down at 5800 rpm, this really sucks, this has forced me to rethink my Marine intake manifold cam/head dreams, I may just use a dry NOS system and put my 29 lb/hr injectors to good use, 480 hp can be had with my injectors with a dry shot)

http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchan...&Category_Code=

or maybe this 1
http://www.lingenfelter.com/Merchan...&Category_Code=

Does anyone have any cam recommendations for the L31?????

peace
Hog
Old 01-12-2006, 09:58 PM
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Cool I have been dealing with your basic application for some time

I have tried several different cams in my 97 shortwide.I built my own fuel injection system for mine using a mix of LS1,TPI,and other industial and factory GM parts together along with a aftermarket intake manifold "I dont mean a air tube from the filter to the throttle body" to flow enough air and fuel to support my 383 up to 6500 rpm. I am curently in the process of marketing the design because it has not be done yet and Ed Wright of FastChips "Tulsa,Ok" told me it would be agreat improvement over the factory design because it is very tuneable and will allow the installation of artermarket injecters and offers a adjustable fuel pressure regulator.This is why I built it.Best of all it will work with the factory computer.Fast Chips will be able to maximize the power output by using mine as a test rat if any one out there is interested.Get rid of the factory intake manifold.High RPM horsepower and low end torque. Plus run any SBC Hydralic roller cam you want. I get away with one that has 224/230 duration at 50 533''/544'' 112 lobe seperation awesome cam lope sound,horsepower,torque, and best of all no Check Engine on at all. Plus all factory components work just fine. Will work on all Vortec 5.0 and 5.7 1996-2000. If any one is interesed just call me at (580) 678 1765. i can build this system very affordable for anyone. Email Jongoodmanmechanic1@yahoo.com


"Unda da hood" "Im not a gangster,im from Oklahoma"
11 to 1 compression ratio
edelbrock aluminum e tec 170 heads, slightly modified edelbrock intake manifold to accept fuel injection combined with old school TPI fuel rails
383 with forged flattop pistons and LT1 rods,Arp rod bolts
1.6 roller rockers
Thorlly tri Y headers, custom X- Pipe, dual 2.5 exhaust and blowmasters
Comp LT1 Grind 224/230 at 50 276/281 ad. 533''/544'' 112 lobe seperation
factory MAF sensor,Factory LS1 throttle body"80mm", 28 lbs hr injectors are factory LS1,MSD 6AL, Accell coil, 411 rearend gears with alburn differentional
2800 stall converter
15-19 miles to the gallon

Last edited by GoodmanPerformance; 01-12-2006 at 11:51 PM.


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