Need help on which GT cam to get

[Will]

I am deciding on which gt cam i want to get, the stage 1 or stage 2. My car is a daily driver with alot of highway miles and thats why i was worried about the stage 2. I also was thinking about getting ported heads with it. Are p&p intake manifolds worth the money? Just trying to not spend to much money on my car and trying to keep some gas mileage.

[grayman]

is your engine burning oil?

How much life is left in that engine...that's the question.

The P and P crowd are putting out some big numbers and running around with pretty fast cars.

If you need a valve job...you need a valve job. when you put new heads on old engine sometimes the compression is restored and this can cause more oil loss from piston ring blow by. Not always...but the older the engine the greater the chance of this happening.

On the other hand...this is a chance for you to
renew the valvetrain. you may want to include timing chain, springs, etc...and all the trappings that go with the new cam.

You will be hearing from the N/A cam crowd very soon, I think...but I believe the Stage 2 is a pretty serious cam. Make sure any following recommendations for the Stage 2 (or stage 1 for that matter) are considering that you said the engin 'has a lot of miles.'

check some of the bios and sigs of bulit N/A motor dudes here. That may help you decide if it is worth the money.

good luck.

oh, yea...gas mileage...my build-up including the supercharger is same gas mileage as when the car was brand new. (I wouldn't be able to say the same had I built same power with N/A)

oh, yea...oh, yea... If you are paying to have the work done....it could be an expensive test to see if your high mileage engine lasts long enough to enjoy the added power. If you are doing the work your self then it is just your time...and gasket costs...if you need to pull the engine for block rebuild. You should have plenty of life left in the ported heads and polished intake to swap those back on the rebuilt engine.

These cars are light enough at 3400# to respond well to 250+ hp. The 3.8 responds well to major mods like intake, heads, forced induction. Put the two together and you are close to or greater than pre LS1 v8 stock power. Fun stuff.

[ March 14, 2005, 04:17 AM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[GPFish]

Is your car auto or M5??

Higher gears REALLY help with the GT2 cam

If you have an auto, Id recommend a torque converter definatly with the GT2 cam.

The GT2 cam makes its power more above 6K RPMs, where the GT1 cam makes its power around 6K RPMs. We have a local GP member that runs 14.3s in his GT with stock gears and converter. While others have run 14.4s with a GT1 cam and stock converter and gears. The fastest GT1 cam time is 14.2 with stock heads IIRC. Gotta remember, this is in the GP world as well.

Both cams are able to be ran on stock heads.

I would personally recommend the GT1 cam. That and some p&p your car should really move, while maintaining streetability, and gas mileage. Plus you will retain your low end without having to buy a torque converter or gears.

[T-Punk]

PNP intake manifolds are not going to be your best bang for the buck, however they make your engine more efficient. PNP intakes are more of a "supporting mod". In other words they will help all your other mods produce more power as a result of the pnp intakes. If you go with the GT2 i would recomend the pnp intakes and heads. With the GT1 you can just do the heads. Also to reitterate what has been said, with the GT2 a torque convertor and gears are a really good idea. Another thing, since the GT2 makes most of its power higher in the rpm range you will need to get your car tuned to really take advantage of the full potential of the cam.

[blacksport]

Get the GT2, you'll need some tuning done after you install it to get it running how it should. It will run for everyday use untuned but it will need to be done if you want anything out of the cam.


I saw my gas milage drop big time with a cam, about 40 miles per tank. I don't think you need a new torque converter with the GT2. Mine works just fine and hits the power band nicely.

My ca is a daily driver and I don't really have any problems. I never had it die once with or without tuning with the GT2 cam.

I wouldnt waste my money on the GT1. Get the GT2 if your going to do it. Why do all that work for minimal gains right?


My car put out 223 RWHP after tuning with stock heads and intake. It livened the car up alot.


If I did it again I'd of put in a GT3 and higher stall. My car is driven every day and never gives problems. The biggest problem is tightening the darn header bolts.

[The_Unforgiven]

It's your choice on the cam. Research first, then decide what you think should be right for you.

blacksport: You say not to get the GT1 Cam because of minimal gains. Why do you say that? People with the GT1 Cam have soon really good gains.
Example: Seppo put down 237 RWHP and 232 RWTQ with the GT1 Cam.
But you only put down 223 RWHP with the GT2 cam.
I think your statement about "minimal gains" is a little misleading.

[GPFish]

Both cams have great gains. If it is your daily driver, stick with the GT1 cam. You wont have to redline everytime you wanna get power.