GT1, GT2, and P0300

[Jared 3870]

So i have been researching on which cam i want and i am looking at the GT1 or GT2, but i was wondering if you all had any opinions on which one i should get. And with the cam ive heard of people using stock lifters/rockers, etc and others saying that you MUST change lifters/rockers/pushrods/springs/retainers. With the cam i want to be able to use my stock heads so i dont want to go to extreme. i was thinking of the GT2, but was wondering what your thoughts are on how much of the valvetrain would need changed. it says on ZZP's website that the GT2 may throw the p0300 SES code which is something like multiple cylinder random misfire. will the motor actually be misfiring at idle b/c of overlap or what?

[Phate]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

Im currently running the GT2. I threw the code and just had it programmed out of my PCM with a tune from Texas-Speed, I did the whole install myself, and i'll tell ya its b!tch. About 13 hrs start to finish, first v6 cam ive ever done, but by far not the first cam. The motor will NOT be misfiring at idle after you get the code fixed. I know when I did the install and took the first test drive, the car even wanted to die because it wanted to idle at 500 instead of 1k.

But, im loving the gt2, nice lope, note, its a top end powergain. So if your looking for a huge power increase anywhere but the track, this isnt your type of cam imo.

[slow6]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

for any cam its recommended to get it tuned
and most all aftermarket cams are gonna misfire at idle

[Camarorulz]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

I have the GT2 cam in and I made ALL the valvetrain mods you listed except rockers. You really do not need to do rockers. I got 90# LS6 springs, new Comp pushrods, comp hydraulic valve lifters, new retainers, new timing chain. I would recommend doing all of these with the GT2: the increased lift and RPM (at least 6200) can put stress on the stock valvetrain.

Even relatively untuned (long story, it's tuned to run in ordinary driving, not necessarily perform) I have noticed a notable power gain throughout the powerband. Now I feel like in order to get going as quickly as I want I only have to rev it to between 2000-2500 as opposed to 2500-3000 in ordinary driving. It's a lot more torquey, and I even notice a difference now going up hills. It performs very nicely now from a roll. I can step on it at about 75% throttle and it won't downshift, just pull, unlike before. It feels VERY nice at about 3-4k. Unfortunately, the rev limiter and shift points are not adjusted, so right when it hits 5500 or so and gets going, it shifts shortly thereafter. Even then, I can notice the difference before it shifts too early and lets me down. LOL.

The sound is pretty nice, although to a trained ear it still sounds like a V6. I took a video with sound and it rasped that infamous 3800 rasp a tad bit. The video sound made the rasp sound 20X worse than what it actually is. The car will shake back and forth a little, which I don't mind. It sounds the best under a load, really nice note. I will have to see what it sounds like when I change mufflers (currently I have Flowmaster 80.) Maybe this will make it sound better.

You will definitely need to get it tuned (especially if you decide on the GT2.) You just won't be taking advantage of the power gains if you don't.

[Jared 3870]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

yeah i plan to get a mail order tune from pcm4less when i do the cam. i was gonna send my computer away when i started the install so it would be back around the time i finished. I plan to do this over winter break which is a month long so i should have plenty of time. everything else in the motor can take revving to 6500 as long as i put in new pushrods, lifters, springs and retainers? stock rockers and all? what brands do you reccomend for those parts?

[Camarorulz]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

ZZP has everything you could possibly need valvetrain wise. This is a quote from ZZPerformance on the GT2 cam:

"The GT2 cam was designed for use with totally stock heads. Stock springs, keepers, retainer, lifters and pushrods can be used. Upgraded pushrods are recommended but not needed. RPMs past 6200 will require upgraded springs. Either 90 or 105# springs are recommended for high RPM use."

This says nothing about rockers, I would (and did) buy everything else listed above for this cam.

Don't go for a mail-order tune if you can help it: if you can find someone or somewhere with Hptuners for the 3800, get them to tune it. Every car is different, you can't tune it best without graphs of the spark table.

[Jared 3870]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

my local speed shop wanted almost 400 dollars to tune my car though. i guess it could be money well spent but thats a **** load of money (i could just buy HP tuners and learn to tune for the much money, i already have a laptop). pcm4less is around 175. it doesnt have to be the best tune, i want it safe though. if im not making every single horsepower i could be thats not a huge issue for me. half of the reason i do this stuff is i enjoy the work.

[Slvrcamaro00]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

Sorry to kinda of take this thread over but, is the GT1 cam a better cam for overall gains in the powerband? Will there be noticeble gains in the low end with the GT1?

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

The gt2 is perfect for stock heads.
If you have ported heads, you might want something with more lift though, but since you want to stay stock, it was designed for stock heads essentially.

[Niko97RS]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

so TECHNICALLY you can throw in a GT1 or GT2 cam with no other mods and ur car will run and you will notice a HP increase...but with the GT2 at idle ur car will die becuz of such low idle(unless you tune it)

[Phate]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

so TECHNICALLY you can throw in a GT1 or GT2 cam with no other mods and ur car will run and you will notice a HP increase...but with the GT2 at idle ur car will die becuz of such low idle(unless you tune it)

You can, but I definately would not recommend it.

Besides, the hp gain vs the cost involved is nuts. A cam is something you do when you've exhausted everything else you can do to gain hp. You'll gain more hp throwing exhaust and an intake on that putting in a cam typically.

[Niko97RS]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

well ok...as for right now my car is basically just intake exhaust good plugs and wires. as for things currently in the mail i have a couple suspension things, and an aluminum driveshaft. after that im lookin for headers and possibly 3.73s

when all that is said and done then i would consider the cam unless u have something of equal or lesser cost that would effectively give me the same HP gain?

[Phate]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

Well, it all comes in groups. You start with little things, then things start getting expensive. Really expensive.

If your looking to get a cam install done by a shop, look at $2000+ for 30-70hp depending on your drivetrain. And while your doing the cam, you'd definately want to get some heads. Heads is going to cost you 1500+, this is the one place I recommend if you are going to spend money, spend it in the heads. All of your hp derives from your heads.

If your not looking to make your car totally insane for a v6 and daily driver, i'd do the following.

Exhaust
Intake
Gears (whatever you feel comfortable with)
Headers
Shifter
Spray (nitrous is a poor mans supercharger, your going to pay 4,000+ for a supercharger / turbo kit non installed)(wouldnt recommend over 75shot either unless your looking for major mods to keep your car alive)
Chip / Tune
Wires / Plugs, all the little tiny hp gains.

Even with all of this, your not going to break 300hp without the nitrous / boost.

[Camarorulz]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

Besides, the hp gain vs the cost involved is nuts. A cam is something you do when you've exhausted everything else you can do to gain hp. You'll gain more hp throwing exhaust and an intake on that putting in a cam typically.

I'm gonna call a huge BS on this one. I talked to Jordan, who's registered here: he put a GT2 cam in his otherwise bolton car and it put down 222 rwhp. You're not going to gain 30 rwhp with intake/exhaust like you can with a cam and a good tune.

Also, another good reason to do a cam is the sound. It's amazing. You might want to do a converter with it, but you don't need one. An Edge converter (which I have) is pretty cheap though, mine cost $400.

When it was all said and done, buying my cam, springs, lifters, retainers, etc and getting them installed was around $1600. You can get a tune for around $200-$400. You don't have to get heads at all when putting a cam in, and the GT2 I have will run with aftermarket heads anyway, it just wasn't designed as well as some cams to do so. If getting every ounce of power out of it isn't important, then by all means get the mail tune and save some money. Good luck!

[slow6]

Re: GT1, GT2, and P0300

You're not going to gain 30 rwhp with intake/exhaust like you can with a cam and a good tune.

I think he was talking about power-to-cost ratio which they are about the same ratio.
a intake/exhaust is a better bang for the buck than cam/tune, thus why you wait to do a cam last.
intake/exhaust = about $200 and you gain about 15 hp
cam/tune = $1600 for cam install? wtf? it shouldnt be that expensive! tune is anywhere from $150- $1100 and you gain about 30-35 hp
(i'm using fuzzy math here)