Cam

[380099Camaro]

So Ive been doing alot of thinking but im not sure how good my thinking really is so Im looking for some advice.

I have 99 t5 camaro with just intake and exhaust and 114k.

I want to pick up some power that would possibly get me into the 14's.

A with a mild cam that I could run with stock heads. Or getting the rocker arms and lifters off 3800 performance. I also would replace the timing chain and the head/valve cover gaskets. And also get it tuned. Would that be a good idea or could I go with both the cam and rocker arms and lifters? I just want to do it the smartest way without doing any damage.

[RadRacer]

Re: Cam

You can't do rockers and cam unless you go with a somewhat small cam and 1.7 rockers, or do a lot of head work which amounts to loads of cash. Cam will yield more gain over rockers. For a good DD cam, most people recommend the GT2 or Abbott's N/A. If you can't get it tuned right away, go with the GT2, cuz the Abbott's cam requires tuning to run properly. You can do lifters on either one; as long as you get stock sized replacements you won't change the lift any. Also look into drivetrain mods; a good LSD and gears or TC will get you into the 14's easily and won't hurt your wallet as much as a cam will.

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Cam

I want to pick up some power that would possibly get me into the 14's.

you don't need a cam to get into the 14s (i.e. run a 14.9)

A with a mild cam that I could run with stock heads.

You can run an aggressive/large cam w/ stock heads, so there's no need to limit yourself to a smaller one

Or getting the rocker arms and lifters off 3800 performance.

Install time will be shorter, but you'd get more for the money spent on a cam than you would for different-ratio rocker arms

I also would replace the timing chain and the head/valve cover gaskets.

That's part of a cam install, so you would have to have done it anyway

And also get it tuned.

That's applicable to nearly every aftermarket cam, in order to get your money's worth.

Would that be a good idea or could I go with both the cam and rocker arms and lifters?

No, that would be extremely wasteful, monetarily. You can get a camshaft that's cut to the same overall specs as a tiny cam+rocker arms, and not have to shell out the cash for the rocker arms.

I just want to do it the smartest way without doing any damage.

Damage more often occurs from skipping steps and procedures during a cam install...rarely the hardware itself.