DIY LS1 Cam and springs.

Hey guys, I just bought a 2004 VY SS ute. 170k on the clock, had a genuine holden rebuild at the 99k mark due to carbon deposits, apparently they're really bad for it, so I'm being sure to use engine detox on all my oil changes, running royal purple oil and a K&N magnetic oil filter. Aside from that I've done a mafless tune, twin 2.5 inch exhaust, and I'm putting on a set of 1 3/4 tri-Y's this weekend and 100 cell highflow cats. Its auto, rebuild 4L60E, 2500 stall, and it chirps into second and third gear without an issue in the world. Manual LSD so I believe its 3.45 ratio? I'm finally getting into a V8 so its all a bit confusing for me at the moment. I surely do love the torque though.

Now for the kicker, I've been quoted $2000 cash from a fairly reputable shop, Isky 232/236 cam, springs, ARP balancer bolt, and a tune, says it'll make anywhere between 380-400rwhp on a healthy motor.

Is it worth me buying the parts myself and paying a few of the guys on this forum that have done it before to give me a hand? I'm pretty mechanically savvy, I'm happy to pull all of the stuff I consider to be annoying, as in the radiator and condenser and anything else you guys tell me. But I'd really rather not drop 16 lifters into the sump and make a weekend job into a 2 week job at holden.

From what I can work out the dyno tune itself would only be around the $200-$300 mark as they generally have a tune fairly similar they just preload and tweak to get the setup to match the engine correctly.

As for a price on the cam and springs, I'm a little in the dark. I've been priced anywhere up to $3500 for the cam and springs installed and a tune, which is way out of the ballpark.

I'm one of those people who'd rather see everything done, so I know what my motors made from, and I know its all done right.

Anyway guys. Let me know your opinion, I'm more than happy to supply as much beer as you can drink and pay anybody that's done one of these before to give me a hand. Well, more like me give them a hand.

Located in Brisbane, but i'm happy to travel.

Regards guys.

Alex :-)

$2000 inc tune is a VERY good price. I believe the tune alone after putting the cam in yourself would be FAR more than $200-$300...

I would speak to your tuner and double check on getting a cam tune for 200-300.

$3-3.5k is what I'd pay drive in/out. It can be done cheaper if you DIY but you do get what you pay for. The tune will make or break the combo but 400rwhp cam only thru an auto is a big ask. Don't get too hung up on figures but more how the car will behave

If you need to borrow a valve spring compressor, puller (for balancer) or air compressor attachment to keep the valves up feel free to PM me. I'm on Brisbane Southside.

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Originally Posted by ***VX*R8***

$2000 inc tune is a VERY good price. I believe the tune alone after putting the cam in yourself would be FAR more than $200-$300...

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^^^^ Exactly, $2,000 inc tune from a "reputable" shop sounds too good to be true

& I can't imagine getting a cam tune for $200-$300 either.

$2k is way under figures I have heard. That is a nearly too good to be true price. It can be done in a weekend and is a fairly straight forward process however that depends on how mechanically savvy you are. If you were going to attempt it yourself for the first time I would suggest doing it on a long weekend just in case you need another day. There was an install guide on here somewhere.

Here is a link to look at.
http://sikls1.********.com.au/index47.html

Read up and check out a few you tube videos before you commit yourself.

For some reason the link is changing. Try and select the top link.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=A...fe=off&spell=1

$200>$300 might be a touch up tune for an existing customer...

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Originally Posted by IJ.

$200>$300 might be a touch up tune for an existing customer...

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my thoughts too. Any initial dyno tune being offered for $300 or under i personally wouldnt touch.

Can't remember exact $$$ but when i did cam/springs myself using quality gear(comp cam, PAC springs pushrods gaskets and other bits) and inc tune(did good price did it for around $1750

So 2g from a mechanic is a low price.

I would normally say jump at that price but at that price Id be very cautious, cause an engine rebuild is a lot more then that.

lets look at the costs.

Cam = $400-$500
valve springs = $200 odd
waterpump gasket = $20?
ARP crank bolt = $20?
timing chain = $70? not necessary but while you are there.
coolant = $60
oil = $100
tune more like $700 expecially for an auto and with that cam duration (at least $700)

total: $1500-1600

doesn't leave a lot for labour. A decent shop will turn a cam change out in about 8 hours + tuning time.

doesn't leave a lot of profit there for them if something goes wrong.

And personally I wouldn't be trusting guys on a forum to help turn spanners if you have no idea of what is going on or cant provide leadership, you have even lest chance of comeback if something goes wrong. (not that I don't trust guys on the forum but I would want to know their ability and know them before I trusted them on my car)

My advise is one of 3.

1. save up and pay $3500 for a drive in drive out job. (or at least get the lowdown on EXACTLY what you are getting for your $2000)
2. Read up on here and ls1tech on how to do a cam change yourself and attempt it with the help of some knowledgable people (that's what I did)
3. if one and two are out of the question then forget about a cam and just enjoy your car.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BLACKVE

Can't remember exact $$$ but when i did cam/springs myself using quality gear(comp cam, PAC springs pushrods gaskets and other bits) and inc tune(did good price did it for around $1750

So 2g from a mechanic is a low price.

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My cam change cost me $1000.

450 for the cam from Willalls - only because it was the one I was going to buy from the states and they had one sitting there they wanted to get rid of so sold it to me for the price I would have paid from speed inc.
$500 for the tune cash - as I have helped Martin out over the years on a few things and have had my car tuned there for the entire life of it (was very well looked after)
Plus $100 odd for all the other comsumables I mentioned.

I was lucky I had already done my valve springs earlier and as such had already purchased the valve spring compressor tool.

Me personally I prefer the TDC method of replacing valve springs rather then the compressed gas method.

Thanks for replying back guys.

The $2000 package is PAC springs, either Isky 230/236 or comp 232/236 depending on my preference, arp balancer bolt, new gaskets, labour, and a tune, he stated 380-400rwhp should be dead on the money.

I know of atleast 5 cars he's done so far without any issues at all. I'm quite confident I could do the job. Just the cam timing is all that worries me. That's why I seeking the help of somebody that has atleast done one himself and knows what to expect for the journey.

Sorry for the noobness, first time posting on a forum.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toddler78

My cam change cost me $1000.

450 for the cam from Willalls - only because it was the one I was going to buy from the states and they had one sitting there they wanted to get rid of so sold it to me for the price I would have paid from speed inc.
$500 for the tune cash - as I have helped Martin out over the years on a few things and have had my car tuned there for the entire life of it (was very well looked after)
Plus $100 odd for all the other comsumables I mentioned.

I was lucky I had already done my valve springs earlier and as such had already purchased the valve spring compressor tool.

Me personally I prefer the TDC method of replacing valve springs rather then the compressed gas method.

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Geez that's good, Tuna did my tune for $500 as well

I did pushrods, arp bolts and new chain aswell with cam springs etc, all from speed inc

Edit forgot I did 25% underdrive and new belts awell

So, as some of you guys are aware from my last post, I recently bought a 2004 VY SS, has had a genuine holden rebuild at 99k due to oil pump failure. Black leather, nice and clean inside. Love it.

Automatic unfortunately. Done my supporting mods, brand new 2.5 inch twin system, cat delete pipes (i know, i know) and a set of Tri-Y's.

I've been priced $2100 for a 232/236, springs, fitted and tuned.

Clearly I felt a bit retarded because I bought a full VCM set, 625 lift springs, Manley locks and retainers, VCM cam, new gaskets, and ARP bolts to hold the hole deal together.

So today I'm searching out anybody in the brisbane area that would like to make a bit of cash, and drink some beer, and give me a hand jamming this whole lot in my motor, and also a bit of advice on where to go for a tune, I'd prefer to pay somebody $400 cash than 800 on the books and wait 5 days cause he has no idea how to tune one.

At $950 I think I did fairly well for the whole setup.

Apparently i'll see 290-300rwkw which should be about the limit for the stock auto.

Cheers guys.

Best of luck with your 300rwkw out of just a cammed auto ls1 :cheers: