8.1l cam question

bedellbuilders · January 25, 2005

i've got a 2004 gmc 2500hd with the 8.1l. while the power is impressive, i feel like an almost 500ci mototr should spit out at least 400hp with todays technology. I was comtemplating a cam swap and was wondering if you could recommend a good one for a still daily driver. Im debating the comp cams or Raylar. i would ideally like to duplicate the 425 hp marine motor.

thanks

john bedell

knez · January 26, 2005

Anyone? I have the same question my self?

dannyukonxl · January 26, 2005

i really want to get the head and cam package from raylar, but i think raylar has my choice because of the extensive research theyve done with the 8.1l ONLY as opposed to comp cams who makes cams for many motors therefore cannot provide a specialized product, just my 2 cents

mjgjr72 · January 26, 2005

your best bet is to call comp cam and tell them what u are looking for, depends on what u want, low to mid, mid to high hp and torgue increase, do you want a smooth idle or one with a little lop in it, do you want to just put in a cam or are you going to get it retuned,

you can also ask here

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=21

lot of gear heads that can give you some suggestions

SS Crew · January 26, 2005

Maybe instead of spending the time and money and labor... a lot of labor, try checking with Lyndon at Wester's Garage and try having your computer reprogrammed. If it's not what you want, you have a 35 day return policy to get your money back. I just ordered one for my 6.0. Man, I sound like an ad. This is probably cheaper and whole lot less invasive.

Just my $0.02

SS

bedellbuilders · January 27, 2005

thanks everyone for the suggestions. this is without a doubt the best truck forum and it is the members that make it happen. do any of you know anyone who has a swapped cam in an 8.1 and what kind of trouble/gain they got?

thanks

bedellbuilders · January 27, 2005

also, i plan on getting a westers ecu when i figure out what cam to have installed.

TieRod · January 27, 2005

The 8.1 guru is hear. I'd suggest Raylar small cam with his 1.7 rockers. If you did Camp big 8.1 cam with 1.8 rockers it would be very close to Raylar cam but Raylar would idle smother. It has a 116lda to Comp 114lda. Westers has Raylar specs on his cams so getting a good tune on it should be easy. I've did a cam swap on my truck for me it was easy but I've done allot of swaps before. Nothing tricky all the gaskets are reusable. If you need more help let me know I will do what I can.

Chris

TieRod · January 28, 2005

Almost forgot you will have to up grade the valve springs. The stock one are very weak.

bedellbuilders · January 28, 2005

tierod thanks alot. believe it or not your name has come up in MANY discussions about 8.1 performance on this and many other forums. i really hate to bother you, but you seem to be the best source for answers. how did the cam react once you had it in? was it very noticeable/worth the money? also am i correct in assuming the raylar cam, springs, and westers should put me at 400+ horsepower?

john

TieRod · January 28, 2005

tierod thanks alot. believe it or not your name has come up in MANY discussions about 8.1 performance on this and many other forums. i really hate to bother you, but you seem to be the best source for answers. how did the cam react once you had it in? was it very noticeable/worth the money? also am i correct in assuming the raylar cam, springs, and westers should put me at 400+ horsepower?
john

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, now I'm going have really big head. I recently doing some searches on 8.1 I kept come up to my own post or reference to me. But enough of that lets get down to business. A cam up grade is very worth it. With cam rockers and tune I would say it 80-100hp gain. I sold my cam to a guy (I think he post on hear but I don't know with what name) that dropped 8 tenth in the 1/4 by just cam and retune for the cam.

bedellbuilders · January 28, 2005

I have a LS1 edit for mine. It has a extra page of torque management limits that the 6.0 don't have so a good tune will help allot. I had problems with computer cutting off 4 cyl when I stomp it from a dead stop after the cam it would back fire from it. A good tune would have cured all this but my edit showed up two days after I popped the engine. d**n

I read you post this on another topic. Is this something I may experince also?

TieRod · January 29, 2005

No, not with a westers tune.

Chev8.1 · February 19, 2005

I am the guy that brought his cam.

13 hours start to finish. without a tune idle is totally cool, with hints of lope. but side effect is starts throw misfire codes after a while, like when sitting in traffic or the staging lane at the drag strip. westers retune took care of it.

1/4mile time:

stock= 16.7

westers only = 15.6

untuned with cam = 15.4

retuned for cam + WMP catback exhaust = 14.7

To me I feel this is the cam that should of came from the factory with. or hair smaller. But mpg stay the same, if not better.

have fun