Ls3/525

[fmf816]

I’m looking so do a ls swap in my 72 camaro. Looking at the LS3/525hp with a 6speed. The connect and cruse or erod. Does anybody have this setup? Curious of likes or dislikes. Or other suggestions? TIA

[andrewb70]

I’m looking so do a ls swap in my 72 camaro. Looking at the LS3/525hp with a 6speed. The connect and cruse or erod. Does anybody have this setup? Curious of likes or dislikes. Or other suggestions? TIA

I can tell you that the ASA cam that GM uses in the LS3/525 is not ideal. It doesn't idle well, is finicky to tune, and leaves power on the table. The only reason GM uses it is so they can use cheap, stock valve springs.

A buddy of mine went with the base LS3/430, got that BTR Stage 2 LS3 cam, valve springs, and pushrods. He was money ahead and his combination makes great power and drives great.

I like the Holley EFI options vs. the stock GM stuff because it is more suited for hot rods. The Terminator X Max would work great for this combination. I can offer assistance with wiring, tuning, and parts selection.

Andrew

[PTAddict]

Having tuned a few of them, I'd also stay away from the LS3/480. The gap in power over the 430 is less than the ratings suggest. As Andrew says, get a 430 and put in an aftermarket cam suited to your preferences.

Although the Holley setup is nice, the factory style crate motor ECU can also work very well if you have a tuner familiar with it. The out-of-the box crate motor tune is usually off though (too rich) so tuning is almost a must.

[Musclerodz]

I can tell you that the ASA cam that GM uses in the LS3/525 is not ideal. It doesn't idle well, is finicky to tune, and leaves power on the table. The only reason GM uses it is so they can use cheap, stock valve springs.

A buddy of mine went with the base LS3/430, got that BTR Stage 2 LS3 cam, valve springs, and pushrods. He was money ahead and his combination makes great power and drives great.

I like the Holley EFI options vs. the stock GM stuff because it is more suited for hot rods. The Terminator X Max would work great for this combination. I can offer assistance with wiring, tuning, and parts selection.

Andrew
cam doesn't make any vacuum either. 480hp pulls harder

[dhutton]

Having tuned a few of them, I'd also stay away from the LS3/480. The gap in power over the 430 is less than the ratings suggest. As Andrew says, get a 430 and put in an aftermarket cam suited to your preferences.

Although the Holley setup is nice, the factory style crate motor ECU can also work very well if you have a tuner familiar with it. The out-of-the box crate motor tune is usually off though (too rich) so tuning is almost a must.

You are the first one I have seen complain about the 480. Most seem to think it is a good package.

Don

[dhutton]

Check the reviews on Summit before choosing a specific BTR cam. I just had an issue with one of their mild cams producing such low vacuum that the power brakes wouldn’t work properly. Major PITA....

Don

[XLexusTech]

I have the ls3 480.. if i were to be at ground zero .. I would do an LSA..

to the OP..

https://www.facebook.com/BrianTooleyRacing/videos/ls3-camshaft-testing-stage-2subject-stock-ls3-longblockbolt-ons-1-78-longtubesca/1227370347471143/

[PTAddict]

You are the first one I have seen complain about the 480. Most seem to think it is a good package.

Don

There's nothing wrong with it necessarily, it has good drivability and tunes pretty easily, it just doesn't seem to make the power you'd want from a cammed LS3. A typical mild aftermarket cammed LS3 will put down 450-465 rwhp on our dyno with a fat torque curve, good idle and drivability. I've never seen a 480 get anywhere close to that, to put it mildly.

I recently tuned two LS3s in manual trans C5/C6 vettes, one 430 and one 480, both with headers, exhaust, CAI. The 430 car beat the 480 car almost everywhere in the curve. It's impossible to control for all the variables in such a comparison, of course, but still you'd expect to see a significant advantage for the 480.

[PTAddict]

One cam I've personally had great success with is the Mast LS3 HO:

https://www.mastmotorsports.com/collections/camshafts/products/ls3-ho-cam-1

This made about 455 RWHP and 430 RWTQ in my 71 Camaro through a 12 bolt rear. Idled and drove like a *****cat.

[randy]

I started with the ls3 480. Nothing wrong with it and it made 420rwhp. I enjoyed the cam for about a year and wanted more rpms and power. I bought a Texas speed stage 2 Na cam kit, springs, push rods, trunion upgrade, with 111lsa and made 479rwhp. Car pulled great and I loved it. I now have a heartbeat blower on top of it and left the stage 2 Na cam in there. Making 754rwhp now

Don’t go with the ls3 430. Go with the 480 version and enjoy it for awhile. Then upgrade with a cam kit. I’m also using the gmpp controller and love how simple it is.

[JKnight]

Nothing to add, just wanted to say this is a great thread. I’ve wrestled with this exact topic and it’s helpful to see the opinions. The price jump on the GM crate versions has never seemed to me like the value play given the aftermarket options so it’s good to hash that out with you guys that have been there and done it.

AndrewB, I’ll hit you up when the time comes.

[andrewb70]

Nothing to add, just wanted to say this is a great thread. I’ve wrestled with this exact topic and it’s helpful to see the opinions. The price jump on the GM crate versions has never seemed to me like the value play given the aftermarket options so it’s good to hash that out with you guys that have been there and done it.

AndrewB, I’ll hit you up when the time comes.

Sure thing. Let me know how I can be of service.

Andrew

[V8R]

I run a conversion shop in Daytona Beach and use a lot of crate motors. For general street use, get the 430 and have a reputable cam grinder ( I prefer Cam Motion) make you a cam for your specific application. Downside, it voids the GM warranty. The 480 and 525 cams both have a lot of overlap so idle quality isn't great and you'll always smell raw fuel. I like PSI for harnesses and E38 GM PCM. There's a lot to be had in the tune, so find a good tuner.