LS CAM PACKAGES ON THE GOLD COAST
A camshaft change is one of the biggest single changes you can make to how an LS engine delivers its power. It is also a job where the parts around the cam matter just as much as the cam itself. Tell us what you want the car to do, and we can talk through what that actually takes.
Start with the car, not the part number
The most useful starting point is not a cam spec, it is what you want to change. A street car that needs to stay comfortable in traffic, a weekend car built for the strip and a tow vehicle that needs mid-range pull all point toward very different packages. Tell us the engine, the transmission, whether it is manual or automatic, what you have already modified and how the car gets used. From there the conversation is about matching a package to the vehicle rather than fitting a popular part and hoping it suits.
- The engine and vehicle, including transmission type.
- Any modifications already fitted, such as exhaust, intake or heads.
- How the car is used day to day, and what you want to change about it.
A cam is a package, not a single part
Changing a camshaft usually means changing more than the cam. Valve springs are the most important of these: a cam with more lift can ask more of the springs than the originals were designed for, and a spring that cannot do the job can lead to expensive engine damage rather than simply poor performance. Depending on the combination, pushrods, lifters, timing components and gaskets may also need attention. Ask us to walk through which supporting parts your particular build needs and why, so the quote reflects the real job.
- Valve springs matched to the camshaft.
- Pushrods, lifters and timing components where required.
- Gaskets, fluids and any hardware disturbed during the work.
Tuning is part of the job
An LS engine runs on a calibration written for the parts it left the factory with. Change the camshaft and that calibration no longer matches the engine. Without retuning, the car can idle poorly, run badly under load and, in the worst case, run in a way that risks damage. Treat tuning as part of the package rather than an optional extra afterwards. Ask us how tuning is handled for your build and what is involved in getting the car to the tuning stage.
Be honest with yourself about drivability
The lopey idle that draws people to a cam upgrade is a side effect of the same changes that move power higher in the rev range. A bigger cam can mean a rougher idle, less low-rpm response and, on an automatic, a car that feels worse to drive in traffic than it did before unless the torque converter is matched to the new combination. None of this is a reason to avoid a cam. It is a reason to be clear about the trade-off before parts are ordered, which is a conversation worth having early.
Keeping it road legal
Modified vehicles driven on Queensland roads still have to meet the applicable modification and emissions requirements, and changes to an engine can affect both compliance and your insurance. If the car is a registered road vehicle, tell us that at the start so the build discussion accounts for it. It is also worth speaking to your insurer about declaring modifications. We would rather raise this before the work than have you discover it afterwards.
YOUR QUESTIONS.
STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
Do I need a tune after a cam upgrade?
Yes. The factory calibration is written for the factory camshaft. After a cam change the engine needs to be retuned so it runs correctly under load and at idle. Plan for tuning as part of the package rather than something to sort out later.
Do I need new valve springs with a new cam?
In most cases yes. A camshaft with more lift can exceed what the original springs were designed to handle, and spring failure can cause serious engine damage. Spring selection should be matched to the camshaft rather than reused by default.
Will my car still be good to drive every day?
That depends on the package. A milder cam can keep a car very usable, while a more aggressive one trades low-rpm manners and idle quality for power higher in the rev range. Tell us how the car is used and we can talk through where the trade-off sits.
I have an automatic. Does that change anything?
It can. A camshaft that moves the powerband higher may not suit the original torque converter, and the car can feel worse to drive as a result. Converter choice is worth discussing alongside the cam rather than after the car is back together.
Which LS engines do you work with?
Tell us exactly what you have, including the engine and the vehicle it is in. Common examples on the Gold Coast include Commodore, HSV and Monaro variants, along with LS swaps into other vehicles. We would rather confirm the specifics with you than assume.
Is a modified engine still legal to drive on the road?
Registered road vehicles in Queensland still need to meet the applicable modification and emissions requirements, and modifications can affect insurance. Let us know the car is road registered when you enquire so it is factored into the discussion, and check the position with your insurer.
How much does an LS cam package cost?
It depends on the engine, the camshaft chosen and which supporting parts the combination requires, so there is no single figure. Send us your vehicle details and what you are trying to achieve and we can discuss the package and pricing for your build.
How long will the car be off the road?
That depends on the scope of the package, parts availability and whether anything unexpected is found once the engine is apart. Ask for an indication when you book so you can plan around it.