Long story... short answer - my impatience will be the death of me.

Two weeks ago, I was in a hurry to install a cam ans hit the track. But instead of changing springs and going with the 'right' cam, I opted for a cam that thought would work with stock valvesprings. This cam was a single pattern cam that was better suited for NA that FI. Anyway, I realized very shortly that power wasn't quite as it should be. I suspected too much overlap and valvue float at high rpms was at play here. Cam lift was borderline with the LS6 springs, but I tried anyway. And...

Here I am swapping the cam again but doing it correctly this time and installing a set of PAC beehive springs. Went ahead and put a Melling select oil pump on while I was in there. Since its a 3-day weekend, I figured I'd upgrade torque converters at the same time. I have a Phoenix transmission and 2600 rpm converter. I'm moving to a 3000 rpm converter to get me to the TVS powerband a bit sooner.

No major snags thus far, I should have it wrapped up tomorrow. I did strip out one of those torx bolts on the cam retainer plate. I got pissed and just drilled it out and went back with 3 bolts instead of 4. Hopefully it will be fine (I think it should), but if it isnt, I'll take my punishment and fix it later.

 

So how do you like that Phoenix tranny and verter? I had one of there trannys and verters in my mustang years ago, I never had a problem with either ..

 

Honestly, the Phoenix trans is great, it shifts hard yet its tame for daily driving. I bought it used from another member on the board who ran 11.0 in his TBSS pulling the front tire on launch. Greg from Phoenix in Weatherford sent me a PM when he saw that I bought it. He told me that he would set it up for a daily driver and make sure its ready to go if I brought it out there. No charge!

I bought a 2600-2800 rpm converter to go with it when I was there. I figured that it would stall up a little higher behind a supercharger. After installing it, I found that it was a dead on 2600 rpm stall. Its super mild and great for a daily driver and tow rig, but I wanted a few more rpms out of it. If I had this in a heavier truck, it would be perfect. Anyway, I contacted Greg @ Phoenix and asked about a converter with the same manners with a little more rpms. He offered to swap out the 2600 I had for a new 3000, so I could I pass up that offer?

Needless to say, I'm very pleased with Phoenix. Its the best customer service I've ever had from any shop that I've ever used.

 

And that cam is?

 

1218 or 1518 springs?

 

You know at the rate you are going Richard you might want to invest in a 2 piece timing cover.

 

What cam did you go with?

 

PAC 1218s because they were 1/2 the price of the others. Watch, I'll break one and then I'll have to dig back in there a 3rd time because I was cheap.

Cam is a custom comp cam. Its a mix of big block ford and small block chevy lobes moved to the LS1 cam journal size. It comes out to be something close to a 212 218 but with nearly .590 lift. I had it ground on a 115lsa with no advance. I was shooting for something a bit larger than the GT2-3, but without the huge lsa and separation.

The thing that sucks most - to do a cam swap, all the TVS accessories, hoses, heat exchanger have to be removed. Plus the complete front end has to come off plus the radiator. Add to it dropping the oil pan for the pump replacement, then mix in a converter swap at the same time. It was a LONG weekend. Didn't fire it up until this morning.

 

Yeah that's an involved swap. I put a hole in my rad the first time I pulled it in the TBSS

 

I expect a ride when I come up there