Intense Stage 2 or CC VS Camshaft for my set up?

**slimguns** · 07-16-2013

As a few of you know I am in process of a top swap and am finally at the last order. This order includes a cam. The question is should I go with the Intense Stage 2 or CC VS Camshaft for my set up?

Set up:
K&N HAI, LQ4, N*, polished Gen 5, ZZP stage 2 IC, P&P LIM, polished heads, 105# springs, ZZP SS valves (1.9 I and 1.54 E), modified retainers, YT 1.8 RR, new seals/locks, ZZP headers, 3" catless DP, custom tune,.........and a cam

What do y'all think? This is my DD but I want some pep to surprise the ricers and maybe a mustang/camaro on occasion!

TIA,
Slim

**dmahlikGT** · 07-16-2013

A VS cam wouldnt be bad for your DD purposes and plus I think with IS2 cam you need ported heads, i could be wrong. But I vote VS cam.

**dbextreme** · 07-16-2013

Did you mean S1X and VS? The S2 and VS are night and day...

How much work are you doing on your heads? How about an XP cam or if you are going to have a decent amount of head work done, think of the Thrasher cam..

Thrasher isn't really a DD cam, well for some it is, but I daily drive my XP setup.

As for ricers, pppffftttt.... Mustang 4.6's you'll eat alive. My setup is quicker then my LT1 Fbody.

**slimguns** · 07-17-2013

Yeah, I meant the IS2 (Two) and VS. I know they're going to be different but I wonder how much? If I can get away with the idle and take off (non-WOT) from red lights on a regular basis I'll probably go IS2, but I don't want to lose more than 10-15% in MPG with the IS2 vs VS.

As for head work, they are cut for clearance for valve movement but no port as a couple sources on here voted against it based on their experiences. That on top of the fact that my shop guy have never done a set for the 3.8.

**darkhorizon** · 07-17-2013

I have yet to find a cam that wasnt a "dd cam".

**GTPpower** · 07-17-2013

If you are doing headwork, I wouldn't even look at any other cams besides the XPZ or IS3.

**slimguns** · 07-17-2013

As quoted from the intense site:

"The Stage 3 Blower Cam is still streetable, and works best with a higher stall torque converter. It should NOT be used with stock cylinder heads and/or stock valvesprings. We always recommend and/or install 130# valvesprings with this camshaft. The Stage 3 Blower Cam is engineered for use with highly modified cylinder heads and oversized valves, and is a perfect match to the INTENSE™ Stage 3 CNC L67 Cylinder Heads. The powerband is strong from 3,000 to 7,000 RPM, with peak torque at 4,400 RPM and peak horsepower at 6,400 RPM."

This would mean I have to get 130# spring as my 105# springs are too weak, then the torque converter, a double timing chain, machined oil pump cover, the 5% OD crank pulley w/ 8 rib pulleys, oil filter spacer, CC OE-R lifters, and.....what else? I would love to but.....I have to draw a line somewhere.

so, a stage 2 or VS? Any major difference in HP/torque #s?

**camopaint0707** · 07-17-2013

Looks like a pretty good setup.

**dmahlikGT** · 07-17-2013

Just go for VS cam mannnn.

**DanPrixGTP** · 07-17-2013

Any cam can be Daily Driven.

If you weren't doing any head work, I'd say VS.

But, now that you are doing some milling to the heads, this changes the game. In that case, get a bigger cam.

Bigger cam's you should look at: XPZ, Is3, Is4, Thrasher. But keep in mind, you have rockers, which will be adding to your lift.

Is2 makes .531/.541 lift with stock rockers, if I recall correctly.

Have the guides milled down .100" and be able to run .600 lift. Ditch the rockers and DD and Is4. The only cam with .600+ lift.

But, if you are determined on the Is2 or VS. Get the Is2. That has my vote all the way.

**dbextreme** · 07-21-2013

Go big or go home!!!

And Porting is bad??? Who said dat??? Have your intake ports and LIM gasket matched and cleaned up. Have your exhaust ports smoothed and polished, keeping their shape. You'll thank us later... ;-)

**slimguns** · 07-22-2013

Since I have to buy all the same supporting mods wether I go IS2 or IS4, I figured y'all talked me into a four without the rockers. Do the factory rockers flex and break? That was my biggest reason for the rockers in the first place.

Slim

**16MustangVet** · 07-22-2013

Plenty of people swear by stock rockers. I wouldn't worry about the rockers if your going to use a cam I don't understand using a cam and aftermarket rockers.

**Z34Phoenix** · 07-23-2013

the stock rockers are stronger then the YT anyway. One broke on my friends GTP. I have never heard of a stock one break.

**GTPpower** · 07-23-2013

Never heard of a stock rocker break. Aftermarket ones, yes.

MY 04 has 150# springs with stock rockers, with about 15k miles on them. No issues.

**nascartech** · 07-23-2013

Go with ls7 lifters over cc oe-r

**darkhorizon** · 07-23-2013

go with stock lifters over ls7 lifters.

**dbextreme** · 07-23-2013

^ X2, stock lifters FTW

**nascartech** · 07-23-2013

What wrong with ls7 lifters

**dbextreme** · 07-23-2013

Others can chime in, this is just my research on them.

1) The cup of the new "LS7 design" lifter is .050 deeper
2) The LS7 design is the new "replacement" for all LS platform motors
3) I went to my local O'Reilly's to get LS7 lifters and the Seal Power part number they gave me for a LS lifter is the same part number for L36/67 motor (HT2148) I'm not sure if this is for the 5.7 or 7.0, but knowing you can't get LS1 Lifters from GM anymore, I just assumed Point 2 is correct.
4) *** This comes from my parts store experience *** Box is just that, a box. IIRC there is only one "lifter" manufacturer in the US that gets distributed in many types of boxes. When I worked in a parts store, if we had a vendor change we didn't change parts we changed boxes. We went from some brand (forgot what it was but it was a green box with grey stripe) to Borg Warner and all we got was boxes to swap parts...

Am I off my rocker, I could be... This is just from my research. What did it for me was the deeper cup in the new LS design lifter... My $.02

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