when I bought my 94 camaro I got a brand new roller cam and lifters with it
I did not use them cause I just replaced the engine with a super low milage one
anyway what are your thoughts on using this cam in the zz4 block Ive got
I have everything that I need except the timing chain and sprockets
it's going in my convertable
also I'm using 69 corvette heads that I've had completely redone
think this is doable?

The LT1 cam drives the Optispark distributor off the front of the cam, and requires a special timing gear that also has a gear drive for the water pump. I think it would at least need the LT1 timing gear and chain to work.

the cam has the drive gear for the distributor which is actually used for just the oil pump
it also has the eccentric for the fuel pump too
kinda cool that they left that as part of the shaft

I have a '95 LT1 camshaft on the shelf. As I recall everything is there for use on a conventional sb. On my '95 cam the dowel pin needs to be driven in further for use on a conventional engine.

Go ahead and use it, you'll be just fine. No need to worry about the water pump drive gear - you won't be using the LT1 specific cam gear. The LT1 cam gear is what drives the LT1 water pump gear.

Thomas

yes bomber I cut the water pump gear drive part off the back of the cam gear to test fit everything
then I guess the question would be now is what chain and sprockets should I use
according to the parts place a 97 vortec truck 350 motor should have this timing set does anyone know that for sure before I order that set
or what set would be the right one to order
according to the casting it is a 96-00 block

edit

another question
what about the valve springs
is there anything special I need to know
I have turned the engine by hand and did not see any binding not even close actually
anything else I should check?

I do not know for sure if the LT1 and Vortec use the same timing chain, if so then you are good to go. Also, you could just buy a standard sb timing set with a cam button - if you prefer GM parts then use the timing set suggested for the ZZ4.

Is the cam a stock LT1 grind, or a special LT1 performance camshaft? If stock then I would suggest the factory LT4 valve springs. If the cam is a performance grind then you need to determine the actual lift etc - spring coil bind (or insufficient clearance) may be an issue. Just because you get no direct piston to valve contact while rotating the engine does not mean there is sufficient clearance. I like to have ~ .100 p/v clearance. I use silly putty on top of the piston to check actual clearance.

Thomas

I'm running a 95 LT1 cam in my 88 305. The only difference between the LT1 cam and the cam I took out was the length of the dowel pin that goes into the cam sprocket. Works fine with the stock 305/350 timing set for GM roller blocks. I ground the pin down a little, stuck it in and all is well 20K miles later. It's a decent streetable cam for a 305, but it's relativly mild for a 350.

GM has a killer single roller timing chain setup for the 87 and newer roller cam engines- part number 12371043- that is only about $45.
i used that chain setup in the HOT cammed 355 that i built for my Nova, and when i took the engine apart to put new gaskets in it after 4 summers and 30,000 miles, the chain still had as much tension on it as when it was new.
the LT1 cam gear dowel can be hammered in about 1/8" for use in a regular small block.
are you sure that cam has the fuel pump eccentric on it? the cam out of my 94 Caprice LT1 doesn't have one on it.

The LT1 cams have the pump eccentric. Here's a 95 LT1 cam, and what I think is a caprice cam because of the lift specs. You can see the lobe for the FP and the dist. gear. I tried to press the pin in further, but it wouldn't go in far enough, so I hit it with the grinder.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ZZ69chevelle/LT1cams.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ZZ69chevelle/lt1camspecs.JPG

the cam is a stock grind
the LT1 timing set won't work because the cam gear also drives the water pump (wouldn't use the one I have for that reason and I also cut that part of the sprocket of to test fit everything else also it is a used piece from the original motor)
do the vortec motors run roller cams in all of them?
the parts house here says they need to know what motor to look up, the chain they say they have is a cloyes
gm wants alot for there set cloyes is only around 75 bucks for a true roller