How To Choose Your First LS Camshaft
There comes a time when every gearhead wants more from their engine. Sure, we vowed we’d leave it stock. Then we threw the entire catalog of bolt-on parts at it. And still, we want more. The high-flow intake manifold helped. The big-tube headers did too. But when it comes to truly awakening an engine’s power potential, it’s time for a camshaft.
If the cylinder heads are considered the lungs of the engine, the camshaft is undoubtedly its brain. Not only will it determine how much power and torque an engine will make, it controls at what point in the powerband they occur. Camshaft choice will also dictate idle quality, piston-to-valve clearance, and many more variables. That means choosing the right camshaft for your application is immensely important.
Due to the unfailing popularity of LS engines, from late-model OEM vehicles to street rods to retro-swapped muscle cars it seemed a natural platform to focus on when setting some guidelines on just how to pick one. For some expert advice on the subject we turned to Brian Tooley of Brian Tooley Racing (BTR) who specializes in LS camshafts, springs, and other performance valvetrain hardware.
