96 head/cam swap

[dohcfiend]

i was considering doing a head swap in the future sometime. but need some facts from the ever-so-knowlegable peeps here to see if it is even possible be4 i even think of trying it.

i was wondering if any1 else has swapped them into a pre-96?

will they fit? the difference in compression height i have heard about in the pistons would that be enough to make the valves hit them?

i wanted to swap the heads because of the different exhaust port design(i have been told it is superior), increased compression is ok 2.

i have been told that the 96 cams are peaky vs. the flat power curves on the 94 cams. so i wanted to put the 94 cam bank on. but i discovered by chance that the 96 lifters are shorter. so a pre-96 cam bank w/96 heads would not be good(like bent valves...all of them).

so i guess that i would have to put the 94 cams in the 96 cam bank?
or would that even work?
i don't think u could put the 96 lifters in a 94 carrier cause i am sure the lifter bores are different.
and if i did retrofit 94 cams into 96 heads wouldn't the cams be kinda neuterd because of the different lifter sizes? then with that i would also have to swap the rear half(or just the rear plate) of one of the banks so that sensor can communicate w/the computer. i don't think the 96 has that cam sensor, but i am not sure.

[dykz34]

You'd need the '96 exhaust manifolds obviously. That's about all I can help you with.

[Anonymous]

From what I've heard is the 96 cams/heads offer little gains over the 1st gen. I think where the 96 picks up its extra 5hp is form the intakes

[4spdz34]

From what I've heard is the 96 cams/heads offer little gains over the 1st gen. I think where the 96 picks up its extra 5hp is form the intakes

those head flow way better than the previous years same as intakes. that motor has the same power band as a 95 previous just its about 1k higher all the way around. yes the 96 has a cam sensor

[blk92z34getrag]

I think I read somewhere that the combustion shamber is smaller, which means higher compression ratio. I don't think all the gains were from the intakes, higher c/r = more hp. No?

[dohcfiend]

dido, i heard something close to what 4spdz34 said that the redesigned heads flow way better than the previous(especially on the exhaust). and of course the intakes flow better.

the better head flow that is where i thought the power came from.

as far as compression goes the is also more gain than just smaller chambers. the pre-96 pistons have a higher compression height than the 96.

but i have 1 issue straightened out at least the cam sensors are the same.

how about clearence issues due to the different height pistons? can any1 shed light on that?

due to the differences in lifter height if i tried to put a 94 cam bank on a 96 head the valves would definately hit.

most importantly the differences in lifters, pretty much i am thinking that i have to put 94 cams in a 96 cam bank with 96 lifters. but shorter lifters on the 94 cams, wouldn't that change the cam timing on them all together? since they were designed for a longer lifter. wouldn't that kind of neuter them? or since the chambers are smaller and the head profile a little different, would it balance out and they not be about the same?

the reason i want the 94 cams is they(in my opinion) have a better power band. like the 96 cams would probably net more hp. but they are peaky. meaning the max power is only available in a narrow rpm range.
the flatter cam timing of the pre 96 will have power available through a broader rpm range, that and the 94 timing will probably net more tq. which means the car will accelerate better overall.

i am not an expert that is just the conclusion i have drawn from the info i had available.

let me know what u guys think.ltr.

[dykz34]

I believe the '96 cams have different timing. That--in conjuction with the better intakes--probably equates to the different powerband. I also believe that Ben tested a '96-97 spring and said it was WEAKER than a pre-96. Just food for thought.

[Anonymous]

I also believe that Ben tested a '96-97 spring and said it was WEAKER than a pre-96. Just food for thought.

An explanation for that may be that the 96 motors weren't available in 5-speeds, therefore GM assumed they wouldn't go past 6500rpm. And since weaker springs are cheaper, maybe by just pennies, its a shortcut.

[dykz34]

Then why would they put an intake on it that will flow better in the upper RPMs? And why would they put the higher RPM cams in there? GM is weird...