I'm in a little need of assistance. I'm trying to get things straight in my head to know what I need to order for my rebuild this winter. I am planning on installing HO cams with my build and need to figure out what I need to get in order for these to work. I have been looking around and am getting a little confused (maybe cause its 3am) and thought I'd look for a little claification. First I'm wondering if 1mm oversized valves would be something I should upgrade too, or just keep stock size and go with a decent racing valve? The next part is where I get more confused. Not sure what I need to look into for springs/lifters/valve guides - or anything else pertaining to the valvetrain. I've been looking around online at different sites to see what they have but can only seem to find parts to upgrade my OEM stuff...I'm not familiar with the HO cam swap and unsure what parts need to be chaged in order to run them. I know the cam tower needs to be bored out to accomodate for the extra lift but thats about all I know. Its going on 3:30am and I cant seem to get anywhere on this topic. If someone can help me out I'd appreciate it.

I would run 2.3 springs/retainers, 2.4 locks, stock sized ss valves. With the HO cams its better to run 35mm lifters. The 35mm lifters also help provide clearance around the bigger 2.3 springs.

first, a few questions id like answered....

1.) are you cheap?
2.) do you like doing things un-professionally?
3.) do you like you're motors to be reliable?

you're responses to these questions will dictate my course of advisement.



I must confess... I feel like a monster!

CarCustoms.net has what you need. Get a hold of Karo and he'll help you out with the valvetrain parts.

As for the H.O. cam swap it is suggested to run the 2.3 springs/retainers. If your going to bore out your cylinders then yes do get oversized valves to help with the increase in cubic inches. I failed to apply this to my build and I regret it.

You will also need to finalize your decision on how you plan to run the power steering. Best way is to mod the towers and cam (talk to brad) thus this allows you to run the 2.4 power steering pump...otherwise you will need to bolt up the 2.3 ps pump and re route your fuel line away from the intake pulley.

GMR has got nothing on this

I went with HO cams, 2.4L 1mm oversize ss valves, 2.3 springs/retainers, 2.4 keepers, 2.3L cam towers/lifters, and converted to a 2.3L power steering pump.

If I were to do it over again, I would have bored out the 2.4L cam towers for the 2.3L lifters so I could retain the stock P/S pump. The 2.3L pump sits up too high and hits the hood. Plus I had to make a custom mounting bracket, and it is hard to keep the belt tensioned enough so it doesn't squeal. Other than that, I love the setup I went with.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

z yaaaa wrote:first, a few questions id like answered....

1.) are you cheap?
2.) do you like doing things un-professionally?
3.) do you like you're motors to be reliable?

you're responses to these questions will dictate my course of advisement.

1) not generally, although I do like to save money if I can.
2) I get all my engine work done at a very reputable shop. They are a little more expensive there but they are known all over north america for their work...the guy has done some nascar engines and races a car in the US and Canada that he built the entire thing on his own.
3) reliablity its critical, I want to be able to run it for many summers. Especially if I do decide to sell the car next summer, I need to be able to say confidently the car will last a long time cause it was done right.

I have a therory of doing things right the first time and not having to worry about it again. I know a few people who do half a job and then end up regreting/ needing to upgrade again shortly after.

I want to maintain my p/s pump so I'll need to look into that...I have been talking to LAFNGAS a little while ago about them, so i'll need to look into that again.

So are there a stiffer 2.3 spring available somewhere? Or can karo get these? I am planning on boring .20 over so I may opt for the 1mm oversized valves.

Thanks for the help, I'm a pretty big virgin when it comes to this stuff. Any help is appreciated.

Mine was bored .020 over, and I went with the 1mm oversize valves. I would recommend it. Just get the stock 2.3L springs. I forget how many pounds they are rated at compared to the 2.4 springs, but it is significant. You can get them directly from GM. I've got the part number laying around here somewhere....



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

Part numbers would be awsome...wondering where you can pick up the HO cams? Does GM still carry them or do you have to go to the junk yard? I'm only planning to rev to 6600rpm (which is what I am set at now). I just want the car rebuilt so it will be reliable. Karo from carcustoms get most of the 2.3 parts for the cam swap? I'll have to do some looking around later. So will mainly OEM replacement parts work for this swap (minus the 1mm oversized valves)?

I'll try and track down the part numbers. As far as cams go, I got them new off of someone on Quad4Forums. I don't think GM has any in stock anymore. I believe Melling makes one of the cams IIRC...can't remember which. Your best bet would be to hit up quad4forums, ebay, or a yard. Karo can get you the SS valves. Everything else can be had from a GM dealership(springs and retainers).



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

Forgot to mention that the cheapest place I've found to get the 2.3L lifters is online from AutoZone.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

my advisement:

2.3 LG0 "ho" cams (intake cam modded with cam position sensor pickup and power steering hex)
2.3 LG0 "ho" valve springs and retainers
2.3 lightweight version 35mm lifters
bore and clearance 2.4 intake tower to fit ho cams and larger lifters
2.3 exhaust cam tower (any 2.3 tower works, does not need be HO)

lifters are going up in price rapidly. they would be the first thing i would buy if i were you. and of course.. since you answered me correctly i will advise the lightweight version 35mm 2.3 lifters. and go with boring a 2.4 intake tower right now cheapest i have found is $16.00 each. be careful though... sometimes you will get both styles. just return the wrong ones until you get the correct ones.

just use standard LG0 "ho" cams. u can buy both of them through most auto parts stores. just order a set for a 92 beretta gtz VIN A.

i cans get the intake side modded up for you to just drop right in. you use a 2.3 exhaust cam tower and it bolts right on. done.

on valve springs, just buy ones from any auto parts store, again.. VIN A. i got all of about 2 of the very last GM valve springs in the country from gm dealers. you can still get them from another place but they are spendy, $16.00 each vs an $8 dollar gm list price is pretty huge mark up, dont know that id want to let them ass rape me that bad when you can get same damn thing from any auto parts store for way cheaper.




I must confess... I feel like a monster!

I had a hookup. I didn't pay GM list.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

z yaaaa wrote:my advisement:

2.3 LG0 "ho" cams (intake cam modded with cam position sensor pickup and power steering hex)
2.3 LG0 "ho" valve springs and retainers
2.3 lightweight version 35mm lifters
bore and clearance 2.4 intake tower to fit ho cams and larger lifters
2.3 exhaust cam tower (any 2.3 tower works, does not need be HO)

lifters are going up in price rapidly. they would be the first thing i would buy if i were you. and of course.. since you answered me correctly i will advise the lightweight version 35mm 2.3 lifters. and go with boring a 2.4 intake tower right now cheapest i have found is $16.00 each. be careful though... sometimes you will get both styles. just return the wrong ones until you get the correct ones.

just use standard LG0 "ho" cams. u can buy both of them through most auto parts stores. just order a set for a 92 beretta gtz VIN A.

i cans get the intake side modded up for you to just drop right in. you use a 2.3 exhaust cam tower and it bolts right on. done.

on valve springs, just buy ones from any auto parts store, again.. VIN A. i got all of about 2 of the very last GM valve springs in the country from gm dealers. you can still get them from another place but they are spendy, $16.00 each vs an $8 dollar gm list price is pretty huge mark up, dont know that id want to let them ass rape me that bad when you can get same damn thing from any auto parts store for way cheaper.

what happens if you dont use the cam position sensor?

Nothing that is of major concern. The injectors will fire in batch mode all of the time instead of sequential. Sequesntial is only used in the lower RPM's anyway. You may notice a small decrease in gas mileage, but that's about it. I've been running the HO cams without the cam sensor for a year now with no problems whatsoever.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

Just stay away from the way Im doing it or you will get flamed lol, since everyone saying my way doesn't work even though getting done, but you CAN use HO on stock springs and retainers (ILL advised), 2.3 springs and retainers do fit 2.4 lifters NO PROBLEM, go with the 2.4 p/s (easier to keep room, plus if you like the stock look better to do), 2.3 easy drop-in (more or less), yes Brad knows his @!#$, but I did the math, research and building to run them, the lifters will not determine if your motor will be reliable BUT, some say should bored, some say we can do 2.4 lifters, HEX insert pretty cheap through GM, if you can grab the 2.3 lifters do so, HO springs and retainers you have to search, Wreckers, and quad4forums are your friends unless Brad knows elsewhere to look.


"As I lay rubber down the street, I pray for traction I can keep, but if I spin and begin to slide, please dear God protect my ride." -Amen

Cursed Cav wrote:Nothing that is of major concern. The injectors will fire in batch mode all of the time instead of sequential. Sequesntial is only used in the lower RPM's anyway. You may notice a small decrease in gas mileage, but that's about it. I've been running the HO cams without the cam sensor for a year now with no problems whatsoever.

cool, i have a 95 intake tower without the cam sensor.

yeah. you do not need to run the cam sensor. i simply advised it because the OP had said he likes to do things professionally.

does it work fine without it? yep. do i care? nope. he asked for my advisement. i gave such.

hey luke.. LOL i didnt pay gm list either, i got a few of them for steals. a few dealers were just like "wow these have been on our shelf for like 15 years, $3 each and they are your's"



I must confess... I feel like a monster!

Haha, I can't imagine that they would have been a very big mover



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

2.3 springs are rated at 80lbs..compared to the 2.4s 50lb springs
i have a set of 2.3 springs and retainers if anyone is interested and can GET you the HO cam set if you like....

So for the exhaust cam tower....are you able to bore the stock 2.4 exhaust cam tower like the intake tower to fit like the cams? Or is it just because its easier to buy the 2.3 exhaust tower cause its a "drop in part"?

Just get a 2.3L cam tower....No need for modifications then.



2010 Subaru Impreza WRX Limited
1999 Cavalier Z24 Supercharged
1999 Grand AM SE (Beater Car)
1997 GMC Sierra
2007 Honda CBR 600RR
2005 Honda TRX450R

AJ B wrote:Just stay away from the way Im doing it or you will get flamed lol, since everyone saying my way doesn't work even though getting done, but you CAN use HO cams on stock springs and retainers (ILL advised), 2.3 springs and retainers do fit 2.4 lifters NO PROBLEM, go with the 2.4 p/s (easier to keep room, plus if you like the stock look better to do), 2.3 easy drop-in (more or less), yes Brad knows his @!#$, but I did the math, research and building to run them, the lifters will not determine if your motor will be reliable BUT, some say should bored, some say we can do 2.4 lifters, HEX insert pretty cheap through GM, if you can grab the 2.3 lifters do so, HO springs and retainers you have to search, Wreckers, and quad4forums are your friends unless Brad knows elsewhere to look.

Yes they will fit, no problem, but the better way is to use the 2.3 lifters. Will the 2.4 lifters be fine, probably, but the 2.3s are the better choice.



PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO

who wants to help me make a write up about all this stuff?

i keep answering the same questions every week. weather it's in the forum or PM's.



I must confess... I feel like a monster!

Yeah, I think that would be awsome. I was searching for a sticky or at least a post that had all the info on this swap and I couldn't seem to find anything.

What year will the 2.3 exhaust cam tower come off to work with this swap? Any of the 2.3 exhaust cam towers? And is it possible to bore the exhaust cam tower to fit? Or is the 2.3 tower the only way to go for this?

Any 2.3 exhaust tower will fit i believe. Its cheaper to get a tower than to have one bored.