94 LT1 Cam Specifications

by Richard RoweUpdated August 10, 2023
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The LT-series V8 was the last and perhaps greatest incarnation of Chevrolet's history-making small block. The traditional small block saw continuous production virtually unchanged from 1955 through 2002, though the 350 itself had evolved into the LT1 by 1992 and left only the 305 to carry the traditional SB torch. The LT1 went through several variations during its relatively brief 10-year production run, but those produced during the 1994 model year maintained the same specs that ran throughout most of the LT1's production run.

1992 LT1 Corvette

LT1 Corvettes (Y-bodies) of this model year used camshafts with 205/207 degrees of intake/exhaust duration at 0.050-inch lift. Total advertised duration is typically about 70 degrees higher, but airflow below 0.050-inch valve lift is almost nonexistent. General Motors rates its cams by 0.050 duration instead of the total duration for just this reason. Lift comes in 0.451/0.450 intake/exhaust at the valve with a 117-degree lobe separation angle.

1993-1995 LT1 Corvette and Camaro/Firebird

LT1-powered Y-bodies (Corvettes) and B-bodies (Camaros and Firebirds) of this generation used cams with 202/207 degrees of duration at 0.050-inch lift, 0.50/0.460 inches of intake/exhaust valve lift and 116 degrees of lobe separation.

1996-1997 Camaro/Firebird

LT1-powered Camaro/Firebirds (those with the 285-horsepower engine) use the following cam specs: 200/207 duration at 0.050-inch lift, 0.447/0.459 inches of lift and 117 degrees of lobe separation angle. LT4-powered models of this vintage (Camaro SLP/LT4 SS and Firebird SLP/LT4 Firehawk six-speed cars) utilize a cam with 203/210 degrees of lift at 0.050-inch lift, 0.476/0.479 inches of duration and a 115-degree lobe separation angle.

1994-1997 GM B-body

GM retired its amazingly ancient rear-drive B-body platform in 1996 after an astonishing 37-year production run. You'd have to look to the Volkswagen Beetle to find a chassis as long-loved as this one. The B-body had been offered with the traditional small block for its entire production run all the way up to 1994, when GM sent it off with a bang by offering the 350 cubic inch Vortec LT1 as an option. At its discontinuation, the B-body underpinned the Chevrolet Caprice (as it had since 1965), Impala SS and Buick Roadmaster. It previously saw use under the 1959 to 1985 Buick Lesabre/Invicta, 1959 through 1985 Buick LeSabre, Canadian-model 1959 to 1970 Pontiac Strato/Executive and about a dozen other GM models. This 260 horsepower LT1 was also optional on the last of GM's D-body cars, the 1994 to 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood.

These LT1s (and their L99 4.3-liter V6 derivatives) used in B-bodied cars featured camshafts with 203/210 duration at 0.050, 0.0476/0.479 inches of lift and a 115-degree lobe separation angle.

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