Crow Camshafts: Choosing the Right Cam for Your LS Engine Build

Upgrading the camshaft is one of the most transformative modifications you can make to a naturally aspirated engine - and on the LS platform, the Crow Cams range has earned an outstanding reputation among Australian engine builders. BYE Performance supplies Crow Cams products and uses them in engine builds at our Welshpool workshop. Here's everything you need to know about choosing the right cam for your LS build.

Why Camshaft Upgrade Matters So Much

The camshaft controls how long the intake and exhaust valves stay open (duration), how high they open (lift), and the relationship between intake and exhaust events (Lobe Separation Angle, or LSA). Changes to these parameters have a profound effect on where in the RPM range your engine makes power, how aggressive the idle sounds, how the car responds to throttle input, and what the peak power figures look like on the dyno.

A cam upgrade is not a minor modification - it fundamentally changes the character of your engine.

Why Crow Cams? The Australian Standard

Crow Cams has been producing performance camshafts in Australia for decades. Their LS range is particularly well-regarded because it's been developed specifically for the Australian performance market - accounting for our popular vehicle platforms, the quality of fuel available here, and the expectations of Australian performance enthusiasts. Crow Cams use 3-bolt cam sprocket patterns across their entire LS range, which eliminates the known single-bolt shearing issue seen on some OEM configurations.

Understanding Crow Cams LS Grinds: Mild to Wild

Crow Cams offers LS camshafts across a broad performance spectrum:

Mild street cams (e.g. 871732) - Great low-down torque and mid-range. Mild idle, no high stall converter required. Ideal for daily drivers wanting better street performance without compromising drivability.

Aggressive street cams (e.g. 871248, 871296) - High acceleration rate, strong mid-to-top end power. These cams have an aggressive idle and typically require a higher-stall torque converter in automatic applications. Best suited to dedicated performance builds.

High RPM cams (e.g. 871252) - Designed for ported heads and cold air intake setups, these are your high-end builds targeting strong top-end power. Require a stall converter and full supporting hardware.

Fat Lobe cams - Crow's 'Fat Lobe' technology uses a larger base circle, allowing higher lift without the aggressive ramp rate of traditional cams - improving valve train reliability at high power levels.

What Does a Cam Upgrade Require?

A cam upgrade on an LS engine is not a standalone modification. To do it correctly, you'll also need:

Upgraded valve springs - Stock springs aren't designed for the lift and RPM characteristics of a performance cam. Crow Cams' VTKLS8 kit is the standard recommendation.

Degreeing the cam - Professional cam degreeing during installation ensures the cam is installed at the correct timing advance/retard for your specific grind and application.

Stall converter (if automatic) - Aggressive cams require the converter to stall at a higher RPM to match the power band.

A full retune - A performance cam changes your fuelling and ignition requirements significantly. Never drive a freshly cammed car without a proper custom tune.

Crow Cams and LS Engine Builds at BYE Performance

Our engine builders spec Crow Cams across a wide range of LS builds. We supply the cam, install and degree it correctly, and perform a full custom tune on the Dynapack once the engine is running. Visit shop.byeperformance.com.au or call 08 9451 9696 to order or get expert advice.