Elgin E-1838-P Sloppy Mechanics Stage 1 Grind LS Camshaft

• Great choice for street driven LS V8 engines like the 4.8 or 5.3
• Slight choppy idle that lets everyone know your LS is ready for some fun
• Uses stock torque converter, but will see better performance from a 2,000 rpm stall
• Increases mid-range and top end power without sacrificing low end torque
• A good fit for naturally aspirated or low-boost applications
• 114 degree lobe separation angle helps with EFI system tuning and vacuum needs
• Camshaft requires 3-bolt cam gear (later LS engines use a single cam bolt)
• Upgraded valve springs are required due to increased lift
• Not compatible in AFM/DOD applications
• Custom engine management tuning will be required for best performance

Wake Your LS Up with Elgin’s Sloppy Mechanics Performance Camshafts

The LS engine family is arguably the most popular engine family on the planet these days. You’ll find these compact pushrod V8 engines in everything from hot rods and muscle cars to classic trucks and more! Their swapability into just about anything, their simplicity, and large source of original applications means the LS engine family is easy on the project budget and that there are numerous upgrades and performance parts available for them.

Many of the LS engine donor sources are GM truck applications. While performance is solid from the factory, GM’s trucks are designed for work and daily chores like hauling the family. As such, GM engineers designed the LS “Vortec” engine series in these trucks for a long life at relatively low engine rpm with an emphasis on torque. Obviously, these engines will run in your LS swap project as is, but one of the best “bang for the buck” upgrades you can do to your truck LS engine before it lands on those LS swap mounts in your project is an LS cam swap to something with a little more lift and duration. Elgin’s line of Sloppy Mechanics performance LS camshafts is the hot ticket for a Chevy 5.3 cam upgrade, especially if you’re considering additional performance upgrades like gears, high stall torque converter, or even a turbo!

Consistent Quality and Machining for Long Life and More Horsepower

We have a little secret to tell you. There are only a few companies out there that actually manufacturer their own camshafts from raw materials to finished product. Elgin Industries has been an automotive parts manufacturer and OEM supplier for over 100 years! Their ISO14001 facility handles these Elgin camshaft LS swap cams so you know the quality is there. Modern design coupled with high quality materials means these Sloppy Mechanics performance cam profiles make serious power without worry.

The E-1838-P is considered Elgin’s “Stage 1” cam profile. It is perfect for those looking for more horsepower with a slightly noticeable idle that will work with stock driveline components. The cam profile features .560-inch lobe lift with a split pattern duration of 285-degrees intake and 292 degrees exhaust. This equates to duration at .050-inch lift of 216/220. A lobe separation angle (LSA) of 114 degrees is EFI friendly and creates sufficient vacuum for accessories like power brake boosters and air conditioning. Suitable for naturally aspirated LS engines or for use in a 5.3 LS turbo build, it is a great cam option for street driven 4.8 and 5.3 engines and can even use the stock torque converter (though you will gain more from the cam with higher stall speed converter in the 2,000-2,500 rpm range). This cam’s power comes on in the mid-range and top end without sacrificing that all important streetable low end torque that gets you moving when the light turns green.

A Cam Swap Worth the Effort for Your LS Engine

Adding this Sloppy Stage 1 turbo cam to your LS is as straight forward as any other cam swap for the LS platform. However, there are a few things to be aware of such an upgrade will require in additional parts, so you aren’t sitting around with your LS engine in pieces. For starters, due to the increased lift a valve spring upgrade is required. We highly recommend the PAC ovate beehive spring kit for this application. Additionally, if you are working on a Gen IV LS with a cam gear retained by a single bolt (early Gen IV and all Gen III use a more traditional 3-bolt cam gear retention) you will need to convert to a 3-bolt cam gear to install these Elgin cams along with new cam gear retaining bolts.

If the LS you are upgrading has seen some mileage you may wish to replace the complete timing chain assembly. We offer several 3-bolt cam gear timing sets for the LS engine family to choose from. Furthermore, it would not be a bad idea to inspect and replace the rocker arm trunnions on your LS engine as well. Besides addressing the high mileage wear on the factory trunnions, adding our LS rocker arm trunnion upgrade kit provides an upgraded steel trunnion (versus the OE powdered metal piece) with fully sealed roller bearings. The trunnions are secured within your rocker arms via snap rings, so you don’t have to worry about the dreaded LS trunnion failure that ends up with your LS ingesting the trunnion’s needle bearings causing a catastrophic failure.

Not compatible in AFM/DOD applications.

Camshaft Specs:

• Cam Lift Intake: .329
• Cam Lift Exhaust: .329
• Valve Lift Intake: .560
• Valve Lift Exhaust: .560
• Adv. Duration Intake: 285°
• Adv. Duration Exhaust: 292°
• Duration @ .050 Cam Lift Intake: 216°
• Duration @ .050 Cam Lift Exhaust: 220°
• Intake Opens at: -2° BTC
• Intake Closes at: 38° ABC
• Exhaust Opens at: 48° BBC
• Exhaust Closes at: -8° ATC
• Camshaft Overlap: 59°
• Lobe Line Intake: 110°
• Lobe Line Exhaust: 118°
• Operating Power Range: 2,000-4,800 rpm