I might be in the minority here but I can't wait to get rid of the vvt in my truck. I hate how jerky it makes low rpm driving and I find it does nothing to help low end torque. It just seems like a solution in search of a problem to me.
I don't think there is a huge benefit to VVT with a single cam, when a good tune and headers produce 2-3x more usable power.
Or, gaining displacement.
Once the engine starts utilizing separate intake & exhaust cams do variable timing benefits really become evident, which is tricky on an LS.
I can speak with experience about two different OHC V8s, a 32v 4.4L from three different E39 BMWs, and a lovely 32v 5.6L out of a 1st-gen Nissan Armada.
The BMWs were all 6-speed manuals, so it was easy to always be in the right power and, but they could smoke the tires from a dead-stop, and would truly pull like a flaming cat with gasoline dripping down it's back. The revhlimiter would hit quicker than you'd expect.
The VK56 out of the Nissan always felt like it had max grunt at 1000rpm, and the traction control was always blinking when the roads were wet, even at 23x,*** miles. I wish I had the time & space to swap that VK56 into a Frontier 2wd.
I find my LS to be strong and smooth, and very predictable, but it feels like it needs a split-second to unleash its power, whereas the DOHC engines had hair-triggers. I attribute this to all those intake and exhaust cams able to adjust the breathing to the max.
There's only so much phasing available with a single cam, and we've seen how you even lose some of that range when upgrading VVT cams.
