What is considered big lift in a cam for an LS1 car?

Is it true the lower the LSA the more power you get?

Thanks,

 

Generally speaking, the lower the intake duration, the lower in the rpm band the engine will begin to make power, and the sooner it will die out in the rpm band. For example:
cam with 212 degree intake duration operates well from 1200-6000 rpm while a cam with 230 degree intake duration operates well from 2300-6800 rpm.
Intake duration means how long the intake valve (in the engine head) is open and allowing the air/fuel mixture to enter the combustion chamber and it is the most important factor in choosing the right cam for you (IMO).
Exhaust duration is the amount of time time (in degrees) that the exhaust valve is open.
So a 212 would have lots of low end torque but not a lot of high end hp, while the 230 would have lots of high end hp but not much low end torque.
For the LS1, low lift is around .500 inches and high lift is around .590. Lift is another factor that determines how much air/fuel enters your engine during the time when the intake valve
is open. Low lift makes less power, but is easier on the valvesprings and therefore more reliable. High lift makes more power but is harder on the valvetrain, requires more maintenance, and makes more valvetrain noise.
Lobe separation angle is also important in cam choice. For the LS1, most people use a 112 LSA or a 114 LSA. The 112 will have a choppier idle, make less engine vacuum, and make less low end torque than the 114. The 114 will have better idle characteristics, smoother idle, and better engine vacuum. Generally the higher the number, the better the idle.
You can write a very long book on cam science...I am just trying to point out a few things to you.
In summary this cam (218/220 .540/.560 114) has a 218 degree intake duration, a 220 degree exhaust duration, .540 inches of intake valve lift, .560 inches of exhaust valve lift, and a 114 degree lobe separation angle.

Most cams are rated by duration at some defined lift point. Cam durations will be listed two ways: Actual duration and Rated duration. Actual duration is measured in degrees and is the "actual" duration of the valve being open.
Rated duration came about because, as slow as the valve opens and closes at the very beginning and end of its cycle, it is nearly impossible to find exactly where it begins to move. So manufacturers began rating durations at .050" of valve lift to make comparing cams easier.
Therefore a 212/218 cam measured at .050" of valve lift might have an actual duration of 237/243 or 240/246.
This brings up ramp rates of cams. In general, the steeper the ramp, the quicker the valve will open..the quicker the valve will be at full lift..and the quicker air/fuel can move into the combustion chamber. Manufacturers have put lots of research into finding the "right" ramp rate for a cam to make the most power without causing undue stress to other valvetrain components like springs, lifters, and pushrods. They usually won't divulge that kind of info, but you can get a general idea by looking at the actual duration compared to the rated duration. A cam with an actual intake duration of 240 and a rated intake duration of 212 would have a slower ramp than a cam with an actual intake duration of 230 and a rated intake duration of 212.
Intake and exhaust duration will be different for every engine. Larger engines need more duration and more lift to get the air/fuel they need to make power. Smaller engines need less. For the LS1 you will usually see rated intake duration between 212 and 230 degrees...the 212 making gobs of low end torque and the 230 making lots of high end horsepower.

http://www.ls1info.com/article.php?sid=18

Here is a much clearer and in depth explination

 

Here is some installed setups.. take a look
there and see what you can find that meets
your needs..

http://ls1info.com/camstats/showdata.php

if you have a cam installed feel free
to post your numbers ..