marc_w

I couldn't really find an exact answer on this...

I've been trying to decide on one of the following cams for a while now. The Comp 212/218 .522/529 114, the Comp 216/220 .529/.532 114, or the TR220 114.

I understand the CC's are good from 1200-6000, and 1300-6300 respectively, and the TR220 from 1500-6500... The actual powerband and area under the curve isn't as simple as that, is it?

I understand the TR220 is the horsepower king here, but I'm wondering just how much more lowend and idle quality (if any?) the TR220 would retain over the other two cams, with it's more agressive lobes vs the lower durations.


Thanks!

m1key99WS6

iTrader: (1)

I have a Comp Cams 216/220 .579 .589 114 +4 in my TA which has perfect (near stock) drivability even in the cold. It also has great idle characteristics absolutely no idle problems or hunting. The cam peaks @ 6400RPM. I use this in my daily driver that I put about 110 miles per day on. With stock heads and 10-bolt it put down 382RWHP and 37x RWTQ M6. My car weights 3750 raceweight and with this cam I have gone from 112MPH (drag radials/Slicks) -115MPH (street tires) at the track. It has propelled my car to a 12.19.

I wish I had further information about the other cams but I'm really happy with this cams drivability. I have Comp 918's and over 45K+ miles on the cam/spring combination with no issues at all.

I will however be taking it out to put in a lot more aggressive cam whenever I can get around to getting some stage II heads and cam from somewhere.

Hope the cam info helps.

98SS Blackattack

I would go with the TR220. You will get more power up high,and i dont think the other cams would produce ANY more down low.The tr220 with some decent heads can pull over 400rwhp.The comp cams dont have the lift.

Josh

iTrader: (9)

I'd go with the TR220 as well. Low-end should be virtually identical to the stock cam, with significant gains elsewhere. Even in an auto, I can't imagine you would have any noticeable driveability problems on the stock tune.

Josh

jrp

iTrader: (16)

i'll go against the grain and say the 216/220. i dont see why'd you want the extra top end of the tr220 in a truck.

marc_w

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it.

JRP, that's a good point, thanks for tossing that in here. Realistically, I'm not looking to rev it over 6,200-6,300 right now. In fact, I'll probably have it shifting at 6,000 flat, so I won't be using the extended power the TR220 would provide. I just want to play it safe for a while. I'm just not sure if the TR220 would have a 'meatier' powerband (under that 6K shift - including that low end), compared to the other two cams.

From what I've seen, these motors put out some decent numbers (for a truck) with a good tune and minimal bolt-ons... somwhere just under 325 at the wheels.

The truck will be stalled (low) w/free flow exhaust, headers... all that fun stuff. It'll be on stock heads for quite some time, but an upgrade may be in the distant future. It IS running 4.10's, so I've got some gear.

I'd hate to be restricted later on, but I don't want something doggy around town either. Just trying to hash this out...

BLUEBALLS ZZ

iTrader: (2)

i love the 212 218 550+lift cam. my g/f has it in her car and went from 12.50's@113 to 11.90's @117 with it. can't tell that it is there. only had to bump up her shift points and rev limter. also a friend has it in his auto with small heads and header and that cam and went from 105 traps to 116 traps bounceing of the rev limiter in the 2-3 shift 5 time's. just a really good stock driving around cam

jrp

iTrader: (16)

far from scientific heres an overlay of 4 similar cam using my setup, just use it for the curves.

someday

how about something like a 214/220-113 on XE lobes?

marc_w

That's awesome, JRP... Thanks. Is that desktop dyno or something? Are those cam specs 206/206, 218/218, etc etc - Or are they based on the ones above? (206 being the 206/212 - the 218 being the 212/218 - 216 being the 216/220)

someday - That sounds interesting... I haven't even really thought of doing anything custom just yet. I guess I'm still trying to nail down the common stuff to figure out what to expect and go from there.

blueball - I've heard good things about that cam... What turns me off just a BIT, is that I heard it's just like stock until 3,000-3,500, where it start to really come alive. I was hoping to make some gains under there. Maybe if we move it to a 114LSA and advance it 4*........ like a smaller TR220? (Or is it already a +4?)

BLUEBALLS ZZ

iTrader: (2)

i don't know about you. but i don't stay below 3000 very long i had a cam 218-224 that made it's power early. tapperd off at 5300 and held it till 6400.. cam sucked on the street with 4.10's. i got beat bye everybody cause i couldn't hook. not even on nitto's friend of mine called it the crazy cam and yes there was 4* advance in the 212-218 on a 115 lobe seperation.

highgear

I have the Comp 216/220 cam and it drives ok with tuning.
However, I think I would have been much happier with the LS6 street replacement cam at 212/218 .55x 115lsa for a daily driver.

jrp

iTrader: (16)

they are the advertised comp and TR specs off of TR website and yes its desktop dyno. i just use it for visual representation of power curves.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

marc, the best thing you can do is take a very honest look at what you're going to be using the truck for, and how you like to operate the engine. Do you like to rev it or lug it? If you're going to be racing other trucks or doing sand dunes, put in the TR220 or even a TR224. If you're going to using it as a tow vehicle, leave the stock cam in there. Keep in mind even your stock cam is no slouch; it's the same as the stock fbody cam. Those other smaller cams aren't enough different from stock to be worth all the effort of a cam install IMO. Just an oppinion though from someone that has a tow vehicle and a racing vehicle and has installed cams.

whatever

You need to clarify here whether or not this cam is going in a 5.3 truck or an LS1.

whatever

If it is a truck check out this thread. https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...light=jonathan

DG Gordon

My friend put my 2000 SS cam in his 01 5.3 truck and picked up almost 30 rwhp up top! Cost him $9.00 for some gaskets. So the truck cams are not the same as the LS1 cams.
We are fixen to install a cam and stage 1 heads in my brothers truck and we cant decide which cam either as he will be using his to tow with a little also.

marc_w

The stock cam is the same as the LS1, 196/207 .479/.467 116. I believe in 2001, the trucks started using this cam.

The motor is a 6.0, LQ9 (same as the 2500 truck motor, but with 10:1 compression). I didn't get too many hits on another thread, but, I was asking how much the extra 300cc's will tame down a cam normally run in the 5.7's. Not a whole lot, I assume.

To sum up the trucks use:

It is definitely a daily driver, but it'll see the track pretty often. I'm looking for some "good" 1/4 mile times, but with "good" all around driveability (read, a comprimise on both sides - I don't want to drop in a big TSP cam with a 4500 stall just for ET's.) - if I needed to trade off one way or the other, I'd like the better driveability.

I'm interested in lowend because of the daily 25 mile backroad commute I have. I just don't want a completely flat, doggy engine at low throttle. That's my biggest fear.

I won't have a stall for a few months down the road, but it will be coming. It'll probably be the Yank 2600, which is supposed to flash around 2800 behind this stock motor/chassis. I know it's tight and not optimal for track use, but I don't want to get too crazy in this area.

In normal driving the truck spends most of it's time between 2000 and 3000 rpm. On the hightway (at 65-70ish), I see about 2,200-2,300rpm. If possible, I'd like the cam to be making a little more power than stock here - or at least the same as stock.

I may tow a 5,000lb trailer up to 4 times a year. Probably about 100 miles each way. Nothing too heavy duty here, and this isn't a HUGE concern of mine.

If I had to sum up the setup I'm after, I'd want a strong street/strip setup that can put down some good numbers, but still fall back on it's 'truck roots' if it has to.

Cal

iTrader: (1)

It's only the 2001 and 2002 fbodies that use the truck cam. Your 2000 SS would have had a more aggressive stock cam.

equandt

iTrader: (2)

I think a good choice would be the 212/218 115 LS6 replacement cam. In a truck, I would think you would want low end torque. The 212/218 cam should give you that. The benefit of the LS6 replacement cam is that it has some good lift so you'll grab some top end HP as well.