LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

custom grind cam

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Old 12-16-2006, 09:23 PM
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Default custom grind cam

I want a custom grind to replace the LT4 hotcam I have now. I was pointed in the direction of 230/236 .544/.555 113LSA by Comp, or if I wanted to go bigger 236/242 .560/.580 112LSA. Car is not a dd, btw. I don't want to spin the engine past 6200 though, so I was thinking custom grind. Something around 232 duration and .560-.570s in lift on a 110-113 LSA. Any suggestions? Bret Bauer suggested not going past 232 in duration if I don't want high rpms. Car is only driven on weekends, no track time. I don't really have the $$ to be constantly replacing engine bearings and such, so that's why I'd like to avoid a top ended cam. Thanks!
Old 12-16-2006, 09:38 PM
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I would talk to bret and get 1 from him I talked to him about the set-up I am build and I am not running over 6100 Rpm and I wanted a cam that had a power band that ranged from 2200+ without going past my rpm limit. And using a 3200 stall he had just what I needed so I would talk to him about your goals and what you want to run.
Old 12-16-2006, 10:54 PM
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Actually, I've been trying to get a hold of him and get some recommendations for over 2 weeks now. No success. Plus I heard that due to it being "proprietary information", he won't give you the specs on a custom grind. Hope that's not true.
Old 12-16-2006, 10:59 PM
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Due you have his email and for the cam specs i cant tell ya I haven't ordered mine yet waiting to get my heads back. I can say when I emailed him he replied the next day with each message most were at night. But it is close to the holidays so slow response can be expected. His cams come with a spring set, springs, retainers, Locks, and locators . you would want to tell you current mods and give a gross vehicle weight. tires and rear gears.
Old 12-16-2006, 11:17 PM
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Yeah, I emailed him a list of all my mods, dyno sheets, etc...We exchanged emails a few times, but I couldn't get any specs out of him.
Old 12-16-2006, 11:22 PM
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Ya i wouldn't think he would give specs unless you were getting the cam. That would be the same probably with one custom maker just because who know maybe you do your own cams and are just looking for designs.
Old 12-16-2006, 11:52 PM
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That sucks. I definitely need specs before I agree to purchase a cam though.
Old 12-17-2006, 12:54 AM
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If you have Brett design a cam for your application you will get the cam specs, roughly atleast (ie 55X lift).

Also, if you dont want to spin the car over 6200 rpms, be sure to get a cam that dosent peak at 6800. Alot of guys put in like a CC306 or another big cam that is known to make big power, then wonder why they fall way short when they only spin the car to 6100 rpms.
Old 12-17-2006, 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by eLTwerker
That sucks. I definitely need specs before I agree to purchase a cam though.
double post...but wtf.

Your paying someone who is an expert to design this cam tailored to your setup, what does it matter what the exact specs are before you buy it?

Are you a cam expert that knows more about designing them than they do?
Old 12-17-2006, 05:40 AM
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No, but I would like to be one day. I want to learn as much as I can, so I can break into the business one day and start a career. I need to the know the specs of my cam so I'll know how the duration, lift, LSA, and overlap are effecting how my car drives and performes.
Old 12-17-2006, 10:14 AM
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The HOT cam would want to spin past 6200, I am not saying peak power will be that high but you should be reving past that during the shifts.

I would say ALL your choices sofar conflict with the 6200rpm thing matter of fact bet they peak up around that so they will really want to rev beyond.
Old 12-17-2006, 10:18 AM
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Its an a4
Old 12-18-2006, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by eLTwerker
Bret Bauer suggested not going past 232 in duration if I don't want high rpms. Car is only driven on weekends, no track time. I don't really have the $$ to be constantly replacing engine bearings and such, so that's why I'd like to avoid a top ended cam. Thanks!
Well if you go custom grind your need springs (in most cases) which means more $$$$ although a very good buy. Custom grinds run about $395.00 and up. I have the 230/236 nice little cam, not the greatest but nice. It is a top end cam and will want to go a little past 6200. I have a friend with the 503 by comp Cams in a stock 95 T/A, full boltons and has ran 12.40's with no tune
Old 12-19-2006, 11:56 AM
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I run 12.2 now, with the hotcam.
Old 12-19-2006, 12:23 PM
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I have a terrific smallish cam 226/234 thats in my 383...I don't spin it passed 6300 and its been great...Its from Erson, spec'd by Joe Overton...I've got the cam card and I'll try to get in touch with Joe to see if he's still in the mix around here...He'll give you the specs and everything over the phone and his cam selections work great...I'll pm you the specs on mine if you want...

--Alan
Old 12-19-2006, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by eLTwerker
No, but I would like to be one day. I want to learn as much as I can, so I can break into the business one day and start a career. I need to the know the specs of my cam so I'll know how the duration, lift, LSA, and overlap are effecting how my car drives and performes.
I'm afraid you won't get all the information you want, even if you buy the cam. A engine/cam designer may spend quite a bit of time specing your particular cam but you aren't charged for that development work when you just buy the cam. You, as a customer are buying results, not numbers. If cam numbers are more important than the results why bother seeking out a custom cam design for your particular combination? Just take an internet poll as to what the cam should be. You can take that free advice to the bank...and get just what you paid for it.

Virtually all "custom" cams use proven lobes from Comp (or another cam manufactutrer's) huge lobe selection. Knowing which lobes to choose and how they should be phased is what makes them custom, and what makes them work or not work. That is precisely the information a cam designer doesn't want to share. Why, you may ask? If you develop a successful career selling custom cams, do you plan to give away your design time for no cost so the next potential customer can just order "your" design without you being involved? That might not lead to a very profitable career.

Most successful designers of engines or valvetrains, or almost any other system are not altruistic in their endeavors. The "general good" doesn't motivate them; your success with their product and some profit does.

My $.02.
Old 12-19-2006, 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by 95FbFormula
I would talk to bret and get 1 from him I talked to him about the set-up I am build and I am not running over 6100 Rpm and I wanted a cam that had a power band that ranged from 2200+ without going past my rpm limit. And using a 3200 stall he had just what I needed so I would talk to him about your goals and what you want to run.

Yep he is doing my cam. Just wating on flow numbers from my heads so he can get to work
Old 12-19-2006, 02:18 PM
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i have been talking to him to.no im sorry i have been emailing him answers all emails pretty quick
Old 12-19-2006, 04:15 PM
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Yes, ABA pm me please, and wow, that was sure a sermon from the mountain top, SStroker. I've looked through the "off the shelf" grinds and can't find exactly what I want. If I'm gonna pay $1500 for a cam, valvetrain and labor, I want the cam to be exactly what I want. Futral will get me a custom grind and tell me all about it, they're just real hard to get a hold of. I guess I'll just have to go through them.
Old 12-19-2006, 07:32 PM
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Look for RESULTS, too many folks get caught up in marketing.

Comp and SOME of their vendors are far too quick to sell you what you think you need rather than what will actually work. They feed on kids who want a huge duration cam and then compromise the specs to tame it enough to be streetable, in the process they lose a lot of the power it could have made. Like I said look for results not marketing, ABA383's car is a prime example of results, cam I run is similar in "published" specs but like OldSStroker said published specs are not as much info as most folks believe so do not think you can go buy a Comp 503 and run this hard.


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