IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

I was about to order a CC503 but I guess I just cant leave well enough alone. I started checking out grinds by other companies. Howards cams are almost fifty bucks cheaper than the comps and ALOT cheaper than a custom grind from either LE or AI. I found these two grinds that I like, tell me what you think...


Howards part number 180245-10
Advertised Duration-278 284
Duration @ .050- 225 231
Lift with 1.5 rockers- .500 .510
Lobe Seperation- 110
Fair idle, street/strip. Auto OK with 2500+ stall

Howards part number 180325-10
Advertised Duration-278 286
Duration @ .050- 225 233
Lift with 1.5 rockers- .525 .530
Lobe Separtation- 110
Rough idle, street/strip performance. Strong mid-range. 2500+ stall

Here is the cc503 specs
Advertised Duration-276 281
Duration @ .050-224 230
Lift with 1.5 rockers- .503 .510
Lobe Separation-112

The larger Howards cam is part of their "Max Torque" cams and the smaller one, which they list on their site as a street/strip cam is part of their "Marine Max" series. I like the bigger Howards because it is close to what LE and AI is speccing for stock headed car such as the famous AI 226/234. These Howards cams can be had on Ebay for about 235 shipped.


Has anyone on here ever ran a Howards cam? Do you think either of those cams will perform well in a stock headed LT1? Ive always heard the CC503 is the biggest you want to go with stock heads, but there are a lot of guys running the AI 226/234 with great results. What do you guys think, should I try out one of these or just stick with the tried and true 503?

ahritchie

iTrader: (1)

IMO get a cam with proven results that is guaranteed to meet expectations that others have done before (CC503)...either that or get a custom grind. I'm sure those other cams will perform but, why be the guinea pig? If you want an "oddball" cam get the lunati voodoo 60121...not many people have it, it performs/sounds great. A little less duration but more lift. Had one in my car and loved it....now stepping up to the 60122 with my new 383.

60121 lunati voodoo specs
Advertised Duration-270 278
Duration @ .050-219 227
Lift with 1.5 rockers- .515 .530
Lobe Separation-112

Big Al

iTrader: (1)

Let me add some fuel to the fire. Check out Lunati's cams too

Al 95 Z28

Gojira94

iTrader: (4)

Duration and lift aren't going to mean very much without looking at valve events, but I like that 180325-10 on 1.6rr. That'd be .560/.565, with the IV events 2* longer than the Comp 503 and EV events 6* longer. That's a step-nosed hydraulic cam, but it doesn't say it's for an LT1 so you might have to get a machinist to put a dowel in it for you if you went with it...

To get a visual of what's happening with valve events and how thery vary by cam, try this as an exercise sometime: Download a printable camshaft wheel and print it out on paper. Use different colored inks to mark IVO/ IVC/ EVO/ EVC for each cam. You can see how they vary, especially how the time between IVC/EVO and EVC/IVO relate. Draw out the specs for the old CC306 and the Lunati 60121. It's an eye-opener.

Remember: duration is expressed in crankshaft degrees, LSA is measured in camshaft degrees and valve events correspond to camshaft rotation (of course).

I'm running the 503 on ported heads and love the results. Great drivability and it hauls *** with proper supporting mods.

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

Ive checked out Lunati's cams already. The 60121 seems great. I had a Hotcam in my last car and liked it but Im wanting a little more for the track. The 60122 seems too aggresive for what Im doing to. I wish they had something in between, which leads me back to the cc503.

Gojira, thanks for the explanation on VEs. I believe Howards has a printable camshaft wheel like you are talking about on their site. Im gonna try what you say. Im trying to soak as much info up (beyond quoting cam specs and talking bolt ons). Im wanting to cam this motor and run it a year or two and build a nice 355/383 while I run this motor.

It just seems to me though that all of these "shelf" cams have less lift and and a numerically higher LSA than what AI and LE are putting out specifically for these motors.

Gojira94

iTrader: (4)

Something you'll see with the Lunati 60121 and you don't see often is a negative number for the degrees 'above' TDC for exhaust valve closing. It's -4.5. That's 1* later than the intake valve opens. So you'd mark it to the right of 0* at the top of the wheel.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I would expect the hole in the center of the cam to be too small for the opti to fit. That is what has to be drilled out on the ZZ4 cam to use it in an LT1 and a longer dowel pin.

Howards?Competition products is actually pretty close to me I have bought some fasteners and such there but never valvetrain.

Even with 1.6s that lift will be pretty mild.

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the info. How much did that cost? If I have to pay a machine shop to do all that I might as well order a custom grind from LE. I'd love to go with AI but dont want to spend that kind of money on this motor.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I bought my ZZ4 cam used but most guys said it was only like $25.

SS MPSTR

iTrader: (1)

I'd look at the Lunati stuff before this.

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

Well they emailed me back first thing this morning. They said all of their cams starting with part number "18" will work in an LT1. They recommended the smaller cam that I listed but on a 112 LSA, which would be very close to the CC503. Im not sure what Ill do yet.

And again the Lunati cams seem to be okay but I havent seen any good track results from the 60121 and I think the 60122 would be way overkill for me.

ahritchie

iTrader: (1)

Well have you seen any good track times or dyno numbers from Howards cams on LT1's....doubt it, cuz nobody has one. Just go with the cc503 since that seems what your set on.

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

What did your car end up trapping before it blew up? What about dyno?

ahritchie

iTrader: (1)

I never got a full run in It made 311 WHP on a AWD dyno dynamics dyno. (Cam only, just bolt ons). The tuner says this type dyno reads 5-10% conservative compared to the more common dynojet, most likely would have been 330+ WHP if run on a dynojet.