Chaotic Firebird

Yes, it's that time of the year again. What cam would you choose for your car?

The cam would have to meet these requirements: Has to be streetable and reliable. I know everyone's deffinition of "streetable" is different, but I'm looking for a cam that can be used daily without a stall, or at the very least a small stall. One that idle's close to stock, meaning a smooth idle over a really lopey idle. Will give good power increases throughout the power band. And will help me reach my goal of getting into the 12's on street tires. Pretty much what I'm looking for is a cam that can be installed, run like it came from the factory without having to worry about something breaking, or being a weekend/race only car.

After reading several posts on this forum and LS1Tech, I'm really leaning towards the CC305 cam due to it's decent gain in power and smoother idle over the Hotcam. But after reading the Impala SS forum, several people are running 12s with the smaller Crane 227 cam in a heavier car.

Camaroguy22

iTrader: (12)

You sir are on the right track. The hotcam and 305 are both small cams, but as you hit the nail on the head the 305 idles better. The baby crane cam also works good. Don't listen to anybody posting about a comp cam 306 being what you need. You can easily hit 12s without a cam. Personally I would go with the slightly larger cam the 305 since you are going to be spending all that money on this project might as well get a few more hp without sacrificing next to anything in driveablity.

96blkform

iTrader: (2)

I would say you should add the Comp Cams 224/230 to the list (aka the cc503), it is a nice cam and very streetable. I ran it for a while and it had great street manners, a nice lopey idle and really got moving when you got on it. It can be emissions legal to boot. Just my .02.

Camaroguy22

iTrader: (12)

Great cam also, I have that cam. I didn't bother mentioning it though becuase it seems to be a little larger then what the guy really wants.

Turbo_6

iTrader: (3)

I agree that you don't need a cam for 12's. I did it in a 6spd car with cold air, exhaust, headers, gears, pullies, and tires. But, if you want a cam with great driveability and that makes good power to 6k rpm, my vote is for the 210/227.

lt197formula

iTrader: (6)

the 305 or 846 would be my pick for your application

Chaotic Firebird

I don't have a 6-speed

seawolf06

iTrader: (8)

Ditto, but since the 305 is on a 114 LSA, it might be more streetable and it's definitely more popular.

Sick99WS6

iTrader: (2)

Stock heads, stall, 2.73 gears, and totally streetable. Get a good tune and the 306 is a sweet cam. PCM4less did mine just right. I probably do have a higher threshold for what is streetable though.

My point: Don't listen to anybody posting badly about a CC306 who hasn't had one. 110+ mph traps were nothing to sneeze at given stock stall, heads, and 2.73s.

Camaroguy22

iTrader: (12)

Did you happen to read the first post in the thread?

slowmofo

iTrader: (6)

No 847

I like the baby crane cam. alot of guys are making good numbers on stock heads with it.

Camaroguy22

iTrader: (12)

Very true, suprising how good of #s you can get out of a tiny cam such as that. No point in over caming your car

C_Rules

iTrader: (7)

i got the crane 227 and i love it. i havent even dyno tuned it yet and i luv it. once i get it tuned im gonna luv it even more. i drive the car all over and in all conditions and it is super streetable with an awesome sound.

Sick99WS6

iTrader: (2)

I did. And my car was a daily driver. Very little difference between that and the stock cam in terms of idle and driveability. It had a little lope in terms of actually feeling it that was not quite stock but nothing bad. You could only really tell by listening to the exhaust that it was cammed. The idle was only 200 rpm over stock too and people were telling me in an A4 that it would be ridiculous to drive. Only reason I went with that cam is because I had planned on going bigger at some point but came to find out it was a good relatively lightly modded cam also. I would toast my buddy all the time with his '94 hotcammed Z with about the same mods too.

My experience on the forums has been that not many people have actually owned a 306 but everyone likes to bash on it for streetability. It just isn't true. Now, as far as putting on heads, gears, stall, etc., it may make it alot more unstreetable. I can't claim that because I sold it before I got that far. Just debunking the myths people have made common place. My mom would drive my car on occassion and never even complained about it!

Chaotic Firebird

I considered the 306, but I didn't want to get a stall and loose what gas mileage I have.

TwoFast4Lv

iTrader: (8)

Lets see...I have a 240/247 296/306 in the car now....

SO a solid rolloer around 258/266 would be my next choice

OH WAIT this is YOUR car.

LPE 211/219 for sure Great daily driver 7/10th gain on the wifes car and no stall or radical tuning needed

Chaotic Firebird

I think a 296/306 might be a little on the excessive side for my car I'd probably loose all vacuum with that too, lol.

1989GTA

Some of the older cams are quite lazy in comparison to the newer cams. Take the ZZ9 cam in your list. At .050 the intake is 212 and the exhaust is 226. Advertised is 282 and 287. That is one lazy cam.

stevemilz

iTrader: (3)

cc305 but Im partial, its a good blower cam also.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I would lean towards the Lingenfelter smaller grinds or the baby Crane.

That said either will be fine with a stock stall BUT a stock car stands to gain a whole lot at the trck from a stall and cammed even moreso. I was at one time afraid of stall too but finally took the plunge and can say without hesitation a 2800 stall Edge was a better modification than the ZZ4 cam I had(208/221) today the car has a 3400 Edge in it and is fine for daily driving and quite a shocker at the strip.