cam impact on exhaust sound?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hampton, VA
cam impact on exhaust sound? like i put in the title... does the cam have any effect on how mean the exhaust sounds? was listening to the soundclips on ls1sounds.com an about nutted when i heard the hooker setups, but most of them look like they have a cam (just from their description they gave). i had thought about goin with a full hooker setup for exhaust, an just disregard the cam, but i want that sound SO bad.
any help?
any help?
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 144
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From: McKinney (Summer)/Stillwater (school)
Yeah that mean aggresive sound is likkely from the cam, it will make the idle lope and for the most part a cammed car will sound louder aswell. It will still sound great with just headers and full catback aswell.
yes, if you thought LT's plus catback was loud, a cam will only make it louder. You are building more cylinder pressure and flowing more air = louder
Really woke mine up, but I'm not complaining
Really woke mine up, but I'm not complaining
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hampton, VA
oh ok.. so i guess that brings me to my next question - i see people talkin about how they change out the cam with the heads, but is that the same thing as headers or am i way off? just figured "heads" was short for headers... but i notice everyone sayin that they go hand-in-hand, so changing both out wuld be most beneficial.
thanks for the replies!
thanks for the replies!
Nope, "heads" are cylinder heads, ie what the valves/spark-plugs sit in. People usualy do head/cam because the upgraded heads will be able to flow more air (and fuel) to feed the cam's larger need.
Heres a head:
And heres a header:
Heres a head:
And heres a header:
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An LS1 car with a 230+ cam idling at 850rpms sounds like it's going to dig your heart out of your chest with a rather dull spoon then eat it with some fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti. Fafafafafafaffafafafafaf :/lector:
.....too bad mine idles at 1050...
Stock cam'd cars sound great, but usually only after you nail it. The exhaust tone becomes a little more distinct when you have a lumpy rod rolling around inside.
.....too bad mine idles at 1050...
Stock cam'd cars sound great, but usually only after you nail it. The exhaust tone becomes a little more distinct when you have a lumpy rod rolling around inside.
Originally Posted by TexaSS
Like everyone has said it's the cam that is making a lot of the noise, and the higher the intake/exhaust the meaner the lope.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Hampton, VA
so when im lookin at aftermarket cams, wut is it that i really need to pay attention to? i've listened to some cammed ls1's at idle and they sound like they're about to die, yet other cammed beasts sound...sexxxy at idle. i dont understand all the numbers i see when people post up the type of camshaft they use.
quick & dirty cam specs explanation:
For example, the Trex cam..........242/248 .608/.612 110 LSA
242 is the amount of intake duration in degrees @ .050" lift
248 is the amount of exhaust duration in degrees @ .050" lift
.608 is the amount of max intake valve lift in inches
.612 is the amoutn of max exhaust valve lift in inches
110 LSA is the lobe separation angle in degrees
If you do some searching in the internal engine section there's a wealth of information on cams. More than you'd want to read.
For example, the Trex cam..........242/248 .608/.612 110 LSA
242 is the amount of intake duration in degrees @ .050" lift
248 is the amount of exhaust duration in degrees @ .050" lift
.608 is the amount of max intake valve lift in inches
.612 is the amoutn of max exhaust valve lift in inches
110 LSA is the lobe separation angle in degrees
If you do some searching in the internal engine section there's a wealth of information on cams. More than you'd want to read.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 381
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From: Hampton, VA
wow, that *is* a BUNCH of info lol. buts thats cool - never wulda thought the cam info was in the internal engine forum (just never hit me in the nuts til u said somethin), but now i feel much more comfortable about cams - just not installing them 
and if i remember right, the lower number LSA, the lower/meaner the sound, and vice-a-versa, correct? and the intake/exhaust duration numbers - higher numbers = more track racing, while the lower numbers = more for street users?
and if i remember right, the lower number LSA, the lower/meaner the sound, and vice-a-versa, correct? and the intake/exhaust duration numbers - higher numbers = more track racing, while the lower numbers = more for street users?
Originally Posted by camaroguy_02
and if i remember right, the lower number LSA, the lower/meaner the sound, and vice-a-versa, correct? and the intake/exhaust duration numbers - higher numbers = more track racing, while the lower numbers = more for street users?
Man, hold onto your wallet. You're ripe for pickin! Why don't you make a few trips to the nearest dragstrip and hang out in the pits for a while. It's a great education. Then you can come back and ask the questions you really want to ask, but havn't figured out what they are yet.
And yes, a cam will make your exhaust louder. It made mine helluva lot louder. 
