silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

All this talk about off-the-shelf cams is making my head hurt

Darren, get yourself a nice custom grind that's SPECIFIC to YOUR setup and you'll be happier IMO... That's what I have done with pretty much every setup I've put together. Granted I have been playing with a truck, but the same principles still apply. And, you know how my truck ran with the 5.3 in it, imagine boost with that... Then a forged 347

Anyway, off the shelf grinds are a decent starting point to some degree but I would definitely look at a custom grind. I've got some phone numbers for you as well... Best in the business as far as I'm concerned. However you choose to go on the heads, he will fix you up with a cam grind (and explain it in detail) that will compliment every mod in your car.

I'd put his name/number up here but I'm unaware of his sponsor (or not) status. Let me know if you're interested. I know you text faster than most people can talk

gyrene2003

LOL^^^ i only text faster than people from texas can talk!! G o t to t a l k real s l o w for y a l l!!!

gyrene2003

so i was talking off-line to ben(silver-mod-o) and he was saying a custom ground 234/238 .595/.604 110+2 would be nasty with a set of milled ls6 heads? might have to check this out.

WS6FirebirdTA00

iTrader: (33)

Yes, a custom grind around your setup will be best. Otherwise you will be setting up the rest of the car to the cam lol

The 5.3 heads are a smaller CC IIRC, I was just meaning to say that the LS6 heads also up the CR.

gyrene2003

I think for what i want to do the ls6 heads are a better choice.

gyrene2003

so its a matter of what cylinder heads do i get. they have the stg.1 stg2.5 and the stg3 heads.

gyrene2003

looks like the valve sizes and the springs are different.

Raise

iTrader: (31)

sounds a little big, but im glad to see he's spec's you a traditional split. i have yet to see solid consistant numbers with reverse split cams. i guess there is a perfect cam grind for every individual application. i know people like to do it right the first time, but it is very hard to nail it the first time. like other mods, sometimes it does take going through a trial process. the main point is, if you have several recommendations that are close, dont stray too far from them.

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

I wouldn't sweat a little bottom end loss with his stall/gear he says he wants it to run like hell up top, so I say some stg 3 LS6 heads and a mid-upper 230s cam, 600ish lift will serve him better.

I know bigger isn't always better, and I'm an advocate of that, no need to go over 236 or so here, low 230s depending on the capability of the heads IMO...

Solid tuning will help the bottom end loss some as well. That converter will be his biggest help

Raise

iTrader: (31)

the gears will also make up for some of the low end loss as well. as far as cam size, from the beginning i have been suggesting something around 230 or a little higher. i didnt wanna see him go too big cuz i wanted him to keep a healthy torque curve. even with the 4000 stall, he is still gonna benefit from a nice curve. so while i agree that a good size cam will help him achieve his desire for top end hellraising power, i didnt wanna see him go too big. i think midrange power is underrated a lot of the time. people seem to think that top end is where its at, and they ended up kickin themselves in the *** for falling for the big cam hype. anyway, i certainly agree with the low to mid 230s duration and i like that you didnt go too high on the lift. im also fond of the traditional split.

on a side note, id like to check out your truck sometime

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

That's why I also suggested a little tighter LSA with a some advance. Should bring the power in a hair sooner and help the midrange


As far as the truck, well... Its slow haha

And it happens to be in pieces... Again

I hear you got more Fbodys than anyone else in the lower 48

gyrene2003

well jammie, what do you think of ben's cam spec? You think its too big? I just figure if its something the two of you like, i would be happy. I know you guys have never met, but you two are the guys that i trust for advice on this kind of stuff. Although, Jamie, it would be kind of hard for you too see his truck, 1, because its in texas, and 2, it has no drive-train.

gyrene2003

so i guess the new question, is what is the best cam that would compliment a set of stg 3 ls6 heads and a 4k stall?!

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

STOCK

gyrene2003

^^^^^???????

Raise

iTrader: (31)

Yeah Ive had a few. I moved over to the goat a few times, but I cant help it...Im an fbody guy. I enjoy the sound of an earthquake when I run over a pebble...or the sound of my rearend falling off when I go over a railroad All jokes aside...with all the things I would change about the fbody, I ****** love them. They are inexpensive, easy and cheap to mod (not so cheap when you dont handle your own labor), and pretty damn quick stock.

Getting back to the cam...yes sir i would agree, tightening the lobe separation will definitely give back some midrange, as it will bring the whole curve down several hundred rpms.

As far as your truck goes, I guess I may get to check it out one day when you sew her back up.

Darren, as far as buying his tranny and waiting on the heads....if you know youre gonna do heads soon, then we should wait and do the heads/cam together. that will save you from having to buy valvesprings and retainers, and possible spring seats, depending on which springs you choose...plus it will save me a lot of bs valvespring changing nah it aint bad, i just hate those little *******. id rather tear the whole top end off and do it right the first time. if you are decided on the LS6 heads, then i would stick to what Ben and I are suggesting. Stay low to mid 230 duration, traditional split, not too high on the lift (between .600 and .620) and keep the lsa tight. i wouldnt go higher than 111...109-110 would be nice with a degree or two of advance. as me and ben were discussing, this brings your whole power band down lower, so you will feel it kick in sooner in the rpm band. id still like you to get Patrick in on this, because Im sure we will all be pretty close in the recommendations. But Patrick is a wizard when it comes to cam grinding. after talking to him, you will see the math and science that is involved

Raise

iTrader: (31)

im down with his specs. i would have gone a little smaller, but he is right...your stall and gears will help the low end power sacrifice you will be making. give Patrick a shout before we orde this spec though. as stated, it will most likely be very close, but he might have an angle to add that we are not seeing.

gyrene2003

well, already sent him a pm and waiting on a reply

gyrene2003

if am too go with a custom grind, who should i have make it?

silver-mod-o

iTrader: (15)

The bad thing about getting a cam cut by one of the "gurus" is that you USUALLY don't get a cam card with it. Some do, some don't...

My suggestion would be, talk it over with a few people and get some numbers you like and then read up on some lobes, Comp has sevral available now. The latest (LSr) seems to be pretty solid... I'd be tempted to try them out if I were having a new cam done

That way you have the satisfaction of saying this is MY cam... And it works. That's why I have always done my own stuff.