Hot cam vs.. Tr 220 ????
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From: Pa
Hot cam vs.. Tr 220 ???? was looking to to put a nice smaller cam in my car that makes good numbers, and these 2 look like the best choice.. i dont want 2 change springs alot cause this is a daily driver or i would consider something a little bigger. please let me know what u think is my best bet and or would compliment my mods best.. . Thanks,,,
There is NO comparing the performance of the TR220 and the hotcam. I ran a TR220 for a year before my big cam. With pretty much the same mods as you I made 380rwhp with stock heads and 416rwhp 392rwtq with my patriot 5.3 stage II's. The best part was I kept the stock programming the entire time and never had any idle/surging problems. The lift on the TR220 is just .553, so springs are not a real issue.
The TR220 will make better power and will idle better also. The faster ramps of the 220 make it alittle more every day friendly. I picked the TR224 due to the proven power and good idle quality. Although a little tuning is needed to get it right.
I can only comment on the HC beause that is what I have, I love the way it idles,I went from stock 107 trap speeds to 111 without headers, 114 with LT's, on F1's. Easy to tune, easy on valve springs and if I would have thought ahead I would have used 918's and and slapped on some 1.85 rockers at some point and still had long VS life. I was aiming for a quick street car with low maintaince. Both cams will acheive the same goal.
Research is deadly! 
I started with a TR 220/114 so it would idle good and I ended up ordering a TR224/112 and not really worrying about it. It makes more power and I can deal with the tuning issues! Good luck with your search.
John
I started with a TR 220/114 so it would idle good and I ended up ordering a TR224/112 and not really worrying about it. It makes more power and I can deal with the tuning issues! Good luck with your search.John
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Launching!
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From: Bowling Green, Kentucky
All bark and no bite huh, I think it does pretty well in my car with a best pass of 11.29@120.3 on a 1.56 60' on BFG Drag Radials. Best 1/8 is 7.11@98 on a 1.53 60' so I think the hotcam has some bite.
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I've had my hotcam for 6 months and I must say I am totally happy with it. It makes great torque, and I have not lost a street race yet (Z06s, Modded LS1s, M5s, M3s, etc...). It sounds mean as hell and has plenty of bite! 
I can live with out the extra .03 lift if I don't have to worry about swapping springs every year...
Listen to the exhaust clip:
http://www.tatommy.com/Video%20Clips.htm
Tommy
I can live with out the extra .03 lift if I don't have to worry about swapping springs every year...
Listen to the exhaust clip:
http://www.tatommy.com/Video%20Clips.htm
Tommy
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From: Troy, AL
How did I guess this would turn into a Hotcam parade? 
The TR220 would be the better performer and would have much better drivability and stealthliness (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The Hotcam is cheap and sounds like a high performance cam (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The TR220 would be the better performer and would have much better drivability and stealthliness (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The Hotcam is cheap and sounds like a high performance cam (if you're into that kind of thing.)
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Originally Posted by Colonel
How did I guess this would turn into a Hotcam parade?
Originally Posted by Colonel
The Hotcam is cheap and sounds like a high performance cam (if you're into that kind of thing.)
BTW, it is inexpensive (not cheap!)
Tommy
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From: IL
hotcam parade :rolleyes:
Originally Posted by Colonel
How did I guess this would turn into a Hotcam parade?
The TR220 would be the better performer and would have much better drivability and stealthliness (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The Hotcam is cheap and sounds like a high performance cam (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The TR220 would be the better performer and would have much better drivability and stealthliness (if you're into that kind of thing.)
The Hotcam is cheap and sounds like a high performance cam (if you're into that kind of thing.)
its hard not to turn it into a hotcam parade when morons come in here saying it won't make power, or that it sounds like a high performance cam.
I (just one of many examples) have gone 12.1 @ 117 in 1750' DA with a 3485lb raceweight, on stock wheels. . . 100% untuned. . . never been on a dyno or wideband.
Very few cam only 6spd's can smoke my car, given similar weight, wheels, and DA. Basically, only the few .600" lift cammed cars often run faster trap speeds.
Steve, that is why there are hotcam parades, becuz my car and (and other hotcammed cars) performs as good as 6spd cam only cars with TR 220s, 224, B1, T1, etc.
Oh yeah, all with stock pushrods, and springs that'll last 50k+ miles.
later
Mike
98 Z
96k miles.
hotcam only,
12.15@117 w/ 1.9 60ft
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From: Troy, AL
Mike, your car and the others you've mentioned run well. But, install an X1 (similar sound and drivability) and let us know if your 117 MPH stays the same. My guess is you'll be running 120 MPH. Now that's a high performance cam (as far as hydraulic cams go anyway.) Or install the Stealth II cam, for instance. It's a high performance cam in a different way. I bet you'll run just as fast, will have a stock idle, stocklike gas mileage, and stocklike emissions. Of course, your valvespring selection and life will not be as good as with the much less aggressive Hotcam but that goes with the territory of a "high" performance cam. To me, and this is just my opinion, high performance means performing exceptionally well in some regard or another...being on the cutting edge of developement in some way.
Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT a hotcam basher. It certainly has it's place...but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that it's anywhere near the top in terms of LS1 cam developement.
Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT a hotcam basher. It certainly has it's place...but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that it's anywhere near the top in terms of LS1 cam developement.
That's the thing with the hotcam...it may not have the PEAK power numbers, but (from what I have seen) it traps really well. Combine that with the "easy on the valve train thing" and I think I have my next cam
I dont get where this stuff about a TR220 would perform way better comes from. Has anyone actually tested before and after with both cams?
Colonel, how is he going to run the same or faster with a Stealth cam when your car with stage 2 ls6 heads could only get the 117 hes currently getting with cam alone. That seems a step back in my view. His run with the same 60 ft as yours would have been close to identical ETs. Sounds like a race cam to me if it takes heads and cam to keep up?
Colonel, how is he going to run the same or faster with a Stealth cam when your car with stage 2 ls6 heads could only get the 117 hes currently getting with cam alone. That seems a step back in my view. His run with the same 60 ft as yours would have been close to identical ETs. Sounds like a race cam to me if it takes heads and cam to keep up?
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From: IL
Steve, you may be right about the X1. . .but I'm speaking in regards to the TR220, and other similar lift cams, B1, T1. . .
My car gets "stock-like" mileage, and with converters, I passed IL emissions with flying colors; "Fast-pass" as they call it.
My point was, my lower cost cam, that sounds bad, can go as fast as the others I mentioned, and in some cases, faster.
As far as the choppy idle goes, for the most part I can care less, but I can see that being an issue with alot of people.
Therefore, I think a better response to the question of TR220 or Hotcam?, would be. . .
They'd make similar power. . . but you can save cash and have increased spring durability with the hotcam and have a badass sounding idle, or you can have a nice smooth idling car w/ the slightly more expensive TR220.
When choosing between these 2 particular cams, I don't think the decision can be made on power alone.
Mike
My car gets "stock-like" mileage, and with converters, I passed IL emissions with flying colors; "Fast-pass" as they call it.
My point was, my lower cost cam, that sounds bad, can go as fast as the others I mentioned, and in some cases, faster.
As far as the choppy idle goes, for the most part I can care less, but I can see that being an issue with alot of people.
Therefore, I think a better response to the question of TR220 or Hotcam?, would be. . .
They'd make similar power. . . but you can save cash and have increased spring durability with the hotcam and have a badass sounding idle, or you can have a nice smooth idling car w/ the slightly more expensive TR220.
When choosing between these 2 particular cams, I don't think the decision can be made on power alone.
Mike
Another vote for the TR224; for the street this thing has the perfect balance of performance, driveability, and low maintenance. I was close to getting a hotcam before I ordered the TR224, but then I realized the 0.563 lift of the TR224 with Comp 918 springs would still be very reliable. You just have to let the engine get fully warmed up before reving the hell out of it.
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From: Troy, AL
"Colonel, how is he going to run the same or faster with a Stealth cam when your car with stage 2 ls6 heads could only get the 117 hes currently getting with cam alone. That seems a step back in my view."
Well, it seems to me that your view might be limited. Maybe we can expand it a bit. Are we comparing apples to apples? I don't think so.
A few questions (and I don't necessarily know that answer to all of these, but in knowing them the picture will become clearer.)
1. Is his car an A4? (I got the impression that it's an M6 which gives it a sizable trap speed advantage.)
2. Did he have 3.23 gears? (Gears can make a nice difference in trap speed.)
3. Was his raceweight 3525? (No, it 3485. Hey, every little bit counts.)
4. Were his wheels 17 x 11s? (No, they were stock. Rotating mass makes alot more difference than static mass.)
5. Were his tires 315/35/17s? (See above.)
6. Was this his first trip to the track with his combo? (I doubt it. Gimme some time to dial it in why don'tcha?)
7. Do you honestly think 117 MPH is all my combo has in it?
Stay tuned.
The hotcam is a good budget cam that is easy on the valvetrain while being a respectable performer at the track. It also has big cam type drivability and sound without actually being a big cam...which some people find to be a bonus. Fair enough?
Well, it seems to me that your view might be limited. Maybe we can expand it a bit.
Are we comparing apples to apples? I don't think so.A few questions (and I don't necessarily know that answer to all of these, but in knowing them the picture will become clearer.)
1. Is his car an A4? (I got the impression that it's an M6 which gives it a sizable trap speed advantage.)
2. Did he have 3.23 gears? (Gears can make a nice difference in trap speed.)
3. Was his raceweight 3525? (No, it 3485. Hey, every little bit counts.)
4. Were his wheels 17 x 11s? (No, they were stock. Rotating mass makes alot more difference than static mass.)
5. Were his tires 315/35/17s? (See above.)
6. Was this his first trip to the track with his combo? (I doubt it. Gimme some time to dial it in why don'tcha?)
7. Do you honestly think 117 MPH is all my combo has in it?
Stay tuned. The hotcam is a good budget cam that is easy on the valvetrain while being a respectable performer at the track. It also has big cam type drivability and sound without actually being a big cam...which some people find to be a bonus. Fair enough?