How long does Cam only keep you guys happy
#21
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I really dont want to do the heads yet because of the amount of money I will have to spend, $2000 for the heads then I probably will need injectors and possibly a fuel pump.
I am debating on going with the below cam or go with a T rex, MS3 or something similiar. Driveability isnt an issue as much as sound and power.
Street sweeper
Specs Int Exh
Duration @ .050 236 240
Lift .630 .612
LSA : 111
I am debating on going with the below cam or go with a T rex, MS3 or something similiar. Driveability isnt an issue as much as sound and power.
Street sweeper
Specs Int Exh
Duration @ .050 236 240
Lift .630 .612
LSA : 111
#22
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It gets old just like any other mod. But, if you are on a budget, you have to draw the line somewhere. I have had my cam for probably 10 months, and realized **** is going to start getting really expensive beyond that. I am pretty bored, but have spent my money else where to make the car more enjoyable. Just put in an aftermarket head unit yesterday, and I am really enjoying that.
The one thing about a cam that I enjoy, is that its one of those mods that people freak out over. I pull up to a gas station with the car sounding like a drag car, and people have to ask me questions, and I enjoy that. Don't get me wrong, I mod my car for myself, not because I need to compensate for something... but I enjoy the compliments.
That being said, my next mod will definitely be a 9 inch with a short gear. 3.42's, and a big cam make you feel like you have ridiculous turbo lag. I have raced bolt on cars, and they will stay right beside me until I get in the power band. Be wise with your money, and make sure you have everything you need before you jump into a cam swap. I really wish I would have bought a 9" when I had the money, instead of a cam and clutch.
The one thing about a cam that I enjoy, is that its one of those mods that people freak out over. I pull up to a gas station with the car sounding like a drag car, and people have to ask me questions, and I enjoy that. Don't get me wrong, I mod my car for myself, not because I need to compensate for something... but I enjoy the compliments.
That being said, my next mod will definitely be a 9 inch with a short gear. 3.42's, and a big cam make you feel like you have ridiculous turbo lag. I have raced bolt on cars, and they will stay right beside me until I get in the power band. Be wise with your money, and make sure you have everything you need before you jump into a cam swap. I really wish I would have bought a 9" when I had the money, instead of a cam and clutch.
#23
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if your looking for cam only, and arent into all the dyno numbers and whatnot, ide honestly get something abit smaller then that. My first cam was a 226/230 .609/.588 on a 111+1. That came with some ported 243 heads made 425/395 to the rear tire through full exhaust. Ide be willing to bet that would be a 400-410rwhp cam and the curve was out of this world! Peaked at 6300 and literally drove like stock. Here is an idle clip of the car. I could have lowered the idle abit more to get it to chop. (still needes a little bit of idle tuning, hence the near stall)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GymycRd8T2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GymycRd8T2I
#25
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The T-Rex sounded sweet but it was no grandma cam. Cold starts and fouled plugs were rough. It'll be a head turner with those kind of numbers but you sacrifice driveability.
I really dont want to do the heads yet because of the amount of money I will have to spend, $2000 for the heads then I probably will need injectors and possibly a fuel pump.
I am debating on going with the below cam or go with a T rex, MS3 or something similiar. Driveability isnt an issue as much as sound and power.
Street sweeper
Specs Int Exh
Duration @ .050 236 240
Lift .630 .612
LSA : 111
I am debating on going with the below cam or go with a T rex, MS3 or something similiar. Driveability isnt an issue as much as sound and power.
Street sweeper
Specs Int Exh
Duration @ .050 236 240
Lift .630 .612
LSA : 111
#26
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I did the cam only thing...I personally was not too thrilled. I have a 232/236 and drivability is great but I thought it would pull much harder! TOP end however feels pretty good. The very next paycheck I got my FAST 92/92 and a 150 wet kit of Nitrous. Thats just my experience though.
#28
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I enjoyed cam only for about a year.
As others have said, picking the right cam is the secret. Personally, I like the 'smaller' cams..int the range of a 224-228.
I will say though, that heads really add that extra edge.The throttle response is amazing, and the added HP/TQ is really there when you hit the throttle.
So, it just depends on your personality and personal preference. As I said, I only lasted a year 'cam only', before the mod bug hit me.
Good luck which ever way you go..
..WeathermanShawn..
As others have said, picking the right cam is the secret. Personally, I like the 'smaller' cams..int the range of a 224-228.
I will say though, that heads really add that extra edge.The throttle response is amazing, and the added HP/TQ is really there when you hit the throttle.
So, it just depends on your personality and personal preference. As I said, I only lasted a year 'cam only', before the mod bug hit me.
Good luck which ever way you go..
..WeathermanShawn..
#31
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Ms4 cam/4000 converter/full exhaust all done at the same time.. Kept me happy for about 3-4 months.. Then I added ported intake/gears at the same time.. Kept me happy for aroun 4 months and I added PRCLs6 heads and ripped a ton of weight out of the car.. Then I sold it..
#33
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I only hit the track ~ 1-2 times a year.
We have a lot of safe wide-open roads out here, so the combo of Heads & Cam comes in handy with just 'normal' driving.
If one can get to a 400HP with cam and bolt-ons and not go to big on the cam itself, I think you could be satisfied. At that point going adding another 20-30 HP with heads is not quite as noticeable. In my case I needed the combo of H/C to get over 400 HP.
Our track is somewhat inconvenient, and at 5800 feet performance is drastically reduced. But, I am sure you can get a lot of guys who hit the track more frequently. I may be in the minority as I wanted my combo to be 90% street, 10% track.
Hope all the ideas are helping you.
..WeathermanShawn..
We have a lot of safe wide-open roads out here, so the combo of Heads & Cam comes in handy with just 'normal' driving.
If one can get to a 400HP with cam and bolt-ons and not go to big on the cam itself, I think you could be satisfied. At that point going adding another 20-30 HP with heads is not quite as noticeable. In my case I needed the combo of H/C to get over 400 HP.
Our track is somewhat inconvenient, and at 5800 feet performance is drastically reduced. But, I am sure you can get a lot of guys who hit the track more frequently. I may be in the minority as I wanted my combo to be 90% street, 10% track.
Hope all the ideas are helping you.
..WeathermanShawn..
#34
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I did a custom 224 cam with 243 heads at the same time. I was always disappointed when I went to the track because I didn't have a 9" to launch on. The fear of breaking my 10 bolt limited me to my shitty street tires. I will be doing a 9" here soon but I have always wanted a procharged car. I don't go to the track very often but I have tried to tune my *** off and the bucking and surging kinda get annoying for daily driving.
I'm not a noob at tuning either, I've tuned a 04 Trex cam only gto that bucks less. But still if you try and cruise below 10 mph in 1st gear around say a parking lot or something. It gets real old throwing the clutch in all the time. You really need 4.11's with an m6 and a cam to enjoy it.
But hey my 224 cam isn't your average 224 cam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8s0ovoQDU
Did I mention a great powerband?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYIqTCqFy7U
I'm not a noob at tuning either, I've tuned a 04 Trex cam only gto that bucks less. But still if you try and cruise below 10 mph in 1st gear around say a parking lot or something. It gets real old throwing the clutch in all the time. You really need 4.11's with an m6 and a cam to enjoy it.
But hey my 224 cam isn't your average 224 cam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8s0ovoQDU
Did I mention a great powerband?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYIqTCqFy7U
Last edited by Nitroused383; 12-22-2009 at 07:42 AM.
#36
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Wow, Nitroused383 your setup sounds really nice.
You have a lot more guts than me..I think I have lost my nerve to do a 0-150 MPH run. Pretty wild ride!
Interesting power-band on your shifts. You only drop to ~5200 Rpm's with your shifts. Maybe I just have not a full WOT run lately..seems like my Rpm's drop a little more.
What exhaust do you have?
To the OP, I apologize if we are deviating from your post. Hope the additional information helps you.
..WeathermanShawn..
You have a lot more guts than me..I think I have lost my nerve to do a 0-150 MPH run. Pretty wild ride!
Interesting power-band on your shifts. You only drop to ~5200 Rpm's with your shifts. Maybe I just have not a full WOT run lately..seems like my Rpm's drop a little more.
What exhaust do you have?
To the OP, I apologize if we are deviating from your post. Hope the additional information helps you.
..WeathermanShawn..
#37
IMO if you think you may go heads in the near future then I would wait because when you add the heads it would probably be best find a cam that works best with your head choice or you wouldn't fully benefit from them. By the sounds of what you are describing a cam would make you happy, you probably wouldn't notice a big difference with heads unless you were an ET ***** like some of us. Lol
#39
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Not crazy, in fact the car go faster having the shiftligh at 6500 then higher. I've been told buy a lot of cam only guys I'd go faster taking it to 7 but it gose slower. Where they run faster, doing so. But then agian its not that big of a cam 236/240. Its the 2nd smallest cam to make it on the cam only list, I know and probally with go to a real big *** cam next year. Mikes tunes really good, I can go 1-2-3-4-5-6 to 40mph its not going to buck, or shake. But ***** slow, and its stupid for thinking its cooler to havbe a little 22x cam so you can be faster 2-4K rpms. Just learn how to drive the car, stay over 4K and your rip any smaller car apart. Like this me NA streetsweeper cam/ TA 231/237 TSP cam I think? +100 MAF plate kit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmePVXcJcKo
#40
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I dont think I am going to do heads for at least 5 years, going to be buying a bigger house soon. What do you gusy think of the T rex or MS3 or MS4, Hellion. I want a bad axx sounding car , drivability isnt a problem, I would actually enjoy it, I think.