Poppn

Sounds backwards, but I'm looking for a cam that will make decent power on stock manifolds. I found this thread and was greatly impressed with the power.

I've got a 99 SS with just a lid and a catback/open cutout as far as power goes. Fixed traction issues with adj. torque arm, LCA's, poly trans mount, subframe connectors and drag radials...now I just need more power lol.

I want to keep cats on the car for emissions, and long tubes with a catted y-pipe are just as expensive (if not more) than a cam only and seems to make just as much power as a header swap would.

Obviously I need a cam with a longer duration exhaust to help shove the gases through the stock manifolds...so my question is, I'm looking at a TSP 224/228 .581/.588 112LSA cam

Am I in the right ballpark? Keep in mind I'm not against long tubes at the moment, I'd rather just do the cam first

KevinR

If it were me, I would really just save up and do the exhaust first, then start looking for a cam. You will probably be a lot happier if you did it that way, but it's your car of course. Is it an A4 or M6?

Poppn

Forgot to mention it's an M6.

I'd feel like my money went a bit further being able to listen to the nice lope of a cam and still be making the same power as a header swap. Headers would eventually come later

SexyTransAm

iTrader: (6)

as long as ya plan on doin headers. hell go for it.

b16acrx1988

You would have to get it tuned twice, you can find mac mids cheap. I would do headers first

Bramlok

iTrader: (7)

Yeah, that would be the only thing is paying for another tune but I'm guessing many of us have payed for multiple tunes throughout the years anyhow.

I'd say go for it and do the cam now if that's what you want.

Killer5.3

iTrader: (1)

To work optimal with the stock exhaust manifolds you need more split between intake and exhaust duration. Probably more like 15 degrees. I would prob just get one that will work with the headers later. You will prob give up a few hp now, but, won't have to get a different cam later. The cam you are looking at is a good mid sized cam. Also check out EPS, they have some really nice grinds that are making excellent power with stock heads. Their 222/226 cam is a really good cam.

usmonaro

Cam now, headers later that's what I'm doing also. 04 gto m6.

Poppn

Alright cool, I'm not as crazy as I thought haha.

Safe to say I can pick up 30-40whp with just a 224/228 cam?

usmonaro

I'd say so. Depends on how soon u wanna know my engine is almost back together and dyno/tune in 2weeks. Only thing is I used 243 Z06 heads w/ my cam.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

Go for it, but I would prob do headers eventually. Stock manifolds arent wayy way to bad. Plus you will have the great cam sound. I would go with a low lsa on the cam.

uLs1a

iTrader: (22)

I just got my car back from doing heads/cam swap and Im still using stock exhaust manifolds. The car runs great and sounds greats. I live in Cali and I have to smog this year, which is why I am sticking with stock manifolds for right now.

Using stock manifolds will hold back a lot of power fyi

WSsick

iTrader: (13)

You can get headers cheap, and even a catted Y for a not too bad price. You could probably swing less than 700 for the setup. $700 for a cam kit to get just the basics, then there are a few more things to add in and the price will climb.

I always fine it funny when people are so concerned with getting the lope of a cam at idle over the other benefits of a cam, and more and more are wanting to skip the middle mods and get straight to a cam.

cowboysfan

if you do cam swap on stock exhaust then dont get dissapionted on sound and performance.....what I mean is that your ears will like it, but by the seat of the pants you wont be satisfied till you get the header exhaust system you want... GL.

Bramlok

iTrader: (7)

True, but what is he going to gain more with if he does just a cam or just headers? I'm sure a cam alone will produce more power than headers alone would, so it isn't necessarily a bad choice. (just not the way most of us do it)

Down the road when he decides to add headers that cam will be able to breathe and really wake up some more.

RsSean

iTrader: (27)

I would consider the Tick Performance Polluter cam, it was based of stock manifold. May want to give them a shout and see what they say.

smg267

iTrader: (23)

^^ I find that really hard to believe. That is a huge cam to run on manifolds. The name alone implies they are not looking to have a smogable car.

z99ls1

iTrader: (12)

Yea i wuld not run that big of a cam on stock manifods

pwrtrip75

iTrader: (8)

My friend ran a similar cam. 224/224 .580/.580 112 with manifolds and it ran really well (A4). Better than my cam/headers M6 car. His manifolds didnt hinder him much at all.
I would even run a bigger cam and manifolds.

norcal18

iTrader: (3)

i don't know where you live and how your smog restrictions are, but i live in california and wouldn't go bigger than a 224/224 cam.