How much does cubic inches effect Cam choice?
How much does cubic inches effect Cam choice? Just wondering as I'm hitting a few walls in my LQ9 build. Original idea was a stock bottom end LQ9 with LS3 heads. That's what I have and Patrick G spec'd me a cam which I have on the shelf for this application.
I keep running into little problems with the stock rods and pistons and now I'm wondering if I should just say screw it and order a set of Eagle Rods and Wiseco -3.2cc pistons. (which is what Patrick G recommended from the start)
But by the time I order new Rods, Pistons, Rings, and have it balanced, I'm only $800 or so from just ordering a balanced 402 rotating assembly from TSP.
But, then I have a $400 custom cam on the shelf, that I'm not sure would work properly with the 402.
What do you guys think?
TIA
I keep running into little problems with the stock rods and pistons and now I'm wondering if I should just say screw it and order a set of Eagle Rods and Wiseco -3.2cc pistons. (which is what Patrick G recommended from the start)
But by the time I order new Rods, Pistons, Rings, and have it balanced, I'm only $800 or so from just ordering a balanced 402 rotating assembly from TSP.
But, then I have a $400 custom cam on the shelf, that I'm not sure would work properly with the 402.
What do you guys think?
TIA
A larger engine (stroked) would like more duration. But not a ton. The cam you have now will not be as optimum, but will still work great. By adding stroke (I would do the same if in your shoes) you will get a nice torque boost. The cam will be a littler mellower.
Why not just ask Pat?
Ron
Why not just ask Pat?
Ron
Thanks for the reply. I'll shoot Pat an email to see what he says. I've just already bought a ton of stuff lol. I just don't wanna be one of those guys that has a 402 and gets spanked by 364's.
My heads are stock LS3's and I'm running a Victor Jr intake with 950 carb. I didn't know if I'd be shooting myself in the foot running the unported heads on a stroker too.
My heads are stock LS3's and I'm running a Victor Jr intake with 950 carb. I didn't know if I'd be shooting myself in the foot running the unported heads on a stroker too.
If money is an issue then put it together with the stock heads then later get them worked or buy some different heads and sell your ls3's. If money isnt the problem then have them worked now. Heads are where you make your biggest power gains.
Not to thread jack what kind of results would you see going in the opposite direction. say a good general cam specd for a N/A 6.0 and sticking it into a 5.3 for conversation sake. If it's a lopey cam do you get more lope from it? etc
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I'm running a 255/263 in my 408, and it has about the same manners as a 230/23x in a stock cube 346.
So if you take a cam specd for a 6.0 and drop it in a 5.3 your peak power will come in later in the rpm range and probably need to spin the 5.3 a lot faster to make the same or close power as the 6.0.
If I had the choice you the OP has, is put the less than perfect cam in a 40x motor.....you can always go back later and put a bigger cam in, and you will have a lot more torque down low with the same cam in the larger cube motor than in the smaller one
So if you take a cam specd for a 6.0 and drop it in a 5.3 your peak power will come in later in the rpm range and probably need to spin the 5.3 a lot faster to make the same or close power as the 6.0.
If I had the choice you the OP has, is put the less than perfect cam in a 40x motor.....you can always go back later and put a bigger cam in, and you will have a lot more torque down low with the same cam in the larger cube motor than in the smaller one
