Gears or Cam First?
The car currently has a 3.23 rear gear and I would like to run 3.73's.
Basically I am going to have to do 1 and then wait 6-10 months before doing the other(due to finances). I don't race or have access to a track so I am thinking I should do the gears first then the cam later(I like to build back to front... hence the level 5 trans and stock engine)
However I've become quite bored with the car after 3 years of ownership without being able to do anything significant performance wise and I kinda want to just go right for the cam to give it a new feel and do gears later. My only concern would be drive-ability.
How do you guys think the following setup would behave in daily use situations?
233/239 .595/.603 111lsa, PTC 3200 converter, 3.23 gear. I know a lot comes down to a good tune and I have access to a fantastic tuner so take that into account. What are some possible issues I might have with this setup? How will it feel just cruising at 30, and pulling away gently from stop lights, etc etc...
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I bought the cam kit last year when I lived in indianapolis and had access to a drag strip and a good car scene, etc etc. Well now I don't live within an hour of any drag strips...hence not racing.
I had a Yank SS4000 to match this cam but after running it for a while I decided it was WAY too loose for me to drive around. I don't daily the car all the time but I daily it now and again. So I traded down to my 3200 and I love it.
Don't get me wrong I agree that I should be running a smaller cam(228 would be great)...but I already have the 233/239 and I don't know of anyone looking to trade...plus mine is new and who is going to trade new for new?
Would that stall with 3.73 gears be too tight for that cam with that overlap?
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I bought the cam kit last year when I lived in indianapolis and had access to a drag strip and a good car scene, etc etc. Well now I don't live within an hour of any drag strips...hence not racing.
I had a Yank SS4000 to match this cam but after running it for a while I decided it was WAY too loose for me to drive around. I don't daily the car all the time but I daily it now and again. So I traded down to my 3200 and I love it.
Don't get me wrong I agree that I should be running a smaller cam(228 would be great)...but I already have the 233/239 and I don't know of anyone looking to trade...plus mine is new and who is going to trade new for new?
Would that stall with 3.73 gears be too tight for that cam with that overlap?
Umm sell the cam on here for $250 and get a new cam. That cam is way to big for the stall IMO. You really want to go from 3.23's to 3.73's? I'd bet you see less than a tenth in the 1/4 mile. It's just dumb IMO to change gears in an auto if you already have the 3.23's and a good stall... Gears or not the car would run much better/faster, get better gas mileage, AND be easier on valvetrain with a 228r camshaft. Instead of blowing money on gears, sell the cam you have and get one that matches your stall. The whole problem with your setup now is the cam you picked is to big for the stall you have. Gears is going to get you worse gas mileage and very mild gains..... You decide
With the amount of trq I was making, steeper gears were not necessary and I preferred the 3.23s for highway use.
Where the intake valve opens and intake valve closes really will determine stall speed more than any other factors, overlap may play a small part as it's a product of valve events and cam timing, but not as big as you would think.
I think a 226/230 .605"/.609" 114+4 would be perfect for you.
Where the intake valve opens and intake valve closes really will determine stall speed more than any other factors, overlap may play a small part as it's a product of valve events and cam timing, but not as big as you would think.
I think a 226/230 .605"/.609" 114+4 would be perfect for you.
So here is what my setup is going to be.
228 228 .588/.588 112lsa, ptc 3200 converter, 3.23 rear gear.
I have a boddy locally that has 3.73 gears and he claims to be getting BETTER city mileage than with 3.23s and only 1mpg less on the highway at 70mph. It makes sense in town because the engine doesn't need to spin as much to move the car....less rev's=less fuel consumption. Plus you get a little better kick when you stand on it.






