rspect

First for all running the Hot Cam I was just wondering if you were happy with it? I am getting it installed so it's a done deal for me but I wanted to know in advance if you liked it or not.

Second, this is probably a dumb question, but can someone explaine to me what is meant by Stage 1 heads. I am also having them installed but I have no idea what is meant by stage 1.

Everybody is probably saying why am i doing it if i don't know anything about it, well the guy that is doing it for me owns a shop out here and he only works on camaros and mustangs. I've known him for a few years and would take his word on anything dealing with the camaro, so that's why. Thanks for your inputs on the above.

SouthFL.02.SS

A few positive things about your setup....

Hotcam: much hated cam, but puts down pleasing numbers in terms of HP and has a great torque curve. Easy on springs with .525 lift.

Stage 1: This definition differs as per the different head porters. Stage 1 usually means ported heads with stock or some sort of single spring upgrade and usually stock valves. AP Engineering has redefined what Stage 1 means, offering basically a stage 1.5 or 2 package in their Stage 1 head.

Make sure your Stage 1 heads have at least ls6 springs to support the hotcam.
You should make at least 400rwhp with the combo mentioned on an M6.

ss rally red

iTrader: (8)

My first cam was the Hotcam and I thought it was a great cam with OK performance, less than 3000 miles latter I swapped in a FMS F11 and although I did not dyno back to back but I DID pick up 4 mph with the cam swap all else being equal. Drivability is better with the F11 but that was after dyno tuning( Only had a base edit tune with the hotcam) Some are perfectly happy with the HC, but a lot of people end up going bigger.

11 Bravo

iTrader: (3)

I think a hotcam w/ stage 1 heads would be a nice street/budget setup. And no spring breakage issues for peace of mind. Even better would be the ASA cam. Would be a fun combo to drive on H-2. I miss the island lol.

SouthFL.02.SS

I second the ASA cam!

rspect

Out of curiosity, what is it that yall don't like about the Hot Cam, and what is it that makes the, lets say, ASA a better cam. If it's just a little in horsepower then i'm not too worried about it but if it's something big then i might try to see if he can get me another instead.

SouthFL.02.SS

Well, let's just say that there's more aggressive grinds out there that produce higher peak hp.
The GM ASA Cam in particular, has more duration and a tighter LSA.
Hotcam: 219/228 .525/.525 112
ASA: 226/236 .526/.525 110

In this case we're only talking about GM Performance Parts Cams.
There's a plethora of aftermarket cams out there.
Read up the intro over at ls1howto.com when you click on ls1 cam install. It has a great write up on cams in general.

Now, if your car is an automatic, you may want to seek a cam that's on a 114 lsa, but nowadays people are running 112's with tuning with little or no problem.

Demon SS

iTrader: (3)

we have a local guy that ran mid 11's at around 119mph with some mildly ported heads and the hot cam, headers and a 3500 stall, so the hot cam is a nice all around cam for a daily driven car, IMO

z98

Most people's opinions on the hotcam:

Do you want a cam or not?

If you're doing a cam, and you don't mind the sound, 224/224 is the minimum place to start.

rspect

Thanks ALL for your remarks. I went down again today just to talk with the guys and decided I will keep the stage 1 and hot cam. He also showed me a dyno run he had where the camaro had 405rwh with just the hot cam and lid swap out. He did make sure I understood that he has only done that on one camaro. The others have produced a few less. It will be good enough for me. I'm just toooooo ancious now. GOT TO GET IT DONE!!!! It will be on the 23rd.

SouthFL.02.SS

Did you mean 405rwhp with just the Hotcam & heads and lid?

rspect

Nope, that is why he wanted me to understand that this is the only car that has produced this much hp just swapping the lik and hotcam. The other "pretty stock" cars that he has put this cam on averaged producing around 40 - 50 hp.

SouthFL.02.SS

That would be an all-time record for the Hotcam!
Hmm.

rspect

I don't know. When it comes to almost anything dealing with the engine I don't have a clue. That info above is just what he told me. He hasn't given me a reason yet to disbelieve him on anything. Anyway it's almost all irrelevent to me because of the mods I've already made and the ones I'm making now. I feel I should be a little over 4 when I'm done and if I am I think I will be happy with it and just keep it there. At least for a few years anyway. I need to start working on doing little things like maybe dressing up the engine bay or something???

jrp

iTrader: (16)

but a dyno operator can make any numbers he wans on the dyno. i'd like to see what it trapped at the track.

mcflyz28

A buddy of mine has a 224 cam and wonders why he can't pull on me with a little old hotcam!!!

Colonel

A buddy of mine has a Hotcam and wonders why I ran a half second quicker than him with my STOCK cam! J/K

(Ok, I'm really not going to start the NOTcam bashing. Must...resist......must...fight.....the temptation!!! Aaarrrgggh!!!!)

McFly, I'm just ribbing on you to point out that beating a 224 cam with a Hotcam doesn't prove or imply ANYTHING. There are many other factors that add up to a win or a loss. It is possible to run low 11s with the STOCK cam if you try hard enough. That doesn't mean that the stock cam is better than a 230 cam that ran high 11s.

1BDHWK

iTrader: (18)

Actually, I'm the guy with the 400 hp Hotcam! I was in a my '02 WS6, not a camaro. It was 399.8 rwhp SAE and 392.4 rwtq. Hotcam, SLP Headers, Lid, and Edit. It was 405 or 407 rwhp on standard. And the torque curve was flat as could be! I chose the Hotcam because it was cheap and easy to get ahold of at the time. And the Hotcam loved the Juice. So no complaints here. But I am moving on to an Iron Block now. So no more Hotcam. I think for what rspect is looking for (sound and a little more power), the Hotcam is a great cam. Easy on the valvetrain too! I daily drove mine for about 1 1/2 years and hit the track almost every Friday and Saturday night. Still running strong too!

Good Luck rspect! And have fun!!

Ben

mcflyz28

If I could find an ASA cam used (cheap) I'de put it in, my valvetrain is not quiet but guys with the more modern grinds and higher lift don't make the cars that fast to me a 224 is a mild cam and not a beat anything on the streets cam.Bottom line is these cars are beasts with the right driver and a few mods. probably why it's the first Chevrolet I've ever owned. Personally I wouldn't bother doing heads even stage 1 and putting in a Hot cam but that's just me.