Need help choosing cam
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
Need help choosing cam Original plan was just a stock rebuild. But now I'm thinking why not a cam upgrade while I got everything apart.
It was supposed to be a budget build but i figured a cam upgrade would be a smart way to get a little more hp from the motor since I will be taking the cam out anyway.
Sooo...I would like to know what cam to get.
I know...that is a very general question and that it depends on what I'm looking for. Well...
1. I. want to upgrade only the cam. So no stall converter or anything else.
2. Car is a DD.
3. Goal is the best 1/4 achievable for my setup..
4. I'm not sure if this is going to contradict 3 but currently the rpm sits at around 1500 at 75mph. I' like to keep it that way.
So considering the above, what cam specs should I get.
EDIT: Forgot to mention, its A4.
It was supposed to be a budget build but i figured a cam upgrade would be a smart way to get a little more hp from the motor since I will be taking the cam out anyway.
Sooo...I would like to know what cam to get.
I know...that is a very general question and that it depends on what I'm looking for. Well...
1. I. want to upgrade only the cam. So no stall converter or anything else.
2. Car is a DD.
3. Goal is the best 1/4 achievable for my setup..
4. I'm not sure if this is going to contradict 3 but currently the rpm sits at around 1500 at 75mph. I' like to keep it that way.
So considering the above, what cam specs should I get.
EDIT: Forgot to mention, its A4.
Last edited by Freefallin; Dec 31, 2013 at 01:32 PM.
You have to change other things with the cam... pushrods, valvesprings, and might as well throw at least an LS2 timing chain and maybe a new oil pump in there too.
And a cam like an EPS 222/226 115 makes close to 400rwhp on a stock motor with headers and would run with a stock converter.
And impressive quarter mile times come from the converter. Not the cam.
And a cam like an EPS 222/226 115 makes close to 400rwhp on a stock motor with headers and would run with a stock converter.
And impressive quarter mile times come from the converter. Not the cam.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
You have to change other things with the cam... pushrods, valvesprings, and might as well throw at least an LS2 timing chain and maybe a new oil pump in there too.
And a cam like an EPS 222/226 115 makes close to 400rwhp on a stock motor with headers and would run with a stock converter.
And impressive quarter mile times come from the converter. Not the cam.
And a cam like an EPS 222/226 115 makes close to 400rwhp on a stock motor with headers and would run with a stock converter.
And impressive quarter mile times come from the converter. Not the cam.
Interesting thing you said about the quarter mile. So if no impressive quarter mile gains, then where will I see the difference?
You will see some gains. You'll add probably 40-50rwhp with a cam which is good for maybe .3 to .4 improvement in the quarter. You're not optimizing the cam with your gearing and stall though, so it won't ever be as fast as it could be.
A 3400-3600 stall will see .4 to .5 improvement. 4000 stall will be closer to .7 to .8 and won't really drive any worse than a 3500. But a cam that can adds 8 tenths will be a bear to drive vs a cam that adds 4 tenths.
Stock stall is horrible anyway. There is a dead spot on the upshift from 1 to 2 because of the way the transmission is geared (3.06 first and 1.75 second). Getting enough stall to overcome that makes your car faster, even with a stock cam.
A 3400-3600 stall will see .4 to .5 improvement. 4000 stall will be closer to .7 to .8 and won't really drive any worse than a 3500. But a cam that can adds 8 tenths will be a bear to drive vs a cam that adds 4 tenths.
Stock stall is horrible anyway. There is a dead spot on the upshift from 1 to 2 because of the way the transmission is geared (3.06 first and 1.75 second). Getting enough stall to overcome that makes your car faster, even with a stock cam.
The cam will provide some gains as it is making more power.... However you're holding the potential of the cam back a lot by not doing a converter. A cam will move the power band up as well as increase it. Adding a higher stall allows you take take advantage of that which is why they compliment eachother well.
Without a stall jake is right in the sense that you're doing the cam mostly for sound.
Without a stall jake is right in the sense that you're doing the cam mostly for sound.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Your cam will act like a fking pig off the line and occasionally buck like a horse..and stall occasionally without the proper stall converter/setup. Unless you go with a baby cam which imo is not worth the time.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Obviously the stall is way more help to 1/4 mile times than a cam, however
so many people seem to want to up the cam and stay stock converter. I feel
Geoff needs to do a 218/222 @ 115 cam to see what can be achieved with a
non stall combo. Why couldn't someone see low 12's at 116 with a crappy
sixty foot time ???
so many people seem to want to up the cam and stay stock converter. I feel
Geoff needs to do a 218/222 @ 115 cam to see what can be achieved with a
non stall combo. Why couldn't someone see low 12's at 116 with a crappy
sixty foot time ???