Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Is the 224r cam outdated?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-26-2017, 12:07 AM
  #1  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default Is the 224r cam outdated?

I picked up a used 224r for a project I'm working on with trick flow heads. I've read online that it's an old dinosaur and would leave too much hp/tq on the table if compared to the newer dual pattern cams. Should I sell it and pick up something more current. The engine is an LQ4 6.0 with the truck intake
Old 07-26-2017, 12:46 AM
  #2  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
07NBSChevy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

I wouldn't consider it outdated, it is used very often and popular. The design is a bit older tho and you will gain more with a custom split pattern cam. It is the go to cam for a Daily driver LS1/LS6 that is easy on the valve train, it is proven and works well. I do not know if TSP updated the lobes when they stopped using COMP cam cores.

I recently had a custom spec'd cam for a customer LQ4. He used it for towing and daily driver. It was basically stock other than an intake kit, longtubes, and a tune. The cam was a 224/230 .598/.598 on a 112 LSA using BTR .660 Platinum Springs. Customer will be dynoing the truck soon so we will see how much power it makes. Truck runs great and pulls hard from 2,400 up.

With Trickflow heads, I would go with a split pattern cam, just my opinion.
Old 07-26-2017, 03:33 AM
  #3  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
HCI2000SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Howell & Fenton MI
Posts: 11,145
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

Which TF heads do you have and what vehicle is it going in?
Old 07-26-2017, 09:26 AM
  #4  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

The veh is a 69 f100 shortbed with a 4l60e and a 3500 converter. The heads are the trick flow 215 cathedrals
Old 07-26-2017, 09:47 AM
  #5  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
farmington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Little River SC
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

what gear?
Old 07-26-2017, 10:46 AM
  #6  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Stock gear for now, 3.0x's. will end up with 3.73 most likely. Will be used as a truck from time to time with a couple track days and not a DD
Old 07-26-2017, 10:48 AM
  #7  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Not looking for max performance,I don't mind leaving a little hp on the table since I already have the cam. I just read multiple post that the 224r was outdated
Old 07-26-2017, 10:51 AM
  #8  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
thunderstruck507's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Northwest AR
Posts: 8,357
Received 22 Likes on 17 Posts

Default

TSP redesigned their cams so to answer your question no it is not outdated. Also depends how new your used one is.

That said I seem to remember the Trick Flow heads liking something weird (I want to say they like the close intake/exhaust durations). For those heads I would definitely call and speak to someone and get something optimized for the heads.

No point running a set of killer aftermarket castings and then sticking a used cam in the engine without making sure it will be close to optimal IMO.

If you were just popping a cam in a junkyard motor with stock heads or some 243s I would say go for it.
Old 07-26-2017, 09:17 PM
  #9  
TECH Apprentice
 
Tang2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Dundee, MI
Posts: 370
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts

Default

You may really like that 224 cam in a heavy truck. It'll provide a lot more low end torque than some bigger options out there, and will still carry some great HP up top. Very well balanced cam, especially for heavier vehicles.
Old 07-26-2017, 10:58 PM
  #10  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (32)
 
brandon6.0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Glennville, GA.
Posts: 2,294
Received 21 Likes on 18 Posts

Default

yea the 224 is a really nice well rounded cam. I have one in the tbss and drive it daily. Still using it with the stock 80e converter without any issues. Drives like stock with plenty power. The plus benefit is the torque a smaller cam makes which a truck or suv needs. I like it!
Old 07-27-2017, 10:01 AM
  #11  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (2)
 
wannafbody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 4,732
Received 843 Likes on 645 Posts

Default

I think the 224/228 cam would be better.
Old 07-27-2017, 06:43 PM
  #12  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Thanks for the responses.
Old 07-28-2017, 03:06 PM
  #13  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (40)
 
00pooterSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dallas
Posts: 4,916
Received 524 Likes on 372 Posts

Default

If you have the money to spend you can do better (by getting a cam spec'd to your specific setup), but in no way is it a "bad" cam. Better than the OE cam, and with more money you can do better. Up to you where you want to land in that.
Old 07-28-2017, 03:54 PM
  #14  
TECH Senior Member
 
G Atsma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Central Cal.
Posts: 21,113
Received 3,106 Likes on 2,421 Posts
Default

If you gotta buy a cam anyway, some cam makers will even do a custom grind for no extra charge. Win-win...
Old 07-28-2017, 10:52 PM
  #15  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I'm just going to run the 224r that I have. Why is the .600 lift rarely used with the 224r? I notice most use .581
Old 07-30-2017, 07:34 AM
  #16  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (96)
 
01ssreda4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Posts: 24,240
Likes: 0
Received 81 Likes on 72 Posts

Default

224r is complete junk. I will take it off your hands for $50.
Old 07-30-2017, 08:14 AM
  #17  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
farmington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Little River SC
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 9 Posts

Default

maybe you shouldn't be asking if its outdated, maybe you should be asking how good of a cam it is to still being used for such a long time.
Old 07-31-2017, 01:25 PM
  #18  
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
98 4mula's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

How great is the 224r cam?
Old 07-31-2017, 01:42 PM
  #19  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
HCI2000SS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Howell & Fenton MI
Posts: 11,145
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 98 4mula
How great is the 224r cam?
In what way do you mean how great is it?
Old 07-31-2017, 03:15 PM
  #20  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (17)
 
smokeshow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Detroit
Posts: 6,687
Received 44 Likes on 36 Posts

Default

The cam is outdated if its rusty from sitting in a humid garage. Otherwise, a piece of steel doesn't become outdated. It isn't software. It's the optimal cam for some combination of engine hardware and RPM requirements, the question is does your engine have that combination of hardware? If an arbitrary cam profile is considered outdated compared to something more modern in the same engine with same requirements, then either they got it wrong with the old cam or they got it wrong with the new cam. But neither one becomes outdated. They're just more optimized or less optimized for a given engine.


Quick Reply: Is the 224r cam outdated?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:24 AM.