How to decide what cam to use?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9
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From: Jacksonville nc
How to decide what cam to use? I've been looking into cams and heads. I'm buying the 243 heads and having them ported but I'm not sure of how to decide what cam I should get. Is there a method to deciding which cam to get?
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2017
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Call acoupla the cam grinders and vendors that specialize in these motors. Brian Tooley, CamMotion, Vinci, Texas Speed, are good places to start. Be ready to tell them what you want to use it for; weight, converter, gears, gas mileage or other daily driver concerns, and any other mods to the vehicle like headers for example. No matter what cam you get you'll almost certainly benefit from a tune: could be literally a total waste of time, or even a step backwards, without tuning.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Jacksonville nc
Sorry i should of specified more. The car is a 2002 ss camaro. 6 speed. The tune will be getting done along with LT headers. I kinda figure I'll need new injectors and prolly a new fuel pump system to feed the car. Has a ls6 intake that will either be getting ported or changed to a fast 102. Atm it has stock gears. They are getting changed to 4.10s. Staying the 12 bolt for now but getting upgraded axles.
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Joined: Nov 2016
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From: PNW
Unless this is a max effort grudge car build, choosing a cam is not really that difficult. You basically just need to find one that fits with how you’re going to use the car and what RPM range you want your power. Any cam from any reputable company is going to have a description showing its optimal RPM range and what stall to use.
Desired use is a factor in cam selection.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Jacksonville nc
Well it's going to be mainly street strip but not a daily. If I want to drive it I'll take it out and I'd rather something a little more wild. The bottom end is going fully forged and I'm pretty sure I'm going with the 383 stroker setup. I'm trying to stay n/a with it but if I dont get the desired feel from it then it's going to be turned toward boost. I've been looking into the voodoo cams but I dont know anyone that has any and everyone I've talked to personally about the cam says its a really big cam. I've never had to decide on a cam before so I dont know what to look for in deciding. Ive installed them so that's no big deal work wise just havent been able to figure out how to decide on a cam yet. Ive done numerous searches for a good set up with 243 heads but the amount of different cams running with the heads I cant figure out what would be suitable for me. I tend to do alot of roll racing so my rpms are always higher than 3k and I'm debating on making the limiter changed to around 7k like the ls2 gto but even with all of that the last deciding factor is the cam. Once I figure the cam out I'll be able to determine the springs and everything else for it. If you need more info on the car or w.e just ask because I don't know what all factors change for a cam.
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Verdad Gallardo Well if you decide to do a stroker, or especially forced induction, the cam that's better suited to your current LS1 won't be ideal on a stroker, or especially on forced induction. You need to keep this mind now before you make a move
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Jacksonville nc
Well as of the plan for it right now is to go to a stroker. I wont install the heads and all until the bottom end is done. It has 152k miles so I cant realistically picture throwing a better built top end on a stock worn bottom end. As far as the cam changing from regular to stroker is there a specific reason why? Sorry if these seem like stupid question I've tried reading as much as I can to get a better understanding of cams but I'm either missing info or something because it's not making anything clearer to me on a choice
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Jacksonville nc
well I'm manual so I know it would change cam to go boosted. I would like to stay na if possible but to give a realistic number on power that I want I cant do. I want it to just feel right when I'm driving so I figure I'll build it all na and if it doesnt feel right I'll build it differently later. As far as the cam what do you mean spin it?
First I would consider if you want a cam that is easy on valvetrain components or more aggressive. Then I would consider how much you drive and where you drive. Third I would consider how I drive, wot from a stop, roll into it in 2nd or 3rd gear, highway racing...etc.
for me I'd want a cam that has maximum midrange power, easy on valvetrain but I don't drive the car often so daily manners wouldn't matter all that much. I'd go from there and ask vendors.
I got a ws6store high lift hotcam myself that I'm putting in. I chased 10hp befor and it's not worth it to me. Leaving 10hp on the table means jack when you still cut a 2.0x 60ft. There's other places to spend money depending on your goals.
for me I'd want a cam that has maximum midrange power, easy on valvetrain but I don't drive the car often so daily manners wouldn't matter all that much. I'd go from there and ask vendors.
I got a ws6store high lift hotcam myself that I'm putting in. I chased 10hp befor and it's not worth it to me. Leaving 10hp on the table means jack when you still cut a 2.0x 60ft. There's other places to spend money depending on your goals.
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You decide what cam based on the rest of the combo. Given you are Iimited by the intake runner we know peak RPM will be 6400. So, no sense in getting a cam that makes peak power past that. So then we would find out what the rest of the specs are: Vehicle weight, rear gear, trans type, stroke, rod length, static compression ratio, runner length, plenum volume, head flow in .100 increments, converter stall speed (if applicable) and so on. You can usually find cam spec sheets to fill out and send to vendors to get the right cam for you. You need to be honest with what you want so you get the right power curve and driveability. And there is a lot more to cams then duration (.050) lift and LCAs.
In short, call cam motion, or whoever else you want.
In short, call cam motion, or whoever else you want.
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Joined: Nov 2013
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From: White Bear, Mn
High rpms. If I had to guess I would say my setup peaks around 6900 rpms so I spin mine to 7100 but I would guess if I was setup for it I could spin it to 7400 and it would carry just fine.
That is something you need to take into account, meaning if I ran my setup and only spin it to say 6400 rpms it would be dog **** slow.
That is something you need to take into account, meaning if I ran my setup and only spin it to say 6400 rpms it would be dog **** slow.
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Sorry i should of specified more. The car is a 2002 ss camaro. 6 speed. The tune will be getting done along with LT headers. I kinda figure I'll need new injectors and prolly a new fuel pump system to feed the car. Has a ls6 intake that will either be getting ported or changed to a fast 102. Atm it has stock gears. They are getting changed to 4.10s. Staying the 12 bolt for now but getting upgraded axles.
Well it's going to be mainly street strip but not a daily. If I want to drive it I'll take it out and I'd rather something a little more wild. The bottom end is going fully forged and I'm pretty sure I'm going with the 383 stroker setup. I'm trying to stay n/a with it but if I dont get the desired feel from it then it's going to be turned toward boost. I've been looking into the voodoo cams but I dont know anyone that has any and everyone I've talked to personally about the cam says its a really big cam. I've never had to decide on a cam before so I dont know what to look for in deciding. Ive installed them so that's no big deal work wise just havent been able to figure out how to decide on a cam yet. Ive done numerous searches for a good set up with 243 heads but the amount of different cams running with the heads I cant figure out what would be suitable for me. I tend to do alot of roll racing so my rpms are always higher than 3k and I'm debating on making the limiter changed to around 7k like the ls2 gto but even with all of that the last deciding factor is the cam. Once I figure the cam out I'll be able to determine the springs and everything else for it. If you need more info on the car or w.e just ask because I don't know what all factors change for a cam.
Well as of the plan for it right now is to go to a stroker. I wont install the heads and all until the bottom end is done. It has 152k miles so I cant realistically picture throwing a better built top end on a stock worn bottom end. As far as the cam changing from regular to stroker is there a specific reason why? Sorry if these seem like stupid question I've tried reading as much as I can to get a better understanding of cams but I'm either missing info or something because it's not making anything clearer to me on a choice
well I'm manual so I know it would change cam to go boosted. I would like to stay na if possible but to give a realistic number on power that I want I cant do. I want it to just feel right when I'm driving so I figure I'll build it all na and if it doesnt feel right I'll build it differently later. As far as the cam what do you mean spin it?
Fbodys are kind of our thing, so any part, spec, build, tech info you want, we are the guys.
As far as cam selection. everyone is right. kinda makes it hard doesnt it? For a manual car that you want for fun rides on the weekend and a great performer our high lift asa cam is what i would recommend. We also have the racetronix 255 kits in stock with hotwire harness and fast42lb injectors to take care of your fuel needs.
Price for all of that? $1025 shipped. Budget minded but still makes great power with high quality parts we use in our own vehicles too!!
We will have an ASA boost cam soon which will have a slightly different LSA and ICL of course. Same price!
Let us know if we can be of more help.
As far as cam selection. everyone is right. kinda makes it hard doesnt it? For a manual car that you want for fun rides on the weekend and a great performer our high lift asa cam is what i would recommend. We also have the racetronix 255 kits in stock with hotwire harness and fast42lb injectors to take care of your fuel needs.
Price for all of that? $1025 shipped. Budget minded but still makes great power with high quality parts we use in our own vehicles too!!
We will have an ASA boost cam soon which will have a slightly different LSA and ICL of course. Same price!
Let us know if we can be of more help.