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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 10:32 AM
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Default Camshaft challenge results

Some really cool guys put together a camshaft challenge. The whole thing is on YouTube weingartner racing. The shop NK performance won the challenge and they even have the winning camshaft for sale on their site. The competition was a few weeks ago some big names in it too Vizard, BTR, Summit even though I'm not surprised they haven't brought it up on here already j/k anyway, I just wanted to start a discussion about cam events since there's so much data to be gleamed from this test I feel like the more I learn the less I know I've been posting on here for years and I hate reading back what I've wrote because it's mostly all wrong. That being said, I'm not surprised that Davids camshaft had the same intake center line and lobe angle as the winning grind he just didn't have enough exhaust duration. Looking forward to hearing what others think about the data
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 12:21 PM
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I was really shocked to find this hadn’t been brought up here when I checked in during and after the challenge. Bobby from NK performance and who also works as a designer for Cammotion won the challenge. It was very interesting.
Thanks for bringing it up. There was a huge thread on Speedtalk about it that got locked but, it was still up last time I checked.
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 12:24 PM
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Would love to see another challenge that focused on a more street able grind for 6.0-6.2
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 12:49 PM
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 01:07 PM
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https://www.yellowbullet.com/threads...95451/#replies
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Jake Wade
Would love to see another challenge that focused on a more street able grind for 6.0-6.2
They used a restrictive 1 and 3/4-in header made for a car so less than ideal I'd say they were off to a pretty good start, The funny thing is it's like back to square one. If you look at some of the GM grinds the old ASA and then the stage 2 that's a 227 /239 108 LSA. I can't stop looking at that one then there's the stage 3. That's a 233/ 276 107 LSA I think that one's supposed to be for the LS7 The 454 LSX cam that's a 236/246 110 LSA and then of course there's that crazy 239 /251 106 LSA these are all GM spec, Jim thinks the LS l s wants a Tighter LSA
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Old Nov 13, 2024 | 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Jake Wade
Would love to see another challenge that focused on a more street able grind for 6.0-6.2
My LS2 in a 2000 Z28 M6 car just put down 480 at the tire on a dyno that read lower than most due to a big 48 inch drum with a heavy flywheel. Heads are handported 799s with a fast 102mm intake. Cam is from cam motion on a 111+3 LSA. Maybe with a underdrive pulley and a electric water pump the motor will clear 500 rwhp. Time will tell....
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 08:23 AM
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Very interesting stuff. Has anyone here ran a NK camshaft?
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 10:09 AM
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I feel like there's a lot more to be had in my restricted combo with the right cam events, I've been looking at fly cutting tools too ever since I started reading about this I just don't think I can make the power I want without doing it now. All these big cams from NK and the like are going to need fly, cut or Pistons with valve reliefs It seems like more advance and More exhaust duration is probably the way to go in most cases?
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 10:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Tuskyz28
My LS2 in a 2000 Z28 M6 car just put down 480 at the tire on a dyno that read lower than most due to a big 48 inch drum with a heavy flywheel. Heads are handported 799s with a fast 102mm intake. Cam is from cam motion on a 111+3 LSA. Maybe with a underdrive pulley and a electric water pump the motor will clear 500 rwhp. Time will tell....
I'd get a bigger cam before I would put the electric water pump on it. That's really expensive. Also, the underdrive pulley just makes it a nightmare whenever you need another belt if you can't remember what size it is I stopped using them years ago. I think it's just hard on the alternator. I don't know

Just my opinion lol

What is your exhaust? I have a walker quiet flow muffler but I have a cutout That's open whenever it needs to breathe. I need new headers though, so I can decide what size primary to run and pick a new cam at the same time. This way the cam and header could really complement each other.

The overlap and the exhaust duration on those charts is all over the place though
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 11:39 AM
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Makes you wonder how aggressive the lobes are.
only cam in the top 5 I’d even be interested is the OP Mustang. Anybody know who that is?
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by stockA4
I'd get a bigger cam before I would put the electric water pump on it. That's really expensive. Also, the underdrive pulley just makes it a nightmare whenever you need another belt if you can't remember what size it is I stopped using them years ago. I think it's just hard on the alternator. I don't know

Just my opinion lol

What is your exhaust? I have a walker quiet flow muffler but I have a cutout That's open whenever it needs to breathe. I need new headers though, so I can decide what size primary to run and pick a new cam at the same time. This way the cam and header could really complement each other.

The overlap and the exhaust duration on those charts is all over the place though
headers are kooks 1 7/8 and my exhaust is a custom Y pipe with a cheap muffler that shows no difference on the dyno vs wide open headers. I had kooks true dual exhaust under the car and i wasnt happy with it. Poor fitment on the tips and also its the worlds heaviest exhaust system ever made for a F body car.
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by jasons69chevelle
Makes you wonder how aggressive the lobes are.
only cam in the top 5 I’d even be interested is the OP Mustang. Anybody know who that is?
That's really impressive for only 12° overlap
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by stockA4
I feel like there's a lot more to be had in my restricted combo with the right cam events, I've been looking at fly cutting tools too ever since I started reading about this I just don't think I can make the power I want without doing it now. All these big cams from NK and the like are going to need fly, cut or Pistons with valve reliefs It seems like more advance and More exhaust duration is probably the way to go in most cases?
Everything your saying reflects every conversation Ive had with all the major LS cam grinders. Most of what they offer off the shelf is made with some safety nets for stock bottom ends. Valve reliefs open up some more possibilities. Longer exhaust duration and rpm.
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by GMRL
Everything your saying reflects every conversation Ive had with all the major LS cam grinders. Most of what they offer off the shelf is made with some safety nets for stock bottom ends. Valve reliefs open up some more possibilities. Longer exhaust duration and rpm.
There's got to be a point of diminishing returns somewhere I would think given the differences in overlap between the cams, they were all very close power wise for the most part
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Tuskyz28
headers are kooks 1 7/8 and my exhaust is a custom Y pipe with a cheap muffler that shows no difference on the dyno vs wide open headers. I had kooks true dual exhaust under the car and i wasnt happy with it. Poor fitment on the tips and also its the worlds heaviest exhaust system ever made for a F body car.
I figured a decent set of 1. 7/8 in headers and a good y would be fine. Unless 1 and 3/4 in and a absolute crap ton of exhaust duration is a better idea? Honestly I don't know at this point LOL
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by stockA4
I'd get a bigger cam before I would put the electric water pump on it. That's really expensive. Also, the underdrive pulley just makes it a nightmare whenever you need another belt if you can't remember what size it is I stopped using them years ago. I think it's just hard on the alternator. I don't know

Just my opinion lol

What is your exhaust? I have a walker quiet flow muffler but I have a cutout That's open whenever it needs to breathe. I need new headers though, so I can decide what size primary to run and pick a new cam at the same time. This way the cam and header could really complement each other.

The overlap and the exhaust duration on those charts is all over the place though
Taking the winning cam out of the equation, the rest of them have a fairly narrow spread power wise from best to worst. The specs varied widely, did anyone else see the 2 Summit cams in the test, the smaller one 8710R1 made almost as much power as their stage 5 and much less overlap. I think the winning cam had a winner with that crazy exh duration. I think he hit a sweet spot in over scavenging the exh to get an even better intake charge. I think that motor should have made more power overall, but the peripherals on it were box stock, no massaging and I think the induction limited it Note the wide range of intake duration and power result was fairly narrow.

Last edited by DualQuadDave; Nov 14, 2024 at 03:05 PM.
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by stockA4
There's got to be a point of diminishing returns somewhere I would think given the differences in overlap between the cams, they were all very close power wise for the most part
Oh definitely. Theres a sweet spot for every combination I would imagine. Similar to how most SBE stuff, anything over 230 degrees intake duration, gains start to fall off and drivability suffers.
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 03:19 PM
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I didnt put much thought into it because it wasnt an engine combo most here (ls1tech) would run. Any of the info wont really translate/transfer to the builds done here.

Still, it was an interesting read because of that though. Trying to guess a cam for a hodgepodge leftover garage parts build.
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Old Nov 14, 2024 | 03:42 PM
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Too many factors come into play when talking sweetspot and drivability that guys overlook. The LSA on the cam plays a major role that nost people overlook or they just go with a cam because it sounds good to them in person etc. The cross surface area plays a major role as well in getting the real power potential out of a combo. Too big of a intake valve the combo suffers on the low end and small of valve and the combo suffers on the top end.

Plot twist.... some LS3 aftermarket heads have a smaller intake than the factory 2.16 intake valve.
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