Im looking to get a cam, a custom grind most likely for my ported and polished stage 2 heads. I can do a cam swap in 2 hours. But when it comes to decideing what matches what i dont understand. So my game plan is to call these 3 places, give them my exact mods and head specs and see what the tech says from each place, talk **** and compare. I only hope i get a good tech that knows LS1s from each place. Have any of you have any experience with custom cams from these places? Any info will be VERY helpful.
1)Lunati
2)Comp
3)Crane

 

I think you'll find yourself more succesful in getting a good camshaft grind when calling someone who designs custom camshafts as a living as opposed to the cam company themselves.

Email Bret Bauer @ Bauer Racing he's a sponsor --------------------->

 

I think they all make good cams, and a lot of variations that are close but not the same. Options are good. I think the Comp XE-R cams are about top power makers. I have the Lunati 231/237 cam. The slower ramp rates are easier on springs than the similar sized G5X2, although the X2 makes more power and torque.

 

I know he's not a sponsor, but Ed Curtis is well-known in the automotive community for specing some wicked custom camshafts. You can get his contact info at www.flowtechinduction.com

 

I dont see ed curtis name anywhere on the site, muchless contact info. Is that his company or something? If so, when i call the tech line i dnt see it any different then Crane, Comp, or Lunati advice.

 

Email ED he's very good too. His board name is EDC. Chris straub is good too, his board name is Cstraub.

 

Ed's username on this website is 'EDC'. Flowtech Inductions is partly his company. I believe it was a joint venture between him and some of his collegues.

What do you meant about the Tech Line? I'm a little confused.

 

I think Comp has done a great job designing custom cams for a living. I don't know how all those cam profiles got into their catalog, but I guess since that they are part numbers they have been proven time and time again. If people could look past the duration,lift, and lobe sep..they would have a different point of view on " custom " cams.

 

nevermind that last reply, i found his email address on that site. But it dosent even work.

 

Don't you work for Comp Cams?

 

Well when you call comp and get the normal jack off catalog internet racer that you would find on here let me know how far that gets you.....

It'd be best if you call comp and ask for Scooter, he should be able to help you. LOL!

 

Oh yes I forgot to include the people who have been listed in this post thus this far are capable of making their own lobe design, there's a lot more to a camshaft than that but I don't feel like going into it.

 

BTW

This isn't a rip on Comp or you at all they make a good product, hell I use them. I was just stating you never know who will pick up a phone when you call someplace! When you call someone who does nothing but custom camshafts especially for a certain style of racing and is known for building things for racers that's the best bet IMHO.

 

I've been considering contacting Futral Motorsports to see if they'd be able to build me a custom cam based on my heads. They seem to make great cams.

 

Call Texas Speed or Futural and see what they can do for you. They both have some wicked cams out there. They both run LS1 platforms for a living. Thats what they do. Obviously they know their **** concerning camshafts, otherwise they wouldn't sell the hundreds of cams that they do. Both are sponsers --->>>>

 

......

 

I know guys at Comp. This is not to knock them. When you call , the guy is most likely going to sell you a box cam. You're not going to get a custom cam from some first line guy making $9/ hr answering a phone. When you want a custom cam designed, here are some of the things you will need. If you don't have this info, before moving forward and wasting both your time and your cam designers time get the info they will need.


The biggest deal is cylinder head flow (with the intake in place preferably) - No cam shaft designer cares that you have "Stage XVII super duper flow heads" that means 0. They only care about the runner volume and the flow. This helps determine you cam "budget".

Here is an example of a custom cam designer worksheet. If you can't fill in this information, then no one can provide you with a truly custom cam. Depending on designer, they may need even more info, but this is a good baseline.

Year, make, model, and weight of car:

__________________________________________________

Engine type: SOHC , DOHC , PUSHROD

Rocker arm type and ratio
(if applicable):______________________________________ ____

What type of lifters are you going to use? (circle one on each line)


HYDRAULIC ROLLER TAPPET

SOLID ROLLER TAPPET


What is the diameter of the lifter? (ex. .875")___________________________

Engine size:_________________Compression ratio:___________________

Bore:_______________________

Stroke:______________________

Connecting rod length:_______________________________________
(center to center distance)

What has been done to the heads?

Ported? _____________________________________________

Valve sizes: __________________________________________

Springs you intend to use: _______________________________

Flow tested? If yes, what are the flow figures at .050" intervals:

Lift Intake CFM Exhaust CFM

.050 __________ ___________

.100 __________ ___________

.150 __________ ___________

.200 __________ ___________

.250 __________ ___________

.300 __________ ___________

.350 __________ ___________

.400 __________ ___________

.450 __________ ___________

.500 __________ ___________

.550 __________ ___________

.600 __________ ___________

.650 __________ ___________

TEST PRESSURE @ _______" H20

Transmission type: STANDARD OR AUTOMATIC

Transmission ratios:
1st ____
2nd ____
3rd ____
4th ____
5th ____
6th ____

Is idle important to you?_____________________________________

Description of intake system:_________________________________

Description of exhaust system:________________________________

DIAMETER=_____________LENGTH=_____________________

How is the car going to be driven?_____________________________

What type of fuel will you be using?_____________________________


As mentioned, some of the sponsors and non-sponsors make can generate you a custom cam for your particular combo. One thing to realize is that when you make changes to that combo, in theory at least a cam change may be in order (if you change headers, or intake, etc...) Most folks won't. My point is, get your "package" all together (everything you want to do), then order a cam.

If you want a truly custom cam the main thing is to not waste a custom cam guys time. He doesn't have time to evaluate you list of free mods to your car, and spend an hour on the phone with everyone playing 20 questions.

These guy are in demand, and their time is not something they can give away for free. Also, don't call one of these guys and expect him to give you specs over the phone for a cam that you can "evaluate" i.e. not pay them, and save a few bucks by ordering what you think they just told you from Comp. Even if they do give you the specs @ .050 chances are they aren't just using an off the shelf XE or XE-R lobe. As an example, Ed has 50 lobes which spec out at 224 @ .050 but have all sort of different lifts @ .200 and up , plus differnet lifts...

The other thing is that the cam you get may not be what you are used to seeing

i.e. Comp 224 lobe /comp 224 lobe 114 LSA - 110 ICL

Some of these guys do thing "outside the accepted norm" the results are what matters. So if you are willing to do something different then you might want to try a cam from a custom cam desinger.

To quote Ed Curtis:

All questions are a PITA... :-)

It's the Ben Franklins that get results...

 

Great post J-Rod.

 

I think rear axle gear (final drive ratio) should be included there as well.

That sheet looks great

 

LSM Motorsports hands down!!! They produced the cams for the
C5R race program and do many development projects for GM. 248-674-4967. Tell them Paul from "The Shop" sent you