What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

I have a 2000 WS6 that will have MACs with a custom Y-pipe and stock heads.

My goal is to have a good performing cam that will:

Yield good power
Pass Emissions
Have a rough idle
Not have to replace springs every 15k miles or so

So far it seems that I need to go for a cam with a relatively low lift, such as a hotcam.
LS6 springs seem to last if the cam does not have a high lift. Hotcam also has a nice (lopey)sounding idle

So Hotcam this works out great,
except some say that Hotcam will NOT pass inspection, others say it will. (I will definitely be running cats), and I plan I getting LS1Edit.

Most other cams seems to be out of the question due to the spring issue. And an LS6 cam seems way too mild for me..

Could anyone give me an answer on whether or not a Hotcam will pass a NY state emissions test? In NY they put the car on a load test machine...

Thanks!

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

Is it known that the hotcam does indeed produce more power than the '02 LS6 cam? I wondered about this and my search found no one who had installed a hotcam in their Z06.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

I know of two hotcammed local cars that have failed the sniffer test here in Texas, and we are not on a load roller for the test. A load roller would make more emissions.

My T1 cammed (221/221) 346ci barely passed.

The lope sound will depend alot on how loud your exhaust system is. All 220+ duration cams will lope if the idle rpm isn't abnormally high.

-Tony

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

Nineball,
I was kinda thinking the opposite:

At idle a hotcammed car would due worse (relative to a stock cam), due to misfires, lope, etc...

Under a load, the misfires go away, and it starts to work efficiently...

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

You and I are in the same boat, I have been reading a lot on the same subject as well. What you say is not entirely true though. The '02 Z06 cam definately passes emissions and has a significantly higher lift than the hotcam (525 VS 551 I think) However neither of these cams has the aggressive ramp rates that some of the aftermarket cams do (this one of the key factors in valvetrain wear). I honestly do not know if the Hotcam will pass your emissions test. I have the same requirements as you but I do not want an extremely rough idle, I have narrowed my search down to the B1 (221/221 .558 .558 114) and the TR220 I think. It sounds like the hotcam will be a great cam for you however, it will make similar power to the two above on stock heads, will have a rougher idle, and will work well with '02 LS6 springs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> . TTT for ya on the emissions question.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

My A4 HotCam T/A passed emmission (IL sniffer Roller load test) without any programming and MAC's w/ Cats. My friends M6 did also.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

If you dont pass, look on the bright side, slip the guy a $20 and he'll pass you then <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> . BTW be prepared to get gears, I have a friend w/that cam and it basicly sucked for him till he got a set of 3.73's in his M6. Sounds good, even through the sock cat back <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

I too am in the same boat. I purchased ls6 springs, cam, and pushrods. I am thinking about just buying a hotcam and selling the ls6 cam. There are some very good numbers for such a mild cam being put out with the ls6 cams.. I believe one guy on this board made 353rwhp with just a lid. I will be doing going the mac route as well. If you find any information as too which makes the most power, please let me know. I also wanted to mention, that when I took my car to get it tested... they just plugged it into the computer, and it passed. They were just checking for ses from malfunctioning emissions equipment. I'm thinking this might work out to my benefit <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

I am not flaming anyone here, but I just don't get it with the rough idle...

Most people want just about the same thing in a cam:

Yield great power
Pass Emissions
Not have to replace springs every 15k miles or so
Some want all this with no PCM programming

But then they make the statement that the [want] a "rough idle".

Whats the deal with a "rough idle"? What is the benifit of a rough idle?

I would think that max power with good street manners would be all anyone would want from a cam in there daily driver.

Let me tell ya; A cam that has a very rough, unstable idle will more than likely NOT pass emission testing.

Confused, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Kimchee and Rice:
<strong> I am not flaming anyone here, but I just don't get it with the rough idle...

But then they make the statement that the [want] a "rough idle".

Whats the deal with a "rough idle"? What is the benifit of a rough idle?

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Its all about Nostalgia and what powerful used to sound like.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

Not to hijack your thread, but this seems like a good a time as any to ask.

Can someone please comment on the Valvetrain wear and chance of passing emissions on these two:

MTI B1 (221/221 .558/.558 on 114 LSA)
TR 220 (220/220 .561/.561 on 114 LSA)

Which one will peak sooner?

I have read that the TR (XER) lobes are more aggressive and will cause more valvetrain wear (Replace Springs more often??)

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by niphilli:
<strong> Not to hijack your thread, but this seems like a good a time as any to ask.

Can someone please comment on the Valvetrain wear and chance of passing emissions on these two:

MTI B1 (221/221 .558/.558 on 114 LSA)
TR 220 (220/220 .561/.561 on 114 LSA)

Which one will peak sooner?

I have read that the TR (XER) lobes are more aggressive and will cause more valvetrain wear (Replace Springs more often??) </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The TR220 has .553" lift, not .561" FWIW. The TR220 will hit peak power sooner than the B1, but will be a little harder on springs due to the XE-R type lobes. My buddy has a B1 and his car idles significantly rougher than my TR220. Also, I would be that the TR220 would have a higher chance of passing emissions due to its 270* advertised duration compared to the B1s 280-283* advertised.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by TaTommyWS6:
<strong> Nineball,
I was kinda thinking the opposite:

At idle a hotcammed car would due worse (relative to a stock cam), due to misfires, lope, etc...

Under a load, the misfires go away, and it starts to work efficiently...

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Misfires are not the leading cause of bad emmissions. Rather, as the duration increases it basically pushes the efficiency of the motor higher up the rpm band so low and mid ranges suffer.

Re: What I've learned about selecting cams...
 

I investigated the emissions question a few weeks ago and someone reported that the TR220/114 passes in California.

Nostalgia is exactly right. For some of us who were involved with drag racing in the late sixties and early seventies, our memories of the sound of those cars can be very evocative.