Cam without a tune?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett, TX
Cam without a tune? I'm looking for a cam in the coming months. Are there any particular cams that can go for awhile w/o a tune? A while being a few months. I was looking at the hotcam (i know most hate it) due to its price and reliability. I hear it's a rough idle though. I'm a poor *** college kid and need the best bang for my buck. I love a rough idle (no stealth!) but need my a/c to work and such. What do you guys recommend?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
From: MI
B1 cam will work great without a tune but it doesn't have a real big thump at idle because of the 114 lsa but the T1 cam is the same spec with a 112 lsa so it thumps alittle more but doesn't idle as good as the B1. Oh my cam card say's spec's are 221/221 559/559 . Cam make's great streetable power it's a great road cam.
Or you could watch for a deal on a used TR224 114 LSA. Mine did pretty well without a tune. All you need to do is drill the TB blade a little, but that doesn't cost you anything.
My last no-tune jobber was a 232/236-112 in my 346. I'm out of my territory, and don't have any tuners around. Two straight months on the factory tune. If this is an M6 car, just get yourself a used MAFT here, open up the tb a tad with the idle set screw (after first dissconnecting your battery 
), and drive. It's not the recommended route, but it's doable...
EDIT: Correction, now a 252/256-114 solid cam
), and drive. It's not the recommended route, but it's doable...EDIT: Correction, now a 252/256-114 solid cam
Last edited by NoseUp; Dec 15, 2004 at 01:37 PM.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: west coast
I have the Hotcam kit. Got it for same reason as you. Price and reliability. And I don't like the idea of having to change out the valve springs every year. Haven't put it in yet, need some time off work. I also have the Predator programer so I can use that to dial in my new cam. I'm getting good at tuning with it. I hear some people here paying like $500 for a tune! Look into the Predator. Maybe find a used one. It will pay for itself in no time and you can do things like change fan settings for a low temp thermostat and all that good stuff. Good luck.
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yeah....u can choose a mild cam that will idle better than others without a tune, but tuning not only cures idle problems, but it will give u more hp. u will not get the maximum hp out of a cam without tuning. for one thing, your a/f ratio is probably gonna be off. tuning is worth it. and most places, after you pay the initial tuning fee, will tune your car as many times after that you want for a small fee if not free. if u need dyno time, that will probably cost extra. and DO NOT do a mail order tune!!! some people are happy with them, but most will shy you away from doing it. i will tell u from experience its not a good idea. save your money and get a real cam and a real tune
Originally Posted by Ryan1985
6 speed or auto. 6 speeds seem to idle alot better with no tune than auto's.
<<< Broke college student also!!
<<< Broke college student also!!
I am a broke college student as well. Might be de-modding the car over winter.....
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
think ur gonna want a tune and a bigger cam.. best to wait another few months and save for the tune like im doing and get the cam u want rather then be unhappy with the car and eventually save for another larger cam and tune!
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 0
From: MI
You can get some of these smaller cam's to run good with out a tune but like some are saying the best way is to have any cam dyno tuned you wouldn't believe the difference. Save your money for a dyno tune also.
