cams and long drives
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, CO
Originally Posted by ls1marine
hey if i put a cam in my 01 ss but i want to take long drives is it still possible and by long drives i mean like 14 hours
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Same here, but I don't think its the long drive. It's metal fatigue. I swapped cams 2 1/2 years ago (224/224 .581/.581 112LSA) and threw in a set of Manley singles with tit retainers. Many long and short drives, 6500 shifts at the track. Three weeks ago, driving to work, just pulling into parking lot at no more than 15mph. Spring went out, wasn't even revving it.
Like you, I was told to swap them out every 12 months. I didn't, but I would always let the car warm up to running temp before driving it.
Like you, I was told to swap them out every 12 months. I didn't, but I would always let the car warm up to running temp before driving it.
Long drives are only going to put more running time on the springs, which is directly related to the life of them. The major defining factors on spring life are the number of miles driven on them and how high the rev's were during those miles. Technically driving them at lower RPM's for the majority of the time will make them last longer than if you shift at red every time. It's a balance and long drives won't make them go out quicker in terms of "it was driven for more than an hour at a time". Miles on a motor are miles on a motor, and once the car is up to full operating temp it doesn't distinguish between a 2 hour drive and a 14 hour one.
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 1
From: Trois-Rivières (Québec / Canada)
I made two 9 hours trips last summer and many 4 hours trips since then and no problem whatsoever.
I have a 224/224 .560/.560 112 with 918's, titanium retainers, stock rockers and hardened pushrods.
IMO, daily city driving will put more fatigue into your cam/valvetrain than a long trip in overdrive.
I have a 224/224 .560/.560 112 with 918's, titanium retainers, stock rockers and hardened pushrods.
IMO, daily city driving will put more fatigue into your cam/valvetrain than a long trip in overdrive.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Long drives are mostly highway driving (unless you're nuts and go for long drives in Miami rushhour traffic). Those miles are done mostly at low rpm. You will put much more stress on them in a single 1/4 mile pass, that you will driving highway miles.
Lift also determines the life of your springs. The more they lift, the less time they will live. Consider this, stock springs only see .45 lift or something like that and that's why they last forever. On the other hand, a cam lifting .585 works those springs much, much more and add to that 4.1 gears and it they will also see more higher rpms than when the cars have stock gears.
Bottom line is metal fatigue. 12 months and they're outta there from now on for me.
Lift also determines the life of your springs. The more they lift, the less time they will live. Consider this, stock springs only see .45 lift or something like that and that's why they last forever. On the other hand, a cam lifting .585 works those springs much, much more and add to that 4.1 gears and it they will also see more higher rpms than when the cars have stock gears.
Bottom line is metal fatigue. 12 months and they're outta there from now on for me.
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I just drove mine from Lubbock to Houston and back again......~1000 miles total driving and got an average of 21-22mpg w/ the cruise control set on 75mph and passing an occasional car
cam is a TSP 235/240 112LSA -excellent nitrous cam-
springs are PRC dual gold springs w/ about 15k miles on them
www.texas-speed.com
cam is a TSP 235/240 112LSA -excellent nitrous cam-
springs are PRC dual gold springs w/ about 15k miles on them
www.texas-speed.com
its not the long drives that will kill it...its the amount of mileage that you have on the springs...alot of people go with the once a year replacement thing but you should be good for about 12k under normal driving and what not.
i have about 6k on my springs and im doing the long haul power tour this year...hopefully they will get me through the tour and i defenitly need to change them after its done.
i have about 6k on my springs and im doing the long haul power tour this year...hopefully they will get me through the tour and i defenitly need to change them after its done.
10 Second Club
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 0
From: ATLANTA
I had atleast 10 trips to Panama City (640miles round trip) from where I live with cam/heads with no problem at all, driving the hell out of it also. I would say it has allot to do with letting the car warm up, especially if its cold and it hasnt been cranked in a while. I broke one valve spring and I honestly believe it has to do with not letting those springs warm up with cold weather before beating on it or driving it normal for that matter.
I put my TR224 cam, 918 springs, and TR 7.4 hardend push rods in my car in UTAH and broke it in and changed the oil twice, then drove 1200 miles to speed inc for a tune and continued on to pittsburgh. Total trip 2000 miles. I changied the oil before i left and when I finished, no oil loss and verry little deposite on drain plug mag.
