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How do you guys classify "CAM ONLY"

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Old 12-01-2005, 01:05 PM
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Default How do you guys classify "CAM ONLY"

There has been some discussion on our local board about the term "cam only" and I am simply wondering what sort of rules or guidlines you guys go by to call something "cam only".

BTW my cars:

1991 Lumina 4-door 3800 Series II Whipplecharged - 12.545 @ 108, 1.8 60'
1997 Grand Prix GTP stock + Whipple - 330 hp / 440 tq - 13.3 @ 100, 1.9 60'

Dads car:

1998 Vette C5 Concepts "Thresher 450"
Old 12-01-2005, 01:15 PM
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For me, it's stock heads and stock bottom end, but with bolt-on and breathing mods.

IMHO a cammed engine with full bolt-on mods, headers, intake, tune, etc... but stock heads, pistons, connecting rods, and crank is a cam-only engine.
Old 12-01-2005, 01:52 PM
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CAM ONLY WHAT lol
Old 12-01-2005, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Blue Hawk
For me, it's stock heads and stock bottom end, but with bolt-on and breathing mods.

IMHO a cammed engine with full bolt-on mods, headers, intake, tune, etc... but stock heads, pistons, connecting rods, and crank is a cam-only engine.
Exactly.
Old 12-01-2005, 01:58 PM
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Thanks Matt.... I'm not trying to start a flame thread or something that gets out of hand... I just want a definition of the term "cam only"

Blue Hawk posted what he considers "cam only", is this what everyone here considers cam only or is it one guys opinion?
Old 12-01-2005, 02:03 PM
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a cam and complimenting bolt ons. Rest of motor being stock.
Old 12-01-2005, 02:04 PM
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It means the only thing done to the internals of the motor is cam-related. No aftermarket or stock-ported heads and stock bottom end.
Old 12-01-2005, 02:29 PM
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I know i'm just kidding animul. I just think it's funny that the board gets bent out of shape over the phrase...
Old 12-01-2005, 02:44 PM
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Generally when someone gets as far as a cam swap, they have already done the basic exhaust and bolt-on mods so that they get the full benefit of a larger cam. So I would have to agree with others.
Old 12-01-2005, 02:53 PM
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I consider "cam only" when the only internal part of the motor that is changed is the cam.
Now we all know that when you change the cam, you also change springs, retainers, p-rods, and sometimes t-chain.

I've described my cam only before with a head gasket change (.045 instead of .054 graphite) and I was jumped on that this was not cam only. But the heads were untouched.
So relatively speaking it is a loose term.
Old 12-01-2005, 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by PREDATOR-Z
I consider "cam only" when the only internal part of the motor that is changed is the cam.
Now we all know that when you change the cam, you also change springs, retainers, p-rods, and sometimes t-chain.
What he said.
Old 12-01-2005, 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by TroubledWine3
It means the only thing done to the internals of the motor is cam-related. No aftermarket or stock-ported heads and stock bottom end.

This is probably the most reasonble definition that I have heard of and it does make sense. Now Matt, if you caould have explained it like this a month ago, that would have saved the internet from all the useless posts on wichitaracing about it .
Old 12-01-2005, 04:01 PM
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i would consider my car a cam only
Old 12-01-2005, 04:47 PM
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To me a cam-only car has a cam, valvetrain to handle the cam, and exhaust(and MAYBE injectors).

When you start getting into electric water pumps, underdrive pulleys, throttle bodies, intake manifolds etc..you are disqualified IMO.

The reason i count in exhaust is cause the car wont run well with a big cam and restrictive exhaust, but it can run well as everything remains stock.

Electric water pump, pulleys, tb, intake manifolds, bigger MAF, etc..all these things are completely on their own and can vary the power difference by as much as 40 horsepower..so it defeats the term "cam only" which is a term people use to get a general understanding of power vs speed. + or - 40hp is not an acceptable window IMO.

Cam-only should also be a term more oriented to the whole car, rather than just the engine. Again we use the term for a comparison for how much faster a cam makes you go. Stalls and gears can greatly vary the numbers too therefore should be disqualified.
Old 12-01-2005, 05:49 PM
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ive explained it like that animul
Old 12-01-2005, 06:59 PM
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what if you upgrade to a set of stock ls6 heads??
Old 12-01-2005, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Var
To me a cam-only car has a cam, valvetrain to handle the cam, and exhaust(and MAYBE injectors).

When you start getting into electric water pumps, underdrive pulleys, throttle bodies, intake manifolds etc..you are disqualified IMO.

The reason i count in exhaust is cause the car wont run well with a big cam and restrictive exhaust, but it can run well as everything remains stock.

Electric water pump, pulleys, tb, intake manifolds, bigger MAF, etc..all these things are completely on their own and can vary the power difference by as much as 40 horsepower..so it defeats the term "cam only" which is a term people use to get a general understanding of power vs speed. + or - 40hp is not an acceptable window IMO.

Cam-only should also be a term more oriented to the whole car, rather than just the engine. Again we use the term for a comparison for how much faster a cam makes you go. Stalls and gears can greatly vary the numbers too therefore should be disqualified.
I COMPLETELY disagree!

I think most everyone else have been right. Pretty much whatever boltons and supporting mods that are needed, desired, whatever. Just as long as the heads and rotating assembly are left untouched.
Old 12-01-2005, 07:15 PM
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Another way of looking at it is this. When people say "cam only" they are meaning they don't have "heads/cam"......I believe this is the originating factor that born the term "cam only"
Old 12-01-2005, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by TroubledWine3
It means the only thing done to the internals of the motor is cam-related. No aftermarket or stock-ported heads and stock bottom end.
That's my take on it also. It doesn't really refer to intake or exhaust. A "cam only" car may or may not have other external modifications to intake and exhaust. But not a supercharger or turbo. Obviously, they would just be referred to as supercharged or turbocharged.
Old 12-01-2005, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by BriancWS6
I COMPLETELY disagree!

I think most everyone else have been right. Pretty much whatever boltons and supporting mods that are needed, desired, whatever. Just as long as the heads and rotating assembly are left untouched.
i agree that i completely disagree also!!! lol

i'd say cam only is no heads, no power adders, stock bottom end, everything else is game.



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