I have a head and cam car that originated in California and it has a pretty small cam in it now. I will give as many details as possible and just ask for whatever I left out. The car is an '01 SS M6 car with 3.42's and a spec 3+ clutch. It has an RK sport cold air lid and filter, RK sport descreened MAF, BBK 80mm throttle body, ported LS6 intake, reworked CNC ported LS1 heads (supposedly flow as well as AFR 205's), Hooker coated super comp's, Hooker ORY, 3" flowmaster catback, msd wires, LS1 edit done to stock computer along with a Jet chip. I have every intention of having the computer reprogrammed after the cam swap and to get it dyno'd. Below are a couple of cams I was looking at, but I am very open to suggestions. I do not DD the car, am not worried about emissions or fuel mileage and can deal with a lopey idle. I would like to have somewhere around 410-430 RWHP, after the current dyno, the car makes 365 RWHP and 370 RWTQ on a dynojet dyno (with JBA shorties and stock Y, didn't redyno after exhaust). Do I have to worry about valve to piston clearance with any of these cams? I will change the valve springs with the corresponding cam. Oh, BTW the engine has only 11k miles on it.

The cam I have now:
Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,200-6,000 RPM
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 212
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 218
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 212 int./218 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 265
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 271
Advertised Duration: 265 int./271 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.522 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.529 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.522 int./0.529 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 114
Intake Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Exhaust Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Computer Controlled Compatible: No
Grind Number: LS1 XR265HR-14

Crane Cams that I like:
1. Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,600-6,200 RPM
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 224
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 224
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 224 int./224 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 286
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 286
Advertised Duration: 286 int./286 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.551 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.551 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.551 int./0.551 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 114
Intake Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Exhaust Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Computer Controlled Compatible: Yes
Grind Number: HR-224/3241-14

2. Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,700-6,200 RPM
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 228
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 232
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 228 int./232 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 290
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 294
Advertised Duration: 290 int./294 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.600 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.600 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.600 int./0.600 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
Intake Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Exhaust Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Computer Controlled Compatible: Yes
Grind Number: HR-228/353-2S1-12

Comp cam that I've been eyeing:
1. Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,800-6,800 RPM
Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift: 222
Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift: 224
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 222 int./224 exh.
Advertised Intake Duration: 275
Advertised Exhaust Duration: 277
Advertised Duration: 275 int./277 exh.
Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.566 in.
Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.568 in.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.566 int./0.568 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 112
Intake Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Exhaust Valve Lash: 0.000 in.
Computer Controlled Compatible: No
Grind Number: LS1 XR275HR-12

 

Where would you like this power to occur in the powerband? Sooner or later?

 

If possible, I would like to have good power overall (I know, it's a comprimise). I guess more in the mid range. I don't want to have to constantly wind the engine out to make it go. I would like to make it last a bit. It has a bone stock bottom end.

 

Any of those cams should work fine for what you want. The last one is going to take some winding out, though. The first one would give you the best low end, and the middle two are gonna be the compromise. Take a look at thunderracing.com's cams as well. The 224/224 is very popular, and the 230/224 might be a good choice for you as well.

 

Anyone else?

 

I have a cam for sale that is really close to one that you are looking at. It is a Comp Cam 228/232 .588.595 111+1 It only has 600 miles on it. Sounds awesome at idle and really pulls hard. I had it in a Vette with a 6 sp and 3.42 gears. I could cruise at 1400 rpm in 6th gear with no problem and it had very good street manner.

With this cam, PRC 5.3L heads, headers and all the bolt ons except 90/90 it made 431rwhp and 400 rwtq. Graph is over in the dyno section titled:
PRC Stage 2.5 5.3L heads with 228 camshaft results.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I stick with brand new cams at all times. Nothing against you, just personal prefrence.

 

As long as you have stock ratio rockers your more then fine, you may want to do dual springs for anything above .600" Otherwise comp cam 918's work fine.

In CA, do you have to go on the roller/sniffer test?? i so your going to have to keep the duration in the 224/224 range, maybe .550-.575 " at no more then 112 LSA. THEN dyno tune the car, make a leaner tune to make sure the fuel is combusted.

 

If you want better midrange, you should tighten the LSA up a bit. If you're looking at a cam in the 224 range, I'd go with a 108-110 LSA. It'll idle rougher, but it'll make better low end/midrange torque and you won't have to spin it to the moon to make good power.

 

I live in Az. I'm not worried about emmissions at this point. I will take the car down the 1/4 a few times a year, but am looking for good overall streetable performance. Is this asking for too much?

 

The TR 224/224 is a great starter cam, I wouldnt look at anything less.

 

Are you referring to the Crane or Comp that I have listed? If not, please post a link to the brand or cam that you are referring to. Thanks for the help!

 

Not at all. I am in the same boat. I live in Michigan and my car sees mainly street mileage. I do go to the track, but I'm more concerned with power on the street. I have a thread about a cam I designed that's definitely not conventional, but I'm not sure if it's going to work. It certainly appears that it will. I may just have to try it unless I get a lot of people saying it won't work.

 

99-TR224/224-112 Thunder Racing Custom Camshaft - 224/224 .563/.563 112 LSA 1700-6600 RPM Power Band. Excellent mid-range & high RPM power. Requires computer tuning on automatic transmission cars. Due to the fast ramp rate of this camshaft, the use of 1.8 rockers is not recommended. View Dyno Graph



They make a 114 LSA cam too, same specs.

http://www.thunderracing.com