Need Torque Cam Advice!
 

I recently sold my TR 224/224 that I had for over a year and never installed. Now, Im in the market for a cam similar to Patrick G's torque cam. I want something a little more aggresive (maybe in the 230s), since the car isnt a daily driver. I know it will be a custom grind, so please dont recommend an off the shelf cam. The car is an auto with a 2800 stall Vig converter. Also, a set of Comp 921s will be installed along with the cam, so the lift wont be too much of an issue. I dont know much about cams and the members of this board have answered all of my questions fully, so i figured it would be a good place to start. Hopefully Patrick will chime in on this one! Thanks guys!

If you're not opposed to lift and plan on shimming your 921s, you can run LSK lobes without issue. A 2800 stall might limit the amount of duration you can run. Do you have a cutout with your MAC headers or is it just a catback? Bringing up dynamic compression is going to be a major issue to give you the mid-range punch you're looking for.

With a lumpy torque cam, you will hate that Loud Mouth exhaust, and I would highly recommend long tube headers and a 3,000 stall converter first.
What gears do you have?

I have no problems with the lift, but have no clue about shimming the 921s to make it work. I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to internals of an engine. I need to get a book or something and learn. This car might see 5k miles a year after the cam install, so hopefully i can make these 921s work. I'm running the MACs with the LM1 catback and no cut out. The low restriction of the LM1 is almost like having a cut out, so i heard from a friend.

From what I have read, the switch from MAC mids to long tubes isnt worth spending the extra money. I plan on a 402 in the future and I am just working with what I have until I get that money saved up, then I'll go all out and try for max power. I read on here before that the 2800 stall Vig converter acts more like a 3200, so I think I'll be ok on that end. I went low on the stall so I could have a chance at actually hooking on the street.

Just go ahead and start saving for the 402.

Im going to do the 402 this fall, so I can enjoy my car in the spring and summer and dont have it sitting at a shop for a month or more waiting on everything to go in. Nothing like t-tops on a sunny day to make you feel good! :)

If your doing a 402 i would wait on the cam. It would just be a waste of money bc when you get the 402 you will need an aggressive cam for those cubes. Something like a 244/248 and high lift.

As far as I know, you dont have to get a ridiculous sized cam to go with big cubes. This car might see the track less than 10 times a year once it has the 402. The rest of the time it will be on the street cruising around. I want a cam for right now so I can have something to play with this summer. If i have to get another one for the 402, then I'll get it once I buy the block.

I too, recommend waiting, but if you must.... I think the cam I have would work well in your application. It's a Crane "Z" cam that specs at 228/232 @112+5. In my LS6 with stock GM MLS gaskets, and 61cc heads, I get 10.95 SCR, and 8.55 DCR, and the midrange is incredible. It'll still pull hard to redline, and idles pretty good, too.

Then save the money for a new cam now and put it toward good long tube headers for the 402. There is no sense in swaping cams now and then doing it again in 9-10 months. If you can afford to change cams twice in one year, you can afford long tube headers.

Ok, let me say this one more time. I am looking for a noticeable power difference for THIS spring and summer. Im not worried about the 402 right now, that is a future project and Im focusing on the stock 346 for now. You are right, if I can afford to change cams twice in a year then I can afford long tube headers when I buy the 402. I dont want to buy them now and then scratch them up. This car isnt just a track car, I like it to look good too! Please everyone forget about the 402 for now! ! ! :jest:

Does anyone know the ramp rates of the Crane cams? or more specifically how they compare to the LSK/XER Comp lobes? Because I like the looks of that Crane cam as well except for the LSA and advance.

b u m p

Depending on how far into the 230's you mean, you're kind of moving away from 'torque cam' durations. Honestly, the 224 you had would have done exactly what you wanted for the time being.

Patrick's Torque Cam is a 224/228 LSK grind on a 110 LSA, installed straight up. Some keep referring to a 228/232 grind as his 'torque cam', and I suppose he must have spec'd it for someone who wanted a little more. Either one would serve you well, the latter trading a bit of low end (which you can afford with your stall) for some of the top end.

Also, if you plan to spin any of them over 6,000 you might want to start investing in some hard parts for your tranny.

Good Luck!

You want a good 230 range try this:
231/240 .643/.608 112+4 OR 111+2 (A little meaner)
2128 LSK int and 3730 XE-R exht

That would fit under stock heads and is a good balance between trq and upper HP.

I dont plan to spin it too much over 6k (maybe 6300), but I am getting a TCI trans rebuild kit installed next week along with the vig 2800 stall and a trans cooler. Hopefully that will hold it together for a year or so. I'm leaning towards just going with Patrick's torque cam right now. I drove the car this morning and it feels like my rear shocks are totally shot, so now I have to call Sam Strano and get something going there before the cam now. :(

That one sounds like it would be mean! How would it do with the 2800 stall?

I would send the stall off and have it restalled to a 3200 so that the cam will idle easier when in gear. ( If your thinking bout going with Predator's cam)

Well, restalling it to 3200 isnt something I really want to do. I have trouble hooking on the street with the stock stall, the 2800 will give me enough problems when I get it put in. I'm trying to stay low with the stall so I can try to get the car to hook on the street and unprepped tracks without slicks.