Stupd question?
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TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 770
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From: the third rock from the sun!
Stupd question? Is it best to pick the cam for the heads or the heads for the cam, figuring on a stage 2 setup.
Sorry, haven't given this much thought but it's been stuck in my head. I'm sure there's several ways to look at it but which way is right?
Assuming you can have a cam ground to almost any spec but can only do SO much with heads it would seem to make sense to get the heads first.
But if all you can tell a porter is that you want to go with say... a reverse split, then it would seem harder for them to P&P the heads for their full potential unless you have the cam specs first.
I know, "what do you want to do with the car...N/A, FI, NOS?", but then what?
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Sorry, haven't given this much thought but it's been stuck in my head. I'm sure there's several ways to look at it but which way is right?
Assuming you can have a cam ground to almost any spec but can only do SO much with heads it would seem to make sense to get the heads first.
But if all you can tell a porter is that you want to go with say... a reverse split, then it would seem harder for them to P&P the heads for their full potential unless you have the cam specs first.
I know, "what do you want to do with the car...N/A, FI, NOS?", but then what?
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 3
From: Upstate NY
Re: Stupd question? The cam is the brain. To choose a cam you need to know the airflow capability (in and out) first. Excellent engine design software is available which, given all the engine characteristics and accurate flow numbers, can be used to optimize a cam choice. Of course that combo should then be dyno tested.
I've seen over a hundred cams simulated to optimize just one engine combination.
Bottom line, IMO, pick the cam last.
My $.02
I've seen over a hundred cams simulated to optimize just one engine combination.
Bottom line, IMO, pick the cam last.
My $.02
