filmjay

First off...I've got credit at TSP, so everything has to come from there...

Here's the setup for my n/a daily...

-Fresh LS3 shortblock with new rings, seals, ARP...still in machine shop.
-PRC LS3 CNC heads w/ 67cc chambers/YT shaft rockers/BTR .660 Platinum springs (keeping stock .051 gaskets)
-25% UDP
-CAI (not yet decided on which, likely will be a Halltech.)
-Ported LS3 intake/tb
...and all the supporting mods...Melling HV pump, 160* stat, LG radiator, SPAL fans, etc...

So my question is...which TSP LS3 cam?
231/236 or their newer 235/239?
And what's the smallest stall I can get away with? I'd rather not run a 3600+ if a 2800-3200 is plenty.
If you have either cam, where does the surge kick in and how's the low speed drivability?

Dyno sheets see the 231 with 5'ish more points on the low end where the 235 gives it up top.
I'm shooting for that magic 500 to the wheels with decent daily drivability. (I know "decent drivability" is relative...had a 224/232 113* before that was nice, but now going a tad bigger.) I DO want the lope, and AM okay with a little bit of surge.
Being a street car, I'm thinking of keeping the 231/236 for the slight bump under 3000 rpm...

I have the 231/236, 112* in my possession...would have to send it back to swap for the 235/239....that's kinda why I'm debating. Is it REALLY worth the extra 5hp up top? LOL!

Thanks in advance....just looking for some opinions/advice. Again, please remember this is just a driver...no boost, no $$ racing.

newschool72

iTrader: (12)

The smaller cam, naturally. You answered your own question. 5HP means nothing from a performance stand point, except being able to say I made xxxhp on the dyno. The smaller cam will be just as fast, maybe faster with the extra muscle down low, especially if you run a tighter stall. I would expect either cam will be less fun as a daily driver, compared to the smaller cam you are running now. Everything is a trade off where cams are concerned. Choking the larger cams down with a tight converter will most likely make your car slower, everywhere, except at the top of the rev range , once you get the car moving. If you are going bigger, the other parts of the drive line need to match the cam, or its wasted $, IMO.

filmjay

THAT'S the kind of answer I've been looking for. I really don't care at this point...5 HP here or there is nothing...just want to pick the best combo for what I've got and what I plan on doing with the car.

I'm aware that either of these cams aren't going to be as "tame" as the 224/232 113* I was running. But with the smaller split, should be about the same low speed manners with a stall. I don't mind a little surge...comes with the territory.

After comparing dyno sheets and reading experiences of guys here..while I'd like to have the higher peak numbers for sh*t-talkings sake, I think I'll probably just stick this 231/236 in and call it a day. Most of this engines life will be under 4-5k rpms, so makes sense to have more usable power where I'm actually using it.
With all my mods, should be very close if not more to that 500rw mark.

1989GTA

I agree with the 231/236 choice. As to converters I have had the Yank SS3200, SS3600 and SS4000 versions. I can say the SS3600 is not that bad for a daily driver. That would be my choice.

Petsur

What he said!

Gunslinger09

I would call TSP and let them recomend you a cam. Let them spec you a custom cam to fit exactly your setup since you have a credit with them.

filmjay

TSP recommended the 235 with a 3600 stall, so that's the cam I ordered...that's the biggest cam they'll recommend for an LS3...I was sent the 231 by mistake...but I believe the guy was more concerned with the fact that I said I wanted 500 HP, and not the semi-daily driver part. LOL!

So I have a choice...keep and install this 231, or send it back and swap out for the 235. I was trying to decide what to do, or perhaps get some opinions from guys who have run one or both of those cams...and hold off on ordering the stall til I did.

The graphs look damn near identical except the 231 has about 5-7 more HP under 4k, and the 235 gives that 5-7 HP back above 5k.
The red line is the 231, the blue line is the 235...



Think I'm leaning more towards keeping the 231 with more curve under 5k...
Both are, with the right mods, 500 rwhp cams...and I'm right in line with all those mods plus have milled my heads to 67cc, so that goal shouldn't be terribly difficult on a freshly machined LS3.
I'm surprised Jason98TA hasn't chimed in yet.

Dyno Junkie

Looks like either would be fantastic with a 4,000rpm convertor

filmjay

Too much stall for my taste...this car won't likely see a track but a handful of times a year, maybe. And even then, just to play. Not trying to make $$ with this one anymore. Lol!

moeZ28

iTrader: (7)

Nothing under 3500 is really gonna matter as far as when your racing or playing sround b/c of the stall...the larger cam gives up a minimum amount of power in the area that isn't gonna matter but makes more up top and will pull a couple hundred rpms farther letting you stay up in the powerband better on shifts. Just my thoughts...

Jason 98 TA

iTrader: (4)

235/239 all day long.