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Cathedral vs Ls3 test

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Old 10-24-2018, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Tuskyz28
LS3 heads are so good that they do well single pattern camshafts
They do even better when the exhaust has about 10 degrees more duration to get it thru that smaller exhaust port. Look at most cams intended for the LS3-type heads. They are ground that way.
Old 10-24-2018, 06:05 PM
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heres The thing. We all know the two heads need different cams, intakes etc etc....to perform optimal. But what I think would be more interesting is just see what the simple differences between just the heads only would be. Then if you really want to be particular, take the same shortblock. Not two similar ones. And then get the best heads you can for ls3 and cathedral and then get similarly species cams but tailored to the heads and then the best intake and headers and then go at it.
Old 10-24-2018, 06:10 PM
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^^^^^^^^^^ i think thatvjust happened in this article.

Originally Posted by big hammer


because often the two heads need a little different cams to be perfect
this x1000

Originally Posted by KCS


My old cam only 6.2L with 241 heads was making ~400ft-lbs by 3000RPM. Most LS3’s were making 30-50ft-lbs less in that range.
sounds like a great pick up truck motor

Originally Posted by Tuskyz28
LS3 heads are so good that they do well single pattern camshafts
why does that even matter
Old 10-24-2018, 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by KCS


My old cam only 6.2L with 241 heads was making ~400ft-lbs by 3000RPM. Most LS3’s were making 30-50ft-lbs less in that range.
just checked mine but only goes down to around 3500 and it’s 403 rwtq
Old 10-24-2018, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by HioSSilver
^^^^^^^^^^ i think thatvjust happened in this article.



this x1000



sounds like a great pick up truck motor


why does that even matter
maybe there’s a class for single pattern cams? Not sure
Old 10-24-2018, 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Joystick
It would have been interesting to see the curves below 5000, or avarage TQ//HP in the powerband.
I just saw the article. Just below the 5000 mark, it DOES appear to trade places with the cathedrals pulling stronger from there down, but since we can't see that part of the curve we can only assume that to be evident. That would follow common reasoning about cathedrals though. They are a better low-end power head.
Old 10-24-2018, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by HioSSilver
sounds like a great pick up truck motor
It had a good powerband for a streetcar.

Originally Posted by big hammer
just checked mine but only goes down to around 3500 and it’s 403 rwtq
By 3500, mine made about 430ft-lbs.
Old 10-24-2018, 07:01 PM
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Rectangles for the drag strip and cathedrals for the street. You don't street drive at 7800 rpm but for a second and then you shift.
Old 10-24-2018, 07:23 PM
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My 427 was set to have a 245cc cathedral head on it but after looking at intake choices and solid roller, ported ls3 heads made more sense.
Old 10-24-2018, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by KCS


It had a good powerband for a streetcar.


By 3500, mine made about 430ft-lbs.
how was the tq at 6500?
Old 10-24-2018, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by wannafbody
Rectangles for the drag strip and cathedrals for the street. You don't street drive at 7800 rpm but for a second and then you shift.
you also don’t use the torque at 3000 rpm on the street
Old 10-24-2018, 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by big hammer


how was the tq at 6500?
Didn’t get to test that high, the clutch was not up to the task.

Originally Posted by big hammer
you also don’t use the torque at 3000 rpm on the street
Of course you do. What else do you think is moving the vehicle?
Old 10-24-2018, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by KCS


Didn’t get to test that high, the clutch was not up to the task.


Of course you do. What else do you think is moving the vehicle?
technically HP is

my point is whether you have 350 or 400 ft\lbs of tq at 3000 rpm you aren’t even close to using it just driving around. Likely only using 150-200
Old 10-24-2018, 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by wannafbody
Rectangles for the drag strip and cathedrals for the street. You don't street drive at 7800 rpm but for a second and then you shift.
You also don't drive around at wot @2000-4000 rpm.
Originally Posted by AINT SKEERED
My 427 was set to have a 245cc cathedral head on it but after looking at intake choices and solid roller, ported ls3 heads made more sense.
intake choice is really the biggest issue for all the heads to get them to perform well at high rpm.

Originally Posted by big hammer


how was the tq at 6500?
Tq @ 6500 ftw
Originally Posted by big hammer


you also don’t use the torque at 3000 rpm on the street
It don't take much to move a car so wot tq at 3k rpm really don't matter much.
Old 10-25-2018, 06:56 AM
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Yeah if you want to be cool guy that shows off doing burnouts on the street, than the cathedral's few more ft lbs at 3000rpm maybe better. But if you want better chances at winning a street race, the torque at 6500rpm the Ls3 heads bring is likely the better choice. I'd rather win races than do donuts.
For me, it would make no difference having 350 ft lbs vs 400 ft lbs at 3500rpm on the street. I don't know about everyone else, but I've never started a street race at 3500 rpm. Why would anyone do that who knows better? Not sure why that extra 50 ft lbs at 3000rpm is so important to pass granny on the highway....? lol
Old 10-25-2018, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by big hammer
technically HP is

my point is whether you have 350 or 400 ft\lbs of tq at 3000 rpm you aren’t even close to using it just driving around. Likely only using 150-200
What happens when there’s more torque at a given RPM? More horsepower, right?

Most people favor more available torque at lower RPM for a streetcar since that is where it spends most of its time. That’s because when there is more torque at WOT, it takes less throttle opening and less RPM to get the same 150-200ft-lbs when you’re just driving around.
Old 10-25-2018, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by R6cowboy
Yeah if you want to be cool guy that shows off doing burnouts on the street, than the cathedral's few more ft lbs at 3000rpm maybe better. But if you want better chances at winning a street race, the torque at 6500rpm the Ls3 heads bring is likely the better choice. I'd rather win races than do donuts.
For me, it would make no difference having 350 ft lbs vs 400 ft lbs at 3500rpm on the street. I don't know about everyone else, but I've never started a street race at 3500 rpm. Why would anyone do that who knows better? Not sure why that extra 50 ft lbs at 3000rpm is so important to pass granny on the highway....? lol
I think you’ve been watching too much Street Outlaws.
Old 10-25-2018, 10:18 AM
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When people had 3.08 gears a 4 speed auto and a 1200 stall converter obviously torque at low rpm was king. American cars drove like trucks. That TSP 224/224 cam choppin away at a stop light was a bad bitch right??
Old 10-25-2018, 10:33 AM
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The fairest evaluation of cathedral vs rectangular woild be full dyno graph from 2,500 to 7,500 with both heads having the same type of free flowing intake manifold that levels the manifold playing field so the heads are really what's evaluated.
​​​​​
Individual Throttle Body intake manifold.

Optimized cams for the heads & intake, same compression ratio say 11.5 to 1 or 12 to 1 (definitely not 87 octane friendly 9.8) and equivalent rocker arm ratios. In other words 1.8's on cathedral intake port. Ideally, several cams should be tested like optimized for drag race, road race, street - strip etc. List brake fuel consumption and vacuum at idle.

Show all the details and the whole power band of both set ups so folks can make a well informed decision.

​​​​​​
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Old 10-25-2018, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by big hammer


you also don’t use the torque at 3000 rpm on the street
Um, yes I do. With a M6 car I spend most of my street time below 3000 rpm. Granted I'm at part throttle but throttle response is king for a street car.

Plastic intakes are for losers. IRTB's are what you want for high rpm hp.



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