MA1384

What would be the best cam i could get for my car, im reading about everyone using all different types of cams but nothing about the LT4 hotcam. I would like to get the hotcam kit, but if there somthing better out there id rather get that. This is basically the final stage of my performance upgrades, i already have the whole exhaust and cai, but i would like to have about 340 rwhp. What cam would bring me as close to there as possible without sacrificing streetability?

Jordan57

CC305 probably......if streetability is flexible for you CC306 or what I'm going with GM 847.....you'll need springs too....adjustable roller rockers....hardened pushrods and new lifters to be safe....get rid of the flowmaster and putting in a cutout before the cat would free up some HP too

Vendetta

On stock heads and an otherwise stock motor, I wouldn't go with any higher than a 224/230. It sounds like you aren't quite ready to go mod-crazy on your motor, and a 306 or 847 will put the power up too high for a stock motor to reach without causing a lot of stress. I would recommend a Comp XE 224/230, I've seen some excellent results out of it with an otherwise stock motor. The Hotcam is alright, but a 305 or XE224 would be more satisfying IMO.

I would wait until you're at least ready to do heads before going with a larger cam, but that's just how I would do things. If you've got the money and don't care much about streetability a 306/847 cam would put a huge smile on your face- however, you won't make full use of them until you can rev your LT1 up and past 6500 RPM without worrying about spinning a bearing.

Again, I'm somewhat conservative- if I had a stock car and planned on keeping it stock for a while I'd go with a XE224. Cams are cheap as dirt and once you do one cam swap, you can do another with relative ease.

MA1384

Nah, i dont wanna go mod crazy, its my summer daily driver, so i wanna keep it reliable and somewhat comfortable (some sacrifices can be made though ). After i do that i will be going with a better rearend so i can put on tires that will hookup below 15 mph, lol. Any recomendations on where to get these parts? I was also under the impression that since the lt1's came with roller lifters that u dont have to replace them unless a bearing went or somthin?

MA1384

Well, simply put i want to get into atleast the high 12's as reliable and cheap as possible, i figured after the whole exhaust a cam would do that. is theres any other ways to do this (besides drag radials and gears, cause im doin that anyways)?

Also when it comes to gears, will 3.73's do much over my stock 3.42's? Cause 4.11's seem a bit extreme, and with gas being in the 10's of thousands of dollars just to fill the tank, i figured it wouldnt be the best of ideas. Correct me if im wrong?

Vendetta

Yeah, best cam for you would be either an LT4/305/XE224. As for gears, I would just leave the 3.42s in. They aren't terrible gears.

You won't need to replace any valvetrain parts (except springs if you want to be safe) with a smaller cam. As I said, I'd go with a Comp Xtreme Energy 224/230. You can purchase any of these parts at one of the sponsors to the right ===>

However, you can also call up Comp or Crane Cams and have them recommend what cam is best for you.

MA1384

alright cool, thanks man. How much power do these normally produce with the boltons i have? also would a 52 mm TB be a worthwhile purchase? and if so, what kind should i go with, im told not bbk?

Vendetta

Keep your stock TB for now, you won't see any gain at all until you swap heads/intake. I have the 52mm BBK Throttle body- biggest piece of **** in the world. It's gotten stuck open 3 times, twice at low RPM (~1500) but once around 3300 RPM... it wasn't cool at all.

Power, I'm not sure. You should definitely be in 12s though.

Where in NY are ya?

MA1384

Im about halfway between syracuse and albany

MA1384

Utica/Rome area if ur more familliar, where woodstock '99 was held.

MA1384

or was it 98? i forget

Jordan57

Couple of things....you can port your own tb with a dremel to make it a 52....just scribe the inside of the gasket when u pull of the tb and go to work on it. Also if you're going to do a cam swap u could port the front of the intake to go with your ported tb. One more thing....4.10's are amazing.....best mod I've done so far....however u need some serious traction to use them and if you spray or have too much horsepower you will go into fifth in the 1/4. 4.10s hurt my mpg by about 2mpg total i think...so thats not a big deal....

Gangly

i have the 224/230 in my heads cam engine and its way to small for me, but it would be perfect in a cam only car with boltons. LT4 cam is like an old horse...tried and true and wont buck you off. Its a cam that makes reliable power in a modest power range with good torque, and it doesnt tear up the valvetrain at all. But its an old cam, and there are better cams out there for the same price so a lot of people have kinda shy'd away from it.

Vendetta

Damn man, you're way up there... I'm just across the river from NYC.

For a guy who wants a goiod daily driver, I think he'd want to stay with 3.42s for now. It's not the gas mileage, but the highway gearing. 4.10s make it a total PITA on the highway.

Jordan57

Naw man...I cruise at about 80 at 2400ish....and get 21ish on the highway....plus I never have to downshift......that's all gonna change when I get all my parts in though.....I have a feeling that I'm gonna be sucking fuel with a bigger pump...the cam....and bigger injectors....damn I was doing good on money too....

Vendetta

You won't need to swap pump/injectors with a cam

Jordan57

no.....that is true....but i figured since i'm gonna spray and these are the stock injectors and pump of a 100k car....it wouldn't hurt right? or am I pissing money away...again (read flowmaster)

Vendetta

Stock injectors should be fine for spray, you could upgrade the pump to be safe. People make a big deal about the Flowmaster flowing crappy, but who cares, it flows better than a stock catback and sounds better than almost every catback on the market.

Jordan57

enisguy.....you just made my day....thanks man....I've been bummed about my flowmaster ever since I got on this site.

dhdenney

iTrader: (53)

Looking back on it, I kinda wish I had kept my Flowmaster for the street because it sounded good. I ditched it for the Borla XR1 for flow purposes. However, I should have just gotten a cutout.