Hey! Long time lurker, first time poster!
I'm working on my 1997 Trans Am A4 and debating on getting a hotcam. After reading stories on here, I'm at a point of confusion. I'm planning on installing a baby cam in my car, probably the hotcam or slightly smaller just because I don't know how the 4L60E will hold up.

I see where some say that I will need a Stall Converter, which I've decided on the Yank 3600 in that case. After even more research, if I install a stall converter, I will need a shift kit to a) fix my shift points and b) to prevent slipping. I have some questions:

a) Do I need a stall converter for a hot-cam?
b) Are there are any cams other than stock that will boost my hp w/out requiring a stall converter? If so, what are they?
c) Are shift kits required for all stall converters or just 2000 RPM and above?
d) What are the upsides and the downsides of a shift kit vs a tune? There's a guy locally who's been tuning cars for the last 15 or so years and I trust him as he's done work on my friends cars.

I'm sure there is a hidden forum discussing this, but I keep getting mixed answers. Some say a shift kit is required and others say a tune will suffice. I'm not planning on drag racing, it's going to be a daily driver but I wish to have my RWHP around the 350-400 mark.

 

Hot cam will work with a stock stall...but going with a 3600 Yank (a bit high IMHO for a mild cam only) you will want to add an external trans cooler.

Installing a shift kit is a better way than "tuning" firmer shifts. A tune will allow the new cam to achieve more HP. New valve springs are a must for any new cam

 

When I was shopping for a cam, Tick told me I could run a comp cams CC503 without an aftermarket converter. YMMV.

A hotcam with stock heads will not be in that horsepower range based on dyno results I've seen on LS1Tech.

 

The correct answer is both a shift kit and some tuning. Either one can only do so much. Without a tune, the PCM will try to achieve the same shift times no matter what parts you have installed. I have both in my 1500 and when you lay into it, it'll sort of slingshot into 2nd gear. On my 3500, with just tuning, it's better than stock but isn't nearly as meaty as the 1500's shifts, both are 4L80E. I can't say if the shift kit alone would do more as mine was already asking for harder shifts before I put the kit in so I never ran the kit with the stock tune. You can alter base pressures and all sorts of stuff in the PCM. Do not overlook what can be accomplished with it.

 

You can get away with the stock converter with the smaller sized cams. But, A good converter will make a huge difference in performance, especially with a bigger cam. IMO a converter change Is one of the best mods you can do to these things and just by itself will make as much or more of a difference than a cam swap, depending on your set up. I have ran bigger converters in several set ups and one of them was a 3k stall TCI in a bolt on only A4 Lt1 with no shift kit and no trans tune adjustments. While not ideal, It worked fine and performed great. It just made the shifts feel softer than they were because the converter is looser. You will definitely want to run a good trans cooler for sure. Heat will kill these things. Personally I have had pretty good luck with the 4l60E up until I started spraying a 150 shot of nitrous. And even then it went a couple years as a weekend toy before it started slipping. What are your goals with the car?