found the perfect cam for CA cars
11-13-2012, 06:34 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
found the perfect cam for CA cars
I've been looking all over for a cam that will work well with the TPI, idle well (smoothly), and not be audibly noticable to smog *****, police, etc.
Turns out Scoggin-Dickey has a cam (SD1142) that is a "copy" of the original LT-4 cam, except it's ground so that you get the same .480 lift with 1.5 rockers that the LT-4's got with their 1.6 rockers. It's 204/211 @.050 with a 115 degree lobe separation, so it should be a great combo for my daily driver with the Fast Burn heads and the big Accel TPI setup.
The icing on the cake is that it was only $235 ($251 shipped).
Finally something is going right - this year sure hasn't been too good.
Turns out Scoggin-Dickey has a cam (SD1142) that is a "copy" of the original LT-4 cam, except it's ground so that you get the same .480 lift with 1.5 rockers that the LT-4's got with their 1.6 rockers. It's 204/211 @.050 with a 115 degree lobe separation, so it should be a great combo for my daily driver with the Fast Burn heads and the big Accel TPI setup.
The icing on the cake is that it was only $235 ($251 shipped).
Finally something is going right - this year sure hasn't been too good.
11-13-2012, 06:51 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Why not just put in the LT4 hotcam kit? That is a lot of work for so little cam. Whith those hads and the LT4 hotcam you could be putting down 400 CHP or so.
Last edited by ch@0s; 11-13-2012 at 06:53 PM.
11-13-2012, 07:49 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
11-15-2012, 12:33 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
I'm not sure how much lift your heads can tolerate but an LT4 Hot Cam with 1.6 rocker arms specs out at 0.525" lift at the valves which could possibly cause valve seal to valve guide interefernce and coil bind. Not saying don't do it, just check first.
There are a lot of cams out here that will pass CA smog even though they never received (or maybe never applied for) CARB exemption; reading through various posts over the years, some of these are pretty radical, with an LT4 Hot Cam being relatively mild. With that said, there are also cams with CARB exemption numbers that are a significant upgrade over stock and (should) fit your engine / head combo without problems. It all boils down to doing your research before you pays your money and makes your choice.
There are a lot of cams out here that will pass CA smog even though they never received (or maybe never applied for) CARB exemption; reading through various posts over the years, some of these are pretty radical, with an LT4 Hot Cam being relatively mild. With that said, there are also cams with CARB exemption numbers that are a significant upgrade over stock and (should) fit your engine / head combo without problems. It all boils down to doing your research before you pays your money and makes your choice.
11-15-2012, 01:10 AM
#9
Race Director
11-15-2012, 02:35 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Both of those are nice, but I'm pushing it already with the smog ***** by using the Fast Burn heads (not that theywould know) and the LT-1 manifolds (which they hopefully never notice). Aside from that I want MILD. I'm putting 20K miles a year on the car and I'm tired of having cars that are borderline race cars, that don't idle well, have hiccups while driving, etc. It already pulls nicely, so with the cam and the better heads I'll be a happy camper.
11-15-2012, 08:43 AM
#11
Race Director
Both of those are nice, but I'm pushing it already with the smog ***** by using the Fast Burn heads (not that theywould know) and the LT-1 manifolds (which they hopefully never notice). Aside from that I want MILD. I'm putting 20K miles a year on the car and I'm tired of having cars that are borderline race cars, that don't idle well, have hiccups while driving, etc. It already pulls nicely, so with the cam and the better heads I'll be a happy camper.
11-15-2012, 11:28 AM
#12
Race Director
Both of those are nice, but I'm pushing it already with the smog ***** by using the Fast Burn heads (not that theywould know) and the LT-1 manifolds (which they hopefully never notice). Aside from that I want MILD. I'm putting 20K miles a year on the car and I'm tired of having cars that are borderline race cars, that don't idle well, have hiccups while driving, etc. It already pulls nicely, so with the cam and the better heads I'll be a happy camper.
Measureable on dyno/track, maybe. Perceptible....doubtful.
As for it being the "perfect CA cam", I doubt you'll generate any following on this one. It's too small to matter for the avg builder.
11-15-2012, 12:21 PM
#13
Racer
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: Derby (Wichita area) KS
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Just wondering how far things have gone in CA so I know what we have to look foreward to here in flyover country.
11-15-2012, 01:13 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
You need to visit the thirdgen.org website and visit the california board there...
There are many guys using cams as large as 280xfi 230/236 .576/.570 113 lsa and passing smog in tpi cars. Making 350-420whp on various models. Afr heads on alot of them but some with trick flow some with etec 200's and the like.
Key is good cats and the tune! Makes or breaks the smog counts.
There are many guys using cams as large as 280xfi 230/236 .576/.570 113 lsa and passing smog in tpi cars. Making 350-420whp on various models. Afr heads on alot of them but some with trick flow some with etec 200's and the like.
Key is good cats and the tune! Makes or breaks the smog counts.
11-15-2012, 02:05 PM
#15
Safety Car
You need to visit the thirdgen.org website and visit the california board there...
There are many guys using cams as large as 280xfi 230/236 .576/.570 113 lsa and passing smog in tpi cars. Making 350-420whp on various models. Afr heads on alot of them but some with trick flow some with etec 200's and the like.
Key is good cats and the tune! Makes or breaks the smog counts.
There are many guys using cams as large as 280xfi 230/236 .576/.570 113 lsa and passing smog in tpi cars. Making 350-420whp on various models. Afr heads on alot of them but some with trick flow some with etec 200's and the like.
Key is good cats and the tune! Makes or breaks the smog counts.
Last edited by slickfx3; 11-15-2012 at 02:10 PM.
11-15-2012, 02:24 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
If the police stop you and you refuse to pop the hood when they ask, they can have the car impounded - happened to one of the MR2 guys with his MKIII.
Keep in mind that I often drive through commute traffic - like last night it took an hour and a half to go 17 miles - and I don't want to burn off 1/4 tank of gas doing that, etc.
For me, this is a great cam because it does what I want - stock type drivability with a little more oomph than my puny stock cam. Combined with the Fast Burn heads, the big-port base and runners, ported plenum, LT-1 manifolds, Flowmaster and the soon to be added Magnaflow y-pipe. it will make a sufficient amount of power without giving up mileage or manners and I won't have to worry when it comes to smog check time.
Yes, I'm in the thirdgen board and I see what others are doing. I also see (as mentioned above) issues with cats burning up, poor mileage and so forth. There was also mention in one thread of a guy having problems passing because Californina numerically lowered the standards for his car making it much more difficult for him to pass.
For those of you who don't live here, it's very difficult to understand what we have to deal with. After 32 years of hot rod cars I'd rather have something mild and enjoyable as my DD rather than a thumpin' race car.
Keep in mind that I often drive through commute traffic - like last night it took an hour and a half to go 17 miles - and I don't want to burn off 1/4 tank of gas doing that, etc.
For me, this is a great cam because it does what I want - stock type drivability with a little more oomph than my puny stock cam. Combined with the Fast Burn heads, the big-port base and runners, ported plenum, LT-1 manifolds, Flowmaster and the soon to be added Magnaflow y-pipe. it will make a sufficient amount of power without giving up mileage or manners and I won't have to worry when it comes to smog check time.
Yes, I'm in the thirdgen board and I see what others are doing. I also see (as mentioned above) issues with cats burning up, poor mileage and so forth. There was also mention in one thread of a guy having problems passing because Californina numerically lowered the standards for his car making it much more difficult for him to pass.
For those of you who don't live here, it's very difficult to understand what we have to deal with. After 32 years of hot rod cars I'd rather have something mild and enjoyable as my DD rather than a thumpin' race car.
11-15-2012, 03:27 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Thats understandable but there are always tradeoffs when pursuing hp and other desired items like parts life, reliability, gas mileage, cost, etc. Just pointing out that you can still do some good cam sizes to make power and keep it legal.
Sometimes smaller is better. I am a fan of good heads with lower seat durations and high lifts even tho it can be harder on valvetrain but it does give solid power curves and driveability
Sometimes smaller is better. I am a fan of good heads with lower seat durations and high lifts even tho it can be harder on valvetrain but it does give solid power curves and driveability
11-15-2012, 03:36 PM
#18
Safety Car
the lesson i learned is high lifts weaken springs and make them more of a maintenance issue than maintenance free on higher revs and even when the engine is turned off.
i'd give up power for livability anytime going forward.
there is a sweet spot in there somewhere, that's why factory gt cars are so nice to own, they are fast and there are nothing wanting to break, well at least for 100k miles. ymmv
i'd give up power for livability anytime going forward.
there is a sweet spot in there somewhere, that's why factory gt cars are so nice to own, they are fast and there are nothing wanting to break, well at least for 100k miles. ymmv
11-15-2012, 04:26 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Well high lift to a point can influence spring lift but there are alot more factors to determine spring life than just lift alone. There can be .550" cams that eat springs sooner than .600" cams.
11-15-2012, 04:37 PM
#20
Safety Car
very happy with this one with the 1.6 crane gold rockers, i may even go with 1.5's in the future
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/c...?csid=214&sb=2