Engine upgrades
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
It would help to provide us with a bit more info. IS the engine basically stock ??? If not - what mods ???
Going with a bigger cam will help to a deree - basically the cam controls where the engine's torque peak will be. If you've got stock exhaust, and a stock intake / carb - more cam will only help so much.
The old analogy about thinking of an engine as an air pump is a good one.. Restriction in the intake or exhaust side will hurt breathing. Conversely - sizing everything for upper RPM power will mean the engine will not run well at low RPM, as the fuel will not stay in suspension well, and the requisite cam timing to work at high RPM, won't build cylinder pressure at low RPM.
Going with a bigger cam will help to a deree - basically the cam controls where the engine's torque peak will be. If you've got stock exhaust, and a stock intake / carb - more cam will only help so much.
The old analogy about thinking of an engine as an air pump is a good one.. Restriction in the intake or exhaust side will hurt breathing. Conversely - sizing everything for upper RPM power will mean the engine will not run well at low RPM, as the fuel will not stay in suspension well, and the requisite cam timing to work at high RPM, won't build cylinder pressure at low RPM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,443
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
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Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
Post everything you know about your combo and what you intend to do.........
A standing WOT one mile run takes preparation if the car has never been setup to do so or is not in 100% pristine condition.......so many little things that can go wrong.
Jebby
A standing WOT one mile run takes preparation if the car has never been setup to do so or is not in 100% pristine condition.......so many little things that can go wrong.
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Does the forum member have the exact same pistons, bore / stroke, heads, Intake, headers, rear axle, tire size, induction system and so on for comparison?
It's never apples to apples comparison. No two engines / drivetrains or driving styles are alike. 800 techs get paid well to know their stuff. Their company is not going to stay in business long with poor information. A cam company is a multi-million dollar business that stays that way by picking the correct cam for customers.
Gather data from several 800 techs and look for a common denominator, for example: same Lift, same Duration, same LSA. (or real close)
Then compare prices.
Choose a cam wisely.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Dec 2, 2021 at 08:15 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
or pick a smaller cam company where youre talking to an old timer. Isky, Crower plenty of others
Those guys know their stuff and wont sell you the "trick of the day" cam
Those guys know their stuff and wont sell you the "trick of the day" cam
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 833
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Find an actual engine builder that has one of the good computer apps that can spec out a cam properly and not just pick out a one size fits nothing cam from a book.
I used Racer Brown cams in Baltimore. Jim Dowell is great, he ground stuff for me 40 yrs ago. But he's really not looking for more work. I'm sure there are several places people can recommend.
I used Racer Brown cams in Baltimore. Jim Dowell is great, he ground stuff for me 40 yrs ago. But he's really not looking for more work. I'm sure there are several places people can recommend.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,682
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
We all get on here to ask questions. And get opinions.
We all know were getting opinions. And most of us are smart enough to know when a bad idea is thrown out there.
We might call a couple cam companies as well. But asking fellow car enthusiasts what they think, what they have had good or bad luck with is what forums like this are all about.
Simply stating one should simply rely on these companies is a bit harsh. And there are thousands of members on here.
Actually a very good chance someone has the exact same combination of parts and gearing. or has in the past.
Me, I would rather the opinion of a older car enthusiast than some young guy hired to answer phones reading information off of a cheat sheet.
We all know were getting opinions. And most of us are smart enough to know when a bad idea is thrown out there.
We might call a couple cam companies as well. But asking fellow car enthusiasts what they think, what they have had good or bad luck with is what forums like this are all about.
Simply stating one should simply rely on these companies is a bit harsh. And there are thousands of members on here.
Actually a very good chance someone has the exact same combination of parts and gearing. or has in the past.
Me, I would rather the opinion of a older car enthusiast than some young guy hired to answer phones reading information off of a cheat sheet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Again, I say hiring some young guy to answer phones, reading off basic information is not how a company makes millions.
And that is an insult to the 1-800 techs that take pride in their work. They have to get it right the first time. Especially with social media bashing everything now days.
What I was getting at, to pick a cam requires about 20-25 questions of data from the customer. It's quite a lengthy process as shown in downloading Cam Quest from Comp Cams for example. Its very high tech if you have ever looked at it.
Note that not one expert cam selector on this forum ask all those questions like they should.
It's one thing to ask what's the best oil or the best oil filter when the outcome is so minute.
It's another thing to ask for the best cam when there are virtually hundreds of choices. And a lot of money / time / labor involved if someone gets it wrong.
And that is an insult to the 1-800 techs that take pride in their work. They have to get it right the first time. Especially with social media bashing everything now days.
What I was getting at, to pick a cam requires about 20-25 questions of data from the customer. It's quite a lengthy process as shown in downloading Cam Quest from Comp Cams for example. Its very high tech if you have ever looked at it.
Note that not one expert cam selector on this forum ask all those questions like they should.
It's one thing to ask what's the best oil or the best oil filter when the outcome is so minute.
It's another thing to ask for the best cam when there are virtually hundreds of choices. And a lot of money / time / labor involved if someone gets it wrong.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,170
From: Hermosa
You want to know about cams? start reading.
Good place to start
If you don't want to know about them then you''re gonna have to trust someone else to spec it. The 1-800 techs were all over the map when I started asking. So I do not trust them at all. I decided to educate myself. Took a year of lots of reading to do so.
If you really want to get it very close to right the first time you got some studying to do. JUST a cam is not usually the answer to performance. It's a package of compatible parts that make power. What those parts may be is where the knowledge comes in. That can be learned or you can find a trustworthy source to point you in the right direction. I would not classify a big cam company "tech" as that person.
You can get some pretty good answers here, but you need to provide as much detail about your setup as possible to get a good answer.
A flying mile as I understand it is going to focus primarily on high RPM performance. So if that is your focus then it's a different spec than a normal street performance cam and dual plane intake set up.
Good place to start
If you don't want to know about them then you''re gonna have to trust someone else to spec it. The 1-800 techs were all over the map when I started asking. So I do not trust them at all. I decided to educate myself. Took a year of lots of reading to do so.
If you really want to get it very close to right the first time you got some studying to do. JUST a cam is not usually the answer to performance. It's a package of compatible parts that make power. What those parts may be is where the knowledge comes in. That can be learned or you can find a trustworthy source to point you in the right direction. I would not classify a big cam company "tech" as that person.
You can get some pretty good answers here, but you need to provide as much detail about your setup as possible to get a good answer.
A flying mile as I understand it is going to focus primarily on high RPM performance. So if that is your focus then it's a different spec than a normal street performance cam and dual plane intake set up.
Last edited by REELAV8R; Dec 2, 2021 at 05:51 PM.