ZZ9 vs Hotcam
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Victoria BC
ZZ9 vs Hotcam
After my rear swap I am thinking about the can and roller rockers. I see some have the hotcam which I am leaning towards but I also see the ZZ9 cam. What are the differences in power?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 9
From: N.E. WA
Re: ZZ9 vs Hotcam (Nathan Plemons)
Unless they have changed the spec for the ZZ9, here they are:
212 226 .483 .520 w/ 1.5 @ 112
Personally, I would choose the Hot Cam. Better deal for the money, and I wouldn't have to deal w/ TPIS. Just my .02
212 226 .483 .520 w/ 1.5 @ 112
Personally, I would choose the Hot Cam. Better deal for the money, and I wouldn't have to deal w/ TPIS. Just my .02
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: ZZ9 vs Hotcam (ANTI VENOM)
Alright, so if you calculate the lift for 1.6 rockers on both cams you've got the following.
LT4 Hot Cam - 218/228 .525/.525 112
TPIS ZZ9 - 212/226 .515/.554 112
Alright, so the ZZ9 has smaller intake and exhaust durations for the same lobe sep which means that it will potenailly make less power. The smaller intake duration is hurt more by the slightly lower lift too. The exhaust is fairly close to the hot cam. It has a shorter duration but a higher lift so it's probably really a wash there.
So essentially you've got two very close cams on the exhaust side. The Hot Cam will perform better though. All the exhaust in the world does you no good unless you've got a good intake to compliment it. Now how much difference is there in terms of horsepower? 10-15 maybe. It's really not a whole lot. A really good set of heads on a ZZ9 cam vs a mediocre set of heads on a Hot Cam would probably result in the same power with similar driveability, etc.
So what does this mean? Well make your own choice. The LT4 Hot Cam was made by GM, specifically for the LT4. Since a modded LT1 will work as well as an LT4 that's basically a wash too. That means that the only possible thing I can see this coming down to is price. You can buy a Hot Cam for $190 from any GM dealer. TPIS wants $375 for their cam!
Now I'm not a rocket scientist, but I can't see paying twice the money for a cam that will make less power if everything else is held equal. :cheers:
LT4 Hot Cam - 218/228 .525/.525 112
TPIS ZZ9 - 212/226 .515/.554 112
Alright, so the ZZ9 has smaller intake and exhaust durations for the same lobe sep which means that it will potenailly make less power. The smaller intake duration is hurt more by the slightly lower lift too. The exhaust is fairly close to the hot cam. It has a shorter duration but a higher lift so it's probably really a wash there.
So essentially you've got two very close cams on the exhaust side. The Hot Cam will perform better though. All the exhaust in the world does you no good unless you've got a good intake to compliment it. Now how much difference is there in terms of horsepower? 10-15 maybe. It's really not a whole lot. A really good set of heads on a ZZ9 cam vs a mediocre set of heads on a Hot Cam would probably result in the same power with similar driveability, etc.
So what does this mean? Well make your own choice. The LT4 Hot Cam was made by GM, specifically for the LT4. Since a modded LT1 will work as well as an LT4 that's basically a wash too. That means that the only possible thing I can see this coming down to is price. You can buy a Hot Cam for $190 from any GM dealer. TPIS wants $375 for their cam!
Now I'm not a rocket scientist, but I can't see paying twice the money for a cam that will make less power if everything else is held equal. :cheers:
