Hello Folks,

I continue to research the cam I would like for my 02z. As I read the forums I have learned much about the need to know my purpose for the cam and understanding of how I intent to use the car. In addition, I have learned some of the give and takes that come with various cam selections. Lastly, I realize the the importance of knowing the mods I have, as well as mods I plan to have in the future. With that said, I will try to list these with the intent to help you help me make a cam decision that I would be happy with.

Purpose: To drive the car on the street when the weather is nice. Not daily driven, but obviously driven more during the summer.

Intent: To enjoy every last ounce of power/performance I can get out of my cam selection.

Give/Take: I am willing to sacrifice any/all "driveability" for power/performance. I do not car if the car bucks and has terrible manners if it means I gain power/performance.

Current Mods: CAI, LT Headers, Exhaust, & 4.10 gears

Future Mods: Besides the cam, a better clutch. I will probably not get into heads due to the cost. I'd rather save for a full build at that point.

Summary: It is far more important to me to gain power/performance than care about the drivability of my car. I am looking for an all out, max effort cam on the stock motor/heads that drives and sounds like a monster. I do not care how it idles or how it behaves at low RPM's (parking lot).

Cams I am considering, but open to other suggestions:
EG - Whiplash 2 or Chaos 2 (unsure if can be used on stock cubes)
TS - MS4
TR - TRex
ECS - Some of their cams (unsure of their Gx names)
Veng. - Vx Cams

Right now I am leaning toward England Green's cam's, but am not sure I understand how they are a different animal than say the ms3 or ms4. I appreciate any feedback.

 

I would suggest a more balanced approach. Those cams will make your bottom end soggy and draw stares from pedestrians, but they won't make the power that you desire without supporting modifications. More specifically, the stock heads will become the choke point.

Consider a head/cam package if that is within your budget, or select a smaller cam that will compliment the heads that you have. You'll be much happier with the results.

 

Thanks Tron. I will certainly consider that.

 

MS4 or whiplash 2 with the great tune, THE END
but the clutch with make or break it, choose wisely,i suggest the RST twin disk when you get to that point.

 

I completely agree.

A smaller cam with good heads will make better power than a giant cam through the stock heads.

A cam allows the valves to open larger / longer but that doesn't do you any good if you can't pull/push the air through the head. A more moderate cam developed for use with stock heads will likely get you similar power.

 

Appreciate all the feedback.

 

heads and cam isn't worth it anymore for the money. at that point, just go boost and call it a day.

 

Check to see what lobe profile the cams you are looking at are using. The popular XER lobe from a few years back is notorious for excessive valvetrain noise and is hard on valve springs. There are newer lobes out there that will be quieter. Comp cams LXL lobe is one of the newest and was designed with slower exhaust valve closing speed to reduce noise.

Why not go custom? A custom cam is only marginally more expensive and it can be tailored to meet your mods and performance preferences. Patrick G from LS1tech will spec a custom cam for a very affordable price. It might be worth the price just to talk with him about options. Tick Performance is another place that specs custom cams with the newer lobe profiles.

 

That is so not true!

 

Great info. Thanks again.

 

I agree. Pat did the specs on my G8 cam and I recently had him spec out a cam for my '02 Z. He knows his stuff and when you order through EPS you get access to lobes that aren't offered to the public or other shops.