Cam vs Nitrous
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Harrington Delaware
Cam vs Nitrous
What would be a good next mod after full boltons, a cam or a small nitrous kit? What are some of the pros and cons of each?
Nitrous
-Pros
Price per HP
Can be set up for big hp gains
-Cons
Only available for a short period of time
Detonation risk
Having to refill bottles
Camshaft
-Pros
Exhaust sound
Larger RPM range
Power always there (unlike n20)
Can replace maintenance parts while installing
-Cons
More expensive/labor
Less power
Possible driveability issues
Lemme know if i missed anything but basically im at a cross between making a cam my first major upgrade, or a nitrous kit. Help me decide about what i should do for the first major upgrade with your own pros&cons about the two!
Nitrous
-Pros
Price per HP
Can be set up for big hp gains
-Cons
Only available for a short period of time
Detonation risk
Having to refill bottles
Camshaft
-Pros
Exhaust sound
Larger RPM range
Power always there (unlike n20)
Can replace maintenance parts while installing
-Cons
More expensive/labor
Less power
Possible driveability issues
Lemme know if i missed anything but basically im at a cross between making a cam my first major upgrade, or a nitrous kit. Help me decide about what i should do for the first major upgrade with your own pros&cons about the two!
Last edited by Jay Bizzal; May 13, 2016 at 08:25 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,029
Likes: 85
From: Palm Coast, FL
went full heads/cam and squeezed as much as I could out of it and then hit it with a 100 shot - went from a 10.19 to 9.5X
I have a mother bottle at my house (75 lbs) - price goes down considerably, I purchase from local oxygen supply company. Have state license to purchase and carry.
have a Holley Dominator V2 installed in my stroker (forged 382 Ci) that I haven't used yet, thinking about hitting a 300 shot on a nice day
I have a mother bottle at my house (75 lbs) - price goes down considerably, I purchase from local oxygen supply company. Have state license to purchase and carry.
have a Holley Dominator V2 installed in my stroker (forged 382 Ci) that I haven't used yet, thinking about hitting a 300 shot on a nice day
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 200
From: Atlanta GA
This would be an interesting subject, if it included the following questions/answers
1. Level of effort: What is the level of effort in terms of labor and engine/fuel management needs in relation to a cam verses nitrous? Include tuning needs.
2. Cost: What is the difference in costs (parts and labor)?
3. Durability: Which one is safer on the motor and/or would potentially affect the durability of the motor more (of course we all know nitrous would naturally assume more risks, but what are they?)
4. Cost per horsepower : What is the actual cost per HP/Torque
5. Other considerations ( average bottle consumption rates per run, valvetrain life/maintenance, fuel controller lifecycle, etc.)
1. Level of effort: What is the level of effort in terms of labor and engine/fuel management needs in relation to a cam verses nitrous? Include tuning needs.
2. Cost: What is the difference in costs (parts and labor)?
3. Durability: Which one is safer on the motor and/or would potentially affect the durability of the motor more (of course we all know nitrous would naturally assume more risks, but what are they?)
4. Cost per horsepower : What is the actual cost per HP/Torque
5. Other considerations ( average bottle consumption rates per run, valvetrain life/maintenance, fuel controller lifecycle, etc.)
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
If it's driven on the street primarily: cam for sure.
Honestly how often do you nitrous guys spray on the street? It seems highly inconvenient unless you're on the track to me.
I can't imagine juicing from 50-65 miles an hour, it would be a waste whereas with the cam you can use it every acceleration.
On the track though, spray will probably be the better option
Honestly how often do you nitrous guys spray on the street? It seems highly inconvenient unless you're on the track to me.
I can't imagine juicing from 50-65 miles an hour, it would be a waste whereas with the cam you can use it every acceleration.
On the track though, spray will probably be the better option
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
As another note I may be off base, I've never been in a sprayed car before. Just basing off other people who do use nitrous/what I've read.
All my friends who are spraying tell me they've literally only sprayed once or twice on the street because it seems unsafe or inconvenient
All my friends who are spraying tell me they've literally only sprayed once or twice on the street because it seems unsafe or inconvenient
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Harrington Delaware
Yeah i think im leaning towards a cam because of the sound and the fact that its always available. But i dont want to compromise driveability. You guys know what a good powerful cam that still has good street manners or is that not really an option?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,029
Likes: 85
From: Palm Coast, FL
I believe your "street manners" is all in the tune. I've got a big cam with plenty of manners on the street, pick the right tuner and drivability shouldn't be an issue. Or maybe I'm just used to driving a stalled vette.
Do the cam and you can always spray later on.
Mine were purpose built to run a 10.50 index and the nitrous was only installed to drop a small shot in the heat of summer to run the number, turns out they can run it in the heat so it's only gonna be used if I decide to beat a personal best. My sig has some of the upgrades
good luck with your build!
Do the cam and you can always spray later on.
Mine were purpose built to run a 10.50 index and the nitrous was only installed to drop a small shot in the heat of summer to run the number, turns out they can run it in the heat so it's only gonna be used if I decide to beat a personal best. My sig has some of the upgrades
good luck with your build!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 5
I've got a BTR stage 4 cam and the driveability isn't that bad. I'm also 6 speed so that helps. I'd get a stage 3 if you were worried about it if you were 6 speed. I don't know how the driving manners would be in an automatic. I'm sure you'd have to match your torque converter up with whatever cam you got.
Last edited by C.Lunn; May 13, 2016 at 08:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 1
From: Harrington Delaware
I've got a BTR stage 4 cam and the driveability isn't that bad. I'm also 6 speed so that helps. I'd get a stage 3 if you were worried about it if you were 6 speed. I don't know how the driving manners would be in an automatic. I'm sure you'd have to match your torque converter up with whatever cam you got.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 524
Likes: 48
From: Allenspark Colorado
With cam you have options in regards to how aggressive you wanna get, another pro. I did a mild cam and heads so I could pass emissions and not lose drivability. 406 rwhp and sounds absolutely amazing! I've never done nitrous but my car is street driven only so I wanted the everyday power and I got it. No real difference in low rpms but screams and pulls like mad up to 6800 rpms now!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
Nitrous is great for racing, a nice reasonable cam is great for driving all the live long day. Contact a good vendor and ask what they recommend based on your driving style. Anywhere from an LS6 cam to something like the 228R from Texas Speed is pretty popular.