Cam advice/suggestions
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 32,269
Likes: 35
From: Somewhere between mild insanity and complete psychosis
Cam advice/suggestions
I have a 2002 Corvette Coupe. A4 tranny, 2.73 gears. Cold Air intake, shorty headers, exhaust.
The thread title says it all, another open-ended "what cam should I get" question.
-I WILL NOT change the rear end. I like it.
-I WILL NOT change the torque converter.
-This is a daily driver, approx. 10,000 miles per year.
-After tuning, I still want my car to break idle under 1000rpms.
-I am willing to get a longtube header package to go with it.
-I am willing to sacrifice power to maintain great driveability.
-I don't want a cam with .600 lift.
Here are some of the cams I was considering:
Thunder Racing 220/220 .551/.551 114LSA
Thunder Racing 224/224 .563/.563 114LSA
Thunder Racing 224/227 .563/.569 114LSA
GM Hot Cam 218/227 .525/.525 112LSA
Comp Cams 212/218 .522/.529 114 LSA
Comp Cams 216/220 .525/.532 114 LSA
Comp Cams 218/224 .527/.534 114 LSA
Lunati Cam 221/221 .558/.558 114 LSA
MTI Stealth I 220/220 .581/.581 115 LSA
MTI G1 228/232 .588/.575 113 LSA
MTI R1 232/236 .575/.578 114 LSA
The car will be supercharged in about 9 months. I'd like to not have to change cams twice.
Well, now that I've listed a ton of cams and a ton of demands, someone try to clear up the picture for me!
Also, what is the effect of higher or lower LSA? What is better for engine wear and driveability?
The thread title says it all, another open-ended "what cam should I get" question.
-I WILL NOT change the rear end. I like it.
-I WILL NOT change the torque converter.
-This is a daily driver, approx. 10,000 miles per year.
-After tuning, I still want my car to break idle under 1000rpms.
-I am willing to get a longtube header package to go with it.
-I am willing to sacrifice power to maintain great driveability.
-I don't want a cam with .600 lift.
Here are some of the cams I was considering:
Thunder Racing 220/220 .551/.551 114LSA
Thunder Racing 224/224 .563/.563 114LSA
Thunder Racing 224/227 .563/.569 114LSA
GM Hot Cam 218/227 .525/.525 112LSA
Comp Cams 212/218 .522/.529 114 LSA
Comp Cams 216/220 .525/.532 114 LSA
Comp Cams 218/224 .527/.534 114 LSA
Lunati Cam 221/221 .558/.558 114 LSA
MTI Stealth I 220/220 .581/.581 115 LSA
MTI G1 228/232 .588/.575 113 LSA
MTI R1 232/236 .575/.578 114 LSA
The car will be supercharged in about 9 months. I'd like to not have to change cams twice.
Well, now that I've listed a ton of cams and a ton of demands, someone try to clear up the picture for me!
Also, what is the effect of higher or lower LSA? What is better for engine wear and driveability?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Based on your application, here are my picks:
Lingenfelter GT2-3 (207/220, .571/.573, 118.5)
'02-'04 Z06 (204/218, .551/.547, 117.5)
Crane HR-210/3121-2S-12 2A (210/218, .531/.531, 112)
Lobe Seperation Angle (LSA) determines the amount of valve overlap a given camshaft will have. All else being equal, a cam with a larger LSA will have less valve overlap than a cam with a smaller LSA. An increase in overlap (narrow LSA) produces higher peak HP and TQ numbers at the expense of reduced idle quality, manifold vacuum and increased emissions. A decrease in overlap (wider LSA) produces lower peak HP and TQ numbers (but generally a broader power curve) and gives a smoother idle, higher manifold vacuum and decreased emissions. Many supercharger/turbo cams have wider LSAs which reduce the overlap period and therefore do not "bleed off" as much cylinder pressure as a narrow LSA cam ground for normally aspirated applications. If you are certain that you will install a supercharger in the future, I would choose a cam with an LSA in the range of 114 to 118.
Hope this helps.
Lingenfelter GT2-3 (207/220, .571/.573, 118.5)
'02-'04 Z06 (204/218, .551/.547, 117.5)
Crane HR-210/3121-2S-12 2A (210/218, .531/.531, 112)
Lobe Seperation Angle (LSA) determines the amount of valve overlap a given camshaft will have. All else being equal, a cam with a larger LSA will have less valve overlap than a cam with a smaller LSA. An increase in overlap (narrow LSA) produces higher peak HP and TQ numbers at the expense of reduced idle quality, manifold vacuum and increased emissions. A decrease in overlap (wider LSA) produces lower peak HP and TQ numbers (but generally a broader power curve) and gives a smoother idle, higher manifold vacuum and decreased emissions. Many supercharger/turbo cams have wider LSAs which reduce the overlap period and therefore do not "bleed off" as much cylinder pressure as a narrow LSA cam ground for normally aspirated applications. If you are certain that you will install a supercharger in the future, I would choose a cam with an LSA in the range of 114 to 118.
Hope this helps.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Oh, as far as engine longevity and driveability are concerned, stick with a camshaft with lower duration and a wider LSA. The lower duration and wide LSA will definitely help with driveability (especially with an automatic transmission). As for longevity, that really depends on how hard you drive the car, but generally speaking, you may want to stay away from cams with very aggressive lobes (low to moderate duration with high valve lift). Keep the valve lift under .600 and you should be fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 2
From: California USA
Don't get a cam. Use the stock one. Other than lacking aggressive ramps, it will work really well w/blower. I guess this all depends on how extreme you want to go, but I've had several blower cars and it just doesn't take much cam to make them run hard. You may even consider
a stock Z06 cam. Has a nice profile for a stocker and good lift numbers.
Add headers and we gotta change a few things, maybe a few degrees more intake/exhaust duration. If you gotta have a cam, think
wide lsa, low intake lift, high exhaust lift, conservative duration unless you are John Force. My pick might be (if it matters):
218/228 (540/560) on a 114+ LSA <= 4 deg ground in advance, 0 for the most top end power. Almost all comp cams have 4 degrees adv ground in. All the good cams on this site are done by Comp Cams stock grinds for the most part. Cartek/LG use these. I have used Comp Cams for years and I swear by them.
a stock Z06 cam. Has a nice profile for a stocker and good lift numbers.
Add headers and we gotta change a few things, maybe a few degrees more intake/exhaust duration. If you gotta have a cam, think
wide lsa, low intake lift, high exhaust lift, conservative duration unless you are John Force. My pick might be (if it matters):
218/228 (540/560) on a 114+ LSA <= 4 deg ground in advance, 0 for the most top end power. Almost all comp cams have 4 degrees adv ground in. All the good cams on this site are done by Comp Cams stock grinds for the most part. Cartek/LG use these. I have used Comp Cams for years and I swear by them.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 32,269
Likes: 35
From: Somewhere between mild insanity and complete psychosis
Jiver76: thanks for the info. In a few sentences you told me what I was having a hard time grasping while reading through tutorials, etc. on the subject.
427CPE: the cam you suggested sounds interesting. Does anyone make it, or would it be a custom grind?
Both of you seem to be pretty much on the same page. Suggesting the stock cam or small cams with z06-like numbers.
I like the idea of the z06 cam or the lingenfelter gt2-3.
427CPE: the cam you suggested sounds interesting. Does anyone make it, or would it be a custom grind?
Both of you seem to be pretty much on the same page. Suggesting the stock cam or small cams with z06-like numbers.
I like the idea of the z06 cam or the lingenfelter gt2-3.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Calera AL
I am running the MTI Stealth II cam 224/224 581 lift. I have an automatic.
Dynoed at 415 RWHP with unported LS6 heads. Run the 1/4 mile 11.42 @ 122. Idles a bit rougher than a stock Z06. Steetable enough for me.
Dynoed at 415 RWHP with unported LS6 heads. Run the 1/4 mile 11.42 @ 122. Idles a bit rougher than a stock Z06. Steetable enough for me.
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"AlohaC5" Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Madison, AL
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
ive had good results with the comp cams 224/228 cam. .581 .588 on a 113 LSA. its a great all around cam, made 382rwhp with headers/cam only. car feels and drive completely stock. nice idle, and you can hear the lope, but doesnt stumble in the low rpm's at all! car def. pulls a LOT harder now!
this would actually be a good choice if you decide to supercharge. my cam is out of forum member's EatRice car. he was running 600+rwhp with this cam, and a blower!
good luck with your choice!
this would actually be a good choice if you decide to supercharge. my cam is out of forum member's EatRice car. he was running 600+rwhp with this cam, and a blower!
good luck with your choice!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,744
Likes: 9
From: FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by C5 KIDD
ive had good results with the comp cams 224/228 cam. .581 .588 on a 113 LSA. its a great all around cam, made 382rwhp with headers/cam only. car feels and drive completely stock. nice idle, and you can hear the lope, but doesnt stumble in the low rpm's at all! car def. pulls a LOT harder now!
this would actually be a good choice if you decide to supercharge. my cam is out of forum member's EatRice car. he was running 600+rwhp with this cam, and a blower!
good luck with your choice!
this would actually be a good choice if you decide to supercharge. my cam is out of forum member's EatRice car. he was running 600+rwhp with this cam, and a blower!
good luck with your choice!
Also the GT2-3 is good also. Wont make as much power and wont hear it. Don't get the Hotcam...
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
If you live in California (as I do) you may want to stay fairly conservative on your cam choice so that passing emissions will not be a big problem. This is why I recommend the Z06, GT2-3, etc. The wide lobe seperation (114+) will definitely help here.
