Someone explain CAMs to me!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans La
Someone explain CAMs to me!!
I want to add exhaust, headers, intake to my car. I was thinking about a CAM as well. People talk about getting different size cams, whats the difference? What would be best for everyday driving? Does a CAM give you that funny car tinkering sound? Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Also a lot of great cam info on ls1tech.com This is a slippery slope your going down. Trying to pick a cam for me was as bad as my wife picking drapes for the living room. We both changed our minds every 30 minutes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 160
From: Orlando FL
Originally Posted by WKMCD
Also a lot of great cam info on ls1tech.com This is a slippery slope your going down. Trying to pick a cam for me was as bad as my wife picking drapes for the living room. We both changed our minds every 30 minutes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 12
From: 918 OK
Simple explanation: a cam will read like this.. 234/242 .575/.595 112 LSA
Now the quick break down...
234/242 This is the duration First number is the intake, second is exhaust. Duration is how long the valves are open.
.575/.595 Is the lift of the cam. Same as before on first inake second exhaust. This is how far the valves are opening. In both instances the bigger the number the more radical the cam.
112 LSA (lobe separation angle) This is bascally how long the valves are closed at the same time. Smaller numbers are better for N/A cars while a larger number 114 or so is better for P/A cars. The tighter the number the more "lope" you get at idle. Wanna sound like a big dog? Get a tight LSA cam.
Just a quick run down, by no means technical. Hope it helps a little.
Jason
Now the quick break down...
234/242 This is the duration First number is the intake, second is exhaust. Duration is how long the valves are open.
.575/.595 Is the lift of the cam. Same as before on first inake second exhaust. This is how far the valves are opening. In both instances the bigger the number the more radical the cam.
112 LSA (lobe separation angle) This is bascally how long the valves are closed at the same time. Smaller numbers are better for N/A cars while a larger number 114 or so is better for P/A cars. The tighter the number the more "lope" you get at idle. Wanna sound like a big dog? Get a tight LSA cam.
Just a quick run down, by no means technical. Hope it helps a little.
Jason
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 598
Likes: 22
From: Gig Harbor, WA
do it
Originally Posted by MarineVette
I want to add exhaust, headers, intake to my car. I was thinking about a CAM as well. People talk about getting different size cams, whats the difference? What would be best for everyday driving? Does a CAM give you that funny car tinkering sound? Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 56,381
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
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From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by MarineVette
I want to add exhaust, headers, intake to my car. I was thinking about a CAM as well. People talk about getting different size cams, whats the difference? What would be best for everyday driving? Does a CAM give you that funny car tinkering sound? Thanks!
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327734
Be careful of this slippery slope - my car's heading in Monday for headers & a HC package!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
It depends on what you want from the car. Depends on M6 or A4 tranny and what RPM range you desire to operate in. An M6 engine can take a few more degrees of duration. Lift is a matter of spring choice, PTV clearance but also durability. There is a limit to how much RPM's a hydraulic roller cam will take as well.
Talk to folks at the tuners (A&A, ECS, LPE, LG, VD, Cartek, etc.) on this board and they will lead you in the direction you want to go. Your budget be your guide as well.
Talk to folks at the tuners (A&A, ECS, LPE, LG, VD, Cartek, etc.) on this board and they will lead you in the direction you want to go. Your budget be your guide as well.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
one suggestion when looking for a cam is to look at your long term goals. You don't want to put a small cam in if you are just going to change it out later. I knew that I wanted to be in the mid 400 RWHP so I picked the Mods to get me there. If I wanted 500 RWHP then I might ahve taken a different path.
Also with more and more hours under the tuners belts they can make some of the big cams feel like a regular size cam.
And sorry it is a hard decision and it is not cheap unless you are doing the install yourself. Do a ton of reading, ask questions, and sit in people's cars that have different cams before making your final decision.
Also with more and more hours under the tuners belts they can make some of the big cams feel like a regular size cam.
And sorry it is a hard decision and it is not cheap unless you are doing the install yourself. Do a ton of reading, ask questions, and sit in people's cars that have different cams before making your final decision.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,928
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Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by MarineVette
I want to add exhaust, headers, intake to my car. I was thinking about a CAM as well. People talk about getting different size cams, whats the difference? What would be best for everyday driving? Does a CAM give you that funny car tinkering sound? Thanks!
Here you go - read this ->http://www.compcams.com/Technical/TimingTutorial/