Cam selection
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 287
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Cam selection
Heads cam swap is in order for my 99 FRC. I scored a set of 243 heads and now the dreaded cam selection. I've done a tremendous amount of reading and dosent hurt to get a few more opinions. If you have nothing positive to say please post elsewhere.
Car is a 6 speed with 4.10s and all supporting bolt-ons, sees the track and the occasional weekend cruise. I'd like to see good TQ under the curve and not just peak HP. I am considering intake and exhaust durations in the 230s and a range of 111-113 LSA provided there is enough PTV. Katech rod bolts are going in as well.
Discuss. Thanks.
Car is a 6 speed with 4.10s and all supporting bolt-ons, sees the track and the occasional weekend cruise. I'd like to see good TQ under the curve and not just peak HP. I am considering intake and exhaust durations in the 230s and a range of 111-113 LSA provided there is enough PTV. Katech rod bolts are going in as well.
Discuss. Thanks.
Last edited by C5Captain; Jul 6, 2012 at 10:47 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 15
Heads cam swap is in order for my 99 FRC. I scored a set of 243 heads and now the dreaded cam selection. I've done a tremendous amount of reading and dosent hurt to get a few more opinions. If you have nothing positive to say please post elsewhere.
Car is a 6 speed with 4.10s and all supporting bolt-ons, sees the track and the occasional weekend cruise. I'd like to see good TQ under the curve and not just peak HP. I am considering intake and exhaust durations in the 230s and a range of 111-113 LSA provided there is enough PTV. Katech rod bolts are going in as well.
Discuss. Thanks.
Car is a 6 speed with 4.10s and all supporting bolt-ons, sees the track and the occasional weekend cruise. I'd like to see good TQ under the curve and not just peak HP. I am considering intake and exhaust durations in the 230s and a range of 111-113 LSA provided there is enough PTV. Katech rod bolts are going in as well.
Discuss. Thanks.
And about the cam & springs...well I'm a big advocator of a custom grind. For the same price you can have a cam ground with the latest lobe "tech" specifically for your combo. Not a shelf cam with 5 year old lobes and generic valve events for every-bodies combo. If so call Geoff Skinner @ Engine Power Systems, he is one sharp cookie with LS power.......http://www.engpwrsys.com/
And about the springs Brian Tooley racing has the best quality spring kits available....and beats the lesser spring prices.....http://www.briantooleyracing.com/
EPS custom cam=$405
BTracing springs=$299
Shelf cam=$390-$405
PRC springs or equal=$299
TEA head work=$1,200-$1,500
Good luck with your build......
If you decide to leave the heads stock, she will be in the 425-440rwhp range....and if you work the heads......http://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomete...m-numbers.html
Thanks............and I know first hand the power this combo makes..
Last edited by LSOHOLIC; Jul 6, 2012 at 11:32 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 408
From: Portland OR
The better the head, the easier (read smaller, better torque curve) cam you can choose. And the power goes up.
Ditto on the custom route. I have a 226/230 114+3 .600 EPS cam. Idle is choppy, not lopey. I am tuning it myself and I know the idle can be better. Midrange is awesome, but that is relative right? You haven't driven my car.
I will say this, my valvetrain is noisy. Seems to be a crap shoot there.
Ron
Ditto on the custom route. I have a 226/230 114+3 .600 EPS cam. Idle is choppy, not lopey. I am tuning it myself and I know the idle can be better. Midrange is awesome, but that is relative right? You haven't driven my car.
I will say this, my valvetrain is noisy. Seems to be a crap shoot there.
Ron
Last edited by RonSSNova; Jul 7, 2012 at 03:29 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
It's tough
I would have to say that your best bet would be to sample a few different cams.
Let's be honest. Unless your exact configuration has already been through trials by a cam company, it's real tough, and you can only estimate what you would think is optimum for you. Centerline degrees is a whole additional aspect as well. How do you want the cam to turn on? mildly or abruptly. I had a weird monster cam in a Chevelle once that turned on so late but my God it nearly snapped your neck off. LOL ha at first I was thinking what a POS this cam is it dont even wooooooorrrrrk whoa it suddenly came on so hard It blew the differential after a few rolling rips and tears of the asphalt. Just about any good cam company will take the time with you to pretty much come to a sensible conclusion if you would rather not keep putting different cams in till you figure what is best.
Let's be honest. Unless your exact configuration has already been through trials by a cam company, it's real tough, and you can only estimate what you would think is optimum for you. Centerline degrees is a whole additional aspect as well. How do you want the cam to turn on? mildly or abruptly. I had a weird monster cam in a Chevelle once that turned on so late but my God it nearly snapped your neck off. LOL ha at first I was thinking what a POS this cam is it dont even wooooooorrrrrk whoa it suddenly came on so hard It blew the differential after a few rolling rips and tears of the asphalt. Just about any good cam company will take the time with you to pretty much come to a sensible conclusion if you would rather not keep putting different cams in till you figure what is best.
