ASA CAM - Howards vs WS6 Store
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 114
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
ASA CAM - Howards vs WS6 Store
I'm looking at an ASA cam from either Howards or WS6 Store.
Howards: 226/236, 0.525/.525, 110 LSA
WS6 Store: 226/236, 0.600/0.600, 110 LSA
According to Howards, their ASA is a reproduction of the GM ASA but held to tighter specs. It's known the that GM ASA is very easy on parts and was designed to run all day long at high RPM.
WS6 Store's ASA has significantly more (0.075") lift yet they somehow claim their rams are gentler than the GM ASA. I don't understand how a 0.600" lift cam (duration held the same) can be as gentle as a 0.525" lift cam. If the 0.600" lift cam is going to have the same "open area" as the 0.525" lift cam, the ramps on the 0.600" lift would need to be faster.
Any thoughts/experience with these?
Howards: 226/236, 0.525/.525, 110 LSA
WS6 Store: 226/236, 0.600/0.600, 110 LSA
According to Howards, their ASA is a reproduction of the GM ASA but held to tighter specs. It's known the that GM ASA is very easy on parts and was designed to run all day long at high RPM.
WS6 Store's ASA has significantly more (0.075") lift yet they somehow claim their rams are gentler than the GM ASA. I don't understand how a 0.600" lift cam (duration held the same) can be as gentle as a 0.525" lift cam. If the 0.600" lift cam is going to have the same "open area" as the 0.525" lift cam, the ramps on the 0.600" lift would need to be faster.
Any thoughts/experience with these?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Lift isn't everything in determining how hard a lobe is on parts, the lobe profile and ramp rates on the opening and closing of the determines how the valves react. You can have less overall lift but a harsher/quicker opening and/or closing and thus a cam that is harder on parts
I have no experience with the Howards or WS6 store ASA cam.
I have no experience with the Howards or WS6 store ASA cam.
Last edited by 93Polo; Oct 21, 2019 at 04:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 114
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
Lift isn't everything in determining how hard a lobe is on parts, the lobe profile and ramp rates on the opening and closing of the determines how the valves react. You can have less overall lift but a harsher/quicker opening and/or closing and thus a cam that is harder on parts.
WS6 Store called me back and explained their cam. It turns out that while both their ASA cam and the GM/Howards ASA have the same 0.050" duration, their "advertised" (ex: 0.006") duration is different. WS6 Store has more "advertised" duration (which they don't list on their website) which is why the ramp rate is milder (slower transition from 0.006" to 0.050" lift value). I would assume that this same ramp then continues on through the full lift value, which makes me wonder if the time at max lift is shorter (should have asked that).
People seem happy with both cams so...
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Lobe designs are not symmetrical in majority of today's cams allowing for greater variation within the published numbers further their is the initial lift off the seat, gradual switch from lift to close and the closing landing. Plenty of place to alter design between .050 and .050. Loads and loads of R&D time in modern cam technology. In some classes where "lift" is limited the cam designer will intentionally loft the valve playing with that transition from opening to closing the valve, just an extreme example of where advertised # don't tell the entire picture.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 987
Likes: 224
From: Motor City, MI
That's a pretty old cam design. I don't think it's been popular for years. Lots of reviews if tough to tune too. I don't have any personal experience but there are plenty of threads/reviews.
